System, method and apparatus for connecting users in an online computer system based on their relationships within social networks
June 16, 2023. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesMethod and apparatus for detection of reciprocal interests or feelings and subsequent notification Computerized on-line dating service for searching and matching people Computerized job search system and method for posting and searching job openings via a computer network Method and apparatus for matching registered profiles On-line dating service for locating and matching people based on user-selected search criteria Interactive personals online network method and apparatus System, method, and computer program product for providing relational patterns between entities Patent #: 6073138 InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 10462142 filed on 06/16/2003US Classes:709/218, Using interconnected networks709/204, COMPUTER CONFERENCING709/217, REMOTE DATA ACCESSING709/219, Accessing a remote server709/227, COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER SESSION/CONNECTION ESTABLISHING709/228, Session/connection parameter setting707/3, Query processing (i.e., searching)707/5, Query augmenting and refining (e.g., inexact access)705/1, AUTOMATED ELECTRICAL FINANCIAL OR BUSINESS PRACTICE OR MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT705/7, Operations research705/8, Allocating resources or scheduling for an administrative function705/9, Staff scheduling or task assignment705/10, Market analysis, demand forecasting or surveying455/456.1, Location monitoring455/445, Call routing (e.g., to prevent backhaul, routing efficiency, least cost, or alternate routing)705/52, Usage or charge determination117/86With responsive controlExaminersPrimary: Najjar, SalehAssistant: Wang, Liang-che Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassG06F 15/16AbstractA method and apparatus for calculating, displaying and acting upon relationships in a social network is described. A computer system collects descriptive data about various individuals and allows those individuals to indicate other individuals with whom they have a personal relationship. The descriptive data and the relationship data are integrated and processed to reveal the series of social relationships connecting any two individuals within a social network. The pathways connecting any two individuals can be displayed. Further, the social network itself can be displayed to any number of degrees of separation. A user of the system can determine the optimal relationship path (i.e., contact pathway) to reach desired individuals. A communications tool allows individuals in the system to be introduced (or introduce themselves) and initiate direct communication.Other References
Field of SearchCOMPUTER CONFERENCINGREMOTE DATA ACCESSING Using interconnected networks Accessing a remote server COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER SESSION/CONNECTION ESTABLISHING Session/connection parameter setting Client/server Query processing (i.e., searching) Query augmenting and refining (e.g., inexact access) AUTOMATED ELECTRICAL FINANCIAL OR BUSINESS PRACTICE OR MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT | |
