Abstract: A method of addressing a communication, such as an e-mail, for transmission over a network is disclosed. A knowledge server accesses a descriptive profile for each of a number of potential recipients of the communication. A subset of the potential recipients is identified as suggested recipients based on detected correspondences between the content of the communication and the contents of the respective descriptive profiles for the potential recipients. The subset of suggested recipients is then presented to the sender of the communication, in conjunction with an indication of the correspondence between the content of the communication and the contents of the respective descriptive profiles. The indication of the correspondence may, for example, include highlighting terms within the communication that match published terms within the descriptive profiles of the suggested recipients.

Abstract: A method of addressing an electric document for transmission over a network includes the step of accessing a knowledge profile, including knowledge terms indicative of a knowledge base of a potential recipient of the electronic document. Based on a predetermined degree of correspondence or correlation between document terms within the electronic document and knowledge terms within the knowledge profile, a decision is made as to whether a potential recipient is identified as a proposed recipient. Following the identification of the proposed recipient, a sender, or author, of the electronic document is prompted to either accept or decline the proposed recipient as actual recipient of the electronic document.

Abstract: A method of constructing a user knowledge profile, having distinct public and private portions with different access restrictions, requires assigning a confidence level to content within an electronic document. The electronic document is associated with a user, such as for example the author of the document. The content may be potentially indicative of a knowledge base of the user. The content is then stored in either the public or private portion of the user knowledge profile dependent upon whether the confidence level exceeds, or falls below, a predetermined threshold level. The public portion of the user knowledge profile is freely accessible by third parties, whereas the private portion has restricted access.