Patent ID: 8510153

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: accepting utilization information characterizing aspects of contracts entered into by each of a plurality of independent agencies with one or more independent service-providers included in a plurality of independent service-providers; based on the utilization information, identifying instances in which a first independent agency included in the plurality of independent agencies and a second independent agency included in the plurality of independent agencies have each entered into a contract with a common service-provider included in the plurality of independent service-providers, the first independent agency being different than the second independent agency; based on the identified instances in which the first independent agency and the second independent agency have each entered into a contract with the common service-provider, calculating, using at least one computer that includes a processor and a portion of the utilization information that specifies monetary value of contracts associated with the identified instances, overlap statistics characterizing a degree, with respect to the monetary value, to which interactions of the first independent agency and at least one common service-provider overlap with interactions of the second independent agency and the at least one common service-provider; and generating a graphical representation of the overlap statistics that indicates the degree, with respect to the monetary value, to which interactions of the first independent agency and the at least one common service-provider overlap with interactions of the second independent agency and the at least one common service-provider, wherein calculating the overlap statistics comprises calculating, using a portion of the utilization information that specifies monetary value of contracts associated with the identified instances, overlap statistics characterizing a degree, with respect to the monetary value, to which the first independent agency and the second independent agency interact with at least one common service-provider relative to total interactions of the first independent agency and the second independent agency with all of the plurality of service-providers.