U.S. patent application number 09/897826 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-17 for candidate chaser.
Invention is credited to Reuning, Stephen Michael.
Application Number | 20020007301 09/897826 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25530737 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020007301 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Reuning, Stephen Michael |
January 17, 2002 |
Candidate chaser
Abstract
The Candidate Chaser machine and method automatically locates
Internet site pages and web postings which contain operator
specified keywords or Boolean combinations and then extracts all
electronic mail addresses from those pages as well as hyper-linked
pages to as many linking levels as selected by the operator and
then sends a job opportunity description in the form of an
electronic mail message to each of the extracted addresses then
receives responses from recipients of the job opportunity message
then filters those messages by reading their text and forwards only
desired responses to the candidate seeking client's electronic mail
address thusly sparing the client interaction with large amounts of
irrelevant response while presenting viable candidates for a given
job opening. It applies a distinctive and non-obvious method for
delivering identical electronic mail messages to a group of
targeted potential job candidates sharing a specifically desired
single or set of common experiences, interests, capabilities,
professional titles or talents relating to the needs of the
candidate seeking hiring entity and handling their response.
Inventors: |
Reuning, Stephen Michael;
(Robbinsville, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARK POHL
55 MADISON AVENUE
4TH FLOOR
MORRISTOWN
NJ
07960
|
Family ID: |
25530737 |
Appl. No.: |
09/897826 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09897826 |
Jul 3, 2001 |
|
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08984650 |
Dec 3, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/321 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/06 20130101;
Y10S 707/99945 20130101; Y10S 707/99933 20130101; G06Q 10/10
20130101; G06Q 10/1053 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/9 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A system for locating an individual with specifically defined
professional qualifications, the system comprising: a. a filter
that can search a web page to identify in said web page the
presence or absence of specifically defined professional
qualifications, and b. an e-mail address extractor that can extract
an e-mail address from said web page.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said filter can sort a plurality
of web pages and calculate a score for each said web page.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising: c. means for sending
an e-mail to said extracted e-mail address.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein said filter generates a score for
said web page, and wherein said means for sending e-mail
automatically sends an e-mail to said extracted e-mail address if
said score for said web page satisfies a predetermined threshold
value.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein said e-mail comprises data on a
job opportunity.
6. A method for locating an individual with a specifically defined
professional qualification, the method comprising: a. locating a
web page which contains text identifying said professional
qualification; b. for web pages containing said text identifying
said professional qualification, extracting from said web page an
e-mail address.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: c. sending an e-mail
to said extracted e-mail address.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said e-mail comprises data on a
job opportunity.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said e-mail address extracting
further comprises extracting e-mail addresses from linked web
pages, to as many linking levels as desired.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said text identifying said
professional qualification comprises a keyword or Boolean
combination of keywords.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising screening said web
pages using advanced natural language screening technology.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said advanced natural language
screening technology comprises rules to identify resumes.
13. A system for locating an individual with a specifically defined
professional qualification, the system comprising: a. a web page
locator which can locate a web page containing text identifying
said professional qualification; b. an e-mail address
extractor.
14. The system of claim 13, further comprising: c. means for
sending an e-mail to an extracted e-mail address.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein said e-mail comprises data on a
job opportunity.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein said e-mail address extractor
can extract e-mail addresses from linked web pages, to as many
linking levels as desired.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein said text identifying said
professional qualification comprises a keyword or Boolean
combination of keywords.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising screening said web
pages using advanced natural language screening technology.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said advanced natural language
screening technology comprises rules to identify resumes.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES
[0001] This application is a Continuation of Ser. No. 08/984,650,
now issued as U.S. Pat. No. ______.
GOVERMENT RIGHTS
[0002] None.
BACKGROUND
[0003] 1. Field of Invention
[0004] This invention relates to the process of recruiting new
employees, specifically harvesting email addresses belonging to
potential viable candidates from sites and postings searched for
and found on the Internet and sending specifically related help
wanted advertisements via electronic mail to those addresses then
receiving, filtering, sorting and distributing the response.
