Patent ID: 7519542
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for selecting a contact path between a first member of an organization and a target individual, the method comprising: storing in a memory data associated with multiple members of the organization, wherein the data includes data that directly states one or more areas of expertise for the multiple members of the organization and the target individual is one of the multiple members of the organization; tracking network communications of the members of the organization; analyzing a level of interaction between the members of the organization based on the network communications to develop a people network; receiving data indicating an area of expertise desired by the first member of the organization; processing, using a computer system, the data that directly states the one or more areas of expertise for the multiple members of the organization to identify at least one or more target individuals of the organization, wherein the data associated with each target individual states that the target individual has expertise in the area of expertise desired by the first member of the organization; determining, using a computer system, a contact path between the first member of the organization and at least one of the one or more target individuals, the contact path including one or more members of the organization having at least a predetermined level of interaction with at least one of the first member and at least one of the target individuals and the contact path identifies one or more members of the organization that represent a proposed path through the people network for the first member to contact at least one of the target individuals, wherein the one or members of the contact path are distinct from the first member and the target individual; and providing the contact path to the first member.