U.S. patent application number 11/603442 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-20 for map based neighborhood search and community contribution.
Invention is credited to Raj Vasant Abhyanker.
Application Number | 20070218900 11/603442 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38518564 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070218900 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Abhyanker; Raj Vasant |
September 20, 2007 |
Map based neighborhood search and community contribution
Abstract
A method, apparatus and system of map based community search and
neighborhood contribution are disclosed. In one embodiment, a
method includes associating a verified registered user with a user
profile, associating the user profile with a specific geographic
location, generating a map concurrently displaying the user profile
and the specific geographic location and simultaneously generating,
in the map, wiki profiles associated with different geographic
locations surrounding the specific geographic location associated
with the user profile.
Inventors: |
Abhyanker; Raj Vasant;
(Cupertino, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Raj Abhyanker, LLP;c/o Intellevate
P.O. Box 52050
Minneapolis
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
38518564 |
Appl. No.: |
11/603442 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60783226 |
Mar 17, 2006 |
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60817470 |
Jun 28, 2006 |
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60853499 |
Oct 19, 2006 |
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60854230 |
Oct 25, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/435.1 ;
455/404.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 76/50 20180201;
G06Q 30/02 20130101; H04W 4/021 20130101; G06F 21/31 20130101; G06Q
10/10 20130101; G06Q 10/087 20130101; H04L 51/04 20130101; H04W
4/90 20180201; G06Q 99/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/435.1 ;
455/404.2 |
International
Class: |
H04M 11/04 20060101
H04M011/04 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: associating a verified registered user
with a user profile; associating the user profile with a specific
geographic location; generating a map concurrently displaying the
user profile and the specific geographic location; and
simultaneously generating, in the map, wiki profiles associated
with different geographic locations surrounding the specific
geographic location associated with the user profile.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: processing a query of
at least one of the user profile and the specific geographic
location; and converting a particular wiki profile of the wiki
profiles to another user profile when a different registered user
claims a particular geographic location to the specific geographic
location associated with the particular wiki profile, wherein the
user profile is tied to a specific property in a neighborhood, and
wherein the particular wiki profile is associated with a
neighboring property to the specific property in the
neighborhood.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising: delisting a certain
wiki profile of the wiki profiles when a private registered user
claims a certain geographic location adjacent to at least one of
the specific geographic location and the particular geographic
location; and masking the certain wiki profile in the map when the
certain wiki profile is delisted through the request of the private
registered user.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising: processing a tag data
associated with at least one of the specific geographic location, a
particular geographic location, and the delisted geographic
location; displaying a frequent one of the tag data when at least
one of the specific geographic location and the particular
geographic location is made active, but not when a geographic
location is delisted; permitting a commercial user to purchase a
customizable business profile associated with a commercial
geographic location; enabling the verified registered user to
communicate a message to the neighborhood based on a selectible
distance range away from the specific geographic location; and
processing a payment of the commercial user and the verified
registered user.
5. The method of claim 3 further comprising: permitting the
verified registered user to edit any information in the wiki
profiles including the particular wiki profile and the certain wiki
profile until the certain wiki profile is claimed by at least one
of the different registered user and the private registered user;
enabling a claimant of any wiki profile to control what information
is displayed on their user profile; and allowing the claimant to
segregate certain information on their user profile such that only
other registered users directly connected to the claimant are able
to view data on their user profile.
6. The method of claim 3 further comprising: applying a first user
ID with the verified registered user and a second user ID to the
different registered user; connecting the verified registered user
with the different registered user with each other through at least
one of a geo-positioning data associated with the first user ID and
the second user ID; setting a maximum degree of separation (Nmax)
of at least two that is allowed for connecting any two registered
users, wherein two registered users who are directly connected are
deemed to be separated by one degree of separation and two
registered users who are connected through no less than one other
registered user are deemed to be separated by two degrees of
separation and two registered users who are connected through no
less than N other registered users are deemed to be separated by
N+1 degrees of separation; searching the user ID of the different
registered user in a set of user IDs that are stored of registered
users who are less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the
verified registered user, and not in the sets of user IDs that are
stored for registered users who are greater than or equal to Nmax
degrees of separation away from the verified registered user, until
the user ID of the different registered user is found in one of the
searched sets; and connecting the verified registered user to the
different registered user if the user ID of the different
registered user is found in one of the searched sets, wherein the
method limits the searching of the different registered user in the
sets of user IDs that are stored of registered users who are less
than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered
user, such that the verified registered user and the different
registered user who are separated by more than Nmax degrees of
separation are not found and connected.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising: searching initially in
the sets of user IDs that are stored of registered users who are
directly connected to the verified registered user; communicating a
profile of the different registered user to the verified registered
user to display through a marker associating the verified
registered user with the different registered user; storing a
connection path between the verified registered user and the
different registered user, the connection path indicating at least
one other registered user through whom the connection path between
the verified registered user and the different registered user is
made; communicating the connection path between the verified
registered user and the different registered user to the verified
registered user to display; and embedding a hyperlink in the
connection path of each of the at least one registered users
through whom the connection path between the verified registered
user and the different registered user is made.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising: storing of each
registered user associated e-mail addresses of individuals who are
not registered users and identified by each registered user as
neighbors. communicating out an invitation to become a new user to
neighbors of the particular user; processing an acceptance of a
neighbor to whom the invitation was sent; adding the neighbor to a
database and storing of the neighbor, a user ID and a set of user
IDs of registered users who are directly connected to the neighbor,
the set of user IDs stored of the neighbor including at least the
user ID of the verified registered user; notifying the verified
registered user that the invitation to the neighbor has been
accepted when an acceptance is processed; and processing inputs
from the neighbor having descriptive data about the friend and
storing the inputs in the database.
9. The method of claim 7 further comprising: communicating brief
profiles of registered users, including a brief profile of the
different registered user, to the verified registered user for
display, each of the brief profiles including a hyperlink to a
corresponding full profile; processing a hyperlink selection from
the verified registered user, wherein, upon processing the
hyperlink selection of the full profile of the different registered
user, the full profile of the different registered user is
communicated to the verified registered user for display; and
ensuring that brief profiles of those registered users who are more
than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered
user are not communicated to the verified registered user for
display.
10. The method claim 1 in a form of a machine-readable medium
embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine,
causes the machine to perform the method of claim 1.
11. A system comprising: a plurality of neighborhoods having
registered users and unregistered users of a global neighborhood
environment; a social community module of the global neighborhood
environment to generate a building creator in which the registered
users may create and modify empty wiki profiles, building layouts,
social network pages, and floor levels structures housing residents
and businesses in the neighborhood; a wiki module of the global
neighborhood environment to enable the registered users to create a
social network page of themselves, and to edit information
associated with the unregistered users identifiable through a
viewing of physical properties in which the unregistered users
reside when the registered users have knowledge of characteristics
associated with the unregistered users; a search module of the
global neighborhood environment to enable a people search, a
business search, and a category search of any data in the social
community module and to enable embedding of any content in the
global neighborhood environment in other search engines, blogs,
social networks, professional networks and static websites; a
commerce module of the global neighborhood environment to provide
an advertisement system to a business who purchase their location
in the global neighborhood environment in which the advertisement
is viewable concurrently with a map indicating a location of the
business, and in which revenue is attributed to the global
neighborhood environment when the registered users and the
unregistered users click-in on a simultaneously displayed data of
the advertisement along with the map indicating a location of the
business; and a map module of the global neighborhood environment
to include a map data associated with a satellite data which serves
as a basis of rendering the map in the global neighborhood
environment and which includes a simplified map generator which may
transform the map to a fewer color and location complex form using
a parcel data which identifies at least some residence, civic, and
business locations in the satellite data.
12. The system of claim 11 further comprising: a verify module of
the social community module to authenticate an email address of a
registered user prior to enabling the registered user to edit
information associated with the unregistered users through at least
one of an email response and a digital signature technique; a group
generator module of the social community module to enable the
registered users to form groups with each other surrounding at
least one of a common neighborhood political, cultural,
educational, professional and social interest; a tagging module of
the social community module to enable the registered users and the
unregistered users to leave brief comments on each of the wiki
profiles and social network pages in the global neighborhood
environment, in which the brief comments are simultaneously
displayed when a pointing device rolls over a pushpin indicating a
physical property associated with any of the registered users and
the unregistered users; a pushpin module of the social community
module to generate customized indicators of different types of
users, locations, and interests directly in the map; an announce
module of the social community module to distribute a message in a
specified range of distance away from the registered users when a
registered user purchases a message to communicate to certain ones
of the registered users surrounding a geographic vicinity adjacent
to the particular registered user originating the message, wherein
the particular registered user purchases the message through a
governmental currency and a number of tokens collected by the
particular user through a creation of content in the global
neighborhood environment; an nth degree module of the social
community module to enable the particular registered user to
communicate with an unknown registered user through a common
registered user known by the particular registered user and the
unknown registered user that is an nth degree of separation away
from the particular registered user and the unknown registered
user; and a profile module of the social community module to create
a set of profiles of each one of the registered users and to enable
each one of the registered users to submit media content of
themselves, other registered users, and unregistered users
identifiable through the map.
13. The system of claim 11 further comprising: a claim module of
wiki module to enable the unregistered users to claim at least one
of the physical properties associated with their residence; a
dispute resolution module of the wiki module to determine a
legitimate user of different unregistered users who claim a same
physical property; a defamation prevention module of the wiki
module to enable the registered users to modify the information
associated with the unregistered users identifiable through the
viewing of the physical properties, and to enable registered user
voting of an accuracy of the information associated with the
unregistered users; a reviews module of the wiki module to provide
comments, local reviews and ratings of various businesses as
contributed by the registered users and unregistered users of the
global network environment; and a wiki-social network conversion
module of the wiki module to transform the wiki profiles to social
network profiles when the registered users claim the wiki
profiles.
14. The system of claim 11 further comprising: a communication
module of the search module to enable voice over internet, live
chat, and group announcement functionality in the global
neighborhood environment among different members of the global
neighborhood environment; a directory assistance module of the
search module to provide voice response assistance to users
assessable through a web and telephony interface of any category,
business, community, and residence search queries of users of any
search engine embedding content of the global neighborhood
environment; an embed module of the search module to automatically
extract address and contact info from other social networks, search
engines, and content providers, and to enable automatic extraction
of group lists from contact databases of instant messaging
platforms; and a no-match module of the search module to request
additional information from the verified registered user about a
person, place, and business having no listing in the global
neighborhood environment when no matches are found in a search
query of the verified registered user, and to create a new wiki
page based on a response of the verified registered user about the
at least one person, place, and business not previously indexed in
the global neighborhood environment.
15. The system of claim 11 further comprising: a geo-position
advertisement ranking module of the commerce module to determine an
order of the advertisement in a series of other advertisements
provided in the global neighborhood environment by other
advertisers, wherein the advertisement is at least one a display
advertisement, a text advertisement, and an employment recruiting
portal associated with the business that is simultaneously
displayed with the map indicating the location of the business; a
click through tracking module of the commerce module to determine a
number of click throughs from the advertisement to a primary
website of the business; a click in tracking module of the commerce
module to determine a number of users who clicked in to the
advertisement simultaneously displayed with the map indicating the
location of the business; a community marketplace module of the
commerce module to provide a forum in which the registered users
can trade and announce messages of trading events with at least
certain registered users in geographic proximity from each other;
and a content syndication module of the commerce module to enable
any data in the commerce module to be syndicated to other network
based trading platforms.
16. The system of claim 11 further comprising: a cartoon map
converter module in the map module to apply a filter to the
satellite data to transform the satellite data into a simplified
polygon based representation using a Bezier curve algorithm that
converts point data of the satellite data to a simplified form.
17. A global neighborhood environment, comprising: a first
instruction set to enable a social network to reside above a map
data, in which the social network is associated with specific
geographical locations identifiable in the map data; a second
instruction set integrated with the first instruction set to enable
users of the social network to create profiles of other people
through a forum which provides a free form of expression of the
users sharing information about any entities and people residing in
any geographical location identifiable in the satellite map data,
and to provide a technique of each of the users to claim a
geographic location to control content in their respective claimed
geographic locations; and a third instruction set integrated with
the first instruction set and the second instruction set to enable
searching of people in the global neighborhood environment by
indexing each of the data shared by the users of any of the people
and entities residing in any geographic location.
18. The global neighborhood environment of claim 17 further
comprising: a fourth instruction set to provide a moderation of
content about each other posted of the users through trusted users
of the global neighborhood environment who have an ability to ban
specific users and delete any offensive and libelous content in the
global neighborhood environment.
19. The global neighborhood environment of claim 18 further
comprising: a fifth instruction set to enable an insertion of any
content generated in the global neighborhood environment in other
search engines through a syndication and advertising relationship
between the global neighborhood environment and other internet
commerce and search portals.
20. The global neighborhood environment of claim 19 further
comprising: a sixth instruction set to grow the social network
through neighborhood groups, local politicians, block watch
communities, issue activism groups, and neighbors who invite other
known parties and members to share profiles of themselves and learn
characteristics and information about other supporters and
residents in a geographic area of interest through the global
neighborhood environment.
21. The global neighborhood environment of claim 20 further
comprising: a seventh instruction set to determine quantify an
effect on at least one of a desirability of a location, a
popularity of a location, and a market value of a location based on
an algorithm that considers a number of demographic and social
characteristics of a region surrounding the location through a
reviews module.
Description
CLAIMS OF PRIORITY
[0001] This patent application claims priority from:
(1) U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/783,226, titled
`Trade identity licensing in a professional services environment
with conflict` filed on Mar. 17, 2006.
(2) U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/817,470 titled
`Segmented services having a global structure of networked
independent entities`, filed Jun. 28, 2006.
(3) U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/853,499, titled
`Method and apparatus of neighborhood expression and user
contribution system` filed on Oct. 19, 2006.
(4) U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/854,230 titled
`Method and apparatus of neighborhood expression and user
contribution system` filed on Oct. 25, 2006.