[0005] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0006] Classified help wanted advertising in print, television and
radio media as well as postings of help wanted advertisements on
Internet web sites are a common practice. Such mediums for
prospecting employment candidates are passive in the context of the
candidate seeker's objectives. They require the reaction of a
potential job seeker who must be reading a specific periodical,
watching or listening to a specific broadcast or visiting a
specific internet web site or requested a specific push technology
internet broadcast. There are too many job opportunity broadcasts
and sites available for any job seeker to peruse even a minor
percentage on a timely basis. A candidate seeker could attempt to
advertise through every applicable site and medium in order to
reach every potential candidate however such a strategy is
impractical if not impossible. Even if it were practical or
possible the candidate seeker would not reach viable candidates who
are not actively searching job opportunity advertising sites. The
United States Federal Government predicts demand for technical
labor in such areas as information technology, sciences,
biotechnology and engineering to exceed supply by as much as
fifteen percent by the year 2002. In such a situation competitive
employers require more aggressive means to prospect employment
candidate than the prior mentioned passive methodologies.
[0007] Bulk electronic mailing is a common process used to
broadcast messages to groups of email addresses collected in
databases however the processes used prior to Candidate Chaser are
static and the targeting is dependent on pre-assembled databases of
email addresses. In such cases where email address lists are
procured from a database sources mailers are subject to limited
accuracy on two categories: first, are the addresses still active,
second, are the individuals interested in receiving email related
to the mailers' offerings. Furthermore, the present state of
electronic mail address databases does not permit the targeting of
addresses based on the individual owner's experiences, interests,
capabilities, professional titles or talents.
[0008] While bulk electronic mailing is unquestionably legal, there
is a powerful lobby opposing general broadcasts of large untargeted
and unsolicited bulk electronic mailings which consume huge amounts
of internet communication bandwidth causing system delays,
increased cost without benefit and mail server failures. Such
mailings are broadcast to high quantities, 50,000-200,000 addresses
at a time, in the hopes that a fraction, perhaps one tenth of a
percent will reach a viable and interested audience. Most of the
bandwidth consumption would not be necessary if a more targeted
approach was used.
[0009] Employers spend over a billion dollars every year in the
United States on employment agency fees, classified advertising
costs, recruiting staff, the design of recruitment programs and
software and referral bonus programs. Many of those employers are
large companies that have invested tremendous development resources
into solving their recruiting problems and cost reduction yet not a
single one of them has created an automated recruiting system like
the Candidate Chaser machine and process patented herein. The
articles attached and labeled as Prior Art Documents #27, 34, 35,
36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 indicate a recruiting industry
searching for internet solutions to recruiting difficulties yet
none suggest a solution similar to that presented by the Candidate
Chaser machine and process supporting the position of unobviousness
relating to the Candidate Chaser machine and process.
[0010] Most workers would like to be informed of employment
opportunities with quality of life improving advantages including
but not limited to compensation increases, advanced training,
enhanced benefits, more challenge, diversity and improved career
path provided notices of such opportunities were made at the
workers' convenience and that workers are not overwhelmed with
non-applicable job offerings. Employment agencies and headhunters
serve such a purpose but they are prohibitively expensive. No
automated and more cost effective alternative was available until
the herein described Candidate Chaser was invented.
[0011] Present job opportunity advertising systems take days and
weeks to reach potential candidates.
[0012] While my research indicates no present use of bulk
electronic mail for targeted help wanted advertising, use of
available bulk email systems would result in "bad address"
responses from servers, remove responses, and revenge "flames" from
anti-spammers burdening and crashing the advertisers' incoming
electronic mail system.
[0013] A search of the IBM Patent Server at
htt://patent.womplex.ib.com looking for the following words
individually in the "abstract" field; recruit, recruiting, hire,
hiring, job, candidate, classified, position, bulk, addresses, and
recruitment turned up no relevant matching or related patents. A
search on the same database for the phrase "electronic mail" turned
up no apparently related patents except those patenting the process
of sending and receiving electronic mail itself. The patent
information and abstract which appear most closely related are
attached and labeled as: Prior Art Document #28 U.S. Pat. No.
