Data communications system and method that maximize efficient usage of communications resources
View Patent ↗There is provided a method that includes (a) receiving a unique identifier of a first entity, (b) constructing a family tree of entities that includes the first entity, (c) calculating a decision-making power score for each entity in the family tree in accordance with a rule, thus yielding decision-making power scores, (d) identifying a decision-making entity in the family tree, based on the decision-making power scores, thus yielding an identification of the decision-making entity, and (e) controlling a messaging system to direct a correspondence to a recipient, based on the identification of the decision-making entity. There is also provided a system that performs the method, and a storage device for storing instructions for a processor to perform the method.
1. A method, performed by a processor, said method comprising:
(a) receiving a unique identifier of a first entity;
(b) constructing a family tree of entities that includes said first entity, wherein said constructing comprises:
accessing a database of data that includes said unique identifier and identifies relationships between entities;
finding in said database, a second entity that has a relationship to said first entity;
adding said second entity to said family tree; and
recursively accessing said database to identify another entity having a relationship with an entity in said family tree, and adding said another entity to said family tree;
(c) calculating a decision-making power score for each entity in said family tree in accordance with a rule, thus yielding decision-making power scores;
(d) identifying a decision-making entity in said family tree, based on said decision-making power scores, thus yielding an identification of said decision-making entity; and
(e) controlling a messaging system of a computer to direct a correspondence to a recipient, based on said identification of said decision-making entity,
wherein said identifying comprises:
comparing, to a cutoff, individual decision-making power scores in said decision-making power scores, thus yielding comparisons; and
identifying said decision-making entity from said comparisons, and
wherein said identifying further comprises:
identifying, from said comparisons, a non-decision-making entity;
traversing said family tree hierarchically, from said non-decision-making entity until encountering said decision-making entity: and
identifying said decision-making entity as a decision-making entity for said non-decision-making entity.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said calculating comprises:
deriving an attribute for each entity in said family tree, based on said rule, thus yielding attributes;
assigning weights to said attributes, thus yielding weighted attributes; and
calculating said decision-making power scores from said weighted attributes.
3. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein said correspondence is selected from the group consisting of an email, a text message, and a voice message, and
wherein said recipient is selected from the group consisting of a party who is employed by said decision-making entity, and a party who is being provided information based on said identification of said decision-making entity.
4. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory that contains instructions that are readable by said processor to cause said processor to perform actions of:
(a) receiving a unique identifier of a first entity;
(b) constructing a family tree of entities that includes said first entity, wherein said constructing comprises:
accessing a database of data that includes said unique identifier and identifies relationships between entities;
finding in said database, a second entity that has a relationship to said first entity;
adding said second entity to said family tree; and
recursively accessing said database to identify another entity having a relationship with an entity in said family tree, and adding said another entity to said family tree;
(c) calculating a decision-making power score for each entity in said family tree in accordance with a rule, thus yielding decision-making power scores;
(d) identifying a decision-making entity in said family tree, based on said decision-making power scores, thus yielding an identification of said decision-making entity; and
(e) controlling a messaging system of a computer to direct a correspondence to a recipient, based on said identification of said decision-making entity,
wherein said identifying comprises:
comparing, to a cutoff, individual decision-making power scores in said decision-making power scores, thus yielding comparisons; and
identifying said decision-making entity from said comparisons, and
wherein said identifying further comprises:
identifying, from said comparisons, a non-decision-making entity;
traversing said family tree hierarchically, from said non-decision-making entity until encountering said decision-making entity: and
identifying said decision-making entity as a decision-making entity for said non-decision-making entity.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said calculating comprises:
deriving an attribute for each entity in said family tree, based on said rule, thus yielding attributes;
assigning weights to said attributes, thus yielding weighted attributes; and
calculating said decision-making power scores from said weighted attributes.
6. The system of claim 4 ,
wherein said correspondence is selected from the group consisting of an email, a text message, and a voice message, and
wherein said recipient is selected from the group consisting of a party who is employed by said decision-making entity, and a party who is being provided information based on said identification of said decision-making entity.
7. A storage device comprising instructions that are readable by a processor to cause said processor to perform actions of:
(a) receiving a unique identifier of a first entity;
(b) constructing a family tree of entities that includes said first entity, wherein said constructing comprises:
accessing a database of data that includes said unique identifier and identifies relationships between entities;
finding in said database, a second entity that has a relationship to said first entity;
adding said second entity to said family tree; and
recursively accessing said database to identify another entity having a relationship with an entity in said family tree, and adding said another entity to said family tree;
(c) calculating a decision-making power score for each entity in said family tree in accordance with a rule, thus yielding decision-making power scores;
(d) identifying a decision-making entity in said family tree, based on said decision-making power scores, thus yielding an identification of said decision-making entity; and
(e) controlling a messaging system of a computer to direct a correspondence to a recipient, based on said identification of said decision-making entity,
wherein said identifying comprises:
comparing, to a cutoff, individual decision-making power scores in said decision-making power scores, thus yielding comparisons; and
identifying said decision-making entity from said comparisons, and
wherein said identifying further comprises:
identifying, from said comparisons, a non-decision-making entity;
traversing said family tree hierarchically, from said non-decision-making entity until encountering said decision-making entity: and
identifying said decision-making entity as a decision-making entity for said non-decision-making entity.
8. The storage device of claim 7 , wherein said calculating comprises:
deriving an attribute for each entity in said family tree, based on said rule, thus yielding attributes;
assigning weights to said attributes, thus yielding weighted attributes; and
calculating said decision-making power scores from said weighted attributes.
9. The storage device of claim 7 ,
wherein said correspondence is selected from the group consisting of an email, a text message, and a voice message, and
wherein said recipient is selected from the group consisting of a party who is employed by said decision-making entity, and a party who is being provided information based on said identification of said decision-making entity.