U.S. patent application number 09/973187 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-10 for system for providing business information.
Invention is credited to Osborne, Jason Daniel, Thomas, Brian Christopher.
Application Number | 20020147708 09/973187 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22686870 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020147708 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thomas, Brian Christopher ;
et al. |
October 10, 2002 |
System for providing business information
Abstract
An apparatus, method and data structure for communicating
business information, including outsourcing information.
Contractors provide information regarding their products and
services into the system. Outsourcing companies search a database
containing contractor information to determine which contractors
meet a particular search criteria. Selected contractors receive
project information and, optionally, a bid template. Bid
information is supplied to the database operator. The operator
prepares a table of bid information that is sent to the outsourcing
companies for review. Evaluation information relating to
contractors and outsourcing companies is obtained from both
outsourcing companies and contractors and stored on a database. The
evaluation information is provided to outsourcing companies and
contractors as part of the bid and project information.
Inventors: |
Thomas, Brian Christopher;
(Harrisonburg, VA) ; Osborne, Jason Daniel;
(Harrisonburg, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
International Square Building
1825 Eye Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
22686870 |
Appl. No.: |
09/973187 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09973187 |
Oct 9, 2001 |
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09186927 |
Nov 6, 1998 |
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6301574 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ;
707/999.003 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20130101;
G06Q 10/06 20130101; G06Q 40/04 20130101; Y10S 707/99931 20130101;
G06Q 30/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/3 |
International
Class: |
G06F 007/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of communicating outsourcing information between an
outsourcing company and a plurality of contractors comprising:
storing contractor information into a database; searching the
database to identify a first subset of contractors meeting specific
criteria; transmitting outsourcing information to the first subset
of contractors from the database; accepting bid information at the
database from a second subset of contractors; and transmitting
processed bid information to the outsourcing company from the
database.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset of contractors
comprises the second subset of contractors.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting outsourcing
information to the first subset of contractors further comprises
transmitting a bid template.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting processed bid
information to the outsourcing company further comprises
transmitting a bid information report.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting processed bid
information to the outsourcing company further comprises
transmitting a bid information table.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting processed bid
information to the outsourcing company further comprises
transmitting an address location on the database.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing evaluations of
users on the database.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the evaluations comprise
evaluations of contractors.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the evaluations comprise
evaluations of outsourcing companies.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting outsourcing
information to the first subset of contractors further comprises
transmitting evaluations of outsourcing companies.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting processed bid
information to the outsourcing company further comprises
transmitting evaluations of contractors.
12. An apparatus for communicating outsourcing information between
an outsourcing company and a plurality of contractors comprising: a
server computer having a storage area; a plurality of contractor
computers, each of said plurality of contractor computers
communicating contractor information to said storage area of said
server computer; and an outsourcing computer, said outsourcing
computer communicating specific criteria to said server computer;
wherein said server computer identifies and transmits outsourcing
information to a first subset of said plurality of contractor
computers, accepts bid information from a second subset of said
plurality of contractor computers, and transmits processed bid
information to said outsourcing computer.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said server computer accepts
performance evaluations from said contractor computers.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said server computer accepts
performance evaluations from said outsourcing computer.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said server computer
transmits performance evaluations to said contractor computers.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said server computer
transmits performance evaluations to said outsourcing computer.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said server computer
transmits a bid template to said first subset of said plurality of
contractor computers.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said server computer
transmits a location in said storage area containing said bid
information to said outsourcing computer.
19. An apparatus for communicating outsourcing information between
an outsourcing company and a plurality of contractors comprising: a
database; means for entering contractor information into said
database; means for searching said database to identify a first
subset of said plurality of contractors; means for transmitting
outsourcing information to said first subset of said plurality of
contractors; means for accepting bid information from a second
subset of said plurality of contractors; and means for sending
processed bid information to said outsourcing company.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising means for
accepting performance evaluations by said database.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising means for
transmitting performance evaluations from said database.
22. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising means for
transmitting a storage location on said database containing said
bid information to said outsourcing computer.