5,245,532, Prior Art Document #29 U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,141, Prior
Art Document #30 U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,018, Prior Art Document #31
U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,334, Prior Art Document #32 U.S. Pat. No.
5,487,100, and Prior Art Document #33 U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,108.
[0014] A search for articles and publications discussing
"recruiting on the Internet" turned up two hundred forty nine
separate documents. While discussing the use of electronic mail for
the circulation of resumes and discussion of job possibilities, no
reference is ever made to any recruiting solution that even
remotely resembles the Candidate Chaser machine and process. I
believe this supports the unobviousness of the Candidate Chaser
machine as a solution to recruiting difficulties. Those article
which best represent present art on the subject of "recruiting on
the Internet" are attached and labeled as Prior Art Documents #27,
34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42.
[0015] There are a good number of commercially available computer
software programs which can perform certain functions of the
Candidate Chaser machine. However, none of them alone or in obvious
combination accomplish the task of the Candidate Chaser. The said
commercially available computer software programs are described in
the attached Prior Art Documents #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 19, 20,
21, and 22.
[0016] Objects and Advantages
[0017] The Candidate Chaser machine automatically locates Internet
site pages and web postings which contain operator specified
keywords or Boolean combinations and then extracts all email
addresses from those pages as well as linked pages to as many
linking levels as selected by the operator and then sends a job
opportunity description enclosed in an electronic mail message to
each of the extracted addresses then recieves responses from
recipients of the job opportunity message then filters those
messages by reading their text and forwards only desirable
responses to the candidate seeking client's electronic mail address
thusly sparing the client interaction with large amounts of
irrelevant response while presenting viable candidates for a given
job opening.
[0018] The Candidate Chaser machine operator inputs keywords then
commands the Candidate Chaser machine to interact with the infinite
number of interface possibilities available on the Internet. The
operator is not required conduct or observe the cumbersome,
tedious, frustrating A and agonizingly slow task of reviewing data
contained on Internet web sites, newsgroup postings and other data
sources that may exist from time to time on the net. Once started
the Candidate Chaser machine conducts the Internet search without
operator intervention.
[0019] The Candidate Chaser process does not use a static database
as its source of addresses but instead takes advantage of the
dynamic properties of the Internet where new information is added
every minute somewhere on the planet. Candidate Chaser does this by
reading internet sites online and extracting email addresses as
they appear on targeted sites, postings and broadcasts just prior
to broadcasting a job opportunity advertisement.
[0020] Job opportunity announcements are communicated to potential
candidates within hours.
[0021] Candidate Chaser job opportunity advertisements are
delivered directly to the worker's email box therefore she/he is
not required to search for applicable job offerings.
[0022] Workers view the Candidate Chaser job opportunity
advertisement by choice at their convenience any time night or day
since the advertisement arrives and resides in the email message
box until they take an action or their software automatically
discards it based on their previously set filters.
[0023] Job opportunity advertisements broadcast by Candidate Chaser
stimulate workers to consider new career opportunities even when
they are not actively seeking new employment thusly expanding the
universe of candidates beyond those available to the employer
through passive advertising methodologies.
[0024] Specific job opportunity ads are only broadcast to
specifically applicable individuals who made their email addresses
available on their resumes, on web pages indicating subject matter
related to the job opening or on new group postings where subjects
related to the job opening were specifically discussed.
[0025] Individuals adverse to receiving additional job opportunity
advertisements easily eliminate their addresses from any potential
future mailings by typing "remove" into the message subject heading
and executing their mail programs "reply" command.
[0026] The customized harvesting of email addresses focused on the
specific needs of each job opportunity advertisement individually
results in relatively low quantities of advertisements broadcast.
And much less broadcast bandwidth waste due to non-applicable
recipients.
[0027] The Candidate Chaser process costs less per hire to operate
than other recruitment methods.
