Patent ID: 8060532

Claim:
A method for determining the suitability of an entity to provide products or services, the method comprising: receiving a name of said entity to be evaluated; determining a reputation value of said entity; receiving category data regarding said entity; receiving measurement data associated with said category data; identifying a value for each category in said category data for an acquisition context involving said entity; identifying a weight for each of said measurement data associated with a category with a value that exceeds a first threshold value; comparing each weighted measurement data with a second threshold value; generating a binary value for each weighted measurement data that exceeds said second threshold value; summing up binary values for all weighted measurement data that exceed said second threshold value; applying an appropriate weight to said summed binary values based on confidence source of said category data and said measurement data is correct; receiving an input on performance of said entity in connection with products or services provided by said entity; generating a feedback value based on said received input; applying said feedback value and said reputation value to said weighted summed binary values; generating a suitability value based on said applying of said feedback value and said reputation value to said weighted summed binary values; comparing said suitability value to a third threshold value; and determining if said entity is suitable to provide products or services based on said comparison of said suitability value to said third threshold value.