23. In a system for communicating outsourcing information between
an outsourcing company and a plurality of contractors, a
computer-readable memory for storing data for access by an
application program comprising: a data structure stored in said
computer-readable memory, said data structure including information
used by said application program and including: a plurality of
contractor information fields; a plurality of criteria fields used
to search said plurality of contractor information fields; a
plurality of first subset fields for identifying a first subset of
said plurality of contractors; a plurality of outsourcing
information fields for sending said outsourcing information to said
first subset of said plurality of contractors; a plurality of bid
fields for accepting bid information from a second subset of said
plurality of contractors; and a plurality of bid information table
fields for placing bid information for review by said outsourcing
company.
24. The data structure of said computer-readable memory of claim 23
wherein said first subset of contractors comprises said second
subset of contractors.
25. The data structure of said computer-readable memory of claim 23
wherein said plurality of outsourcing information fields further
comprises a bid template.
26. The data structure of said computer-readable memory of claim 23
wherein said plurality of bid information table fields further
comprises a bid information report.
27. The data structure of said computer-readable memory of claim 23
wherein said plurality of bid information table fields further
comprises a bid information table.
28. The data structure of said computer-readable memory of claim 23
further comprising an address field for sending said outsourcing
company an address location of said plurality of bid information
table fields.
29. The data structure of said computer-readable memory of claim 23
further comprising a plurality of evaluation fields to permit
evaluation of said plurality of contractors.
30. The data structure of said computer-readable memory of claim 23
further comprising a plurality of evaluation fields to permit
evaluation of said outsourcing company.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates in general to an apparatus, method and
data structure for providing business information, including
outsourcing information, to assist businesses in meeting their
needs for providing and obtaining a variety of services. More
particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus, method and
data structure for facilitating communications between contractors
and outsourcing companies that include marketing and search
mechanisms, bid management, contractor and outsourcing company
assessment, and other various features.
[0002] Recently, businesses have turned increasingly to outsourcing
work that would be either cost-prohibitive to do in-house or
outside of their primary business. Because most outsourcing
companies currently use only a few, select contractors with whom
they have close ties, significant inefficiencies exist that result
in a glut of smaller firms not having access to these outsourcing
companies. Further, outsourcing companies are denied competitive
pricing due to a limited pool of contractors and occasionally have
difficulty finding qualified applicants to perform highly skilled
work.
[0003] Businesses can also use a middleman or broker to aide their
procurement of services. A broker's success is highly dependent on
access to market information regarding various goods or services.
Although brokers can procure goods and services at reasonable rates
and can save time for outsourcing companies, brokers are expensive
and their expertise is typically limited to a particular industry
or a limited number of industries. To the extent that buyers and
sellers of goods and services have access to market information,
they can procure goods and services at market; however, gaining
such access is a time-intensive activity.
[0004] Buyers and sellers can also use umbrella firms to outsource
various projects. Umbrella firms seek to establish a contractual
relationship with outsourcing firms, who are generally searching
for six-to thirty-six-month contracts. The umbrella firms profit by
receiving contracts and distributing the contracts to the firms
working under their umbrellas. Often, the umbrella firms provide
some traditional business services such as bookkeeping, accounting,
and billing to the other firms under the umbrella.
[0005] The deficiencies associated with past methods, including the
use of brokers and umbrella firms, are that they are time
intensive, utilize slow processes, draw from a limited pool of
contractors, are expensive, and are inefficient.
[0006] The foregoing demonstrates that there is a need for an
invention which greatly reduces the time required to identify and
procure services, improves pricing due to substantial competition,
and accomplishes these goals at competitive prices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention satisfies the need and avoids the drawbacks of
the prior art by providing an apparatus, method and data structure
that set forth an interactive venue for firms of all sizes, both to
showcase their talent and to identify contractors meeting their
outsourcing requirements. Outsourcing companies may be provided
with access to a network of independent contractors, both in order
to find new business and to contract work out. Access to this
network condenses the process of locating and hiring independent
contractors from weeks or months into an afternoon. In addition to
the time savings associated with the procurement of services, the
invention provides cost benefits in that the existence of a
substantial pool of available contractors eliminates the inflated
billing rates that may result from a lack of competition. Due to
the economies of scale for business information, the invention can
accomplish the above goals at a competitive cost. The invention
also offers an assortment of databases to enable firms to locate
information and solutions to an abundance of business problems and
opportunities.
[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for
and a method of communicating outsourcing information between an
outsourcing company and a plurality of contractors are set forth.