[0028] Responses to electronically mailed advertisements are
automatically processed through software filters: protecting job
opportunity advertisers from "flames", storing removal committed
addresses into a universal database, and sorting qualified
responses to the appropriate hiring authorities email box.
SUMMARY
[0029] The Candidate Chaser process uses a combination of publicly
available and proprietary software computer programs and generally
available computer hardware and computer peripherals to operate as
a single unit as a means to harvest email addresses of specifically
targeted individuals based on their work experiences and interests,
then broadcasts a job opportunity advertisement to the recipients
at the harvested addresses and then appropriately sorts and
redirects consequential response to remove databases, or to quality
contol functions or to clients' electronic mail addresses and
deletes responses from the virtual mail server.
DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 AND FIG. 2
[0030] The Candidate Chaser machine hardware description herein is
for illustration purposes only. It should be noted that the number
of general purpose computer processors and the method for
interfacing them, for example KVM's (Keyboard, Video, Mouse switch)
used, may vary depending on the required capacity and improvements
in hardware available. Factors that would affect required capacity
include but are not limited to the number of outgoing mailings
projected on a daily basis, the size of the address collection
lists to which the messages will be directed, the frequency of
mailings and the number of responses expected.
[0031] While the number of general purpose computer processors
included in a single Candidate Chaser unit may be increased,
perhaps infinitely, the unit always requires at least one general
purpose computer processor unit. The Candidate Chaser machine unit
always requires the same types of software working in combination
as described herein as the candidate chaser process.
[0032] The first Candidate Chaser unit constructed and described
herein was assembled from single general purpose computers
installed with the Windows95 Operating System.
[0033] Systems other than Windows 95 could be used to conduct the
candidate chaser process. Other widely accepted operating system
platform such as Unix, OS2, and Macintosh as well as any operating
system platforms that may come available from time to time could be
used provided they meet the ability to allow for the operation of
computer software programs necessary to the outcome of the
Candidate Chaser process.
[0034] The Candidate Chaser machine presently in operation consists
of ten general purpose computers manufactured by the Compaq
computer company each equipped with a 150 mhz pentium processors by
Intel, 24 megabytes of ram, a 1.4 gigabyte hard-drives and 28.8 k
internal modem. The units are stacked together one on top of the
other, held together by a computer rack that is attached to a
platform with four sets of swiveling wheels. Attached to the rack
above the ten general purpose computer processors are two video
monitors one placed above the other. The computer monitors are also
manufactured by Compaq computer company. Above the monitors are
three switches commonly known as KVM's manufactured by a company
called Belkin which are used to switch the keyboard and monitor and
mouse interfaces from one general purpose computer to another. The
purpose of the KVM configuration is to reduce the need for
monitors, mousers, and keyboards. The operator of the Candidate
Chaser machine unit and process requires the use of a monitor and
keyboard to interface with the individual general purpose computers
only at certain times during the process. Therefore, it is not
necessary to have a number of keyboards mice, and monitors equal to
the number of general purpose computers.
[0035] Specialized cabling connects the computers to the KvM
switches and the KVM switches to the monitors, mice, and keyboards.
The RJ11 modem ports are connected by cable to ten separate
telephone trunk lines installed by the telephone company on the
walls of the facility where the Candidate Chaser machine is
operated.
[0036] A substitute for the modem connections could be a network
connection, such as ethernet, to a router and subsequent ISDN, T1
or fraction thereof, T3 or fraction thereof, or any other
telecommunication link to the Internet that may be available.
[0037] Attached to the front of the Candidate Chaser machine is a
platform that is approximately 36 inches by 12 inches providing a
flat surface on which the two keyboards and two mice can rest. The
platform is attached to a swivel mechanism so the keyboard height
may be adjusted for the comfort of the Candidate Chaser machine and
process operator.
[0038] To provide for a means of organized reference and procedure
manuals, during communication regarding the process and
descriptions the individual general purpose computers are labeled
as follows: chaser 101, chaser 102, chaser 103, chaser 104, chaser
105, chaser 106, chaser 107, chaser 108, chaser 109, chaser
110.