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to the technical fields of
communications and, in one example embodiment, to a method,
apparatus, and system of map based community search and
neighborhood contribution.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A neighborhood may be a geographically localized community
in a larger city, town, and/or suburb. Residents of the
neighborhood may refer to each other as neighbors, although this
term may also be used across much larger distances in rural areas.
In theory, the neighborhood may be small enough that the neighbors
may be able to know each other by walking and/or driving a short
distance (e.g., 5 miles) around their place of residence and/or
their place of work. However, in practice, the neighbors may not
know one another very well (e.g., because of busy schedules, fenced
communities, lack of effort, a lack of time, etc.).
[0004] The neighborhood may be given a designated status through a
neighborhood association, a neighborhood watch group, a political
group, a homeowners association, and/or a tenant association. These
groups may help in matters such as lawn care and fence height, and
they may provide such services as block parties, neighborhood
parks, children activities, special interest groups, and/or
community security. However, getting messages out to residents of
the neighborhood may require expensive direct mail, and/or time
consuming door to door meetings with residents of the
neighborhood.
[0005] A neighborhood watch (e.g., a crime watch, a block watch, a
neighborhood crime watch, etc.) may be an organization of active
residents devoted to crime and/or vandalism prevention in the
neighborhood. Members of the neighborhood watch may stay alert of
unusual activity, behaviors, and/or crime in the neighborhood.
However, most residents may not be active participants of the
neighborhood association (e.g., because of a lack of time), and may
be unaware of safety, security, and/or prevention issues in their
immediate area.
[0006] For example, in many American communities, while a few
active residents know a lot of their neighbors, there are far more
residents who do not even know what professions, interests, and
reputations are of their immediate next-door neighbors. As a
result, friendships among neighbors don't form as often, neighbors
have more difficult time asking other neighbors for help, safety in
the neighborhood suffers, quality of life is impacted, and a sense
of community is diminishing.
SUMMARY
[0007] A method, apparatus and system of map based neighborhood
search and community contribution are disclosed. In one aspect, a
method includes associating a verified registered user with a user
profile, associating the user profile with a specific geographic
location, generating a map concurrently displaying the user profile
and the specific geographic location, and simultaneously
generating, in the map, wiki profiles associated with different
geographic locations surrounding the specific geographic location
associated with the user profile.
[0008] The method may also includes processing a query of at least
one of the user profile and the specific geographic location and
converting a particular wiki profile of the wiki profiles to
another user profile when a different registered user claims a
particular geographic location to the specific geographic location
associated with the particular wiki profile, wherein the user
profile is tied to a specific property in a neighborhood, and
wherein the particular wiki profile is associated with a
neighboring property to the specific property in the
neighborhood.
[0009] The method may further include delisting a certain wiki
profile of the wiki profiles when a private registered user claims
a certain geographic location adjacent to at least one of the
specific geographic location and the particular geographic location
and masking the certain wiki profile in the map when the certain
wiki profile is delisted through the request of the private
registered user. Moreover, the method may include processing a tag
data associated with at least one of the specific geographic
location, a particular geographic location, and/or the delisted
geographic location, displaying a frequent one of the tag data when
the specific geographic location and/or the particular geographic
location is made active, but not when a geographic location is
delisted, permitting a commercial user to purchase a customizable
business profile associated with a commercial geographic location,
enabling the verified registered user to communicate a message to
the neighborhood based on a selectable distance range away from the
specific geographic location and/or processing a payment of the
commercial user and the verified registered user.
[0010] Furthermore, the method may also include permitting the
verified registered user to edit any information in the wiki
profiles including the particular wiki profile and the certain wiki
profile until the certain wiki profile is claimed by the different
registered user and/or the private registered user, enabling a
claimant of any wiki profile to control what information is
displayed on their user profile and/or allowing the claimant to
segregate certain information on their user profile such that only
other registered users directly connected to the claimant are able
to view data on their user profile.
[0011] Also, the method may include applying a first user ID with
the verified registered user and a second user ID to the different
registered user, connecting the verified registered user with the
different registered user with each other through at least one of a
geo-positioning data associated with the first user ID and the
second user ID, setting a maximum degree of separation (Nmax) of at
least two that is allowed for connecting any two registered users,
wherein two registered users who are directly connected are deemed
to be separated by one degree of separation, two registered users
who are connected through no less than one other registered user
are deemed to be separated by two degrees of separation and/or two
registered users who are connected through no less than N other
registered users are deemed to be separated by N+1 degrees of
separation, searching the user ID of the different registered user
in a set of user IDs that are stored of registered users who are
less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified
registered user, and not in the sets of user IDs that are stored
for registered users who are greater than or equal to Nmax degrees
of separation away from the verified registered user, until the
user ID of the different registered user is found in one of the
searched sets and/or connecting the verified registered user to the
different registered user if the user ID of the different
registered user is found in one of the searched sets, wherein the
method limits the searching of the different registered user in the
sets of user IDs that are stored of registered users who are less
than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered
user, such that the verified registered user and/or the different
registered user who are separated by more than Nmax degrees of
separation are not found and connected.
[0012] The method may include searching initially in the sets of
user IDs that are stored of registered users who are directly
connected to the verified registered user, communicating a profile
of the different registered user to the verified registered user to
display through a marker associating the verified registered user
with the different registered user, storing a connection path
between the verified registered user and the different registered
user, the connection path indicating at least one other registered
user through whom the connection path between the verified
registered user and the different registered user is made,
communicating the connection path between the verified registered
user and the different registered user to the verified registered
user to display and/or embedding a hyperlink in the connection path
of each of the registered users through whom the connection path
between the verified registered user and the different registered
user is made.
[0013] The method may also include storing of each registered user
associated e-mail addresses of individuals who are not registered
users and/or identified by each registered user as neighbors,
communicating out an invitation to become a new user to neighbors
of the particular user, processing an acceptance of a neighbor to
whom the invitation was sent, adding the neighbor to a database
and/or storing of the neighbor, a user ID and/or a set of user IDs
of registered users who are directly connected to the neighbor, the
set of user IDs stored of the neighbor including at least the user
ID of the verified registered user, notifying the verified
registered user that the invitation to the neighbor has been
accepted when an acceptance is processed and/or processing inputs
from the neighbor having descriptive data about the friend and
storing the inputs in the database.
[0014] Moreover the method may include communicating brief profiles
of registered users, including a brief profile of the different
registered user, to the verified registered user for display, each
of the brief profiles including a hyperlink to a corresponding full
profile, processing a hyperlink selection from the verified
registered user, wherein, upon processing the hyperlink selection
of the full profile of the different registered user, the full
profile of the different registered user may be communicated to the
verified registered user for display and ensuring that brief
profiles of those registered users who are more than Nmax degrees
of separation away from the verified registered user are not
communicated to the verified registered user for display.
[0015] In another aspect, a system includes any number of
neighborhoods having registered users and/or unregistered users of
a global neighborhood environment, a social community module of the
global neighborhood environment to generate a building creator in
which the registered users may create and/or modify empty wiki
profiles, building layouts, social network pages, and/or floor
levels structures housing residents and/or businesses in the
neighborhood, a wiki module of the global neighborhood environment
to enable the registered users to create a social network page of
themselves, and/or to edit information associated with the
unregistered users identifiable through a viewing of physical
properties in which the unregistered users reside when the
registered users have knowledge of characteristics associated with
the unregistered users.
[0016] In addition, a search module of the global neighborhood
environment may enable a people search, a business search, and a
category search of any data in the social community module and/or
to enable embedding of any content in the global neighborhood
environment in other search engines, blogs, social networks,
professional networks and static websites, a commerce module of the
global neighborhood environment to provide an advertisement system
to a business who purchase their location in the global
neighborhood environment in which the advertisement may be viewable
concurrently with a map indicating a location of the business, and
in which revenue may be attributed to the global neighborhood
environment when the registered users and/or the unregistered users
click-in on a simultaneously displayed data of the advertisement
along with the map indicating a location of the business, and/or a
map module of the global neighborhood environment to include a map
data associated with a satellite data which serves as a basis of
rendering the map in the global neighborhood environment and/or
which includes a simplified map generator which may transform the
map to a fewer color and/or location complex form using a parcel
data which identifies some residence, civic, and business locations
in the satellite data.
[0017] The system may include a verify module of the social
community module to authenticate an email address of a registered
user prior to enabling the registered user to edit information
associated with the unregistered users through an email response
and a digital signature technique, a group generator module of the
social community module to enable the registered users to form
groups with each other surrounding a common neighborhood political,
cultural, educational, professional and/or social interest, a
tagging module of the social community module to enable the
registered users and/or the unregistered users to leave brief
comments on each of the wiki profiles and social network pages in
the global neighborhood environment.
[0018] Brief comments may be simultaneously displayed when a
pointing device rolls over a pushpin indicating a physical property
associated with any of the registered users and/or the unregistered
users, a pushpin module of the social community module to generate
customized indicators of different types of users, locations,
and/or interests directly in the map, an announce module of the
social community module to distribute a message in a specified
range of distance away from the registered users when the
registered user purchases the message to communicate to certain
ones of the registered users surrounding a geographic vicinity
adjacent to the particular registered user originating the message,
wherein the particular registered user purchases the message
through a governmental currency and a number of tokens collected by
the particular user through a creation of content in the global
neighborhood environment, an nth degree module of the social
community module to enable the particular registered user to
communicate with an unknown registered user through a common
registered user known by the particular registered user and/or the
unknown registered user that may be an nth degree of separation
away from the particular registered user and the unknown registered
user and a profile module of the social community module to create
a set of profiles of each one of the registered users and/or to
enable each one of the registered users to submit media content of
themselves, other registered users, and unregistered users
identifiable through the map.
[0019] Moreover, the system may include a claim module of wiki
module to enable the unregistered users to claim the physical
properties associated with their residence, a dispute resolution
module of the wiki module to determine a legitimate user of
different unregistered users who claim a same physical property, a
defamation prevention module of the wiki module to enable the
registered users to modify the information associated with the
unregistered users identifiable through the viewing of the physical
properties, and/or to enable registered user voting of an accuracy
of the information associated with the unregistered users, a
reviews module of the wiki module to provide comments, local
reviews and/or ratings of various businesses as contributed by the
registered users and/or unregistered users of the global network
environment, a wiki-social network conversion module of the wiki
module to transform the wiki profiles to social network profiles
when the registered users claim the wiki profiles.
[0020] Furthermore, the system may include a communication module
of the search module to enable voice over internet, live chat,
and/or group announcement functionality in the global neighborhood
environment among different members of the global neighborhood
environment, a directory assistance module of the search module to
provide voice response assistance to the users assessable through a
web and/or telephony interface of any category, business,
community, and/or residence search queries of the users of any
search engine embedding content of the global neighborhood
environment, an embed module of the search module to automatically
extract address and/or contact info from other social networks,
search engines, and/or content providers, and/or to enable
automatic extraction of group lists from contact databases of
instant messaging platforms and a no-match module of the search
module to request additional information from the verified
registered user about a person, place, and business having no
listing in the global neighborhood environment when no matches are
found in a search query of the verified registered user, and/or to
create a new wiki page based on a response of the verified
registered user about the person, place, and business not
previously indexed in the global neighborhood environment.
[0021] The system may further include a geo-position advertisement
ranking module of the commerce module to determine an order of the
advertisement (e.g., the advertisement may be a display
advertisement, a text advertisement, and/or an employment
recruiting portal associated with the business that is
simultaneously displayed with the map indicating the location of
the business) in a series of other advertisements provided in the
global neighborhood environment by other advertisers, a
click-through tracking module of the commerce module to determine a
number of click throughs from the advertisement to a primary
website of the business, click-in tracking module of the commerce
module to determine a number of users who clicked in to the
advertisement simultaneously displayed with the map indicating the
location of the business, a community marketplace module of the
commerce module to provide a forum in which the registered users
may trade and/or announce messages of trading events with certain
registered users in geographic proximity from each other and a
content syndication module of the commerce module to enable any
data in the commerce module to be syndicated to other network based
trading platforms.
[0022] The system may include a cartoon map converter module in the
map module to apply a filter to the satellite data to transform the
satellite data into a simplified polygon based representation using
a Bezier curve algorithm that converts point data of the satellite
data to a simplified form.
[0023] In yet another aspect, a global neighborhood environment
includes a first instruction set to enable a social network to
reside above a map data, in which the social network may be
associated with specific geographical locations identifiable in the
map data, a second instruction set integrated with the first
instruction set to enable users of the social network to create
profiles of other people through a forum which provides a free form
of expression of the users sharing information about any entities
and/or people residing in any geographical location identifiable in
the satellite map data, and/or to provide a technique of each of
the users to claim a geographic location to control content in
their respective claimed geographic locations and a third
instruction set integrated with the first instruction set and the
second instruction set to enable searching of people in the global
neighborhood environment by indexing each of the data shared by the
users of any of the people and/or the entities residing in any
geographic location.
[0024] The global neighborhood environment may include a fourth
instruction set to provide a moderation of content about each other
posted of the users through trusted users of the global
neighborhood environment who have an ability to ban specific users
and/or delete any offensive and libelous content in the global
neighborhood environment. Also, the global neighborhood environment
may include a fifth instruction set to enable an insertion of any
content generated in the global neighborhood environment in other
search engines through a syndication and/or advertising
relationship between the global neighborhood environment and/or
other internet commerce and search portals.
[0025] Furthermore, the global neighborhood environment may include
a sixth instruction set to grow the social network through
neighborhood groups, local politicians, block watch communities,
issue activism groups, and neighbors who invite other known parties
and/or members to share profiles of themselves and learn
characteristics and information about other supporters and/or
residents in a geographic area of interest through the global
neighborhood environment.
[0026] The global neighborhood environment may also include a
seventh instruction set to determine quantify an effect on a
desirability of a location, a popularity of a location, and/or a
market value of a location based on an algorithm that considers a
number of demographic and social characteristics of a region
surrounding the location through a reviews module.