The apparatus and method may include the structure for and steps of
logging onto an on-line database by each of the plurality of
contractors, inserting contractor information into a plurality of
requisite fields in a form provided by the on-line database by each
of the plurality of contractors, and storing the contractor
information in the on-line database. A user--such as an outsourcing
company--may conduct a search on the on-line database for
outsourcing information using skill criteria and may select a
subset of contractors to receive outsourcing information associated
with the outsourcing opportunity. The system may then
preferentially transmit the outsourcing information and a bid form
to the subset of contractors, accept bid information from a further
subset of contractors, place the bid information in a report, and
send the outsourcing company the report or an address identifying
the location of the report on the database to permit the
outsourcing company to compare and contrast the bid information
received from the contractors.
[0009] The outsourcing company may limit its search to a specific
universe of contractors or may choose to simply identify all
contractors meeting its search criteria. System users, including
contractors and outsourcing companies, may provide an assessment of
a project, contractor or outsourcing company by entering
information into an evaluation form which may be accessed by future
users. The apparatus and method may include assigning passwords to
users to allow future use of the system and the option of entering
a sales associate identification number so that sales commissions
may be tracked.
[0010] In another aspect of the invention, a system for
communicating outsourcing information between an outsourcing
company and a contractor contains a computer-readable memory for
storing data for access by an application program and includes a
data structure stored in the computer-readable memory. The data
structure may include information used by the application program
and may contain a log-in field having log-in information associated
with each of the plurality of contractors; a plurality of
contractor information fields for inserting contractor information
into a form by each of the plurality of contractors; and a
plurality of specific skill criteria fields for searching the
plurality of contractor information fields. Additionally, the data
structure may include a plurality of first subset fields for
identifying a first subset of the plurality of contractors to
receive the outsourcing information; a plurality of outsourcing
information fields for sending the outsourcing information and,
optionally, a bid form to the first subset of the plurality of
contractors; a plurality of bid fields for accepting bid
information from a second subset of the plurality of contractors on
the bid form; a bid information table field for placing the bid
information; and an address field for identifying an address of the
bid information table to permit the outsourcing company to compare
and contrast the bid information received from the second subset of
the contractors.
[0011] The data structure of the computer-readable memory may
include a password assigning field for assigning a password to
outsourcing companies and contractors; and a sales associate field
for entering a sales associate number. The data structure of the
computer-readable memory may also include a plurality of evaluation
fields for providing evaluation forms to permit a plurality of
users to comment on and evaluate the on-line database and the
plurality of users, including outsourcing companies and
contractors, wherein the completed evaluation forms may be routed
to a controller of the on-line database for future access by
users.
[0012] The plurality of first subset fields may be used for
selecting a first subset of contractors in an automatic or manual
mode. The automatic mode permits selection of a set number of
contractors meeting the specific skill criteria of the outsourcing
company. In the manual mode, the outsourcing company may limit its
search to specifically identified contractors.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a client-server network for a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a flow of data entry and
transmission for a preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates typical data entered by a contractor and
transmitted to the database according to the principles of the
invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates typical skill criteria entered by an
outsourcing company and transmitted to the database according to
the principles of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a typical search results template that is
transmitted to an outsourcing company according to the principles
of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a typical bid template transmitted to a
selected contractor according to the principles of the
invention.
[0019] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate bid information reports generated
based upon contractors' submitted bid information according to the
principles of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates a contractor evaluation template useful
for providing contractor assessment by outsourcing companies
according to the principles of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 9 illustrates an evaluation report for contractors
according to the principles of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 10 illustrates an outsourcing company evaluation
template for providing assessment of an outsourcing company by
contractors according to the principles of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 11 illustrates an evaluation report for outsourcing
companies according to the principles of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 12 illustrates a sales associate template for entering
pertinent sales associate information according to the principles
of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a system 10 for communicating outsourcing
information according to one aspect of the invention. The system 10
depicted in FIG. 1 includes a server 12 having a memory 14, and a
database 16 defined in the memory 14. The server 12 may be an ALPHA
server, a minicomputer, a microcomputer, a UNIX machine, a
mainframe computer, a personal computer with an Intel Pentium
processor, a Macintosh personal computer, or any other suitable
computer. The memory 14 is preferably non-volatile (e.g., CD-ROM,
hard disk, tape drive, etc.). The server 12 has a central
processing unit (CPU) 18, input devices such as a keyboard and
mouse (not shown), output devices such as a monitor and printer
(not shown), random access memory (RAM) 20, read-only memory (ROM)
22, serial and parallel ports (not shown), and communication
hardware 24. The communication hardware 24 may connect the server
12 to the Internet. In a preferred embodiment, the server 12 is a
World Wide Web server connected to the Internet. Preferably, the
server 12 has an operating system that is capable of multiple users
and multi-tasking, such as UNIX, Windows NT, or LINUX. FIG. 1 also
demonstrates the inclusion of one or more client machines 26 which
communicate with the server 12. FIG. 1 does not disclose the
specific interconnections between and among the various components
in the server as this information is well known.
[0026] The client machines 26 may be connected to the server 12 by
communication links 28. The communication links 28 between the
server 12 and the client machines 26 may include a large variety of
connections, including a telephone link, a hard-wired connection, a
satellite link or other wireless connection, an Internet
connection, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN),
any combination of the preceding, or any other suitable type of
connection. Multiple client machines 26 may communicate
simultaneously with the server 12, and each connection may be by a
different type of link (e.g., one connection may be by telephone
while another may be by the Internet). As discussed above, the
server 12 connects to communication links 28 via communication
hardware 24.
[0027] After a link is established between the server 12 and a
client machine 26, communication may take place via a variety of
communication protocols, including file transfer protocol (FTP),
electronic mail (e-mail), transfer control protocol/Internet
protocol (TCP/IP), ASCII, X-MODEM, Y-MODEM, KERMIT, any combination
of the preceding protocols, or any other suitable type of
protocol.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the server 12 is an ALPHA server.
With this platform, CPUs, memory, networking capabilities, storage,
and software may be modified as appropriate to meet specific
requirements. One preferred platform is an ALPHA 2000 4/275, which
features 128 MB of memory, a CD-ROM drive, a 4.3 GB redundant array
of independent disks (RAID), an 8 GB tape backup, and a 100 base-T
network interface. The selection of a suitable server requires
consideration of CPU speed as well as disk subsystem performance
and network bandwidth. For example, a disk with a 7200 RPM
rotational speed may be a suitable disk subsystem. Once the RAID is
selected (RAID 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5), the size of the database and
its projected growth must be analyzed as part of the known design
considerations.
[0029] The database on the server 12 may be of any suitable type.
One type of server commonly used for large database applications is
Oracle. Oracle is an extremely powerful and flexible relational
database system. Procedural Language/Standard Query Language
(PL/SQL) is a sophisticated programming language used to access the
Oracle database from various environments. The Oracle database
combines the power and flexibility of SQL (a fourth generation
language (4GL)) with the procedural constructs of a third
generation language (3GL). PL/SQL is integrated with the database
server, so that the PL/SQL code may be processed quickly and
efficiently. Another important tool that PL/SQL provides is
designed for data manipulation both internally (i.e., within
Oracle) and externally in applications.
[0030] PL/SQL extends regular SQL by adding constructs found in
other procedural languages. Another advantage of PL/SQL is that
several SQL statements may be bundled together into one PL/SQL
block and sent to the server as a single unit. This results in
considerably lowered network traffic and a much faster
application.
[0031] Another preferred database that may be employed is Oracle8i
. The Oracle8i database is useful for Internet applications and
manages the content, data and files typically managed by an
operating system. Oracle8i has a Java Virtual Machine, a native
Java compiler and a feature called Internet File System (iFS),
which provides the ability to store, query and manage a wide range
of relational and non-relational data within the database. iFS,
written in Java, allows users to store 164 data types, including
spreadsheets, word processing documents, Web pages and e-mail,
within the database and retrieve them either in native file format
or in HyperText Markup Language (HTML) through a browser. iFS
indexes each file automatically and gives users enhanced security,
database search capabilities, backup and recovery.
[0032] Other features in Oracle8i include WebDB, a environment run
through a browser that enables developers to dynamically generate
Web content and pages; SQLJ, a programming syntax that embeds SQL
database statements into client or server Java code; and
interMedia, a system for managing rich data types used over the
Web. Of course, other database systems may be utilized according to
the invention.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, a
contractor uses a client machine 26 to connect to the server 12 via
a communication link 28. The contractor may then log onto the
database 16, as seen at step 100. Optionally, a password may be
required of the contractor, as seen at step 110. If a password is
required and the contractor has not used the system previously, as
seen at step 120, the contractor is given a password by the server
12, as seen at step 130; otherwise the contractor must enter a
password, as seen at step 140. Another optional feature is that the
contractor may enter a sales associate identification number
corresponding to an agent who procured the contractor's use of the
system, as seen at steps 150 and 160. FIG. 2A does not illustrate
additional steps for repeating the requests for a password and a
sales associate number if the contractor enters incorrect data, as
these additional steps are known. A contractor who has used the
system previously has the option of editing or deleting the
contractor's record (not shown).
[0034] After logging onto the server 12, a contractor may enter
pertinent information into the database 16 concerning the
contractor, including the contractor's field of business, length of
time in business, number of employees, dates and times of
availability, etc., as seen at step 170. An example of the various
data entered by the contractor at step 170 is shown in FIG. 3. A
wide variety of data may be entered at step 170 and is not limited
to the types listed above. For example, other information may
include placing the fee for routine services in the contractor's
business description, pricing for limited periods of time, special
offers, and the like.
[0035] An outsourcing company may connect to the server 12 from a
client machine 26 via a communication link 28, as is seen at step
200. Optionally, the outsourcing company may also be required to
enter a password or other identifying information, including a
sales associate identification number, as discussed above (not
shown). Once connected, the outsourcing company may enter specific
skill criteria indicating the qualifications required of a
contractor into the database 16. This is seen at step 210. An
example of skill criteria that may be entered by the outsourcing
company is demonstrated in FIG. 4. Steps 200 and 210 are
independent from steps 100-170. Therefore, steps 200 and 210 may be
performed by one or more outsourcing companies before, during or
after any of steps 100-170 are performed by one or more
contractors.
[0036] Once the contractor information is entered into the database
16 by one or more contractors, a search may be performed using
server 12 to identify contractors meeting the skill criteria
specified by the outsourcing company at step 210. This search is
seen at step 220. For example, the outsourcing company may be
seeking contractors who (1) perform carpentry work, (2) have more
than 25 employees, (3) are available during January 1999, and (4)
have more than ten years' experience. Other examples include
looking for a programmer to provide a payroll program in C++ in two
weeks, a designer to provide a graphic design of a logo in a month,
and the like. It is understood that this search may take place on
the server 12 whether or not any contractors or outsourcing
companies are currently logged into the server 12. Once the search
of the database 16 is performed for the specific skill criteria, a
list of contractors may be identified who will receive the
outsourcing information requested by the outsourcing company, as is
seen at step 230. One form of a typical listing of contractors
identified in a search is illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0037] The server 12 may then transmit the outsourcing information
to the selected contractors along with a bid template, as is seen
at step 240. The bid template may be a form which contains data
fields that must be filled in by a contractor if that contractor is
interested in bidding on a job, as is seen in FIG. 6. The
transmission of outsourcing information to the selected contractors
is preferably done via e-mail but may be accomplished using another
type of communication protocol.
[0038] Once those in the group of selected contractors that choose
to submit a bid have done so, the bid information may be
transmitted back to the server 12, and accepted by the server 12,
as is seen at step 250. The accepted bids are processed and may
then be placed in a table of bid information, as is seen at step
260. An example of the contents of the table of bid information is
shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.
[0039] The table of bid information or, alternatively, an address
of the location of such a table is then sent to the outsourcing
company via a communication protocol such as e-mail. This is seen
at step 270. From this table, the outsourcing company may then
select a contractor with whom it wishes to do business. Even if the
outsourcing company is unable to immediately select a contractor,
the outsourcing company has substantially reduced the pool of
possibilities to a select number of "choice" contractors.
[0040] As discussed above, contractors may place outsourcing
information regarding services into the system. An example of a
useful contractor template 2100 that may be employed according to
the principles of the invention is depicted in FIG. 3. Contractor
template 2100 supplies a contact name field 2110; company name
field 2120; contact title field 2125; address fields 2130, 2131,
2132, 2133, 2134; e-mail address field 2140; phone field 2150; and
fax field 2160. Occupational classification field 2170 preferably
contains a menu of occupations, such as Accountants and Auditors,
Advertising and Promotions Managers, Aerospace Engineers, and the
like. Products and/or services field 2180 permits the contractor to
submit key words and phrases describing offered services. Territory
field 2190 provides menu choices, such as local, statewide,
nationwide, and global, to allow the contractor to communicate the
size of the market serviced. Company description 2200 contains
information similar to that of products and/or services field 2180,
but allows for prose. Password field 2210 allows the contractor to
enter a password that may be used to re-enter the system at a later
time without the necessity of again providing company information,
such as company address, phone number, and the like. Selection of
the submit button 2220 permits the contractor information to be
placed on the system. Save button 2230 allows the contractor to
save entered information without submitting the information to the
system. This permits the contractor to save a partially completed
template 2100, re-enter the system at some time in the future,
complete the contractor information and submit the contractor
information to the system without having to resubmit any
information previously entered.
