Patent ID: 7853602
Filing Date: 2010-12-14
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for determining an expert, the expert being a person knowledgeable about a subject matter, using an enhanced enterprise directory having an index, the method comprising: building an index by searching email information, calendering information and desktop information of a plurality of users, wherein a user of the plurality of users can block the searching of at least one of the email information, calendering information and desktop information by making a designation to exclude at least one of the email information, calendering information and desktop information from the searching; receiving a user search term from a user; searching the index for at least one expert based upon the user search term; ranking the at least one expert by an activity factor and a reputation factor; wherein the activity factor is a relevancy factor based upon the frequency in which the user search term was found within the index and associated with the expert; wherein the reputation factor is a relevancy factor based on the frequency in which the expert has been contacted previously regarding the subject matter of the user search term; compiling a search result based on the ranking; and transmitting the search result to the user.