[0027] The methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein may
be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects, and may
be executed in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set
of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine
to perform any of the operations disclosed herein. Other features
will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the
detailed description that follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and
not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in
which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a system view of a global neighborhood environment
communicating with the neighborhood(s) through a network, an
advertiser(s), a global map data and an occupant data according to
one embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a social community module of
FIG. 1, according to one embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a search module of FIG. 1,
according to one embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a wiki module of FIG. 1,
according to one embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a commerce module of FIG. 1,
according to one embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a map module of FIG. 1,
according to one embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a table view of user address details, according to
one embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 8 is a social community view of a social community
module, according to one embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 9 is a profile view of a profile module, according to
one embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 10 is a contribute view of a neighborhood network
module, according to one embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic system view of a data processing
system in which any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be
performed, according to one embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 12A is a user interface view of mapping user profile of
the geographical location, according to one embodiment.
[0041] FIG. 12B is a user interface view of mapping of the wiki
profile, according to one embodiment.
[0042] FIG. 13A is a user interface view of mapping of a wiki
profile of the commercial user, according to one embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 13B is a user interface view of mapping of customizable
business profile of the commercial user, according to one
embodiment.
[0044] FIG. 14 is a user interface view of a group view associated
with particular geographical location, according to one
embodiment.
[0045] FIG. 15 is a user interface view of claim view, according to
one embodiment.
[0046] FIG. 16 is a user interface view of a building builder,
according to one embodiment.
[0047] FIG. 17 is a systematic view of communication of wiki data,
according to one embodiment.
[0048] FIG. 18 is a systematic view of a network view, according to
one embodiment.
[0049] FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a database, according to one
embodiment.
[0050] FIG. 20 is an exemplary graphical user interface view for
data collection, according to one embodiment.
[0051] FIG. 21 is an exemplary graphical user interface view of
image collection, according to one embodiment.
[0052] FIG. 22 is an exemplary graphical user interface view of an
invitation, according to one embodiment.
[0053] FIG. 23 is a flowchart of inviting the invitee(s) by the
registered user, notifying the registered user upon the acceptance
of the invitation by the invitee(s) and, processing and storing the
input data associated with the user in the database, according to
one embodiment.
[0054] FIG. 24 is a flowchart of adding the neighbor to the queue,
according to one embodiment.
[0055] FIG. 25 is a flowchart of communicating brief profiles of
the registered users, processing a hyperlink selection from the
verified registered user and calculating and ensuring the Nmax
degree of separation of the registered users away from verified
registered users, according to one embodiment.
[0056] FIG. 26 is an N degree separation view, according to one
embodiment.
[0057] FIG. 27 is a user interface view showing a map, according to
one embodiment.
[0058] FIG. 28A is a process flow chart of searching a map based
community and neighborhood contribution, according to one
embodiment.
[0059] FIG. 28B is a continuation of process flow of FIG. 28A
showing additional processes, according to one embodiment.
[0060] FIG. 28C is a continuation of process flow of FIG. 28B
showing additional processes, according to one embodiment.
[0061] FIG. 28D is a continuation of process flow of FIG. 28C
showing additional processes, according to one embodiment.
[0062] FIG. 28E is a continuation of process flow of FIG. 28D
showing additional processes, according to one embodiment.
[0063] Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent
from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description
that follows.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0064] A method, apparatus and system of map based neighborhood
search and community contribution are disclosed. In the following
description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific
details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding
of the various embodiments. It will be evident, however to one
skilled in the art that the various embodiments may be practiced
without these specific details.
[0065] In one embodiment, a method includes associating a verified
registered user (e.g., a verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, a verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) with a user
profile, associating the user profile (e.g., the user profile 1200
of FIG. 12A) with a specific geographic location, generating a map
(e.g., a map 1701 of FIG. 17) concurrently displaying the user
profile and/or the specific geographic location and simultaneously
generating, in the map (e.g., the map 1701 of FIG. 17), wiki
profiles (e.g., a wiki profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-12B, a wiki profile
1302 of FIG. 13A, a wiki profile 1704 of FIG. 17) associated with
different geographic locations surrounding the specific geographic
location associated with the user profile (e.g., the user profile
1200 of FIG. 12A).
[0066] In another embodiment, a system includes a plurality of
neighborhoods (e.g., the neighborhood(s) 102A-N of FIG. 1) having
registered users and/or unregistered users of a global neighborhood
environment (e.g., a global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1), a social community module (e.g., a social community module 106
of FIG. 1, a social community module 106 of FIG. 2) of the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1) to generate a building creator (e.g., through
building builder 200 of FIG. 2) in which the registered users may
create and/or modify empty wiki profiles (e.g., the wiki profile
1206 of FIG. 12A-12B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki
profile 1704 of FIG. 17), building layouts, social network pages,
and/or floor levels structures housing residents and businesses in
the neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood 100 of FIG. 1), a wiki
module (e.g., a wiki module 110 of FIG. 1, a wiki module 110 of
FIG. 4) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) to enable the registered
users to create a social network page of themselves, and/or to edit
information associated with the unregistered users identifiable
through a viewing of physical properties in which the unregistered
users reside when the registered users have knowledge of
characteristics associated with the unregistered users.
[0067] In addition, the system may include search module (e.g., a
search module 108 of FIG. 1, a search module 108 of FIG. 3) of the
global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1) to enable a people search (e.g.,
information stored in people database 216 of FIG. 2), a business
search (e.g., information stored in business database 220 of FIG.
2), and a category search of any data in the social community
module (a social community module 106 of FIG. 1, a social community
module 106 of FIG. 2) and/or to enable embedding of any content in
the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1) in other search engines, blogs, social
networks, professional networks and/or static websites, a commerce
module (e.g., a commerce module 112 of FIG. 1, a commerce module
112 of FIG. 5) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0068] The system may also provide an advertisement system to a
business (e.g., through business display advertisement module 502
of FIG. 5) who purchase their location in the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) in which the advertisement is viewable concurrently with a map
indicating a location of the business, and in which revenue is
attributed to the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) when the registered users
and/or the unregistered users click-in on a simultaneously
displayed data of the advertisement along with the map indicating a
location of the business, a map module (a map module 114 of FIG. 1)
of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) to include a map data
associated with a satellite data which serves as a basis of
rendering the map in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) and/or which
includes a simplified map generator (e.g., simplified map generator
module 602 of FIG. 6) which can transform the map to a fewer color
and location complex form using a parcel data which identifies at
least some residence, civic, and/or business locations in the
satellite data.
[0069] In yet another embodiment, a global neighborhood environment
(e.g., a global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) includes a
first instruction set to enable a social network to reside above a
map data, in which the social network may be associated with
specific geographical locations identifiable in the map data, a
second instruction set integrated with the first instruction set to
enable the users (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) of the social
network to create profiles of other people through a forum which
provides a free form of expression of the users sharing information
about any entities and/or people residing in any geographical
location identifiable in the satellite map data, and/or to provide
a technique of each of the users (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) to
claim a geographic location (a geographic location 1204 of FIG.
12A) to control content in their respective claimed geographic
locations and a third instruction set integrated with the first
instruction set and/or the second instruction set to enable
searching of people in the global neighborhood environment (e.g.,
the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) by indexing each
of the data shared by the users (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) of
any of the people and entities residing in any geographic location
(a geographic location 1204 of FIG. 12A).
[0070] FIG. 1 is a system view of a global neighborhood environment
100 communicating with neighborhood(s) 102A-N through a network
104, an advertiser(s) 124, a global map data 126, an occupant data
128, according to one embodiment. Particularly FIG. 1 illustrates
the global neighborhood environment 100, the neighborhood 102A-N,
the network 104, advertiser(s) 124, global map data 126, and the
occupant data 128, according to one embodiment. The global
neighborhood environment 100 may contain a social community module
106, a search module 108, a wiki module 110, a commerce module 112
and a map module 114. The neighborhood may include a user 116, a
community center 120, a residence 118, a neighbor 120 and a
business 122, according to one embodiment.
[0071] The global neighborhood environment 100 may include any
number of neighborhoods having registered users and/or unregistered
users. The neighborhood(s) 102 may be a geographically localized
community in a larger city, town, and/or suburb. The network 104
may be search engines, blogs, social networks, professional
networks and static website that may unite individuals, groups
and/or community. The social community module 106 may generate a
building creator in which the registered users may create and/or
modify empty wiki profiles (e.g., a wiki profile 1206 of FIG.
12A-12B, a wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, a wiki profile 1704 of
FIG. 17). The search module 108 may include searching of
information of an individual, group and/or community.
[0072] The wiki module 110 may enable the registered users to
create and/or update their information. A `wiki` (e.g., may be
enabled through the wiki module 110) can be defined as a perpetual
collective work of many authors. Similar to a blog in structure and
logic, a wiki allows anyone to edit, delete or modify content that
has been placed on the Web site using a browser interface,
including the work of previous authors. In contrast, a blog (e.g.,
or a social network page), typically authored by an individual, may
not allow visitors to change the original posted material, only add
comments to the original content. The term wiki refers to either
the web site or the software used to create the site. The term
`wiki` also implies fast creation, ease of creation, and community
approval in many software contexts (e.g., wiki means "quick" in
Hawaiian).
[0073] The commerce module 112 may provide an advertisement system
to a business that may enable the users to purchase location in the
neighborhood(s) 102. The map module 114 may be indulged in study,
practice, representing and/or generating maps, or globes. The user
116 may be an individuals and/or households that may purchase
and/or use goods and services and/or be an active member of any
group or community and/or resident and/or a part of any
neighborhood(s) 102. The residence 118 may be a house, a place to
live and/or like a nursing home in a neighborhood(s) 102.
[0074] The community center 120 may be public locations where
members of a community may gather for group activities, social
support, public information, and other purposes. The business 122
may be a customer service, finance, sales, production,
communications/public relations and/or marketing organization that
may be located in the neighborhood(s) 102. The advertiser(s) 124
may be an individual and/or a firm drawing public who may be
responsible in encouraging the people attention to goods and/or
services by promoting businesses, and/or may perform through a
variety of media. The global map data 126 may contain the
details/maps of any area, region and/or neighborhood. The social
community module 106 of the global neighborhood environment 100 may
communicate with the neighborhood(s) 102 through the network 104
and/or the search module 108. The social community module 106 of
the global neighborhood environment 100 may communicate with the
advertiser(s) 124 through the commerce module, the occupant data
128 and/or global map data 126 through the map module 114.
[0075] For example, the neighborhoods 102A-N may have registered
users and/or unregistered users of a global neighborhood
environment 100. Also, the social community module 106 of the
global neighborhood environment 100 may generate a building creator
(e.g., building builder 1602 of FIG. 16) in which the registered
users may create and/or modify empty wiki profiles, building
layouts, social network pages, and/or floor levels structures
housing residents and/or businesses in the neighborhood.
[0076] In addition, the wiki module 110 of the global neighborhood
environment 100 may enable the registered users to create a social
network page of themselves, and/or may edit information associated
with the unregistered users identifiable through a viewing of
physical properties in which, the unregistered users reside when
the registered users have knowledge of characteristics associated
with the unregistered users.
[0077] Furthermore, the search module 108 of the global
neighborhood environment 100 may enable a people search (e.g., the
people search widget 300 of FIG. 3), a business search (e.g., the
business search module 302 of FIG. 3), and/or a category search
(e.g., the category search widget 304 of FIG. 3) of any data in the
social community module 106 and/or may enable embedding of any
content in the global neighborhood environment 100 in other search
engines, blogs, social networks, professional networks and/or
static websites.
[0078] The commerce module 112 of the global neighborhood
environment 100 may provide an advertisement system to a business
who purchase their location in the global neighborhood environment
100 in which the advertisement may be viewable concurrently with a
map indicating a location of the business, and/or in which revenue
may be attributed to the global neighborhood environment 100 when
the registered users and/or the unregistered users click-in on a
simultaneously displayed data of the advertisement along with the
map indicating a location of the business.
[0079] Moreover, a map module 114 of the global neighborhood
environment 100 may include a map data associated with a satellite
data (e.g., generated by the satellite data module 600 of FIG. 6)
which may serve as a basis of rendering the map in the global
neighborhood environment 100 and/or which includes a simplified map
generator which may transform the map to a fewer color and/or
location complex form using a parcel data which identifies some
residence, civic, and/or business locations in the satellite
data.
[0080] In addition, a first instruction set may enable a social
network to reside above a map data, in which the social network may
be associated with specific geographical locations identifiable in
the map data. Also, a second instruction set integrated with the
first instruction set may enable users of the social network to
create profiles of other people through a forum which provides a
free form of expression of the users sharing information about any
entities and/or people residing in any geographical location
identifiable in the satellite map data, and/or to provide a
technique of each of the users to claim a geographic location
(e.g., a geographic location 1024 of FIG. 12A) to control content
in their respective claimed geographic locations (e.g., a
geographic location 1024 of FIG. 12A).
[0081] Furthermore, a third instruction set integrated with the
first instruction set and the second instruction set may enable
searching of people in the global neighborhood environment 100 by
indexing each of the data shared by the user 116 of any of the
people and/or the entities residing in any geographic location
(e.g., a geographic location 1024 of FIG. 12A). A fourth
instruction set may provide a moderation of content about each
other posted of the users 116 through trusted users of the global
neighborhood environment 100 who have an ability to ban specific
users and/or delete any offensive and libelous content in the
global neighborhood environment 100.
[0082] Also, a fifth instruction set may enable an insertion of any
content generated in the global neighborhood environment 100 in
other search engines through a syndication and/or advertising
relationship between the global neighborhood environment 100 and/or
other internet commerce and search portals.
[0083] Moreover, a sixth instruction set may grow the social
network through neighborhood groups, local politicians, block watch
communities, issue activism groups, and neighbor(s) 120 who invite
other known parties and/or members to share profiles of themselves
and/or learn characteristics and information about other supporters
and/or residents in a geographic area of interest through the
global neighborhood environment 100.
[0084] Also, a seventh instruction set may determine quantify an
effect on at least one of a desirability of a location, a
popularity of a location, and a market value of a location based on
an algorithm that considers a number of demographic and social
characteristics of a region surrounding the location through a
reviews module.
[0085] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the social community module
106 of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment. Particularly FIG. 2
illustrates a building builder module 200, an N.sup.th degree
module 202, a tagging module 204, a verify module 206, a groups
generator module 208, a pushpin module 210, a profile module 212,
an announce module 214, a people database 216, a places database
218, a business database 220, a friend finder module 222 and a
neighbor-neighbor help module 224, according to one embodiment.
[0086] The N.sup.th degree module 202 may enable the particular
registered user to communicate with an unknown registered user
through a common registered user who may be a friend and/or a
member of a common community. The tagging module 204 may enable the
user 116 to leave brief comments on each of the wiki profiles
(e.g., the wiki profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-12B, the wiki profile 1302
of FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704 of FIG. 17) and social network
pages in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0087] The verify module 206 may validate the data, profiles and/or
email addresses received from various registered user(s) before any
changes may be included. The groups generator module 208 may enable
the registered users to form groups may be depending on common
interest, culture, style, hobbies and/or caste. The pushpin module
210 may generate customized indicators of different types of users,
locations, and interests directly in the map. The profile module
212 may enable the user to create a set of profiles of the
registered users and to submit media content of themselves,
identifiable through a map
[0088] The announce module 214 may distribute a message in a
specified range of distance away from the registered users when a
registered user purchases a message to communicate to certain ones
of the registered users surrounding a geographic vicinity adjacent
to the particular registered user originating the message. The
people database 216 may keep records of the visitor/users (e.g., a
user 116 of FIG. 1). The places database module 218 may manage the
data related to the location of the user (e.g., address of the
registered user). The business database 220 may manage an extensive
list of leading information related to business. The friend finder
module 222 may match the profile of the registered user with common
interest and/or help the registered user to get in touch with new
friends or acquaintances.
[0089] For example, the verify module 206 of the social community
module 106 of FIG. 1 may authenticate an email address of a
registered user prior to enabling the registered user to edit
information associated with the unregistered users through an email
response and/or a digital signature technique. The groups generator
module 208 of the social community module (e.g., the social
community module 106 of FIG. 1) may enable the registered users to
form groups with each other surrounding at least one of a common
neighborhood (e.g., a neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1), political,
cultural, educational, professional and/or social interest.
[0090] In addition, the tagging module 204 of the social community
module (e.g., the social community module 106 of FIG. 1) may enable
the registered users and/or the unregistered users to leave brief
comments on each of the wiki profiles (e.g., the wiki profile 1206
of FIG. 12A-12B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki
profile 1704 of FIG. 17) and/or social network pages in the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1), in which the brief comments may be simultaneously
displayed when a pointing device rolls over a pushpin indicating a
physical property associated with any of the registered users
and/or the unregistered users. Also, the pushpin module 210 of the
social community module 106 of FIG. 1 may be generating customized
indicators of different types of users, locations, and/or interests
directly in the map.
[0091] Further, the announce module 214 of the social community
module 106 of FIG. 1 may distribute a message in a specified range
of distance away from the registered users when a registered user
purchases a message to communicate to certain ones of the
registered users surrounding a geographic vicinity adjacent to the
particular registered user originating the message, wherein the
particular registered user purchases the message through a
governmental currency and/or a number of tokens collected by the
particular user (e.g. the user 116 of FIG. 1) through a creation of
content in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0092] In addition, the N.sup.th degree module 202 of the social
community module 106 of FIG. 1 may enable the particular registered
user to communicate with an unknown registered user through a
common registered user known by the particular registered user
and/or the unknown registered user that is an N.sup.th degree of
separation away from the particular registered user and/or the
unknown registered user.
[0093] Moreover, the profile module 212 of the social community
module 106 of FIG. 1 may create a set of profiles of each one of
the registered users and to enable each one of the registered users
to submit media content of themselves, other registered users, and
unregistered users identifiable through the map.
[0094] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the search module 108 of FIG.
1, according to one embodiment. Particularly FIG. 3 illustrates a
people search widget 300, a business search module 302, a category
search widget 304, a communication module 306, a directory
assistance module 308, an embedding module 310, a no-match module
312, a range selector module 314, a chat widget 316, a group
announcement widget 318, a Voice Over IP widget 320, according to
one embodiment.
[0095] The people search widget 300 may help in getting the
information like the address, phone number and/or e-mail id of the
people of particular interest from a group and/or community. The
business search module 302 may help the users (e.g., the user 116
of FIG. 1) to find the companies, products, services, and/or
business related information they need to know about.
[0096] The category search widget 304 may narrow down searches from
a broader scope (e.g., if one is interested in information from a
particular center, one can go to the category under the center and
enter one's query there and it will return results from that
particular category only). The communication module 306 may
provide/facilitate multiple by which one can communicate, people to
communicate with, and subjects to communicate about among different
members of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0097] The directory assistance module 308 may provide voice
response assistance to users (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1)
assessable through a web and telephony interface of any category,
business and search queries of user's of any search engine
contents. The embedding module 310 may automatically extract
address and/or contact info from other social networks, search
engines, and content providers.
[0098] The no-match module 312 may request additional information
from a verified registered user (e.g., a verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 13A-B, a verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16)
about a person, place, and business having no listing in the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1) when no matches are found in a search query of the
verified registered user (e.g., a verified registered user 1310 of
FIG. 13A-B, a verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16).
[0099] The chat widget 316 may provide people to chat online, which
is a way of communicating by broadcasting messages to people on the
same site in real time. The group announcement widget 318 may
communicate with a group and/or community in may be by Usenet,
Mailing list, calling and/or E-mail message sent to notify
subscribers. The Voice over IP widget 320 may help in routing of
voice conversations over the Internet and/or through any other
IP-based network. The communication module 306 may communicate
directly with the people search widget 300, the business search
module 302, the category search widget 304, the directory
assistance module 308, the embedding module 310 may communicate
with the no-match module 312 through the range selector module
314.
[0100] For example, a search module 108 of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) may
enable the people search, the business search, and the category
search of any data in the social community module (e.g., the social
community module 106 of FIG. 1) and/or may enable embedding of any
content in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) in other search engines,
blogs, social networks, professional networks and/or static
websites.
[0101] In addition, the communicate module 306 of the search module
106 may enable voice over internet, live chat, and/or group
announcement functionality in the global neighborhood environment
(e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) among
different members of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0102] Also, the directory assistance module 308 of the search
module 108 may provide voice response assistance to users (e.g.,
the user 116 of FIG. 1) assessable through a web and/or telephony
interface of any category, business, community, and residence
search queries of users (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) of any
search engine embedding content of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1).
[0103] The embedding module 310 of the search module 108 may
automatically extract address and/or contact info from other social
networks, search engines, and content providers, and/or to enable
automatic extraction of group lists from contact databases of
instant messaging platforms.
[0104] Furthermore, the no-match module 312 of the search module
108 to request additional information from the verified registered
user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B) about
a person, place, and/or business having no listing in the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1) when no matches are found in a search query of the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and to
create a new wiki page based on a response of the verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) about the at
least one person, place, and/or business not previously indexed in
the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0105] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the wiki module 110 of FIG. 1,
according to one embodiment. Particularly FIG. 4 illustrates a
user-place wiki module 400, a user-user wiki module 402, a
user-neighbor wiki module 404, a user-business wiki module 406, a
reviews module 408, a defamation prevention module 410, a
wiki-social network conversion module 412, a claim module 414, a
data segment module 416, a dispute resolution module 418 and a
media manage module 420, according to one embodiment.
[0106] The user-place wiki module 400 may manage the information of
the user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) location in the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1). The user-user wiki module 402 may manage the user
(e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) to view a profile of another user
and geographical location in the neighborhood. The user-neighbor
wiki module 404 may manage the user (e.g., the users 116 of FIG. 1)
to view the profile of the registered neighbor and/or may trace the
geographical location of the user in the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1). The user-business wiki module 406 may manage the profile of the
user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) managing a commercial business
in the neighborhood environment. The reviews module 408 may provide
remarks, local reviews and/or ratings of various businesses as
contributed by the users (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) of the
global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1). The defamation prevention module 410
may enable the registered users to modify the information
associated with the unregistered users identifiable through the
viewing of the physical properties.
[0107] The wiki-social network conversion module 412 of the wiki
module 110 of FIG. 1 may transform the wiki profiles (e.g., the
wiki profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-12B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG.
13A, the wiki profile 1704 of FIG. 17) to social network profiles
when the registered users claim the wiki profiles (e.g., the wiki
profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-12B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A,
the wiki profile 1704 of FIG. 17).
[0108] The claim module 414 may enable the unregistered users to
claim the physical properties associated with their residence
(e.g., the residence 118 of FIG. 1). The dispute resolution module
418 may determine a legitimate user among different unregistered
users who claim a same physical property. The media manage module
420 may allows users (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) to manage
and/or review a list any product from product catalog using a fully
integrated, simple to use interface.
[0109] The media manage module 420 may communicate with the
user-place wiki module 400, user-place wiki module 400, user-user
wiki module 402, the user-neighbor wiki module 404 and the reviews
module 408 through user-business wiki module 406. The user-place
wiki module 400 may communicate with the dispute resolution module
418 through the claim module 414. The user-user wiki module 402 may
communicate with the data segment module 416 through the
wiki-social network conversion module 412. The user-neighbor wiki
module 404 may communicate with the defamation prevention module
410. The user-business wiki module 406 may communicate with the
reviews module 408. The wiki-social network conversion module 412
may communicate with the claim module 414.
[0110] For example, the wiki module 110 of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) may enable the registered users to create the social network
page of themselves, and may edit information associated with the
unregistered users identifiable through a viewing of physical
properties in which the unregistered users reside when the
registered users have knowledge of characteristics associated with
the unregistered users. Also, the claim module 414 of wiki module
110 may enable the unregistered users to claim the physical
properties associated with their residence.
[0111] Furthermore, the dispute resolution module 418 of the wiki
module 110 may determine a legitimate user of different
unregistered users who claim a same physical property. The
defamation prevention module 410 of the wiki module 110 may enable
the registered users to modify the information associated with the
unregistered users identifiable through the viewing of the physical
properties, and/or to enable registered user voting of an accuracy
of the information associated with the unregistered users.
[0112] Moreover, the reviews module of the wiki module 110 may
provide comments, local reviews and/or ratings of various
businesses as contributed by the registered users and/or
unregistered users of the global network environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1). The wiki-social
network conversion module 412 of the wiki module 110 of FIG. 1 may
transform the wiki profiles (e.g., the wiki profile 1206 of FIG.
12A-12B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704
of FIG. 17) to social network profiles when the registered users
claim the wiki profiles (e.g., the wiki profile 1206 of FIG.
12A-12B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704
of FIG. 17).
[0113] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the commerce module 112 of
FIG. 1, according to one embodiment. Particularly FIG. 5
illustrates a resident announce payment module 500, a business
display advertisement module 502, a geo position advertisement
ranking module 504, a content syndication module 506, a text
advertisement module 508, a community marketplace module 510, a
click-in tracking module 512, a click-through tracking module 514,
according to one embodiment.
[0114] The community marketplace module 510 may contain garage
sales 516, a free stuff 518, a block party 520 and a services 522,
according to one embodiment. The geo-position advertisement ranking
module 504 may determine an order of the advertisement in a series
of other advertisements provided in the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) by other advertisers. The click-through tracking module 514 may
determine a number of clicks-throughs from the advertisement to a
primary website of the business.
[0115] A click-in tracking module 512 may determine a number of
user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) who clicked in to the
advertisement simultaneously. The community marketplace module 510
may provide a forum in which the registered users can trade and/or
announce messages of trading events with at least each other. The
content syndication module 506 may enable any data in the commerce
module (e.g., the commerce module 112 of FIGS. 1,5) to be
syndicated to other network based trading platforms.
[0116] The business display advertisement module 502 may impart
advertisements related to business (e.g., the business 122 of FIG.
1), public relations, personal selling, and/or sales promotion to
promote commercial goods and services. The text advertisement
module 508 may enable visibility of showing advertisements in the
form of text in all dynamically created pages in the directory. The
resident announce payment module 500 may take part as component in
a broader and complex process, like a purchase, a contract,
etc.
[0117] The block party 520 may be a large public celebration in
which many members of a single neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood
102A-N of FIG. 1) congregate to observe a positive event of some
importance. The free stuff 518 may be the free services (e.g.,
advertisement, links etc) available on the net. The garage sales
516 may be services that may be designed to make the process of
advertising and/or may find a garage sale more efficient and
effective. The services 522 may be non-material equivalent of a
good designed to provide a list of services that may be available
for the user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1).
[0118] The geo position advertisement ranking module 504 may
communicate with the resident announce payment module 500, the
business display advertisement module 502, the content syndication
module 506, the text advertisement module 508, the community
marketplace module 510, the click-in tracking module 512 and the
click-through tracking module 514.
[0119] For example, the commerce module 108 of the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1) may provide an advertisement system to a business
which may purchase their location in the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) in which the advertisement may be viewable concurrently with a
map indicating a location of the business, and/or in which revenue
may be attributed to the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) when the registered
users and/or the unregistered users click-in on a simultaneously
displayed data of the advertisement along with the map indicating a
location of the business.
[0120] Also, the geo-position advertisement ranking module 504 of
the commerce module 112 to determine an order of the advertisement
in a series of other advertisements provided in the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1) by other advertisers, wherein the advertisement may
be a display advertisement, a text advertisement, and/or an
employment recruiting portal associated with the business that may
be simultaneously displayed with the map indicating the location of
the business.
[0121] Moreover, the click-through tracking module 514 of the
commerce module 112 of FIG. 1 may determine a number of click
throughs from the advertisement to a primary website of the
business. In addition, the click in tracking module 512 of the
commerce module 112 may determine the number of users (e.g., the
user 116 of FIG. 1) who clicked in to the advertisement
simultaneously displayed with the map indicating the location of
the business.
[0122] The community marketplace module 510 of the commerce module
112 of FIG. 1 may provide a forum in which the registered users may
trade and/or announce messages of trading events with certain
registered users in geographic proximity from each other.
Also, the content syndication module 506 of the commerce module 112
of the FIG. 1 may enable any data in the commerce module 112 to be
syndicated to other network based trading platforms.