[0041] As described above, when a company seeks to outsource work,
it may log onto the system 10 to search for contractors. An example
of an outsourcing search template 2300 is depicted in FIG. 4. In
this embodiment, the outsourcing company may enter corporate
information in contact name field 2310; company name field 2320;
contact title field 2330; address fields 2340, 2341, 2342, 2343,
2344; e-mail address field 2350; phone field 2360; and fax field
2370. With respect to the outsourced work or project, the
outsourcing company may enter general information in outsourcing
title field 2380, outsourcing description field 2390, cost estimate
field 2400, and time estimate field 2410. Outsourcing occupational
classification field 2420 tracks occupational classification field
2170 and preferably contains a similar menu, such as Accountants
and Auditors, Advertising and Promotions Managers, Aerospace
Engineers, and the like. A products and/or services field 2430 may
be provided for the entry of key words and phrases describing
required services. Results field 2440 includes two choices:
automatic and manual. In the automatic mode, the outsourcing
company selects the maximum number of contractors it would like to
consider. In contrast, the manual mode permits the outsourcing
company to select the specific contractors it wishes to consider.
Search template 2300 employs a member identification number field
2450 and a password field 2460 which allows subsequent access to
the outsourcing search request. Search now button 2470 initiates an
immediate search, and save button 2480 permits partially created
search criteria to be saved for a future search.
[0042] FIG. 5 demonstrates one manner of communicating the search
results according to the invention through the employment of search
results template 2700. Search results template 2700 includes
company fields 2710, 2720, 2730, 2740; location fields 2711, 2721,
2731, 2741; territory fields 2712, 2722, 2732, 2742; occupational
classification fields 2713, 2723, 2733, 2743; products and/or
services fields 2714, 2724, 2734, 2744; and company description
fields 2715, 2725, 2735, 2745, which correspond to fields 2120,
2130-34, 2190, 2170, 2180 and 2200, respectively, as discussed
above. FIG. 5 is illustrative of a search that produced four
contractors. It is understood that a greater or fewer number of
contractors may be found based on the search criteria of the
outsourcing company.
[0043] FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred bid template 2500 according
to the principles of the invention. Bid template 2500 may be
utilized to provide the outsourcing information submitted by an
outsourcing company to each contractor meeting the search criteria
of the outsourcing company. Bid template 2500 includes an
outsourcing company field 2510; location field 2520; outsourcing
title field 2530; outsourcing description field 2540; cost estimate
field 2550; time estimate field 2560; and occupational
classification field 2570. These fields contain information as
received from an outsourcing company and correspond to fields 2320,
2340-44, 2380, 2390, 2400, 2410 and 2420, respectively, as
discussed above. The contractor may enter information responsive to
the outsourcing request in contractor company field 2580,
contractor cost estimate field 2590, contractor time estimate field
2600, and contractor comments field 2610. Contractor company field
2580 may be a menu of contractors selected by the outsourcing
company. Submit button 2620 may be provided to permit a
contractor's bid information to be conveyed to the system 10.
[0044] FIG. 7A depicts a bid information report 2900, which
provides a suitable form to convey bid information from contractors
to an outsourcing company. The outsourcing company may select a
contractor from the bidding company field 2910, which may include a
menu of bidding contractors. Based on this selection, cost estimate
fields 2920, 2921, time estimate fields 2930, 2931, bidding
contractor's comments field 2940, bidding contractor's name field
2950, e-mail field 2951, phone field 2952, and fax field 2953 are
displayed to correspond with the selected contractor. Using bid
information report 2900, an outsourcing company may quickly obtain
a bidding contractor's cost, time, comments and contact
information. Another manner of reporting bid information is
demonstrated in FIG. 7B. As illustrated, bid information table 3000
simultaneously presents bid information from a plurality of
contractors. Alternatively, the system 10 could send the
outsourcing company an address to view bid information report 2900,
bid information table 3000, or the like. The address could be, for
example, a uniform resource locator (URL).
