Abstract:
An online profile management system and method is disclosed that provides users with management and control over the presentation and distribution of their online profiles. The system can enable a user to create a professional profile for purposes such as job seeking, career management and/or professional networking, for example. The online profile can cut out time and expense for both an applicant and employer by combining an applicant&#39;s resume, interview audio and video, and a digital career portfolio into a compelling package hosted on a single, easy-to-use Web page. The Internet-based profile can also enable professionals to build and manage an online career portfolio that comes alive with informational keyword pop-ups, video, pictures, and social networking. The system can enable secure sharing of the online profile and interaction with others for purposes of networking, discussing best practices, career progression and business development, for example.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/955,573, filed Aug. 13, 2007, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This relates to online user profiles, and more particularly, to managing and controlling the presentation and distribution of online user profiles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The Internet has revolutionized entire industries by organizing and delivering robust information using a simple multimedia interface. While the Internet has primarily enabled businesses to operate more efficiently, for employers, the Internet has overwhelmed them with a continuous supply of job applicants and resumes. Prior to the Internet, applicants would either hand-deliver or postage-mail resumes for advertised jobs. Now, both qualified and unqualified worldwide applicants simultaneously submit their resumes over the Internet to a multitude of jobs. As a result, employers receive many times more resumes than in the past and have difficulty discerning qualified applicants from unqualified. Ironically, applicants can once again distinguish themselves by sending a postage-based paper resume directly to an employer. 
         [0004]    Resumes lack a standard format and contain varying degrees of details and structure often resulting in subjective interpretation of content and qualification. Therefore, employers must perform additional research to determine the relevancy of past experience, skills, and employers with respect to a job opportunity. In addition, an unqualified applicant may acquire the necessary education, skills, and experience for a job within a short period of time. Since employers retain outdated versions of resumes, an applicant&#39;s more recently acquired qualifications can remain unknown to the employers. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, the static and text-based resume document has become an inefficient and time-consuming way for applicants to effectively represent themselves to employers. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An online profile management system is disclosed that can provide users with management and control over the presentation and distribution of their online profiles. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the system can enable a user to create a professional profile for purposes such as job seeking, career management and/or professional networking, for example. The online profile can cut out time and expense for both an applicant and employer by combining an applicant&#39;s resume, interview audio and video, and a digital career portfolio into a compelling package hosted on a single, easy-to-use Web page. The Internet-based profile can also enable professionals to build and manage an online career portfolio that comes alive with informational keyword pop-ups, video, pictures, and social networking. The system can enable secure sharing of the online profile and interaction with others for purposes of networking, discussing best practices, career progression and business development, for example. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a network architecture in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of profile generation process in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a structure of an online profile in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a structure of multiple versions of an online profile in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a version control process in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a notification control process in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example of an authorization control process in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example of single command notification process in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  illustrates an example of profile view tracking process in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  illustrates an example of a profile distribution process in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  illustrates an example of a profile verification process in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate an example of a user dashboard in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 13A-13C  illustrate an example of a profile generation user interface in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  illustrates an example of computing device in accordance with one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that enables users to manage and control the presentation and distribution of online profiles. The online profiles can represent any type of entity, such as an individual or organization for example. 
         [0023]    In one aspect, an online profile can enable individuals to distinguish themselves professionally by presenting their background and qualifications in a unique and compelling interactive format. The online profile can replace the traditional resume document with rich multimedia content on a network, such as on a website on the Internet, for example. While a traditional resume typically consists of a one or two page format, an online profile is not constrained by length but instead can provides great depth of details, information, and verified sources. 
         [0024]    To create an online profile, an individual can electronically upload a current resume or CV into the system, or create one from scratch by manually supplying information into the system. The information can be stored in a database whereby the individual can later update the online profile with additional information in the form of text, images, charts, video, audio and multimedia documents (e.g., PowerPoint presentations), for example. The system can also provide a variety of templates and background color schemas, for example, from which the individual may select to customize the online profile&#39;s look-and-feel. 
         [0025]    The system can provide access control mechanisms in connection with the viewing and dissemination of the online profile. For example, the system can enable an individual to share the online profile directly with another individual or organization associated with the system or across a network. The system can require authentication of an entity requesting to view the online profile, and restrict unauthorized access to profile information indicated as private. The system can also enable the individual to create and maintain multiple versions of the online profile, and share the different versions of the online profile with different entities as specified by the individual. 
         [0026]    The system can further provide verification mechanisms in connection with the online profile. For example, the system can verify claims or representations made in user-supplied profile information. The system can also embed verified information supporting those claims into the online profile (e.g., definitions of acronyms, terms, organization information, etc.). The system can also incorporate into the online profile validation information that certifies credentials identified in the user-supplied profile information (e.g., education and professional licenses). The validation information can be provided by a third party verification service and be incorporated into the online profile in a secure manner. 
