# US 2014/0156652 A1 · Data matching > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156652 A1 - Document ID: US20140156652A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/115,554 - Filed: 2012-05-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-03 - Assignees: Bright Six Limited - Inventors: Modupeola Shakirat Abiola - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156652A1 ## CPC - G06F 16/24578: {using ranking} - G06Q 10/1053: Employment or hiring - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A computer-implemented method of matching data sets against a desired data set characteristic. First and second data sets comprising first and second sets of attributes respectively are received. A predetermined data set characterisation scheme is selected from a plurality of such schemes. The selected scheme corresponds to a set of desired attributes indicative of the strength of a match against the desired characteristic. The desired attributes corresponding to the selected scheme are identified. Weighting indicators indicating a relative weighting of each of the desired attributes is retrieved from a database. The desired attributes are matched with attributes in the first and second sets. The first and second sets are ranked in relation to the scheme on the basis of the matching and the retrieved set of weighting indicators. A report identifying the first and second sets and the relative rank of the sets in relation to the scheme is generated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method of matching a plurality of candidate data sets against one or more desired data set characteristics in a data communication system, the method comprising: receiving a first candidate data set comprising a first set of candidate data set attributes; receiving a second candidate data set comprising a second set of candidate data set attributes; selecting a predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme from a plurality of predetermined candidate data set characterisation schemes, the selected predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme corresponding to a set of desired candidate data set attributes indicative of the strength of a match against the one or more desired data set characteristics; identifying the desired candidate data set attributes corresponding to the selected predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme; retrieving, from one or more databases, a set of weighting indicators indicating a relative weighting of each of the desired candidate data set attributes; matching the desired candidate data set attributes with candidate data set attributes in the first and second candidate data sets; ranking the first and second candidate data sets in relation to the selected predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme at least in part on the basis of said matching and said retrieved set of weighting indicators; and generating one or more reports identifying the first and second candidate data sets and the relative rank of the first and second candidate data sets in relation to the selected candidate data set characterisation scheme. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the candidate data set attributes comprise an attribute type identifier and an attribute value identifier associated with the attribute type identifier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A method according to claim 2, wherein the weighting indicators indicate a relative weighting of any ones of said at least some of the candidate data set attributes that comprise different attribute type identifiers but corresponding attribute value identifiers associated with the different attribute type identifiers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A method according to claim 2, wherein the weighting indicators indicate a relative weighting of any ones of said at least some of the candidate data set attributes that comprise corresponding attribute type identifiers but different attribute value identifiers associated with the corresponding attribute type identifiers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the relative weightings of at least some of the desired candidate data set attributes are dynamic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, comprising: receiving weighting data associated with at least some of the desired candidate data set attributes; and deriving, based at least in part on the received weighting data, the relative weighting of the at least some of the desired candidate data set attributes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, wherein the received weighting data comprises information from one or more publicly available attribute ranking databases. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the relative weightings are based at least in part on one or more weighting adjustment parameters. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, comprising: selecting a further predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme from the plurality of predetermined candidate data set characterisation schemes, the selected further predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme corresponding to a set of further desired candidate data set attributes indicative of the strength of a match against the one or more further desired data set characteristics; identifying the further desired candidate data set attributes corresponding to the selected further predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme; retrieving, from one or more databases, a set of weighting indicators indicating a relative weighting of each of the further desired candidate data set attributes; matching the further desired candidate data set attributes with candidate data set attributes in the first and second candidate data sets; ranking the first and second candidate data sets in relation to the selected further predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme at least in part on the basis of said matching and said retrieved set of weighting indicators; and generating one or more reports identifying the first and second candidate data sets and the relative rank of the first and second candidate data sets in relation to the selected further candidate data set characterisation scheme. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, comprising: identifying one or more additional candidate data set attributes associated with a given candidate data set, the strength of a match of the one or more additional candidate data set attributes against the one or more desired data set characteristics being known; and ranking the first and second candidate data sets in relation to the selected predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme at least in part on the basis of matching the first and second sets against the identified one or more additional candidate data set attributes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, comprising: receiving the first and second candidate data sets via one or more data communication networks. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, comprising: transmitting data associated with the one or more generated reports via one or more data communication networks. ### Claim 13 A data matching platform for matching a plurality of candidate data sets against one or more desired data set characteristics in a data communication system, the data matching platform being arranged to: receive a first candidate data set comprising a first set of candidate data set attributes; receive a second candidate data set comprising a second set of candidate data set attributes; select a predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme from a plurality of predetermined candidate data set characterisation schemes, the selected predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme corresponding to a set of desired candidate data set attributes indicative of the strength of a match against the one or more desired data set characteristics; identify the desired candidate data set attributes corresponding to the selected predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme; retrieve, from one or more databases, a set of weighting indicators indicating a relative weighting of each of the desired candidate data set attributes; match the desired candidate data set attributes with candidate data set attributes in the first and second candidate data sets; rank the first and second candidate data sets in relation to the selected predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme at least in part on the basis of said matching and said retrieved set of weighting indicators; and generate one or more reports identifying the first and second candidate data sets and the relative rank of the first and second candidate data sets in relation to the selected candidate data set characterisation scheme. ### Claim 14 A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions being executable by a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform a computer-implemented method of matching a plurality of candidate data sets against one or more desired data set characteristics in a data communication system, the method comprising: receiving a first candidate data set comprising a first set of candidate data set attributes; receiving a second candidate data set comprising a second set of candidate data set attributes; selecting a predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme from a plurality of predetermined candidate data set characterisation schemes, the selected predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme corresponding to a set of desired candidate data set attributes indicative of the strength of a match against the one or more desired data set characteristics; identifying the desired candidate data set attributes corresponding to the selected predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme; retrieving, from one or more databases, a set of weighting indicators indicating a relative weighting of each of the desired candidate data set attributes; matching the desired candidate data set attributes with candidate data set attributes in the first and second candidate data sets; ranking the first and second candidate data sets in relation to the selected predetermined candidate data set characterisation scheme at least in part on the basis of said matching and said retrieved set of weighting indicators; and generating one or more reports identifying the first and second candidate data sets and the relative rank of the first and second candidate data sets in relation to the selected candidate data set characterisation scheme.