[0045] FIG. 8 provides a contractor evaluation template 4000
according to the principles of the invention. After the outsourced
work is completed, an outsourcing company may enter evaluation
information into the contractor evaluation template 4000 so that
the contractor performance may be reviewed by other users. It is
understood that an evaluation may include any number of
considerations and that the following are merely illustrative. For
example, the contractor evaluation template 4000 depicted in FIG. 8
includes a contractor name field 4100, outsourcing company contact
name 4110, outsourcing company name field 4120, and outsourcing
company contact title 4130. In this example, contractor evaluation
template 4000 permits the outsourcing company to assess contractor
performance, including overall performance field 4140, timing field
4150, budget field 4160, managerial role field 4170, contract term
field 4180, recommendation field 4190 and comments field 4191.
After entering information in the above fields, the outsourcing
company may select the submit button 4195 to transfer its
assessment of a contractor's work on a particular project to the
system 10.
[0046] A user may enter the system 10 to gather information
regarding a particular contractor. For example, an outsourcing
company may want an assessment of a contractor before accepting a
bid from that contractor on a given project. FIG. 9 presents one
suitable report form 5000 which includes a performance field 5010,
timing field 5020, budget field 5030, managerial role field 5040,
recommendation field 5050 and comments field 5060 for a selected
contractor entered into contractor field 5070. These fields
correspond to the fields illustrated in FIG. 8. Of course, report
form 5000 may include a statistical analysis of the reported fields
of a particular company and a comparison to all contractors,
contractors within a particular class, contractors evaluated by a
particular outsourcing company, and the like that may facilitate
understanding of the reported information.
[0047] Likewise a contractor may enter evaluation information
regarding an outsourcing company to allow review by other users.
One suitable outsourcing evaluation template 6000 is demonstrated
in FIG. 10 according to the principles of the invention. After the
outsourced work is completed, a contractor may enter evaluation
information into the outsourcing company evaluation template 6000
so that the outsourcing company performance may be reviewed by
other users. It is understood that outsourcing company evaluation
template 6000 is merely illustrative and that a variety of other of
considerations may be useful according to the principles of the
invention. The outsourcing company evaluation template 6000
depicted in FIG. 10 includes outsourcing company name field 6100,
contractor contact name field 6110, contractor name field 6120, and
contractor contact title field 6130. In this example, outsourcing
company evaluation template 6000 permits a contractor to assess
outsourcing company performance, including recommendation field
6140, timely payment field 6150, defined goals/objectives field
6160, availability and readiness to aid and assist field 6170,
importance field 6180, openness to suggestions field 6190,
compatibility field 6200 and comments field 6210. After entering
information in the above fields, the contractor may select the
submit button 6220 to transfer its assessment of an outsourcing
company on a particular project to the system 10.
[0048] A user may enter the system 10 to obtain information
regarding a particular outsourcing company. A contractor may review
assessments of an outsourcing company before deciding whether to
bid on a particular project or may use the assessment information
as factor in estimating the time or pricing of a bid. FIG. 11
presents one suitable report form 7000 for an outsourcing company
that includes a recommendation field 7010, timely payment field
7020, defined goals/objectives field 7030, availability and
readiness to aid and assist field 7040, importance field 7050,
openness to suggestions field 7060, compatibility field 7070 and
comments field 7080 for a selected outsourcing company entered into
outsourcing company field 7090. These fields correspond to the
fields illustrated in FIG. 10. As described above, report form 7000
may include a statistical analysis of the reported fields of a
particular company and a comparison to all outsourcing companies,
those within a particular class, those as evaluated by a particular
user, and the like that may facilitate understanding of the
reported information.
[0049] Sales associates earn commissions and awards based on their
level of developed business. As such, when users employ the system
10, as a result of communication with a particular sales associate,
users may be requested to enter a sales associate identification
number. These numbers are typically provided by the system 10. In a
preferred embodiment, a sales associate completes a sales associate
template 9000, which is illustrated in FIG. 12, and receives an
identification number thereafter. Sales associate template 9000
provides name fields 9010, 9011, 9012; address fields 9020, 9021,
9022, 9023; phone field 9030; e-mail address field 9040; and, for
tax purposes, Social Security number field 9050.