[0123] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a map module 114 of FIG. 1,
according to one embodiment. Particularly FIG. 6 may include a
satellite data module 600, a simplified map generator module 602, a
cartoon map converter module 604, a profile pointer module 606, a
parcel module 608 and occupant module 610, according to one
embodiment. The satellite data module 600 may help in mass
broadcasting (e.g., maps) and/or as telecommunications relays in
the map module 114 of FIG. 1.
[0124] The simplified map generator module 602 may receive the data
(e.g., maps) from the satellite data module 600 and/or may convert
this complex map into a simplified map with fewer colors. The
cartoon map converter module 604 may apply a filter to the
satellite data (e.g., data generated by the satellite data module
600 of FIG. 6) into a simplified polygon based representation.
[0125] The parcel module 608 may identify some residence, civic,
and business locations in the satellite data (e.g., the satellite
data module 600 of FIG. 6). The occupant module 610 may detect the
geographical location of the registered user in the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1). The profile pointer module 606 may detect the
profiles of the registered user via the data received from the
satellite. The cartoon map converter module 604 may communicate
with, the satellite data module 600, the simplified map generator
module 602, the profile pointer module 606 and the occupant module
610. The parcel module 608 may communicate with the satellite data
module 600.
[0126] For example, a map module 114 of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) may include a map data associated with a satellite data (e.g.,
data generated by the satellite data module 600 of FIG. 6) which
serves as a basis of rendering the map in the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) and/or which includes a simplified map generator (e.g., the
simplified map generator module 602 of FIG. 6) which may transform
the map to a fewer color and location complex form using a parcel
data which identifies residence, civic, and business locations in
the satellite data.
[0127] Also, the cartoon map converter module 604 in the map module
114 may apply a filter to the satellite data (e.g., data generated
by the satellite data module 600 of FIG. 6) to transform the
satellite data into a simplified polygon based representation using
a Bezier curve algorithm that converts point data of the satellite
data to a simplified form.
[0128] FIG. 7 is a table view of user address details, according to
one embodiment. Particularly the table 750 of FIG. 7 illustrates a
user field 700, a verified field? 702, a range field 706, a links
field 708, a contributed? field 710 and an other field(s) 712,
according to one embodiment. The table 750 may include the
information related to the address verification of the user (e.g.,
the user 116 of FIG. 1). The user field 700 may include information
such as the names of the registered users in a global neighborhood
environment (e.g., a global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1).
[0129] The verified? field 702 may indicate the status whether the
data, profiles and/or email address received from various
registered user are validated or not. The range field 704 may
correspond to the distance of a particular registered user
geographical location in the global neighborhood environment (e.g.,
the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0130] The principal address field 706 may display primary address
of the registered user in the global neighborhood environment
(e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1). The
links field 708 may further give more accurate details and/or links
of the address of the user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1). The
contributed? field 710 may provide the user with the details of
another individual and/or users contribution towards the
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1). The other(s) field 712 may display the details like
the state, city, zip and/or others of the user's location in the
global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0131] The user field 700 displays "Joe" in the first row and
"Jane" in the second row of the user field 700 column of the table
750 illustrated in FIG. 7. The verified field? 702 displays "Yes"
in the first row and "No" in the second row of the verified? field
702 column of the table 750 illustrated in FIG. 7. The range field
704 displays "5 miles" in the first row and "Not enabled" in the
second row of the range field 704 column of the table 750
illustrated in FIG. 7. The principal address field 706 displays
"500 Clifford Cupertino, Calif." in the first row and "500 Johnson
Cupertino, Calif." in the second row of the principle address field
706 column of the table 750 illustrated in FIG. 7. The links field
708 displays "859 Bette, 854 Bette" in the first row and "851 Bette
100 Steven's Road" in the second row of the links field 708 column
of the table 750 illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0132] The contributed? field 710 displays "858 Bette Cupertino,
Calif., Farallone, Calif." in the first row and "500 Hamilton, Palo
Alto, Calif., 1905 E. University" in the second row of the
contributed field 710 column of the table 750 illustrated in FIG.
7. The other(s) field 712 displays "City, State, Zip, other" in the
first row of the other(s) field 712 column of the table 750
illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0133] FIG. 8 is a user interface view of the social community
module 106, according to one embodiment. The user interface view
850 may display the information associated with the social
community module (e.g., the social community module 106 of FIG. 1).
The user interface 850 may display map of the specific geographic
location associated with the user profile of the social community
module (e.g., the social community module 106 of FIG. 1). The user
interface view 850 may display the map based geographic location
associated with the user profile (e.g., the user profile 1200 of
FIG. 12A) only after verifying the address of the registered user
of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0134] In addition, the user interface 850 may provide a building
creator (e.g., the building builder 1602 of FIG. 16), in which the
registered users of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) may create and/or
modify empty wiki profiles (e.g., a wiki profile 1206 of FIG.
12A-12B, a wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, a wiki profile 1704 of
FIG. 17), building layouts, social network pages, etc. The user
interface view 850 of the social community module 106 may enable
access to the user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) to model a condo
on any floor (e.g., basement, ground floor, first floor, etc.)
selected through the drop down box by the registered user of the
global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1). The user interface 850 of the social
community module (e.g., the social community module 106 of FIG. 1)
may enable the registered user of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) to contribute information about their neighbors (e.g., the
neighbor 120 of FIG. 1).
[0135] FIG. 9 is a profile view 950 of a profile module 900,
according to one embodiment. The profile view 950 of profile module
900 may offer the registered user to access the profile about the
neighbors (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1). The profile view 950
of profile module 900 may indicate the information associated with
the profile of the registered user of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1). The profile view 950 may display the address of the registered
user. The profile view 950 may also display events organized by the
neighbors (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1), history of the
neighbors (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1), and/or may also offer
the information (e.g., public, private, etc) associated with the
family of the neighbors (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) located
in the locality of the user (e.g., the user(s) 116 of FIG. 1) of
the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0136] FIG. 10 is a contribute view 1050 of a neighborhood network
module 1000, according to one embodiment. The contribute view 1050
of the neighborhood network module 1000 may enable the registered
user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) to add information about
their neighbors in the neighborhood network. The contribute view
1050 of the neighborhood network module 1000 may offer registered
user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) to add valuable notes
associated with the family, events, private information, etc.
[0137] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic system view, according to one
embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic system view 1100 of a data
processing system in which any of the embodiments disclosed herein
may be performed, according to one embodiment. Particularly, the
system view 1100 of FIG. 11 illustrates a processor 1102, a main
memory 1104, a static memory 1106, a bus 1108, a video display
1110, an alpha-numeric input device 1112, a cursor control device
1114, a drive unit 616, a signal generation device 1118, a machine
readable medium 1122, instructions 1124, and a network 1126,
according to one embodiment.
[0138] The diagrammatic system view 1100 may indicate a personal
computer and/or a data processing system in which one or more
operations disclosed herein are performed. The processor 1102 may
be microprocessor, a state machine, an application specific
integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, etc. (e.g.,
Intel.RTM. Pentium.RTM. processor). The main memory 1104 may be a
dynamic random access memory and/or a primary memory of a computer
system.
[0139] The static memory 1106 may be a hard drive, a flash drive,
and/or other memory information associated with the data processing
system. The bus 1108 may be an interconnection between various
circuits and/or structures of the data processing system. The video
display 1110 may provide graphical representation of information on
the data processing system. The alpha-numeric input device 1112 may
be a keypad, keyboard and/or any other input device of text (e.g.,
a special device to aid the physically handicapped). The cursor
control device 1114 may be a pointing device such as a mouse.
[0140] The drive unit 1116 may be a hard drive, a storage system,
and/or other longer term storage subsystem. The signal generation
device 1118 may be a bios and/or a functional operating system of
the data processing system. The machine readable medium 1122 may
provide instructions on which any of the methods disclosed herein
may be performed. The instructions 1124 may provide source code
and/or data code to the processor 1102 to enable any one/or more
operations disclosed herein.
[0141] FIG. 12A is a user interface view of mapping a user profile
1200 of the geographic location 1204, according to one embodiment.
In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12A, the user profile
1200 may contain the information associated with the geographic
location 1204. The user profile 1200 may contain the information
associated with the registered user. The user profile 1200 may
contain information such as address user of the specific geographic
location, name of the occupant, profession of the occupant,
details, phone number, educational qualification, etc.
[0142] The map 1202 may indicate the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) of the geographical location 1204, a wiki profile 1206 (e.g.,
the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704 of FIG.
17), and a delisted profile 1208. The geographical location 1204
may be associated with the user profile 1200. The wiki profile 1206
may be the wiki profile 1206 associated with the neighboring
property surrounding the geographic location 1204. The delisted
profile 1208 illustrated in example embodiment of FIG. 12A, may be
the wiki profile 1206 that may be delisted when the registered user
claims the physical property. The block 1210 illustrated in the
example embodiment of FIG. 12A may be associated with hobbies,
personal likes, etc. The block 1216 may be associated with events,
requirements, etc. that may be displayed by the members of the
global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0143] For example, a verified registered user (e.g., a verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, a verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 16) may be associated with a user profile 1200. The user
profile 1200 may be associated with a specific geographic location.
A map concurrently displaying the user profile 1200 and the
specific geographic location 1204 may be generated. Also, the wiki
profiles 1206 associated with different geographic locations
surrounding the specific geographic location associated with the
user profile 1200 may be simultaneously generated in the map. In
addition, a query of the user profile 1200 and/or the specific
geographic location may be processed.
[0144] Similarly, a tag data (e.g., the tags 1210 of FIG. 12A)
associated with the specific geographic locations, a particular
geographic location, and the delisted geographic location may be
processed. A frequent one of the tag data (e.g., the tags 1210 of
FIG. 12A) may be displayed when the specific geographic location
and/or the particular geographic location is made active, but not
when a geographic location is delisted.
[0145] FIG. 12B is a user interface view of mapping of the wiki
profile 1206, according to one embodiment. In the example
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12B, the map 1202 may indicate the
geographic locations in the global neighborhood environment (e.g.,
the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) and/or may also
indicate the geographic location of the wiki profile 1206. The wiki
profile 1206 may display the information associated with the
registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1). The link claim this
profile 1212 may enable the registered user to claim the wiki
profile 1206 and/or may also allow the verified registered user
(e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13) to edit any
information in the wiki profiles 1206. The block 1214 may display
the information posted by any of the verified registered users
(e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) of the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1).
[0146] For example, a particular wiki profile (e.g., the particular
wiki profile may be associated with a neighboring property to the
specific property in the neighborhood) of the wiki profiles (e.g.,
the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704 of FIG.
17) may be converted to another user profile (e.g., the user
profile may be tied to a specific property in a neighborhood) when
a different registered user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) claims a
particular geographic location to the specific geographic location
associated with the particular wiki profile.
[0147] In addition, a certain wiki profile of the wiki profiles may
be delisted when a private registered user claims a certain
geographic location (e.g., the geographical location 1204 of FIG.
12A) adjacent to the specific geographic location and/or the
particular geographic location. Also, the certain wiki profile in
the map 1202 may be masked when the certain wiki profile is
delisted through the request of the private registered user.
[0148] Furthermore, a tag data (e.g., the tags 1210 of FIG. 12A)
associated with the specific geographic location, the particular
geographic location, and the delisted geographic location may be
processed. A frequent one of the tag data may be displayed when the
specific geographic location and/or the particular geographic
location are made active, but not when a geographic location is
delisted.
[0149] Moreover, the verified registered user (e.g., the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 16) may be permitted to edit any information in the
wiki profiles 1206 including the particular wiki profile 1206
and/or the certain wiki profile until the certain wiki profile may
be claimed by the different registered user and/or the private
registered user. In addition, a claimant of any wiki profile 1206
may be enabled to control what information is displayed on their
user profile. Also, the claimant may be allowed to segregate
certain information on their user profile 1200 such that only other
registered users directly connected to the claimant are able to
view data on their user profile 1200.
[0150] FIG. 13A is a user interface view of mapping of a wiki
profile 1302 of the commercial user 1300, according to one
embodiment. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13A, the
commercial user 1300 may be associated with the customizable
business profile 1304 located in the commercial geographical
location. The wiki profile 1302 may contain the information
associated with the commercial user 1300. The wiki profile 1302 may
contain the information such as address, name, profession, tag,
details (e.g., ratings), and educational qualification etc. of the
commercial user 1300. The verified registered user 1310 may be user
associated with the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) and may communicate
a message to the neighborhood commercial user 1300. For example, a
payment of the commercial user 1300 and the verified registered
user 1310 may be processed.
[0151] FIG. 13B is a user interface view of mapping of customizable
business profile 1304 of the commercial user 1300, according to one
embodiment. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13B, the
commercial user 1300 may be associated with the customizable
business profile 1304. The customizable business profile 1304 may
be profile of any business firm (e.g., restaurant, hotels,
supermarket, etc.) that may contain information such as address,
occupant name, profession of the customizable business. The
customizable business profile 1304 may also enable the verified
registered user 1310 to place online order for the products.
[0152] For example, the commercial user 1300 may be permitted to
purchase a customizable business profile 1304 associated with a
commercial geographic location. Also, the verified registered user
1310 may be enabled to communicate a message to the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1) based on a selectable distance range away from the
specific geographic location. In addition, a payment of the
commercial user 1300 and/or the verified registered user 1310 may
be processed.
[0153] A target advertisement 1306 may display the information
associated with the offers and/or events of the customizable
business. The display advertisement 1308 may display ads of the
products of the customizable business that may be displayed to urge
the verified registered user 1310 to buy the products of the
customizable business. The verified registered user 1310 may be
user associated with the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) that may communicate
a message to the commercial user 1300 and/or may be interested in
buying the products of the customizable business.
[0154] FIG. 14 is a user interface view of a group view 1402
associated with particular geographical location, according to one
embodiment. Particularly FIG. 14 illustrates, a map 1400, a groups
view 1402, according to one embodiment. In the example embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 14, the map view 1400 may display map view of
the geographical location of the specific group of the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1). The groups view 1402 may contain the information
(e.g., address, occupant, etc.) associated with the particular
group of the specific geographical location (e.g., the geographical
location displayed in the map 1400) of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1). The members 1404 may contain the information about the members
associated with the group (e.g., the group associated with
geographical location displayed in the map) of the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1).