         [0027]    The online profile can also serve as a career portfolio—a central repository for professional information representing an individual&#39;s entire career. The portfolio information provided by the individual can be maintained by the individual and owned by the individual. With this portfolio, rather than being primarily “event driven” by the individual, the online profile can be “career driven” in the sense that it allows for the individual to maintain a presence and networking capability with key organizations regardless of the individual&#39;s current professional status. This manner of brand management can be achieved, for example, by incorporating the network address for the individual&#39;s online profile in the individual&#39;s e-mail signature line and/or business cards, for example. The system can also further this “career driven” aspect of the online profile by providing a notification process that would alert the individual when a professional certification identified in the online portfolio is due for renewal, for example. 
         [0028]    The system can further provide data portability in connection with the online profile. In one embodiment, the system can enable an individual to synchronize online profiles maintained by the individual at different network locations (e.g., in different online communities). In another embodiment, the system can enable the individual to convert the online profile to or from other platforms such as social networking sites, job boards, Applicant Tracking Systems and Talent Management Systems, for example. The system can enable the conversion of entire resume databases to the format of the online profile, and enable automatic updates to those databases when desired by individuals. Accordingly, at the discretion of the individual, the online profile can automatically update organizations and resume databases selected by the individual, ensuring that information is fresh and maintained at those locations. Without this option, individuals would find it difficult to update multiple sites and would eventually begin to opt-out of manually updating multiple destinations—creating a disadvantage for both individuals and organizations. 
         [0029]    Organizations and other entities can also generate online profiles on the system. The system can provide an electronic marketplace in which individuals and organizations can search for and/or be matched with one another based on information provided in their respective online profiles. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, a system hosting the online profile and implementing the associated functionality described above may command revenue from at least two sources: the individual (via the use of the system in generating and providing an online profile or in providing other services, such as resume writing help, background check certification, and candidate searches for example) and the organization (via the ability to access or perhaps host the system for example). 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a network architecture in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , profile management system  120  generally corresponds to the system described above, and clients  100   a - 100   n  comprise computers operated by users of system  120  to access and manage online profiles hosted by system  120  over network  105 . Profile management system  120  can include server  130  and database  140 . Database  140  can store, for example, the content comprising users&#39; online profiles. Server  130  can implement the functionality of system  120  as described herein corresponding to the generation and management of the users&#39; online profiles. In the following embodiments, user  205  and user  505  can represent users of system  120 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of profile generation process in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , user  205  can upload (step  200 ) an electronic copy of a profile document (such as a resume document, for example) to system  120 . Upon receipt of the document, system  120  can automatically recognize and parse (step  210 ) the document to identify the document&#39;s constituent sections (e.g., summary section, work history section, education section, etc. of a resume document). After the document is parsed, system  120  can generate (step  220 ) an online profile in part by formatting and storing the identified sections in database  140  as depicted in  FIG. 3 . During the generation process, system  120  can identify particular organizational entities (e.g., company or university names) parsed from the uploaded document, and cross-check that information for accuracy with verified listings from another database or source, for example. System  120  can then annotate the organization information stored in association with the generated online profile by associating URL links and/or other informational metadata (e.g., full organization name, address, web address, etc.) thereto. 
         [0033]    The online profile can be configured so that cursor movement over certain highlighted data (e.g., organizational information) can cause a hover window to pop up to provide the informational metadata described above. The online profile can also be interactive in that it may enable toggling through performance charts, viewing of attachments, watching of attached videos or following of links to the Internet, for example. 