[0050] Regarding the depicted templates, forms and reports of the
invention, it is understood that a fewer or greater number of
fields may be employed by adding or subtracting choices or by
consolidating or expanding choices as desired. Additionally, it is
further understood that certain of the fields may substitute menu
selections or a lookup table for text entry fields or vice versa,
according to the design criteria of the application. Save and reset
buttons may be used in combination with one or more of the
templates, forms, and reports. A sales associate number field may
also be provided in contractor template 2100, search template 2300
or any other template to facilitate the award of commissions and
incentives to the appropriate sales associate, representative or
agent. A field may be provided to allow files to be entered into a
template, such as a building plan or schematic diagram, to
facilitate understanding of a project or a user. A feedback
submission field may be preferably provided so that users may
convey assessment information of the system 10 to the controller of
the system 10 so that the system 10 may be continually
improved.
[0051] The invention may be advantageously combined with a number
of databases, such as a rsumr database, an on-line stock statistics
database, an interactive bulletin board database, and an on-line
newspaper database. An example of a rsumr database system is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,324, to Hartman et al., the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety,
which may enable firms to determine solutions to their long-term
labor needs. A stock statistics database would allow a user to run
a regression of various stocks to evaluate the cyclical nature of a
given stock and compare the results with, for example, the Dow
Jones Average or the New York Stock Exchange Total Market Index. An
electronic bulletin board database may be used to create a national
business forum, focusing on Internet commerce, to provide a
platform for the growth of corporations that need access to
networks and venture capital. An on-line newspaper database may be
used in conjunction with a searching device to conduct searches of
on-line news archives and newspapers of the world and to e-mail the
link (e.g., the URL) identified by the searching device to a
results template that categorizes the location of identified
articles of interest for each user into such headings as financial,
world news, sports, etc. The combination of these databases with
the invention provides a diversity of services that allows a
one-stop-shopping venue for businesses. The invention also allows
users to specialize their research within one domain, thus allowing
them the ability to perform more efficient searches from a larger
pool of information. Thus, the invention provides a node for those
wishing to offer services to the global marketplace, and those
seeking work, employees, venture capital, important news, and
extensive business information.
[0052] Another database useful in combination with the invention is
an on-line business journal database. The business journal
database, in combination with system 10, may preferably commission
and publish articles on topics receiving the greatest interest on
the bulletin board through the utilization of a screening
mechanism. For example, the screening mechanism may alphabetize all
words entered into the bulletin board along with the number of
times each word appears. A list of words organized from the
greatest use to least use may then be prepared in a report form
after eliminating words such as "a," "the," "that," and the like.
The most commonly used words, which correspond to current topics,
may form the basis of research and publication by the system 10.
Additionally, the system 10 may publish graduate work relating to
economics and business.
[0053] The invention may also be useful for facilitating firms
seeking venture capital funds and those seeking to invest in such
firms. Firms seeking venture capital finding may enter their
business plans or key information into a database which may then be
searched by investors who select firms, send information to those
firms through the database, and receive responses using modified
forms, templates and reports of the invention. Conversely,
investors may enter investment criteria onto a database, and firms
seeking capital may search the database to identify appropriate
investors. The transmission of templates between the firms and
investors may then be accomplished according to the principles of
the invention. In a similar fashion, firms seeking to identify
joint venture partners, or merger and acquisition targets, may
enter company information so that others may search this
information to identify potential partners and acquisition targets.
Of course, the system 10 would necessarily need to comply with
state and federal laws and regulations, and it is likely that
confidentiality agreements and the like would be supplied.
[0054] In another aspect, insurance companies may enter general
information regarding health care, disability, automobile, home,
and the like, into a database that may be searched by individuals
and companies. Individual and company information may be
transmitted to selected insurers that respond via the database
using modified templates that are particular to the insurance
industry according to the invention.
[0055] In still another aspect, companies may enter job openings
that may be searched by potential employees who may send skill
information and/or rsumrs to the companies using the templates and
processing of the invention modified to the area of job transfers.
The invention may also be useful to match shipping companies with
those having shipping needs and those wishing to identify firms and
forward and spot rates for the exchange of foreign currency.
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