[0155] FIG. 15 is a user interface view of claim view 1550,
according to one embodiment. The claim view 1550 may enable the
user to claim the geographical location of the registered user.
Also, the claim view 1550 may facilitate the user of the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1) to claim the geographical location of property under
dispute.
[0156] In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15, the
operation 1502 may allow the registered user of the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1) to claim the address of the geographic location
claimed by the registered user. The operation 1504 illustrated in
example embodiment of FIG. 15, may enable the user to delist the
claim of the geographical location. The operation 1506 may offer
information associated with the document to be submitted by the
registered users of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) to claim the
geographical location.
[0157] FIG. 16 is a user interface view of a building builder 1602,
according to one embodiment. Particularly the FIG. 16 illustrates,
a map 1600, a building builder 1602, according to one embodiment.
The map 1600 may display the geographical location in which the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B) may create and/or modify empty wiki profiles (e.g.,
the wiki profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-12B, the wiki profile 1302 of
FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704 of FIG. 17), building layouts,
social network pages, and floor levels structures housing residents
and businesses in the neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood 102A-N
of FIG. 1). The building builder 1602 may enable the verified
registered users (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) to draw floor level
structures, add neighbor's profiles and/or may also enable to
select the floor number, wiki type, etc. as illustrated in example
embodiment of FIG. 16.
[0158] The verified registered user 1310 may be verified registered
user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) interested in creating
and/or modifying wiki profiles (e.g., the wiki profile 1206 of FIG.
12A-12B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704
of FIG. 17), building layouts, social network pages, and floor
level structure housing residents and businesses in the
neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1) in the
building builder 1602.
[0159] For example, a social community module (e.g., a social
community module 106 of FIG. 1) of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) may generate a building creator (e.g., the building builder 1602
of FIG. 16) in which the registered users may create and/or modify
empty wiki profiles (e.g., the wiki profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-12B,
the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704 of FIG.
17), building layouts, social network pages, and floor levels
structures housing residents and/or businesses in the neighborhood
(e.g., the neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1).
[0160] FIG. 17 is a systematic view of communication of wiki data,
according to one embodiment. Particularly FIG. 17 illustrates a map
1701, verified user profile 1702, choices 1708 and a new wiki page
1706, according to one embodiment. The map 1701 may locate the
details of the address of the registered user of the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1). The verified user profile 1702 may store the
profiles of the verified user of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1. The wiki profile 1704 may be the profiles of the registered user
who may claim them in the global neighborhood environment (e.g.,
the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0161] In operation 1700 the search for the user profile (e.g., the
user profile 1200 of FIG. 12A) is been carried whom the registered
user may be searching. The new wiki page 1706 may solicit for the
details of a user whom the registered user is searching for in the
global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1). The choices 1708 may ask whether the
requested search is any among the displayed names. The new wiki
page 1706 may request for the details of location such as country,
state and/or city. The operation 1700 may communicate with the
choices 1708, and the new wiki page 1706.
[0162] For example, a no-match module (e.g., a no-match module 312
of FIG. 3) of the search module (e.g., the search module 108 of
FIG. 1) to request additional information from the verified
registered user about a person, place, and business having no
listing in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) when no matches are found
in a search query of the verified registered user (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B), and to create a new
wiki page 1706 based on a response of the verified registered user
1702 about the at least one person, place, and business not
previously indexed in the global neighborhood environment (e.g.,
the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0163] FIG. 18 is a systematic view of a network view 1850,
according to one embodiment. Particularly it may include a GUI
display 1802, a GUI display 1804, user interface 1806, a user
interface 1808, a network 1810, a router 1812, a switch 1814, a
firewall 1816, a load balancer 1818, an application server#1 1824,
a web application server 1826, an inter-process communication 1828,
a computer server 1830, an image server 1832, a multiple servers
1834, a switch 1836, a database storage 1838, database software
1840 and a mail server 1842, according to one embodiment.
[0164] The GUI display 1802 and GUI display 1804 may display
particular case of user interface for interacting with a device
capable of representing data (e.g., computer, cellular telephones,
television sets etc) which employs graphical images and widgets in
addition to text to represent the information and actions available
to the user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1). The user interface 1806
and user interface 1808 may be any device capable of presenting
data (e.g., computer, cellular telephones, television sets etc).
The network 1810 may be any collection of networks (e.g., internet,
private networks, university social system, private network of a
company etc) that may transfer any data to the user (e.g., the user
116 of FIG. 1) and the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0165] The router 1812 may forward packets between networks and/or
information packets between the global neighborhood environment
(e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) and
registered user over the network (e.g., internet). The switch 1814
may act as a gatekeeper to and from the network (e.g., internet)
and the device. The firewall 1816 may provides protection (e.g.,
permit, deny or proxy data connections) from unauthorized access to
the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1. The load balancer 1818 may balance the
traffic load across multiple mirrored servers in the global
neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment
100 of FIG. 1) and may be used to increase the capacity of a server
farm beyond that of a single server and/or may allow the service to
continue even in the face of server down time due to server failure
and/or server maintenance.
[0166] The application server 1822 may be server computer on a
computer network dedicated to running certain software applications
of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1). The web application server
1826 may be server holding all the web pages associated with the
global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1). The inter-process communication 1828
may be set of rules for organizing and un-organizing factors and
results regarding the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1). The computer server
1830 may serve as the application layer in the multiple servers of
the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global neighborhood
environment 100 of FIG. 1) and/or may include a central processing
unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM) temporary storage of
information, and/or a read only memory (ROM) for permanent storage
of information regarding the global neighborhood environment (e.g.,
the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0167] The image server 1832 may store and provide digital images
of the registered user of the global neighborhood environment
(e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1). The
multiple servers 1834 may be multiple computers or devices on a
network that may manages network resources connecting the
registered user and the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the
global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1). The database
storage 1838 may store software, descriptive data, digital images,
system data and any other data item that may be related to the user
(e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1). The database software 1840 may be provided a database
management system that may support the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1. The
mail server 1842 may be provided for sending, receiving and storing
mails. The user interface 1806 and 1808 may communicate with the
GUI display(s) 1802 and 1804, the router 1812 through the network
1810 and the global neighborhood environment (e.g., the global
neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1).
[0168] FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a database, according to one
embodiment. Particularly the block diagram of the database 1900 of
FIG. 19 illustrates a user data 1902, a location data, a zip codes
data 1906, a profiles data 1908, a photos data 1910, a testimonials
data 1912, a search parameters data 1914, a neighbor data 1916, a
friends requests data 1918, a invites data 1920, a bookmarks data
1922, a messages data 1924 and a bulletin board data 1926,
according to one embodiment.
[0169] The database 1900 be may include descriptive data,
preference data, relationship data, and/or other data items
regarding the registered user of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1.
[0170] The user data 1902 may be a descriptive data referring to
information that may describe a user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG.
1). It may include elements in a certain format for example Id may
be formatted as integer, Firstname may be in text, Lastname may be
in text, Email may be in text, Verify may be in integer, Password
may be in text, Gender may be in m/f, Orientation may be in
integer, Relationship may be in y/n, Dating may be in y/n, Friends
may be in y/n, Activity may be in y/n, Status may be in integer,
Dob may be in date, Country may be in text, Zipcode may be in text,
Postalcode may be in text, State may be in text, Province may be in
text, City may be in text, Occupation may be in text, Location may
be in text, Hometown may be in text, Photo may be in integer,
Membersince may be in date, Lastlogin may be in date, Lastupdate
may be in date, Recruiter may be in integer, Friendcount may be in
integer, Testimonials may be in integer, Weeklypdates may be in
y/n, Notifications may be in y/n, Photomode may be in integer
and/or Type may be in integer.
[0171] The locations data 1904 may clarify the location details in
formatted approach. For example Zip code may be formatted as
integer, City may be in text and/or State may be in text. The zip
codes data 1906 may provide information of a user location in
formatted manner. For example Zip code may be formatted as text,
Latitude may be in integer and/or Longitude may be in integer. The
profile data 1908 may clutch personnel descriptive data that may be
formatted.
[0172] For examples ID may be formatted as integer, Interests may
be in text, Favoritemusic may be in text, Favaoritebooks may be in
text, Favoritetv may be in text, Favoritemovies may be in text,
Aboutme may be in text, Wanttommet may be in text, Ethnicity may be
in integer, Hair may be in integer, Eyes may be in integer, Height
may be in integer, Body may be in integer, Education may be in
integer, Income may be in integer, Religion may be in integer,
Politics may be in integer Smoking may be in integer, Drinking may
be in integer and/or Kids may be in integer.
[0173] The photos data 1910 may represent a digital image and/or a
photograph of the user formatted in certain approach. For example
Id may be formatted as integer, User may be in integer, Fileid may
be in integer and/or Moderation may be in integer. The testimonials
data 1912 may allow users to write "testimonials" 1912, or
comments, about each other and in these testimonials, users may
describe their relationship to an individual and their comments
about that individual. For example the user might write a
testimonial that states "Rohan has been a friend of mine since
graduation days. He is smart, intelligent, and a talented person."
The elements of testimonials data 1912 may be formatted as Id may
be in integer, User may be in integer, Sender may be integer,
Approved may be in y/n, Date may be in date and/or Body may be
formatted in text.
[0174] The search parameters data 1914 may be preference data
referring to the data that may describe preferences one user has
with respect to another (For example, the user may indicate that he
is looking for a female who is seeking a male for a serious
relationship). The elements of the search parameters data 1914 may
be formatted as User 1902 may be in integer, Photosonly may be in
y/n, Justphotos may be in y/n, Male may be in y/n, Female may be in
y/n, Men may be in y/n, Women may be in y/n, Helptohelp may be in
y/n, Friends may be in y/n, Dating may be in y/n, Serious may be in
y/n, Activity may be in y/n, Minage may be in integer, Maxage may
be in integer, Distance may be in integer, Single may be in y/n,
Relationship may be in y/n, Married may be in y/n and/or
Openmarriage may be in y/n.
[0175] The neighbor's data 1916 may generally refer to
relationships among registered users of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) that have been verified and the user has requested another
individual to join the system as neighbor 1916, and the request may
be accepted. The elements of the neighbors data 1916 may be
formatted as user1 may be in integer and/or user2 may be in
integer. The friend requests data 1918 may tracks requests by users
within the neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1)
to other individuals, which requests have not yet been accepted and
may contain elements originator and/or respondent formatted in
integer. The invites data 1920 may describe the status of a request
by the user to invite an individual outside the neighborhood (e.g.,
the neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1) to join the neighborhood (e.g.,
the neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1) and clarify either the request
has been accepted, ignored and/or pending.
[0176] The elements of the invites data 1920 may be formatted as Id
may be in integer, Key may be in integer, Sender may be in integer,
Email may be in text, Date may be in date format, Clicked may be in
y/n, Joined may be in y/n and/or Joineduser may be in integer. The
bookmarks data 1922 may be provide the data for a process allowed
wherein a registered user of the global neighborhood environment
(e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG. 1) may
indicate an interest in the profile of another registered user. The
bookmark data 1922 elements may be formatted as Owner may be in
integer, User may be in integer and/or Visible may be in y/n. The
message data 1924 may allow the users to send one another private
messages.
[0177] The message data 1924 may be formatted as Id may be in
integer, User may be in integer, Sender may be in integer, New may
be in y/n, Folder may be in text, Date may be in date format,
Subject may be in text and/or Body may be in text format. The
bulletin board data 1926 may supports the function of a bulletin
board that users may use to conduct online discussions,
conversation and/or debate. The wiki data 1928 may share the user
profiles (e.g., the user profile 1200 of FIG. 12A) in the
neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1) and its
elements may be formatted as wikisinputed and/or others may be in
text format.
[0178] FIG. 20 is an exemplary graphical user interface view for
data collection, according to one embodiment. Particularly FIG. 20
illustrates exemplary screens 2002, 2004 that may be provided to
the user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) through an interface may be
through the network (e.g., Internet), to obtain user descriptive
data. The screen 2002 may collect data allowing the user (e.g., the
user 116 of FIG. 1) to login securely and be identified by the
neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1). This screen
2002 may allow the user to identify the reason he/she is joining
the neighborhood. For example, a user may be joining the
neighborhood for "neighborhood watch". The screen 2004 may show
example of how further groups may be joined. For example, the user
(e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) may be willing to join a group "Raj
for city council". It may also enclose the data concerning Dob,
country, zip/postal code, hometown, occupation and/or interest.
[0179] FIG. 21 is an exemplary graphical user interface view of
image collection, according to one embodiment. A screen 2100 may be
interface provided to the user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) over
the network (e.g., internet) may be to obtain digital images from
system user. The interface 2102 may allow the user (e.g., the user
116 of FIG. 1) to browse files on his/her computer, select them,
and then upload them to the neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood
102A-N of FIG. 1). The user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) may
upload the digital images and/or photo that may be visible to
people in the neighbor (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) network
and not the general public. The user may be able to upload a JPG,
GIF, PNG and/or BMP file in the screen 2100.
[0180] FIG. 22 is an exemplary graphical user interface view of an
invitation, according to one embodiment. An exemplary screen 2200
may be provided to a user through a user interface 2202 may be over
the network (e.g., internet) to allow users to invite neighbor or
acquaintances to join the neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood
102A-N of FIG. 1). The user interface 2202 may allow the user
(e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) to enter one or a plurality of
e-mail addresses for friends they may like to invite to the
neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1). The
exemplary screen 2200 may include the "subject", "From", "To",
"Optional personnel message", and/or "Message body" sections. In
the "Subject" section a standard language text may be included for
joining the neighborhood (e.g., Invitation to join Fatdoor from
John Doe, a neighborhood).
