Abstract: Access to verified personal background data is provided in the form of an electronic document that includes a data record having personal background data and corresponding verification information as well as an electronic authentication of the contents of the data record. The data record is associated with a unique identifier. The electronic document may be distributed over a communication network to a person providing the identifier.

Abstract: Methods for identifying industries for potential transfer of a job function capability involve the use of a database that correlates, for a job function in a first industry, the first industry with a set of second industries with respect to which a job function capability of the job function is potentially transferable. The database can be accessed to identify the second set of industries. A symbolic representation of a job transfer between the first industry and a second industry or a symbolic representation that categorizes a subject of a user's job transferability query may be used to access the database.

Abstract: A method of providing a news release to a user is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: providing access to the user, over a network, to data stored in a computer-readable digital storage medium; and structuring the data provided to the user over the network so that the user experiences a news release having a plurality of sections, the sections including a headline, a summary, key points, and a network address.

Abstract: Access to verified personal background data is provided in the form of an electronic document that includes a data record having personal background data and corresponding verification information as well as an electronic authentication of the contents of the data record. The data record is associated with a unique identifier. The electronic document may be distributed over a communication network to a person providing the identifier.

Abstract: A method of providing a news release to a user is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: providing access to the user, over a network, to data stored in a computer-readable digital storage medium; and structuring the data provided to the user over the network so that the user experiences a news release having a plurality of sections, the sections including a headline, a summary, key points, and a network address.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating evaluation, in connection with the procurement or delivery of products or services, in a context of at least one of (i) a financial transaction and (ii) operation of an enterprise, are disclosed. The techniques involve retrieving party and counterparty preference profile data from digital storage media; performing multilateral analyses of the combined preference data by computing a closeness-of-fit value; and delivering a list matching the selected party and the at least one counterparty using the computed closeness-of-fit values.

Abstract: A method of providing a news release to a user is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: providing access to the user, over a network, to data stored in a computer-readable digital storage medium; and structuring the data provided to the user over the network so that the user experiences a news release having a plurality of sections, the sections including a headline, a summary, key points, and a network address.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating evaluation, in connection with the procurement or delivery of products or services, in a context of at least one of (i) a financial transaction and (ii) operation of an enterprise, are disclosed. The techniques involve retrieving party and counterparty preference profile data from digital storage media; performing multilateral analyses of the combined preference data by computing a closeness-of-fit value; and delivering a list matching the selected party and the at least one counterparty using the computed closeness-of-fit values.

Abstract: Access to verified personal background data is provided in the form of an electronic document that includes a data record having personal background data and corresponding verification information as well as an electronic authentication of the contents of the data record. The data record is associated with a unique identifier. The electronic document may be distributed over a communication network to a person providing the identifier.

Abstract: Methods for identifying industries for potential transfer of a job function capability involve the use of a database that correlates, for a job function in a first industry, the first industry with a set of second industries with respect to which a job function capability of the job function is potentially transferable. The database can be accessed to identify the second set of industries. A symbolic representation of a job transfer between the first industry and a second industry or a symbolic representation that categorizes a subject of a user's job transferability query may be used to access the database.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating evaluation, in connection with the procurement or delivery of products or services, in a context of at least one of (i) a financial transaction and (ii) operation of an enterprise, are disclosed. The techniques involve retrieving party and counterparty preference data from digital storage media; performing multilateral analyses of the combined preference data by computing a closeness-of-fit value; and delivering a list matching the at least one party and the at least one counterparty using the computed closeness-of-fit values.

Abstract: Access to verified personal background data is provided in the form of an electronic document that includes a data record having personal background data and corresponding verification information as well as an electronic authentication of the contents of the data record. The data record is associated with a unique identifier. The electronic document may be distributed over a communication network to a person providing the identifier.

Abstract: Methods for identifying industries for potential transfer of a job function capability involve the use of a database that correlates, for a job function in a first industry, the first industry with a set of second industries with respect to which a job function capability of the job function is potentially transferable. The database can be accessed to identify the second set of industries. A symbolic representation of a job transfer between the first industry and a second industry or a symbolic representation that categorizes a subject of a user's job transferability query may be used to access the database.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating evaluation, in connection with the procurement or delivery of products or services, in a context of at least one of (i) a financial transaction and (ii) operation of an enterprise, are disclosed. The techniques involve retrieving party and counterparty preference profile data from digital storage media; performing multilateral analyses of the combined preference data by computing a closeness-of-fit value; and delivering a list matching the selected party and the at least one counterparty using the computed closeness-of-fit values.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating evaluation, in connection with the procurement or delivery of products or services, in a context of at least one of (i) a financial transaction and (ii) operation of an enterprise, are disclosed. The techniques involve retrieving party and counterparty preference data from digital storage media; performing multilateral analyses of the combined preference data by computing a closeness-of-fit value; and delivering a list matching the at least one party and the at least one counterparty using the computed closeness-of-fit values.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating evaluation, in connection with the procurement or delivery of products or services, in a context of at least one of (i) a financial transaction and (ii) operation of an enterprise, such context involving a member of a first class of parties in a first role and a member of a second class of counterparties in a second role, are disclosed. The techniques involve supplying to at least one of the parties a series of forced choice questions so as to elicit party responses; supplying to at least one of the counterparties a series of forced choice questions so as to elicit counterparty responses; and delivering a list matching the at least one party and the at least one counterparty according to analysis of preference profiles determined using conjoint analysis of the party responses and the counterparty responses.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating evaluation, in connection with the procurement or delivery of products or services, in a context of at least one of (i) a financial transaction and (ii) operation of an enterprise, such context involving a member of a first class of parties in a first role and a member of a second class of counterparties in a second role, are disclosed. The techniques involve deriving in a first computer process using conjoint analysis, from responses to forced choice questions, such responses attributable to each party and to each counterparty, a preference profile for each such party and counterparty; and analyzing in a second computer process the preference profiles of the parties and the counterparties to derive a list by which parties and counterparties are matched according to preferences determined by conjoint analysis of responses of both the parties and the counterparties to forced choice questions.

Abstract: A mechanism for the structured generation of a news release includes in one embodiment, (a) separately specifying the content of each of a plurality of predetermined sections of the news release; (b) storing, in a digital storage medium, the content specified for each of the sections; (c) assembling the news release by retrieving from the storage medium each of the stored sections; and (d) distributing the news release to a group of recipients, the group selected based on content from the news release. Embodiments are operative over a network such as the Internet. Related embodiments also include a system and an E-Mail message conveying a structured news release.

Abstract: Techniques for evaluating the closeness of fit between various parties and counterparties utilizing bilateral and multilateral decision-making are disclosed. For each party, questions intended to reveal the preferences of the party are presented to the party and/or a co-evaluator for the party, and a preference profile is derived for the party based upon the responses to the questions. For each counterparty, questions intended to reveal the preferences of the counterparty are presented to the counterparty and/or a co-evaluator for the counterparty, and a preference profile is derived for the counterparty. The preference profiles of the parties and counterparties are analyzed to determine, for each potential pairing of party and counterparty, those providing a relatively close fit.

Abstract: Access to verified personal background data is provided in the form of an electronic document that includes a data record having personal background data and corresponding verification information as well as an electronic authentication of the contents of the data record. The data record is associated with a unique identifier. The electronic document may be distributed over a communication network to a person providing the identifier.