[0039] Chaser 101 is used to receive mail forwarded from chaser
110. Chaser 110 forwards certain pieces of received mail to chaser
101 so that a program installed on chaser 101 can extract the
address from the any received message then store the address in a
text file so that it may be imported at another time into a file
labeled the "remove file" that is referred to later in the process.
Chaser 101 is programmed to use an Internet connection to a mail
server so it may download electronic mail messages sent to said
server by chaser 110. A software computer program called "Replyman"
manufactured by ExtractorPro (see Prior Art Document #7) is
installed on chaser 101 and serves the purpose to extract the
addresses from the downloaded messages and store them into a text
file. It is not required that the software "Replyman" be used to
execute this process. A programmer experienced in this technology
could write a simple program to perform this task using any of an
assortment of language compilers such as C, Basic, Assembler, or
Cobol.
[0040] Chaser 102 is configured to establish a connection with a
server providing smtp access for the purpose of delivering
electronic mail. A software program called "ExtractorPro Mailer" is
installed for the purpose of importing data from text files created
by the other chaser harvesting units which are installed on chaser
103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109. Chaser 102 is equipped with the
mailing program so that it may import the addresses from the text
files, provide for the compilation of a job opportunity advertising
message, a subject and a from field. The software also completes
the broadcast of the message to all the extracted addresses through
a smtp channel or multiple smtp channels over the Internet. In
addition to ExtractorPro mailing program there are similar computer
software programs available to accomplish the same purpose as
ExtractorPro's. Those computer programs included but are not
limited to computer software packages called Mach10, Stealth, and
NetContact. The capabilities and details regarding these computer
software programs are included in the Prior Art Documents attached
to this application.
[0041] Chaser units 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, and 109 are
installed with computer program software called "WebWeasel" which
is described in the attached Prior Art Document #7. Based on
operator commands, the Webweasel software executes a search of the
Internet seeking web sites that contain the keywords entered by the
Candidate Chaser Machine and Process operator and then download the
text of the discovered web sites into the memory of the general
purpose computer and then compare the text of the web site to an
algorythm that recognizes a combination of characters which
represent an electronic mail address and then store the electronic
mail addresses into a database or text list for export to the
mailing broadcast computer software at a later stage in the
process. The Candidate Chaser Machine must be installed with
computer software program that will enable it to search for web
sites containing operator entered keywords and extract electronic
mail addresses from the discovered web sites. It is not necessary
for a Candidate Chaser Machine to be equipped with "Webweasel"
computer software. There are other computer software programs
available including but not limited to: Sonic, Web Collector, and
Net Contact which are described in the Prior Art Documents attached
to this application.
[0042] Operation and Process Description FIG. 1 and FIG. 2
[0043] The typical Candidate Chaser machine consists of one or more
general purpose computers equipped with microprocessor, ram, hard
disk drive, a communication interface that links the computers to
the Internet, one or more keyboards and mouse interface, one or
more monitors, and software to be described later. If one monitor
is used with multiple computers then a KVM keyboard mouse monitor
switch box is employed so operator may switch monitor and keyboard
interfaces between computers.
[0044] The general purpose computers are physically connected to a
network router that can consist of simple analog modems connected
to simple telephone lines or more complex digital routing methods
but in all cases access to the Internet is necessary.
[0045] Installed commercially available "offline browsing" computer
software enables the operator to instruct the machine to locate
websites and postings, accessed via the internet, which contain
operator specified keywords or Boolean combinations and then to
download and store the address of the located matching websites and
postings into memory. The address is in the format of the URL
(Universal Resource Locator) or other address indicator protocols
used on the Internet. The machine immediately or at another time
downloads the text from the files at the addresses which were
located and stored in memory.
[0046] The keywords and Boolean combinations entered into the
machine should be closely related to the experiences, interests,
capabilities, professional titles or talents desired in applicable
job candidates.
