Buyer-provider matching algorithm

A computer readable storage medium tangibly embodied thereon a program of instructions executable by a processor for performing a method of searching service providers in a services exchange medium operable to connect a buyer and a service provider over a network, the method comprising:

• obtaining a timeframe that includes a number of months relative to a current time;
• accessing at least one data store that together includes service provider profiles of the service providers in the services exchange medium;
• assessing a first score for each service provider in the services exchange medium, wherein the first score is dependent on services exchange medium reputation of that service provider;
• based on a determination that a search text has been provided by a buyer,
• comparing the search text with the profile belonging to a service provider and stored in the at least one data store of the services exchange medium, wherein the profile comprises multiple sections entered by the service provider;
• computing a plurality of second scores based on matches between the search text and the profile belonging to the service provider, wherein each section of the profile is weighted according to conditions established by the services exchange medium to contribute to the second scores upon match between a respective section and the search text, wherein the second scores are further modified according to one or more subsequent match score of subsequent matches of the respective section and the search text in response to the established weighting conditions, wherein a sum of the second score and the subsequent match score determines a participation in a calculation of an associated section of the respective section on the service provider profile;
• computing a plurality of third scores based on matches between the search text and parts of each project that is completed by the service provider within the services exchange medium and within the timeframe specified by the buyer;
• determining a fourth score based on the plurality of second scores and the plurality of third scores that together are enhanced by the first score;
• repeating steps of comparing to determining for all service providers within the services exchange medium;
• and
• generating a provider results list that is sorted by the fourth score;
• and
• based on a determination that a search text has not been provided by a buyer, generating a provider results list that is sorted by the first score.

A system for generating a provider results list comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• an application executed by the processor, the application for:
• obtaining a timeframe that includes a number of months relative to a current time;
• accessing at least one data store that together stores profiles of service providers of a services exchange medium that is operable to connect buyers with the service providers over a network;
• assessing, for each service provider, a reputation score that is dependent on reputation of that service provider within the services exchange medium;
• based on a determination that a search text has been specified by a buyer,
• calculating a provider search score for each of the service providers within the services exchange medium, wherein the provider search score is a sum of at least one provider match score, wherein each of the at least one provider match score is based on a match between the search text entered by the buyer and a section of the service provider profile for the respective service provider or is based on a match between the search text entered by the buyer and a part of each project that is completed by the service provider within the services exchange medium and within the timeframe, wherein the service provider profile comprises multiple sections entered by the respective service provider, wherein the section of the profile is weighted according to conditions established by the services exchange medium to contribute to the provider match score upon match between the section and the search text, wherein the provider match score is further modified according to one or more subsequent match scores of subsequent matches of the section and the search text in response to the established weighting conditions, wherein a sum of the provider match score and the subsequent match score determines a calculation participation of an associated section of the respective section on the service provider profile, wherein the sum of the at least one provider match score is enhanced by the reputation score;
• and
• sorting the provider results list based on the provider search score;
• based on a determination that a search text has not been specified by the buyer, sorting the provider results list based on the reputation score;
• and
• generating a user interface that includes the sorted provider results list.

A computer-implemented method of enhancing provider match scores comprising:

• obtaining a timeframe that includes a number of months relative to a current time;
• accessing at least one data store that together stores a profile entered by a service provider of a services exchange medium operable to connect a buyer and the service provider over a network;
• assessing an enhancement value that is dependent on reputation of the service provider within the services exchange medium;
• based on a determination that a search text has been specified by the buyer,
• determining a first match score based on a match between the search text and a section of the profile, wherein the section of the profile is weighted to contribute to the first match score according to conditions established by the services exchange medium, wherein the first match score is further modified according to one or more second match scores of subsequent matches in response to the established weighting conditions, wherein a sum of the first match score and the one or more second match scores determines a calculation participation of an associated section of the profile, wherein the established weighting conditions includes a magnifier associated with the one or more subsequent matches, by a computer programmed with instructions for determining the first match score;
• determining a second match score based on a number of matches between the search text and a project title of each project completed by a service provider within the services exchange medium and within the timeframe specified by the buyer, by a computer programmed with instructions for determining the second match score;
• determining a third match score based on a number of matches between the search text and a project description of each project completed by the service provider within the services exchange medium and within the timeframe specified by the buyer, by a computer programmed with instructions for determining the third match score;
• adding together first match scores, the second match score, and the third match score to obtain a total match score, by a computer programmed with instructions for obtaining the total match score;
• multiplying the enhancement value to the total match score to obtain a search value, by a computer programmed to multiply the enhancement value to the total match score;
• and
• determining a position of the service provider relative to other service providers in the services exchange medium based on the search value;
• and
• based on a determination that a search text has not been specified by the buyer, determining a position of the service provider relative to other service providers in the services exchange medium based on the enhancement value.