         [0034]    System  120  can also provide a user interface to enable user  205  to create an online profile in conjunction with or without uploading a profile document as described above. The user interface can enable user  205  to add or edit information corresponding to online profile sections in accordance with a predefined category specified by the user interface, and in accordance with a custom category specified by user  205  through the user interface. The user interface can enable user  205  to insert text or upload media objects of different types, such as images, video, audio and multimedia documents, to be incorporated into one or more of the sections of the online profile.  FIG. 13  illustrates an example of an exemplary user interface for generating an online profile. The user interface can also enable user  205  to create different versions of the online profile. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a structure of an online profile in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , database  140  can store sections  310 ,  320  and  330  in association with online profile  300 . System  120  can dynamically assemble the stored sections into a rendered presentation layout when requested. System  120  can assemble the online profile in various ways based on the particular request, such as in accordance with version, notification and permission settings defined by user  205 , for example. Embodiments of the implementation of these settings are depicted in the processes described in  FIGS. 5-7 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a structure of multiple versions of an online profile in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , database  140  can store sections  410 ,  420  and  430  in association with online profiles  400 A and  400 B. Profiles  400 A and  400 B can comprise different versions of an online profile of an entity. The different versions can share similar sections, such as section  420 . Enabling a user to create multiple versions of an online profile can be advantageous if the user desires to tailor individual profiles for different recipients (e.g., such as different resumes for different employers). 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a version control process in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , system  120  can provide a user interface that enables user  205  to specify (step  500 ) settings indicating which version of user  205 &#39;s online profile is to be provided to an entity requesting to view the profile. System  120  can store the version settings (step  510 ). Upon receiving a request for the online profile (step  520 ) from user  505 , system  120  can determine (step  530 ) the appropriate version of the online profile to provide (step  540 ) to user  505  based on the stored settings. In one embodiment, the version settings can enable user  205  to associate a version of an online profile with i) all profile requests originating from an entity not registered with profile management system  120  or ii) any particular registered user or users of system  120 . System  120  may provide the online profile to user  505  in different ways, such as by allowing user  505  to view the online profile through a web page hosted by profile management system  120 , or by converting the online profile to a downloadable format and downloading the converted profile to user  505  for example. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a notification control process in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , system  120  can provide a user interface that enables user  205  to specify (step  600 ) settings indicating who should be notified of any updates or changes made to the online profile. System  120  can store the notification settings (step  610 ). When user  205  provides (step  620 ) an update or change in the online profile, server  100  can store the updated profile (step  630 ) and provide (step  640 ) a notification to the entities identified in the notification settings, such as user  505  in this example. In one embodiment, the notification may comprise an e-mail announcing the change in the online profile along with an invitation to log into system  120  to view or access the updated online profile. When user  505  requests (step  650 ) the updated profile in response to the notification, system  120  can provide (step  660 ) the updated profile to user  505  in response to the request. In an alternative embodiment, the notification could comprise system  120  converting the online profile to a downloadable format and downloading the converted profile to the entities identified in the notification settings in step  640 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example of an authorization control process in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , system  120  provides a user interface that enables user  205  to specify (step  700 ) settings indicating who is permitted to access user  205 &#39;s online profile through system  120 . System  120  can store the permission settings (step  710 ). When user  505  submits (step  720 ) a request for the online profile, server  100  can determine (step  730 ) whether user  505  is permitted to access the online profile based on the stored permission settings, and accept (step  740 ) or deny (step  750 ) the request accordingly. 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example of single command notification process associated with an online profile in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 , system  120  can display (step  800 ) a listing of multiple users of system  120  for user  205 . In response, user  205  can select (step  810 ) a number of the displayed users to receive a notification to view or access user  205 &#39;s online profile, and provide a single profile notification command (step  820 ) to system  120 . In one embodiment, the single notification command can comprise a single click in a user interface provided by system  120 . In response to receiving the single profile notification command, system  120  can provide (step  830 ) profile notifications to the selected users. In one embodiment, the listed users of system  120  can correspond to employers, for example, who may be willing to view another user&#39;s online profile, such as the profile associated with user  205  who can correspond to an applicant for example. 
         [0041]      FIG. 9  illustrates an example of profile view tracking process in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9 , when user  505  submits (step  900 ) a request to view an online profile hosted by system  120 , system  120  can log (step  910 ) the profile request and provide (step  920 ) the profile request log associated with a particular online profile to the user associated with the requested online profile. In one embodiment, the logged information can be presented to the user in a user portal or “dashboard” provided by system  120 . In this manner, users with online profiles can gauge an amount of interest expressed by others in their profiles. A view can comprise, for example, an unsolicited viewing of a user&#39;s online profile by an entity browsing through public profiles presented by system  120  (via a public web page, for example), and/or a viewing in response to an invitation (or “share”) sent by a user to view the user&#39;s online profile. Different types of views can be tracked separately as indicated in the example user interface dashboard of  FIGS. 12A and 12B . 
         [0042]      FIG. 10  illustrates an example of a profile distribution process in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10 , user  505  can request (step  1000 ) a copy of an online profile to be downloaded rather than viewed over network  105 . In response to the request, system  120  can convert (step  1010 ) the requested online profile to a downloadable format and apply (step  10120 ) one or more use restrictions to the converted profile. System  120  can then download (step  1030 ) the converted and restricted profile to user  505 . In one embodiment, the use restrictions may include an expiration date associated with the converted profile (e.g., to prevent retention of an out-of-date resume), a restriction on an ability to change the contents of the converted profile (e.g., to prevent tampering), and/or a restriction on an ability to view the converted profile more than a specified number of times. System  120  may provide a user interface enabling a user with an online profile to specify which, if any, use restrictions to associate with the profile when a download request is received in connection with that profile. The online profile may be converted into any suitable file format capable of enforcing the use restrictions or other digital rights management provided by system  120  and specified by the user. 
