Benefits selection in a benefits administration domain model

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a human resource management platform that includes applications targeted to solve a variety of human resource and benefits administration management problems. Applications of the human resource management platform include business applications such as benefits administration that may provide a single solution for facilitating employee benefits management and organizational efficiencies through automation of benefit management functions, measurement of benefit provider effectiveness, and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of benefits selection, comprising:
 taking an employee benefits domain model comprising a hierarchical set of benefits eligibility criteria and a plurality of domain objects representing employee attributes;   using a processor to receive an employee identifier and access the domain model to retrieve attributes of the employee;   presenting a first selection of benefits to the employee based on a comparison of the employee attributes with the benefits eligibility criteria;   receiving a benefits selection from the employee; and   presenting a second selection of benefits to the employee based on the comparison and the received benefits selection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of domain objects is effective dated. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein accessing the domain model is based on a target date. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the attributes retrieved are associated with a domain object version that is in effect as of the target date. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the attributes retrieved are retrieved from a domain object version that includes the target date within an effective date range of the object version. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second selection of benefits is further based on a hierarchical relationship between the second selection and the first selection. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the domain objects further represent employee benefits information. 
     
     
         8 . A method of benefits selection, comprising:
 taking an employee benefits domain model comprising a hierarchical set of benefits eligibility criteria and a plurality of domain objects representing employee attributes;   using a processor to receive an employee identifier and retrieve employee attributes from the domain model based on the employee identifier;   presenting to an employee associated with the employee identifier a first set of benefits options that are consistent with the hierarchical benefits eligibility criteria that are indicated by the employee attributes;   receiving a selection of at least one of the first set of benefit options from the employee; and   presenting a second set of benefit options to the employee based on the indicated benefits eligibility criteria and the received benefits selection.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of domain objects is effective dated. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein accessing the domain model is based on a target date. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the attributes retrieved are associated with a domain object version that is in effect as of the target date. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the attributes retrieved are retrieved from a domain object version that includes the target date within an effective date range of the object version. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second selection of benefits is further based on a hierarchical relationship between the second selection and the first selection. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the domain objects further represent employee benefits information. 
     
     
         15 . A benefits selection system, comprising:
 an employee benefits domain model comprising a hierarchical set of benefits eligibility criteria and a plurality of domain objects representing employee attributes;   a processor adapted to receive an employee identifier and retrieve employee attributes from the domain model based on the employee identifier;   a first set of benefits options that are consistent with the hierarchical benefits eligibility criteria that are indicated by the employee attributes;   and a second set of benefit options that are based on the indicated benefits eligibility criteria and a selection of at least of one of the first set of benefits options.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of domain objects is effective dated. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor retrieves employee attributes from the domain model based on a target date. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the retrieved attributes are associated with a domain object version that is in effect as of the target date. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the attributes are retrieved from a domain object version that includes the target date within an effective date range of the object version. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second set of benefit options is further based on a hierarchical relationship between the second set of benefit options and the first set of benefit options.