Online professional badge

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to badges. More particularly, the present invention relates to an online professional badge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A job posting site allows job seekers to post resumes. The job posting site also allows employers to browse through the resumes to search for qualified job seekers. However, prior art job posting sites suffer from a number of shortcomings. For example, the job posting site allows a job seeker to post only static information about the job seeker. As such, the job seeker is not able to actively market themselves to the employers. In addition, the employers must access the job posting site in order to view the job seeker's resume.

The present invention addresses at least these limitations in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an online professional badge within a services exchange medium. In the services exchange medium, buyers find and hire service providers “on demand” to get projects done quickly and cost effectively. Specifically, buyers post projects and service providers search for projects to work on.

In one aspect, a window resides at a location outside a services exchange medium accessible on a computing device comprises real-time data about a service provider, and a contact feature configured to initiate communication with the service provider. The real-time data includes a subset of information provided in a profile belonging to the service provider within the services exchange medium. For example, the online professional badge is able to display the service provider's top specialization areas, a feedback rating, a membership year, a picture and/or a video clip previously uploaded by the service provider within the services exchange medium, a number of reviews, a summary of skills, professional licenses, certifications, and other credentials, a portfolio link to the service provider's portfolio, and/or other information found within and outside the profile. Typically, the communication is chatting, calling, or inviting to bid. In some embodiments, viewers of the online professional badge are able to leave a message so that the service provider (e.g. badge owner) is able to reply asynchronously. The window also comprises an access feature configured to access the services exchange medium, a calendar feature configured to display availability of the service provider, a watchlist feature configured for enabling continued communication with the service provider, and a hire feature configured to initiate a hiring process without accessing other sites.

In another aspect, a method of creating interactive windows comprises receiving a request to create an interactive window configured to interface with a services exchange medium. The receiving includes obtaining an at least one instruction to personalize the interactive window. The method also comprises generating source code by a computing device for the interactive window. The interactive window is configured to display information about a service provider as a professional within the services exchange medium. Typically, the information is a subset of data provided in a profile belonging to the service provider within the services exchange medium. The method includes embedding the source code at a location outside the services exchange medium. The location is, but not limited to, in a web page, an email, a chat message, or a banner advertisement. In some embodiments, the interactive window has a first button configured to initiate communication with the service provider. The interactive window also has a second button configured to allow access to the services exchange medium. In other embodiments, the interactive window has a calendar feature configured to display availability of the service provider. Yet, in other embodiments, the interactive window has a watchlist feature configured to enable continued communication with the service provider. Yet, in other embodiments, the interactive window has a hire feature configured to initiate a hiring process without accessing other sites.

Yet, in another aspect, a system for creating portable interactive windows comprises a processor and an application executed by the processor. The application is for receiving a request to create a portable window configured to interface with a services exchange medium and for generating source code for the portable window. The application is executed online. The portable window is configured to display information about a service provider as a professional within the services exchange medium. The source code is selected, copied, and pasted into a destination located outside the services exchange medium. In some embodiments, the portable window has a first button configured to initiate communication with a service provider. The portable window also has a second button configured to allow access to the services exchange medium. In other embodiments, the portable window has a calendar feature configured to display availability of the service provider. Yet, in other embodiments, the portable window has a watchlist feature configured to enable continued communication with the service provider. Yet, in other embodiments, the portable window has a hire feature configured to initiate a hiring process without accessing other sites.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate different embodiments of an online professional badge in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method of creating the online professional badge in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates a web page displayed in a web browser in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates an online professional badge embedded in the web page displayed in the web browser in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a graphical representation of an exemplary computing device in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the online professional badge in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth for purposes of explanation. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the invention may be practiced without the use of these specific details. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein or with equivalent alternatives.

Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an online professional badge. In some embodiments, the online professional badge is created by a service provider within a services exchange medium. In the services exchange medium, buyers find and hire service providers “on demand” to get projects done quickly and cost effectively. The service provider is also able to create a profile within the services exchange medium in order to be immediately connected to buyers looking for the service provider's expertise. Typically, the profile includes, but is not limited to, information found in a traditional print resume such as experience and credentials, a portfolio of work products completed by the service provider, and feedback from buyers whom the service provider has done work for within the services exchange medium. The profile also includes blogs, a picture, a video clip, and/or sound clip uploaded by the service provider. In addition, the profile allows a buyer to communicate with the service provider regarding a project. Communication methods within the services exchange medium include inviting the service provider to bid on the project, calling and/or chatting with the service provider. Other communication methods are possible. Preferably, the profile provides the buyer with real-time information about the service provider within the services exchange medium.

As mentioned above, the service provider is able to create the online professional badge within the services exchange medium. Typically, the online professional badge is configured to display a summary or a subset of the information within the service provider's profile. In some embodiments, the online professional badge resides anywhere on the Internet outside the services exchange medium. While the profile allows buyers to view real-time information about the service provider within the services exchange medium, the online professional badge allows others to view real-time information about the service provider outside the services exchange medium. As such, the online professional badge allows the service provider to actively market the service provider as a professional without requiring viewers to access other sites, including the services exchange medium.