         [0043]      FIG. 11  illustrates an example of a profile verification process in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 11 , server  120  can receive (step  1100 ) validation data for an element of a user&#39;s online profile. The validation data may be provided by a certifying authority, for example, and certify a representation provided by the element of the online profile. For example, the profile element could represent that an individual has acquired a professional license, and the certifying authority could provide suitable evidence, according to the best practices in the industry, to certify that representation. Upon receiving the validation data, server  120  can associate (step  1110 ) the validation data with the online profile element to which it corresponds, and generate ( 1120 ) the online profile incorporating the online profile element and the validation data. The validation data may be incorporated into the online profile in a secure manner to avoid tampering. The system can also provide a notification process that would alert the user when a professional certification identified in the online portfolio is due for renewal, for example. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate an example of a user dashboard in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the user dashboard acts as a home user interface that is provided for a registered and logged in user named John Smith in system  120 . The dashboard enables the user to manage the associated online profiles (“My Public VisualCV” and “My Private VisualCV”), track views of the profile versions in the “MY VISUALCV VIEWS” section, track profile notifications received from other registered users of system  120  in the “SHARES RECEIVED” section, track profile notifications sent to others in the “SHARES SENT” section, and manage media objects that can be uploaded for incorporation into the online profile versions in the “PORTFOLIO” SECTION.” 
         [0045]      FIGS. 13A-13C  illustrate an example of a profile generation user interface that can be presented when the “Edit” link for the “My Public VisualCV” profile is clicked in the dashboard illustrated  FIG. 12A . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 13A , the profile generation user interface can specify several predefined biographical categories (including “Objective,” “Work History,” “Education,” “Summary,” etc.) and can enable the user to specify one or more custom biographical categories (e.g., upon clicking the “Custom” or “Portfolio” category, for example). In the illustrated profile generation user interface spanning  FIGS. 13A-13C , a “Work History” section and a “Custom” section is provided to receive user input in the main column, and a “Portfolio” section is provided to receive user input in the sidebar. As illustrated in  FIG. 13C , by clicking on the chain link icon in the “Custom” section, the user interface can provide a pop-up window to enable the user to incorporate a media object or web link (referred to as “portfolio items”) into the online profile to increase its effectiveness. 
         [0046]      FIG. 14  illustrates an example of computing device in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the computing device may generally correspond to client  100  and server  130  as described above. The computing device may be any suitable type of microprocessor-based device, such as, for example, a personal computer, workstation, server or handheld computing device. The computing device may include, for example, one or more of processor  1410 , input device  1420 , output device  1430 , storage  1440 , and communication device  1460 . 
         [0047]    Input device  1420  may be any suitable device that provides input, such as, for example, a keyboard, mouse, pen-operated touch screen or monitor, or voice-recognition device. Output device  1430  may be any suitable device that provides output, such as, for example, a monitor, printer, disk drive, or speaker. 
         [0048]    Storage  1440  may be any suitable device the provides storage, such as, for example, an electrical, magnetic or optical memory including a RAM, cache, hard drive, CD-ROM drive, tape drive or removable storage disk. Communication device  1460  may include any suitable device capable of transmitting and receiving signals over a network, such as, for example, a network interface card or modem. The components of the computing device may be connected in any suitable manner, such as, for example, via a physical bus or wirelessly. 
         [0049]    Software  1450 , which may be stored in storage  1440  and executed by processor  1410 , may include, for example, the application programming that embodies the functionality of the present invention (e.g., as embodied in server  130 ). In some embodiments, software  1450  may include a combination of servers such as application servers and database servers. 
         [0050]    Network  105  may include any suitable type of interconnected communication system. Network  105  may implement any suitable communications protocol and may be secured by any suitable security protocol. Network  105  can include network links of any suitable arrangement that implements the transmission and reception of network signals, such as, for example, telephone lines, DSL, cable networks, T1 or T3 lines, or wireless network connections. 
         [0051]    The computing device may implement any suitable operating system, such as, for example, Windows or UNIX. Software  1450  may be written in any suitable programming language, such as, for example, C, C++, Java or Visual Basic. In various embodiments, application software embodying the functionality of the present invention may be deployed in different configurations, such as, for example, on a standalone machine, in a client/server arrangement or through a Web browser as a Web-based application or Web service, for example. 
         [0052]    Although the claimed subject matter has been fully described in connection with examples thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.