[0047] The operator may instruct the machine to locate Hyper Text
Markup Language Links, which are embedded addresses to other files
on the Internet, on any of the website pages or postings turned up
by the search. The operator may instruct the machine to follow the
Links to their respective sites and locate more links at those
sites. The operator may instruct the machine to follow the links as
many level as desired. The number of link levels to search are
determined by the focus required of the collection of addresses
sought.
[0048] Once the text of a site or posting is downloaded the machine
searches the text of the downloaded file for character strings
representative of electronic mail addresses and saves those
addresses in memory or disk storage. Presently, the electronic
mailing protocol dictates that a filtering algorithm be used as
follows: extract any string of characters that fits "space"
_*@*_"space" where "*" is a wildcard variable representing any
combination of characters.
[0049] The machine continues to download and store site and posting
addresses and download and store text into memory and extract
addresses without continued operator action until all applicable
extractions are completed or the operator instructs the machine to
stop.
[0050] Collections of addresses may be stored in separate
electronic storage files for repeated retrieval at later times.
[0051] Since the collected addresses are extracted from sites and
postings containing the specified keywords or Boolean combinations,
it is reasonable to predict that a consequential number of those
addresses will belong to individuals with experiences, interests,
capabilities, professional titles or talents related to those
keywords or Boolean combinations.
[0052] Installed commercially available electronic mailing computer
software enables the operator to instruct the machine to deliver a
specific job opportunity advertising message to each address
collected into a specific file. The operator types the copy into
the machine keyboard interface and then instructs the machine to
send the message to a specific collection of addresses at a
specified time.
[0053] Each message has a "From" field and a "Reply to:" field in
addition to others. When electronic mail messages are received,
recipients look to the "From" and "Reply to:" fields for
instructions relating to sending response messages. The operator of
the Candidate Chaser machine and process may insert any electronic
mail address into the "From" and "Reply to:" fields as she/he may
desire. The Candidate Chaser machine is designed to handle many
mailings at one time and could be used to serve multiple candidate
seeking hiring clients. In the case of multiple clients, the "From"
and "Reply to:" fields could contain the electronic mail address of
the client for each given job opportunity message. Thus, each
client would receive response to their message directly.
[0054] There are reasons why the operator of the Candidate Chaser
machine might want to filter responses before received by the
client. First, a significant percentage of the response is error
messages due to the fact electronic mail addresses are terminated
often without forwarding instructions. Second, a percentage of
responses are requests to be removed from future mailings. Third, a
significant percentage of messages are "thanks but no thanks but
keep me notified of other stuff" responses. Fourth, a percentage of
responses are notifications that the recipient is forwarding the
message to someone that might be more interested. Fifth, only a
small percentage of responses are from candidates that are
interested in applying for the job.
[0055] In order to filter responses before they are directed to the
client's electronic mail address the following procedure is used: A
domain name is registered with InterNIC and the IP address location
of a virtual mail server is designated. The virtual mail server is
programmed to deliver all mail to one user logon at a specified
POP3 channel. A single "Virtual Mail Server" (VMS) can be
maintained on an Internet Service Provider (ISP) host for each
Candidate Chaser machine or on a private server. The VMS is
designated by a domain name registered with Internic, for example
"abcd123.com". Candidate Chaser clients are assigned Mail Accounts
to the domain by the Candidate Chaser machine operator, for example
1001@abcd123.com. A Master User Name (MUN) for the domain on the
VMS, for example smr@abcd123.com, programmed to download all mail
received into the account no matter what the prefix, is programmed
into the server. Electronic mail messages to potential candidates
contain the client's assigned VMS mail account in the "Reply" field
so that responses are directed to the domain and received into the
virtual mail server's storage. Consequently, the "To," field in the
response message contains the client's mailing account address at
the Candidate Chaser virtual mail server domain. Mail, directed to
different clients based on the address in the "To:" field, is
downloaded from the VMS in a single COMBINED batch using the mail
computer software program to accessing the MUN account. The mail
program filters and redirects the electronic mail message based on
the filters and filter actions listed in the paragraphs that
follow.