In some embodiments, the service provider is able to select one from a plurality of badge templates to create the online professional badge. The plurality of badge templates are designed by an entity. The entity is a party responsible for the services exchange medium or is a third party. FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate four exemplary embodiments of the online professional badge 100, 100′, 100″, 100′″ as designed by the entity. In FIG. 1A, the online professional badge 100, according to a first template, displays the service provider's top three specialization areas 120, a feedback rating 110, a membership year 115, and a picture 105 previously uploaded by the service provider within the services exchange medium. In some embodiments, a number associated with each specialization area indicates a number of projects the service provider has completed within the services exchange medium. In FIG. 1B, the online professional badge 100′, according to a second template, displays only a video clip 140 previously uploaded by the service provider within the services exchange medium. In FIG. 1C, the online professional badge 100″, according to a third template, displays the feedback rating 110, a number of reviews 135, the membership year 115, and the top three specialization areas 120. In FIG. 1D, the online professional badge 100′″, according to a fourth template, displays a summary of skills 140, a portfolio link 145 to the service provider's portfolio, an audio toolbar 150 to play the sound clip previously uploaded by the service provider within the services exchange medium. It should be understood that these templates are exemplary and do not limit the invention in any way.

In other embodiments, the service provider is able to customize the online professional badge by choosing a shape, a color, and a size of the online professional badge, and by selecting information from the profile to display in the online professional badge. In other embodiments, the service provider is able to add other information not found in the online professional profile. Yet, in other embodiments, the service provider is not able to select a template and/or customize the online professional badge. Instead, a default template is used to create every online professional badge. The online professional badge is automatically populated with information from the profile.

Some elements are standard and are a part of the online professional badge 100. The elements can or cannot be disabled by the service provider. In some embodiments, a Contact Me button 125 appears on a bottom-left corner of the online professional badge 100. Communication methods provided via the Contact Me button 125 are similar to those provided in the profile. The communication methods include inviting the service provider to bid on the project, calling and/or chatting with the service provider. As such, the Contact Me button 125 allows a viewer to initiate communication with the service provider without having to access the service provider's profile to do so. In some embodiments, the viewer is able to leave a message so that the service provider (e.g. owner of the badge) is able to reply asynchronously. In other embodiments, a Join button 130 appears on a bottom-right corner of the online professional badge 100. The Join button 130 allows the viewer to join or learn more about the services exchange medium by taking the viewer to the services exchange medium. Yet, in other embodiments, a horizontal scroll bar (not illustrated) and/or a vertical scroll bar (not illustrated) are also part of the online professional badge 100 if the size of the online professional badge 100 is not large enough to display all of the selected information. Other elements as part of the online professional badge 100 are possible.

Source code for the online professional badge 100 is typically written in scripting languages such as Javascript and Adobe Flash/Flex/Actionscript. Other scripting languages include, but not limited to, HTML, XHTML, DHTML, PHP, and/or ASP. Other scripting languages to write the source code for the professional badge 100 are possible. In some embodiments, a flash widget (a widget having flash capabilities or format) is embedded in the source code. For example, if the service provider wishes to display the video clip 140 as part of the online professional badge 100′, the flash widget is embedded in the source code written in XHTML.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process 200 of creating the online professional badge 100. At step 205, the services exchange medium receives a request to create the online professional badge 100. Typically, the service provider requests to create the online professional badge 100 within the services exchange medium. The request in some embodiments is achieved by clicking on a Create Badge link or a Create Badge button in the service provider's profile within the services exchange medium. In some embodiments, the services exchange medium allows the service provider to select a template for and/or customize the online professional badge 100, as described above. At step 210, the source code for the online professional badge 100 is then generated by the services exchange medium. Typically, the source code reflects the service provider's customization of the online professional badge 100.

The online professional badge 100 typically resides anywhere on the Internet outside the services exchange medium. In some embodiments, the online professional badge 100 is portable and embeddable in dating networks such as eHarmony®, social networks such as LinkedIn®, blogs, web pages, Craigslist, and/or other places on the Internet. In other embodiments, the online professional badge 100 is also embeddable in email messages, chat messages, and/or banner advertisements. The banner advertisements are typically distributed via advertisement networks.

In some embodiments, the online professional badge 100 serves as an interface or a bridge to the services exchange medium from where the online professional badge 100 resides on the Internet, such as from a personal web page. Assume that the personal web page belongs to the service provider. FIG. 3A illustrates the personal web page 305 displayed in a web browser 300 before embedding the online professional badge 100 in accordance with the present invention. The service provider embeds the online professional badge 100 in the personal web page 305 by selecting, coping and pasting the source code of the online professional badge 100 in a source page of the personal web page 305. The web browser 300 renders the edited source page and displays the online professional badge 100 as part of the personal web page 305′, as illustrated in FIG. 3B. The online professional badge 100 displayed on the personal web page 305′ introduces the viewer to the service provider as a professional within the services exchange medium. The viewer is able to see the service provider's profile by clicking on the online professional badge 100, communicate with the service provider via the Contact Me button 125, and/or access about the services exchange medium via the Join button 130. As such, the online professional badge 100 displayed on the personal web page 305′ is an interface to the services exchange medium. It should be understood that the online professional badge 100 serving as the interface to the services exchange medium from the service provider's personal web page 305′ is not intended to limit the invention in any way and is meant only as an example.