[0181] The "From" section may include the senders email id (e.g.,
user@domain.com). The "To" section may be provided to add the email
id of the person to whom the sender may want to join the
neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1). The message
that may be sent to the friends and/or acquaintances may include
standard language describing the present neighborhood, the benefits
of joining and the steps required to join the neighborhood (e.g.,
the neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1). The user (e.g., the user 116 of
FIG. 1) may choose to include a personal message, along with the
standard invitation in the "Optional personal message" section. In
the "Message body" section the invited friend or acquaintance may
initiate the process to join the system by clicking directly on an
HTML link included in the e-mail message (e.g.,
http://www.fatdoor.com/join.jsp? Invite=140807). In one embodiment,
the user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) may import e-mail addresses
from a standard computerized address book. The system may further
notify the inviting user when her invitee accepts or declines the
invitation to join the neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood 102A-N
of FIG. 1).
[0182] FIG. 23 is a flowchart of inviting the invitee(s) by the
registered user, notifying the registered user upon the acceptance
of the invitation by the invitee(s) and, processing and storing the
input data associated with the user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1)
in the database, according to one embodiment. In operation 2302,
the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16)
willing to invite the individual enters the email addresses of an
individual "invitee". In operation 2304, the email address and the
related data of the invitee may be stored in the database. In
operation 2306, the invitation content for inviting the invitee may
be generated from the data stored in the database. In operation
2308, the registered user sends invitation to the invitee(s).
[0183] In operation 2310, response from the user (e.g., the user
116 of FIG. 1) may be determined. The operation 2312, if the
invitee doesn't respond to invitation sent by the registered user
then registered user may resend the invitation for a predefined
number of times. In operation 2314, if the registered user resends
the invitation to the same invitee for predefined number of times
and if the invitee still doesn't respond to the invitation the
process may be terminated automatically.
[0184] In operation 2316, if the invitee accepts the invitation
sent by the registered user then system may notify the registered
user that the invitee has accepted the invitation. In operation
2318, the input from the present invitee(s) that may contain the
descriptive data about the friend (e.g., registered user) may be
processed and stored in the database.
[0185] For example, each registered user associated e-mail
addresses of individuals who are not registered users may be stored
and identified by each registered user as neighbors. An invitation
to become a new user (e.g., the user 116 of FIG. 1) may be
communicated out to neighbor (e.g., the neighbors neighbor of FIG.
1) of the particular user. An acceptance of the neighbor (e.g., the
neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) to whom the invitation was sent may be
processed.
[0186] The neighbor (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) may be added
to a database and/or storing of the neighbor (e.g., the neighbor
120 of FIG. 1), a user ID and a set of user IDs of registered users
who are directly connected to the neighbor (e.g., the neighbor 120
of FIG. 1), the set of user IDs stored of the neighbor (e.g., the
neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) including at least the user ID of the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16).
Furthermore, the verified registered user may be notified that the
invitation to the neighbor (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) has
been accepted when an acceptance is processed. Also, inputs from
the neighbor (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) having descriptive
data about the friend may be processed and the inputs in the
database may be stored.
[0187] FIG. 24 is a flowchart of adding the neighbor (e.g., the
neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) to the queue, according to one embodiment.
In operation 2402, the system may start with the empty connection
list and empty queue. In operation 2404, the user may be added to
the queue. In operation 2406, it is determined whether the queue is
empty. In operation 2408, if it is determined that the queue is not
empty then the next person P may be taken from the queue. In
operation 2410, it may be determined whether the person P from the
queue is user B or not. In operation 2412, if the person P is not
user B then it may be determined whether the depth of the
geographical location is less than maximum degrees of
separation.
[0188] If it is determined that depth is more than maximum
allowable degrees of separation then it may repeat the operation
2408. In operation 2414, if may be determined that the depth of the
geographical location (e.g., the geographical location 1204 of FIG.
12A) is less than maximum degrees of separation then the neighbors
(e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) list for person P may be
processed. In operation 2416, it may be determined whether all the
neighbors (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) in the neighborhood
(e.g., the neighborhood 102A-N of FIG. 1) have been processed or
not. If all the friends are processed it may be determined the
queue is empty.
[0189] In operation 2418, if all the neighbors (e.g., the neighbor
120 of FIG. 1) for person P are not processed then next neighbor N
may be taken from the list. In operation 2420, it may be determined
whether the neighbor (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) N has
encountered before or not. In operation 2422, if the neighbor
(e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) has not been encountered before
then the neighbor may be added to the queue. In operation 2424, if
the neighbor N has been encountered before it may be further
determined whether the geographical location (e.g., the
geographical location 1204 of FIG. 12A) from where the neighbor
(e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) has encountered previously is
the same place or closer to that place.
[0190] If it is determined that the neighbor (e.g., the neighbor
120 of FIG. 1) has encountered at the same or closer place then the
friend may be added to the queue. If it may be determined that
friend is not encountered at the same place or closer to that place
then it may be again checked that all the friends have processed.
In operation 2426, if it is determined that the person P is user B
than the connection may be added to the connection list and after
adding the connection to connection list it follows the operation
2412. In operation 2428, if it may be determined that queue is
empty then the operation may return the connections list.
[0191] For example, a first user ID with the verified registered
user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and a second user ID may
be applied to the different registered user. The verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) with the
different registered user may be connected with each other through
at least one of a geo-positioning data associated with the first
user ID and the second user ID. In addition, a maximum degree of
separation (Nmax) of at least two that is allowed for connecting
any two registered users, (e.g., the two registered users who may
be directly connected may be deemed to be separated by one degree
of separation and two registered users who may be connected through
no less than one other registered user may be deemed to be
separated by two degrees of separation and two registered users who
may be connected through not less than N other registered users may
be deemed to be separated by N+1 degrees of separation).
[0192] Furthermore, the user ID of the different registered user
may be searched (e.g., the method limits the searching of the
different registered user in the sets of user IDs that may be
stored as registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of
separation away from the verified registered user (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16), such that the verified registered
user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and the different
registered user who may be separated by more than Nmax degrees of
separation are not found and connected.) in a set of user IDs that
may be stored of registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of
separation away from the verified registered user (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16), and not in the sets of user IDs
that may be stored for registered users who are greater than or
equal to Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16), until the
user ID of the different registered user may be found in one of the
searched sets. Also, the verified registered user (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) may be connected to the different
registered user if the user ID of the different registered user may
be found in one of the searched sets.
[0193] Moreover, the sets of user IDs that may be stored of
registered users may be searched initially who are directly
connected to the verified registered user (e.g., the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 16). A profile of the different registered user may be
communicated to the verified registered user (e.g., the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 16) to display through a marker associating the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) with
the different registered user. A connection path between the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and
the different registered user, the connection path indicating at
least one other registered user may be stored through whom the
connection path between the verified registered user (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and the different registered user
is made.
[0194] In addition, the connection path between the verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and the
different registered user may be communicated to the verified
registered user to display. A hyperlink in the connection path of
each of the at least one registered users may be embedded through
whom the connection path between the verified registered user
(e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and the different
registered user is made.
[0195] FIG. 25 is a flowchart of communicating brief profiles of
the registered users, processing a hyperlink selection from the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and
calculating and ensuring the Nmax degree of separation of the
registered users away from verified registered users (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16), according to one embodiment. In
operation 2502, the data of the registered users may be collected
from the database. In operation 2504, the relational path between
the first user and the second user may be calculated (e.g., the
Nmax degree of separation between verified registered user (e.g.,
the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and the registered user).
[0196] For example, the brief profiles of registered users,
including a brief profile of the different registered user, to the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) for
display, each of the brief profiles including a hyperlink to a
corresponding full profile may be communicated.
[0197] Furthermore, the hyperlink selection from the verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) may be
processed (e.g., upon processing the hyperlink selection of the
full profile of the different registered user, the full profile of
the different registered user may be communicated to the verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) for display).
In addition, the brief profiles of those registered users may be
ensured who are more than Nmax degrees of separation away from the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) are
not communicated to the verified registered user (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) for display.
[0198] FIG. 26 is an N degree separation view, according to one
embodiment. ME may be a verified registered user (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) centered in the neighborhood network. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
J, K, L, M, N, 0, P, Q, R, S, T, and/or U may be the other
registered user of the neighborhood network. The member of the
neighborhood network may be separated from the centered verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) ME of the
neighborhood network by certain degree of separation. The
registered user A, B and C may be directly connected and are deemed
to be separated by one degree of separation from verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) ME. The
registered user D, E, F, G, and H may be connected through no less
than one other registered user may be deemed to be separated by two
degree of separation from verified registered user (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) ME. The registered user I, J, K,
and L may be connected through no less than N-1 other registered
user may be deemed to be separated by N degree of separation from
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) ME.
The registered user M, N, 0, P, Q, R S, T and U may be all
registered user.
[0199] FIG. 27 is a user interface view showing a map, according to
one embodiment. Particularly FIG. 27 illustrates a satellite photo
of a physical world. The registered user of the global neighborhood
environment (e.g., the global neighborhood environment 100 of FIG.
1) may use this for exploring the geographical location (e.g., the
geographical location 1204 of FIG. 12A) of the neighbors (e.g., the
neighbor 120 of FIG. 1). The registered user (e.g., the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 16) may navigate, zoom, explore and quickly find
particular desired geographical locations of the desired neighbors
(e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1). This may help the registered
user to read the map an/or plot the route of the neighbors (e.g.,
the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) on the world map.
[0200] FIG. 28A is a process flow of searching map based community
and neighborhood contribution, according to one embodiment. In
operation 2802, a verified registered user (e.g., a verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-13B, a verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 16) may be associated with a user profile (e.g., a
user profile 1200 of FIG. 12A). In operation 2804, the user profile
(e.g., the user profile 1200 of FIG. 12A) may be associated with a
specific geographic location (e.g., a geographic location 1204 of
FIG. 12A).
[0201] In operation 2806, a map (e.g., a map 1202 of FIG. 12A-12B,
a map 1400 of FIG. 14, a map 1600 of FIG. 16, a map 1701 of FIG.
17) may be generated concurrently displaying the user profile
(e.g., the user profile 1200 of FIG. 12A) and the specific
geographic location (e.g., the geographic location 1204 of FIG.
12A). In operation, 2808, in the map, wiki profiles (e.g., a wiki
profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-B, a wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, a wiki
profile 1704 of FIG. 17) associated with different geographic
locations may be simultaneously generated surrounding the specific
geographic location (e.g., the geographic location 1204 of FIG.
12A) associated with the user profile (e.g., the user profile 1200
of FIG. 12A).
[0202] In operation 2810, a query of at least one of the user
profile (e.g., the user profile 1200 of FIG. 12A) and the specific
geographic location (e.g., the geographic location 1204 of FIG.
12A) may be processed. In operation 2812, a particular wiki profile
of the wiki profiles (e.g., the wiki profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-B,
the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704 of FIG.
17) may be converted to another user profile (e.g., the user
profile 1200 of FIG. 12A) when a different registered user claims a
particular geographic location to the specific geographic location
(e.g., the geographic location 1204 of FIG. 12A) associated with
the particular wiki profile (e.g., the wiki profile 1206 of FIG.
12A-B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704 of
FIG. 17), wherein the user profile (e.g., the user profile 1200 of
FIG. 12A) may be tied to a specific property in a neighborhood
(e.g., a neighborhood 102A-102N of FIG. 1), and wherein the
particular wiki profile (e.g., the wiki profile 1206 of FIG.
12A-12B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704
of FIG. 17) may be associated with a neighboring property to the
specific property in the neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood
120A-120N of FIG. 1).
[0203] In operation 2814, a certain wiki profile (e.g., the wiki
profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-12B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A,
the wiki profile 1704 of FIG. 17) of the wiki profiles (e.g., the
wiki profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A,
the wiki profile 1704 of FIG. 17) may be delisted when a private
registered user claims a certain geographic location (e.g., the
geographic location 1204 of FIG. 12A) adjacent to at least one of
the specific geographic location and the particular geographic
location (e.g., the geographic location 1204 of FIG. 12A).
[0204] In operation 2816, the certain wiki profile (e.g., the wiki
profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the
wiki profile 1704 of FIG. 17) in the map (e.g., the map 1202 of
FIG. 12A-B, the map 1400 of FIG. 14, the map 1600 of FIG. 16, the
map 1701 of FIG. 17) when the certain wiki profile may be delisted
and/or be masked through the request of the private registered
user.
[0205] FIG. 28B is a continuation of process flow of FIG. 28A
showing additional processes, according to one embodiment. In
operation 2818, a tag data associated with at least one of the
specific geographic location, the particular geographic location
(e.g., the geographic location 1204 of FIG. 12A), and the delisted
geographic location may be processed. In operation 2820, a frequent
one of the tag data may be displayed when at least one of the
specific geographic location and the particular geographic location
(e.g., the geographic location 1204 of FIG. 12A) may be made
active, but not when the geographic location (e.g., the geographic
location 1204 of FIG. 12A) may be delisted.
[0206] In operation 2822, a commercial user (e.g., a commercial
user 1300 of FIG. 13A-B) may be permitted to purchase a
customizable business profile (e.g., a customizable business
profile 1304 of FIG. 13B) associated with a commercial geographic
location. In operation 2824, the verified registered user (e.g.,
the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) to communicate a message to the
neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood 102A-102N of FIG. 1) may be
enabled based on a selectable distance range away from the specific
geographic location.
[0207] In operation 2826, a payment of the commercial user (e.g.,
the commercial user 1300 of FIG. 13A-B) and the verified registered
user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) may be processed. In
operation 2828, the verified registered user (e.g., the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 16) may be permitted to edit any information in the
wiki profiles (e.g., the wiki profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-B, the wiki
profile 1302 of FIG. 13A, the wiki profile 1704 of FIG. 17)
including the particular wiki profile and the certain wiki profile
until the certain wiki profile may be claimed by at least one of
the different registered user and the private registered user.
[0208] In operation 2830, a claimant of any wiki profile (e.g., the
wiki profile 1206 of FIG. 12A-B, the wiki profile 1302 of FIG. 13A,
the wiki profile 1704 of FIG. 17) may be enabled to control what
information is displayed on their user profile (e.g., the user
profile 1200 of FIG. 12A). In operation 2832, the claimant to
segregate certain information on their user profile (e.g., the user
profile 1200 of FIG. 12A) may be allowed such that only other
registered users directly connected to the claimant are able to
view data on their user profile (e.g., the user profile 1200 of
FIG. 12A).