[0056] Mail containing spam complaints or requesting removal from
lists are directed to the Candidate Chaser machine's remove list
creating computer software program, which presently is ExtractorPro
Reply Man but can be any similar performing software package, so
the addresses are automatically added to the Candidate Chaser
machine's remove list and NOT forwarded to the client. Error
messages indicating nondeliverable messages are deleted and NOT
forwarded to clients.
[0057] Messages containing resumes and curriculum vitae are
forwarded to a designated resume collection electronic mail
address. Any messages that were not forwarded to the remove site or
deleted for non-delivery are forwarded to the client's personal
mail address at their mail server, for example: sally@aol.com. Mail
that doesn't match any filter is forwarded to the quality control
staffs' mail address so they can inspect it and determine whether
filters need adjustment.
[0058] Filters are set up using the "Filters" command language of
any commercially available filter capable mailing computer software
program. The following filter program is designed for a Candidate
Chaser machine using ten general purpose computers where the
computers are referenced by a sequencial labeling system with the
labels as follows: Chase101, Chase102, Chase103, Chase104,
Chase105, Chase106, Chase107, Chase108, Chase109, Chase110, where
the unit referenced as Chase101 receives messages containing
electronic mail addresses designated for addition the remove
list
[0059] 1. Checking Mail option=leave mail on server (Mail will be
removed from server by filter actions only.)
[0060] 2. Every filter is programmed to execute on "incoming" mail
only.
[0061] 2.1. Filters
[0062] 2.1.1. Removes to Chase101
[0063] 2.1.1.1. Subject contains "remove" or "spam" action equals
make subject "Remove" then action equals redirect to
chase101@.domain.com then server option equals "delete" then action
equals "Skip Rest".
[0064] 2.1.1.2. Subject contains "unsubscribe" or "junk" action
equals make subject "Remove" then action equals redirect to
chase101@domain.com then server option equals "delete" then action
equals "Skip Rest".
[0065] 2.1.1.3. Subject contains "garbage" or "trash" action equals
make subject "Remove" then action equals redirect to
chaselOl@domain.com then server option equals "delete" then action
equals "Skip Rest".
[0066] 2.1.1.4. Body contains "remove" or "spam" action equals make
subject "Remove" then action equals redirect to chase101@domain.com
then server option equals "delete" then action equals "Skip
Rest".
[0067] 2.1.1.5. Body contains "garbage" or "trash" action equals
make subject "Remove" then action equals redirect to
chase101@domain.com then server option equals "delete" then action
equals "Skip Rest".
[0068] 2.1.2. Undeliverables Deleted
[0069] 2.1.2.1. Subject contains "deliver" or "error" then action
equals server option "delete" then "Skip Rest"
[0070] 2.1.2.2. Subject contains "unknown" or "bad" then action
equals server option "delete" then "Skip Rest"
[0071] 2.1.2.3. Subject contains "illegal" or "fail" then action
equals server option "delete" then "Skip Rest"
[0072] 2.1.3. Resume attached
[0073] 2.1.3.1. Subject contains "resume" or "vitae" then action
equals redirect to resuine@domain.com
[0074] 2.1.3.2. Body contains "resume" or "vitae" then action
equals redirect to resume@domain.com
[0075] 2.1.4. Forward to customer everything not deleted and
matching their address
[0076] 2.1.4.1. To contains XXX@abcd123.com then action equals
redirect to user@theirdomain.com and server option equals delete
and action equals "Skip Rest" Notice: every client requires one of
these filters
[0077] 2.1.5. Forward non filtered items to Quality Control
Person--Theoretically nothing should be available to filter and
forward to the Quality Control Function at this point unless there
is a filter programming oversight.
