Invented by Smith; Barbara Sue, Sullivan; Daniel J., The Strategic Coach Inc.

In today’s world, using data to make smart decisions is more important than ever. A new patent application has introduced a powerful way to generate data structures that help determine how well two systems or entities fit together. This article will break down what this technology means, why it matters, and how it works. You’ll learn about the need for better data-driven compatibility tools, the science behind them, and the unique innovations that set this invention apart.

Background and Market Context

Businesses and organizations often face tough choices when deciding who to work with. Whether it’s choosing new clients, selecting vendors, or picking partners, the question is always: will this be a good fit? Traditionally, these decisions are made by looking at simple facts, past experiences, or even gut feelings. But as the world gets more complex, this just isn’t enough.

The digital age has brought an explosion of data. Companies now collect tons of information about themselves and their interactions. This could be anything from how quickly a client pays bills to how often they respond to emails. But just having this data isn’t enough. The real challenge is turning it into something useful that helps make better choices.

Many companies try to use this data, but current tools fall short. They might miss important details or fail to see patterns that really matter. For example, a business might know that quick responses from a client are important, but they might not realize how this actually affects the overall relationship or project success.

There’s also the problem of matching up the strengths of one system (like a service provider) with the needs of another (like a client). Most tools can only look at basic facts, such as industry or revenue, and can’t dig deeper to see if the two are truly compatible. As a result, companies might miss out on the best partners or take on clients that aren’t a good match, leading to wasted time and resources.

The market is hungry for smarter solutions. Businesses want tools that can sift through all their data, find what’s really important, and use it to predict which partnerships will thrive. They need to know not just if someone looks good on paper, but if their skills and needs truly line up. This is where the new patent application steps in, offering a more advanced and reliable way to answer these questions.

Scientific Rationale and Prior Art

To understand why this invention matters, it helps to look at how data-driven decision-making has worked up until now. In the past, companies have relied on basic analytics. They might use spreadsheets to track client payments or simple scoring systems to rate partners. Some have turned to business intelligence software or customer relationship management (CRM) tools. These solutions help organize data, but they often stop short of real insight.

A common problem with current methods is that they treat all information the same. For example, a company might factor in a client’s location or industry, but not realize that response time to emails is a much stronger indicator of a good relationship. This means that important signals get lost in the noise.

Some companies have tried to use machine learning to make sense of their data. Machine learning models, like regression analysis or clustering, can spot patterns that humans might miss. For instance, a regression model can show how one factor, like payment speed, relates to outcomes like project success. Clustering algorithms can group clients by similar behaviors or needs.

But even these efforts have limits. Most models are trained on narrow sets of data, and they often require a lot of manual effort to set up and maintain. They might not be able to handle unstructured data, like images or speech, or combine different types of information. They also struggle to connect the dots between what makes a client desirable and whether a company’s unique strengths actually meet that client’s needs.

Another challenge is extracting useful information from messy data. Sometimes, the most important details are buried in emails, scanned documents, or phone calls. Traditional systems can’t easily pull this information out and use it for analysis.

In short, while the idea of using data to pick the best partners isn’t new, existing solutions are too simple, too rigid, or too limited. They can’t fully answer the big question: not just “Is this a good client or partner?” but “Is this the right fit for us, given what we do best?” The new patent application aims to fix these shortcomings by combining smarter data extraction, machine learning, and a clear focus on compatibility.

Invention Description and Key Innovations

Now, let’s get into what makes this new invention stand out. The patent describes an apparatus and method for generating a data structure that can answer the question of compatibility between two systems. In simple terms, it’s a toolkit that uses smart data analysis to decide if two companies, teams, or systems will work well together.

At the heart of this invention is a process that brings together powerful data extraction, machine learning, and clear decision-making steps. Here’s how it works:

First, the system identifies what matters most for a good fit. These are called “target convergence attributes.” Think of them as the key traits that, when present, mean a relationship is likely to be successful. For example, maybe clients who respond quickly and pay on time are always the best. The system looks at past data to find out which traits really make a difference.

To do this, it builds a dataset of past examples. It gathers ratings and scores for a range of possible attributes, like communication speed, payment habits, or project types. Then it uses machine learning to see which of these traits have the strongest link to good results. Only the attributes that truly matter get picked.

Next, the system creates a high-level pattern or model based on these key attributes. This is called the “high target convergence attribute pattern.” It’s like a map that shows where the best relationships happen in a multi-dimensional space. The model can be a regression formula or a machine learning classifier that predicts, given a set of attributes, how likely a new client or partner is to be a good fit.

But the innovation doesn’t stop there. The system is also great at pulling in new data, even if it comes in hard-to-use formats. For example, if a company receives client information as images (like scanned forms), the system uses machine vision and OCR (optical character recognition) to pull out the text. If information comes as audio, it uses speech recognition to turn it into text. This means no important detail gets left behind, no matter how it’s stored.

Once the system has new data about a potential client (the “first system”), it uses the model to score how well this client matches the key attributes. This gives a “target convergence” score—a number that shows if the client or partner looks like a good fit, based on what’s worked in the past.

However, the invention goes even further. It doesn’t just look at the client’s side; it also looks at the strengths or “attribute clusters” of the service provider or second system. These clusters are groups of skills, assets, or features that the provider has. For example, a company might have a team that’s very good at a certain kind of project, special software, or experience in a particular industry.

The system uses classifiers and clustering algorithms to group these assets into clusters. Then, it looks for “advantage clusters”—the strengths that really set the provider apart and have a big impact on success. Machine learning models help figure out which clusters make the biggest difference for the types of projects or clients being considered.

To make things even more precise, the system checks if these advantage clusters actually line up with what the new client needs. It uses language models to see if the strengths of the provider match the requirements or goals of the client. This step is called determining “advantage cluster applicability.” It’s not enough to have a skill; it has to be the right skill for the job.

Finally, the system brings it all together. It calculates a “compatibility datum”—a single measure that shows how well the two sides fit together. This score considers both the client’s fit based on key attributes and the provider’s fit based on their unique strengths. The compatibility datum can be shown to users in a clear, visual way, helping them make smart decisions quickly.

Some of the standout features of this invention include:

1. End-to-End Data Handling: The system can take in data from many sources and formats, clean it up, and turn it into useful information. Whether the input is a picture, a sound file, or plain text, the system can process it.

2. Smart Attribute Selection: Rather than looking at every possible trait, the system uses machine learning to zero in on the factors that really matter. This makes the analysis much more focused and accurate.

3. Real-World Pattern Recognition: By training on real data, the system builds patterns that reflect what has actually led to good relationships in the past. This means its predictions are grounded in evidence, not just guesses.

4. Dual-Sided Matching: Unlike many tools that only rate one side of a relationship, this invention looks at both the needs of the client and the strengths of the provider. Compatibility is about both sides, and this system captures that.

5. Dynamic Visual Output: The results aren’t hidden in a spreadsheet. The system can create visual elements—charts, scores, or highlights—that make the compatibility score easy to understand and use.

6. Flexible, Automated Workflows: With its use of machine learning, clustering, and natural language processing, the system can update itself as new data comes in. It can also be adapted to many industries and types of relationships.

In practical terms, this invention could help businesses avoid bad matches, find ideal partners faster, and use their own data to drive better outcomes. It takes the guesswork out of decision-making and replaces it with clear, actionable insight.

Conclusion

Choosing the right partners, clients, or collaborators is one of the hardest—and most important—tasks facing any organization. The new patent application for data structure generation introduces a smarter, more reliable way to answer the question of compatibility. By combining advanced data extraction, machine learning, and a holistic view of both parties, this invention offers a leap forward in decision-making. It allows businesses to use all their data, focus on what really matters, and build better relationships. In a world filled with choices, having a clear, data-driven way to find the best fit is a true competitive advantage.

Click here https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/ and search 20250217387.