While the personal web page 305′ introduces the service provider as a professional within the services exchange medium to viewers of the personal web page 305′ at a constant rate, other locations/sites on the Internet introduce the service provider to others (e.g. members of a network) at an exponential rate. For example, the social network LinkedIn® exponentially introduces its members to one another through a concept known as connections. Assume that the service provider is a LinkedIn® member. A first degree connection includes Group A of people that the service provider personally knows in the network. A second degree connection includes Group B of people that people in Group A know. A third degree connection includes Group C of people that people in Group B know. A person in any of Group A, Group B, or Group C is able to view the service provider's LinkedIn® page. As such, embedding the online professional badge 100 in the LinkedIn® page introduces the service provider as a professional at the exponential rate to first, second, and third degree members within the LinkedIn® network.

Similar to embedding the online professional badge 100 in the personal web page 305′, the service provider is able to embed the online professional badge 100 in the LinkedIn® page by selecting, copying and pasting the source code generated by the services exchange medium. The online professional badge 100 displayed on the LinkedIn® page is an the interface from the LinkedIn® social network to the services exchange medium. As such, LinkedIn® members able to see the service provider's profile by clicking on the online professional badge 100, communicate with the service provider via the Contact Me button 125, and/or access the services exchange medium via the Join button 130.

In some embodiments, the online professional badge has a watchlist feature. Continuing with the LinkedIn® example, the watchlist feature allows a LinkedIn® member, who is also a member of the services exchange medium (e.g. a buyer), to place a current communication with the service provider on hold, or to continue a past communication with the service provider without having to return back to the services exchange medium to do so. The LinkedIn® member is able to access the watchlist feature by clicking on a Watchlist link 505 located on the online professional badge, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

In other embodiments, the online professional badge has a calendar feature. The calendar feature allows the LinkedIn® member to review the service provider's availability. Typically, the calendar feature also allows the LinkedIn® member to reserve a block of the service provider's time for a project based on the service provider's availability. The LinkedIn® member is able to access the calendar feature by clicking on a Calendar link 510 located on the online professional badge, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Yet in other embodiments, the online professional badge has a hire feature. The hire feature allows viewers of the online professional badge to initiate a hiring process. The hiring process does not require the viewers to access other sites. Viewers are able to access the hire feature by clicking on the Hire link 515 located on the online professional badge, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

As discussed above, the online professional badge 100 is embeddable at locations on the Internet outside the services exchange medium by the service provider. In some embodiments, the online professional badge 100 has a security feature which allows others to endorse the service provider. Specifically, per the service provider's authorization, others are also able to embed the service provider's online professional badge 100 at locations on the Internet outside the services exchange medium. A security feature disables elements of the online professional badge 100, such as the Contact Me button 125, if a perpetrator without legitimate rights embeds the service provider's online professional badge 100 at a location on the Internet outside the services exchange medium.

In some embodiments, the service provider is able to synchronize the online professional badge 100 with the service provider's profile within the services exchange medium. In other embodiments, the service provider is able to synchronize the online professional badge 100 with profiles outside the services exchange medium, such as with the service provider's LinkedIn® profile. Other features on the online professional badge 100 are possible.

The steps of the present invention are embodied in machine-executable instructions. These instructions can be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor that is programmed with the instructions to perform the steps of the present invention. Alternatively, the steps of the present invention can be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic for performing the steps, or by any combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components.

In some embodiments, the present invention is provided as a computing device. FIG. 4 illustrates a graphical representation of an exemplary computing device 400 in accordance with the present invention. The computing device 400, such as a server stores, serves, computes, communicates, generates and/or displays information about the service provider within the services exchange medium. The service provider uses an Internet-ready device, such as a personal computer, to interact with the computer device 400 to create the profile and to generate the online professional badge. In general, a hardware structure suitable for implementing the computing device 400 includes a network interface 402, a memory 404, processor 406, I/O device(s) 408, a bus 410 and a storage device 412. The choice of processor is not critical as long as the processor 406 has sufficient speed. The memory 404 is any conventional computer memory known in the art. The storage device 412 is a hard drive, CDROM, CDRW, DVD, DVDRW, flash memory card or any other storage device. The computing device is able to include one or more network interfaces 402. An example of a network interface includes a network card connected to an Ethernet or other type of LAN. The I/O device(s) 408 are able to include one or more of the following: keyboard, mouse, monitor, display, printer, modem and other devices. Software used to create the online professional badge is likely to be stored in the storage device 412 and memory 404 and processed as an application is typically processed.

Examples of suitable computing devices include a personal computer, laptop computer, computer workstation, a server, mainframe computer, mini-computer, handheld computer, personal digital assistant, cellular/mobile telephone, smart appliance, gaming console or any other suitable computing device.

The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. A person skilled in the art would appreciate that various modifications and revisions to the online professional badge will occur. Consequently, the claims should be broadly construed, consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention, and should not be limited to their exact, literal meaning.