[0078] 2.1.5.1. To "appears" then redirect to qc@qcdomaine.com then
server option equals delete and "Skip Rest"
[0079] Each Candidate Chaser machine is designated its own Master
User Name at a Virtual Mail Server where a domain name specific to
each machine is registered, for example "abcd123.com". ALL mail
sent to any variation of XXX@abcd123.com , where XXX represents any
designated client address assigned to that domain, is downloaded in
one batch to the mail processing computer software program by
accessing the assigned user name via the assigned POP3 channel. For
example the user "SMR" may download all mail sent to the domain
"ahcd123.com" through the POP "mailhost.yourisp.net". In this case
the ISP maintains the server on its domain called
"mailhost.yourisp.net". Often the ISP will use the MUN domain as
the POP3 channel so that it is possible to download the mail using
a user name such as "SMR" through the POP3 channel "abcd123.com" or
whatever other domain name is assigned by the ISP.
[0080] The ISP that provides the Virtual Mail Server is not
necessarily the provider of dial-up access to the server.
Therefore, one might dialup the internet using one ISP such as
Netcom to get onto the Internet Backbone and then access the
Virtual Mailserver at a different ISP. The DNS settings in the
dial-up program (usually entered in the TCP/IP settings of the
dial-up) can be from one ISP while the POP3 settings can be from
another.
[0081] Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope
[0082] Accordingly, the reader will see that the Candidate Chaser
Machine and Process automatically locates Internet site pages and
web postings which contain operator specified keywords or Boolean
combinations and then extracts all email addresses from those pages
as well as linked pages to as many linking levels as selected by
the operator and then sends a job opportunity description enclosed
in an electronic mail message to each of the extracted addresses
then receives responses from recipients of the job opportunity
message then filters those messages by reading their text and
forwards only desirable responses to the candidate seeking client's
electronic mail address thusly sparing the client interaction with
large amounts of irrelevant response while presenting viable
candidates for a given job opening.
[0083] The Candidate Chaser process does not use a static database
as its source of addresses but instead takes advantage of the
dynamic properties of the Internet where new information is added
every minute.
[0084] Job opportunity announcements are communicated to potential
candidates within hours of submission
[0085] Candidate Chaser job opportunity advertisements are
delivered directly to the worker's email box therefore she/he is
not required to search for applicable job offerings.
[0086] Workers view the Candidate Chaser job opportunity
advertisement by choice at their convenience any time night or day
since the advertisement arrives and resides in the email message
box until they take an action or their software automatically
discards it based on their previously set filters.
[0087] Job opportunity advertisements broadcast by Candidate Chaser
stimulate workers to consider new career opportunities even when
they are not actively seeking new employment thusly expanding the
universe of candidates beyond those available to the employer
through passive advertising methodologies.
[0088] Specific job opportunity ads are only broadcast to
specifically applicable individuals who made their email addresses
available on their resumes, on web pages indicating subject matter
related to the job opening or on new group postings where subjects
related to the job opening were specifically discussed.
[0089] Individuals adverse to receiving additional job opportunity
advertisements easily eliminate their addresses from any potential
future mailings by typing "remove" into the message subject heading
and executing their mail programs "reply" command
[0090] The customized harvesting of email addresses focused on the
specific needs of each job opportunity advertisement individually
results in relatively low quantities of advertisements broadcast
and therefore, much less broadcast bandwidth is wasted due to
non-applicable recipients.
[0091] The Candidate Chaser process costs less per hire to operate
than many other recruitment methods.
[0092] Responses to electronically mailed advertisements are
automatically processed through software filters presenting job
opportunity advertisers with responses from interested candidates
only.
[0093] The scope of this invention is limited to operating the
combination of types of computer hardware, types of
telecomunication hardware, and types of computer software programs
and their operation in a specified manner as described herein
consistent with achieving the objectives of the process set forth
herein. Although the description above contains many specificities,
these should not be construed as limiting the scope of invention
but as merely providing illustrations of the presently preferred
embodiments of this invention. For example, the search for web
sites containing operator specified keywords may be executed using
computer software programs not yet designed, created or available
instead of the computer software program listed in the
description.
[0094] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the
examples given.
[0095] To clarify, note that in the appended claims I use the terms
"a" and "an" to mean at least one, and "web page" to include web
pages and Internet pages, as well as internet postings such as
postings to internet chat rooms.
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