[0209] FIG. 28C is a continuation of process flow of FIG. 28B
showing additional processes, according to one embodiment. In
operation 2834, a first user ID with the verified registered user
(e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and a second user ID to
the different registered user may be applied. In operation 2836,
the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16)
with the different registered user with each other may be connected
through at least one of associated with the first user ID and the
second user ID.
[0210] In operation 2838, a maximum degree of separation (Nmax) of
at least two may be set that is allowed for connecting any two
registered users, wherein two registered users who are directly
connected may be deemed to be separated by one degree of separation
and two registered users who are connected through no less than one
other registered user may be deemed to be separated by two degrees
of separation and two registered users who may be connected through
no less than N other registered users are deemed to be separated by
N+1 degrees of separation. In operation 2840, the user ID of the
different registered user may be searched in a set of user IDs that
are stored of registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of
separation away from the verified registered user (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16), and not in the sets of user IDs
that are stored for registered users who may be greater than or
equal to Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16), until the
user ID of the different registered user may be found in one of the
searched sets.
[0211] In operation 2842, the verified registered user (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) may be connected to the different
registered user if the user ID of the different registered user may
be found in one of the searched sets, wherein the method limits the
searching of the different registered user in the sets of user IDs
that may be stored of registered users who may be less than Nmax
degrees of separation away from the verified registered user (e.g.,
the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16), such that the verified registered
user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and the different
registered user who may be separated by more than Nmax degrees of
separation are not found and connected. In operation 2844,
initially in the sets of user IDs that are stored of registered
users who may be directly connected to the verified registered user
(e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) may be initially
searched.
[0212] FIG. 28D is a continuation of process flow of FIG. 28C
showing additional processes, according to one embodiment. In
operation 2846, a profile of the different registered user to the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) to
display may be communicated through a marker associating the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) with
the different registered user.
[0213] In operation 2848, a connection path between the verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and the
different registered user, the connection path indicating at least
one other registered user may be stored through whom the connection
path between the verified registered user (e.g., the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 16) and the different registered user may be made.
[0214] In operation 2850, the connection path between the verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and the
different registered user to the verified registered user (e.g.,
the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) may be communicated to
display.
[0215] In operation 2852, a hyperlink in the connection path of
each of the at least one registered users may be embedded through
whom the connection path between the verified registered user
(e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) and the different
registered user may be made. In operation 2854, each registered
user associated e-mail addresses of individuals who are not
registered users may be stored and identified by each registered
user as neighbors (e.g., a neighbor 120 of FIG. 1).
[0216] In operation 2856, an invitation may be communicated to
become a new user (e.g., a user 116 of FIG. 1) to neighbors (e.g.,
the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) of the particular user. In operation
2858, an acceptance of the neighbor (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG.
1) to whom the invitation was sent may be processed. In operation
2860, the neighbor (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) to a database
and storing of the neighbor (e.g., the neighbor 120 of FIG. 1), a
user ID and the set of user IDs of registered users may be added
who are directly connected to the neighbor (e.g., the neighbor 120
of FIG. 1), the set of user IDs stored of the neighbor (e.g., the
neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) including at least the user ID of the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16).
[0217] FIG. 28E is a continuation of process flow of FIG. 28D
showing additional processes, according to one embodiment. In
operation 2862, the verified registered user (e.g., the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 16) that the invitation to the neighbor (e.g., the
neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) has been accepted may be notified when the
acceptance is processed.
[0218] In operation 2864, inputs from the neighbor (e.g., the
neighbor 120 of FIG. 1) having descriptive data about the friend
and storing the inputs in the database may be processed. In
operation 2866, brief profiles of registered users, including a
brief profile of the different registered user may be communicated,
to the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user
1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16)
for display, each of the brief profiles including the hyperlink to
a corresponding full profile.
[0219] In operation 2868, the hyperlink selection from the verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) may be
processed, wherein, upon processing the hyperlink selection of the
full profile of the different registered user, the full profile of
the different registered user is communicated to the verified
registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310 of FIG.
13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) for
display.
[0220] In operation 2870, brief profiles of those registered users
who may be more than Nmax degrees of separation away from the
verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user 1310
of FIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) may
not communicated to the verified registered user (e.g., the
verified registered user 1310 of FIG. 13A-B, the verified
registered user 1310 of FIG. 16) may be ensured for display.
[0221] People in suburbia and urban cities now may not even know
who their neighbors are. Communities have become more insular.
There may be a few active people in each neighborhood who know
about their neighborhood and are willing to share what they know
with others. They should be able to share this information with
others through the Internet. Many people want to know who their
neighbors are and express themselves and their families through the
internet. People want to also know about recommendations and what
kind of civic and cultural things are in the neighborhood. What is
contemplated includes: A social network for people who want to get
to know their neighbors and/or neighborhoods. Particularly, one in
which a set of maps of neighborhoods (e.g., such as those on
Zillow.com or provided through Google.RTM. or Microsoft.RTM.) are
used as a basis on which a user can identify themselves with a
particular address. This address may be verified through one or
more of the modules on FIG. 1. Particularly, this address may be
the current address of the user is living, a previous address where
the user used to live, etc.
[0222] The address may be verified through a credit check of the
user, or a copy of the user's drivers license. Once the user is
approved in a particular home/location, the user can leave their
comments about their home. They can mark their home information
proprietary, so that no one else can contribute to their info
without their permission. They can have separate private and public
sections, in which the private section is shared with only verified
addresses of neighbors, and the public section is shared with
anybody viewing their profile. The user can then create separate
social networking pages for homes, churches, locations, etc.
surrounding his verified address. As such, the user can express
him/herself through their profile, and contribute information about
what they're neighborhood is like and who lives there. Only
verified individuals or entities might be able to view information
in that neighborhood.
[0223] The more information the user contributes, the higher his or
her status will be in the neighborhood through a marker (e.g., a
number of stars), or through additional services offered to the
neighbor, such as the ability to search a profiles of neighbors in
a larger distance range from a verified address of the user. For
example, initially, the user may only be able to search profiles
within 1 mile on their principal, current home after being verified
as living in there. When they create a profiles for themselves
and/or contribute profiles of other people, they may widen their
net of private profiles they may be allowed to search (e.g.,
because they become a trusted party in the neighborhood by offering
civic information). Neighbors can leave feedback for each other,
and arrange private block parties, etc. through their private
profile. All these features may possible through one or more of the
embodiments and/or modules illustrated in FIGS. 1-28. Through their
public profile, neighbors can know if there is a doctor living down
the street, or an attorney around the corner. The FIGS. 1-28
illustrate various embodiments that may be realized. While a
description is given here, a self-evident description can be
derived for the software and various methods, software, and
hardware directly from the attached Figures.
[0224] A neighborhood expression and user contribution system is
disclosed. In one aspect, the technology allows users to see the
value of millions of homes across the United States and/or the
world, not just those that the user themselves own or live in,
because they can share information about their neighbors. People
living in apartments or condos can use the apartment/condo modeler
wizard (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 1) to create models (e.g. 2 or
3d) of their building and share information about their
apartment/home and of their neighbors with others. The technology
has an integrated targeted advertising system for enabling
advertisers to make money through the social community module 100
by delivering targeted and non-targeted advertisements.
[0225] Aside from giving user generated content of information of
homes, the system may also provide value estimates of homes it may
also offers several unique features including value changes of each
home in a given time frame (e.g. 1, 5, or 10 years) and aerial
views of homes as well as the price of the surrounding homes in the
area. It may also provides basic data of a given home such as
square footage and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Users may
can also obtain current estimates of homes if there was a
significant change made such as recently modeled kitchen.
[0226] In the example systems and methods illustrated in FIGS.
1-28, neighbors may get to know each other and their surrounding
businesses more easily through the Internet. The user interface
view of the social community module may include a searchable map
interface and/or a social networking page on the right when one
clicks a particular home/location. The map interface may/may not
include information about prices of a home, or information about
the number of bedrooms of a home, etc. In essence, certain critical
input information may be divided as follows:
[0227] Residential location: (1) name of the persons/family living
in that residence (2) Their profession if any 3) Their educational
background if any (4) Their recreational interests (5) About their
family description box (6) Anything else people want to post about
that person including their interests, hobbies, etc. (7) An ability
for users to leave endorsements.
[0228] Business location or civic location (e.g., park, govt.
building, church, etc.): (1) name of the business/location (2)
email of the manager of the business/location (3) phone number of
the business/location if known (4) anything else people want to say
about the business (good or bad), for example, contributable
through a wiki.
[0229] These two will be the primary types. Various features
differentiate example embodiments of the social community module
from other social networks. These differentiators include (1)
interface driven by address (2) maps that can be viewed, zoomed in
on, tied to a parcel #, etc. (3) Anyone can populate anyone's
social network page. (4) Anybody can post in one of the boxes. They
can post anonymously or publicly (5) If someone wants to override
information that already has been established, they will need to
have an identity (e.g., user name), to override published posting
information.
[0230] However, according to one embodiment, if an owner of an
entity location wishes to mark their location private, and
uneditable by the public without their permission, they will need
to pay (e.g., a monthly fixed fee) through the social community
module. Alternatively, the owner of the entity location may not
need to pay to mark the location as private and uneditable by the
public without the owner's permission. Example embodiments of the
social community module may feature info about businesses. They may
also feature info about people that live in the homes, and may/may
not display information on prices, number of bedrooms, etc.
[0231] The social community module (e.g., as described in FIG. 1)
may be a search engine (e.g., Google.RTM., Yahoo.RTM., etc.) that
uses maps (e.g., satellite map views) instead of text displays to
show information, user profiles, reviews, promotions, ads,
directions, events, etc. relevant to user searches.
[0232] The example systems and methods illustrated in FIGS. 1-28
may facilitate a social network membership that spreads virally by
users inviting their friends. For example, every person that
registers has their own profile, but registration may not be
required to contribute content. However, registration may be
required to "own" content on your own home, and have override
permission to delete things that you don't like about yourself
listed about you by others. In one embodiment, the social community
module may need to confirm the user's identity and address (e.g.,
using digital signature tools, drivers license verification, etc.),
and/or the user may need to pay a monthly fixed fee (e.g., through
a credit card) to control their identity.
[0233] For example, they can get a rebate, and not have to pay the
monthly fee for a particular month, if they invite at least 15
people that month AND contribute information about at least 10 of
their neighbors, friends, civic, or business locations in their
neighborhood. People can post pics of their family, their business,
their home, etc. on their profile once they `own` their home and
register. In another embodiment, endorsements for neighbors by
others will be published automatically. People can search for other
people by descriptors (e.g., name, profession, distance away from
me, etc.)
[0234] Profiles of users may be created and/or generated on the
fly, e.g., when one clicks on a home.
[0235] People may be able to visually see directions to their
neighborhood businesses, rather than reading directions through
text in a first phase. After time, directions (e.g., routes) can be
offered as well. Users can leave their opinions on businesses, but
the social community module also enables users to leave opinions on
neighbors, occupants or any entity having a profile on the map
display. The social community module may not attempt to restrict
freedom of speech by the users, but may voluntarily delete
slanderous, libelous information on the request of an owner
manually at any time.
[0236] In one embodiment, the methods and systems illustrated in
FIGS. 1-28 enable people to search for things they want e.g. nearby
pizzas etc. (e.g., by distance away). Advertisers can `own` their
listing by placing a display ad on nextdoor.com. Instead of
click-through revenues when someone leaves the site, revenues will
be realized when the link is clicked and someone views a preview
html on the right of the visual map. Targeted advertisements may
also be placed when someone searches a particular street, name,
city, etc.
[0237] In another example embodiment, the social community module
may enable users of the social network to populate profiles for
apartments, buildings, condos, etc. People can create floors,
layout, etc. of their building, and add social network pages on the
fly when they click on a location that has multiple residents,
tenants, or lessees.
[0238] A user interface associated with the social community module
100 may be clean, simple, and uncluttered (e.g., Simple message of
"get to know your neighbors"). For example, the map interface shows
neighbors. Methods and systems associated with the features
described may focus on user experience, e.g., ensuring a compelling
message to invite friends and/or others to join. A seed phase for
implementation of the methods and systems illustrated in FIGS. 1-28
may be identified for building a membership associated with the
social community module.
[0239] For example, a user having extensive networks in a certain
area (e.g., a city) may seed those communities as well. The social
network may encourage user expression, user content creation, ease
of use on site to get maximum users/distribution as quickly as
possible. In another embodiment, the social community module may
ensure that infrastructure associated with operation of the social
community module (e.g., servers) are able to handle load (e.g.,
data traffic) and keep up with expected growth.
[0240] For example, the user interface view illustrated in the
various figures shows an example embodiment of the social community
module of FIG. 1. The user interface view may include a publicly
editable profile wall section allowing public postings that owners
of the profile can edit. For example, any user may be able to post
on an empty profile wall, but a user must claim the location to own
the profile (e.g., may minimize barriers to users posting comments
on profile walls).
[0241] Names featured on the profile wall may be links to the user
profiles on the map (e.g., giving an immediate sense for the
location of admirers (or detractors) relative to user location). In
one embodiment, an action (e.g., mouse-over) on a comment would
highlight the comment user's house on the map and names linking to
user profiles. The user interface view may also utilize the mapping
interface to link comments to locations.
[0242] For example, the various embodiments illustrate a comment
announcing a garage sale, that is tied to a mappable location on
the mapping interface. (e.g., allows people to browse references
directly from people's profiles). In the various figures, an
example display of the mapping interface is illustrated. In this
example display, houses are shown in green, a church is shown in
white, the red house shows the selected location and/or the profile
owner's house, question marks indicate locations without profile
owners, blue buildings are commercial locations, and the pink
building represents an apartment complex.
[0243] Houses with stars indicate people associated with (e.g.,
"friends") of the current user. In one embodiment, a user action
(e.g., mouse-over) on a commercial property displayed in the
mapping interface may pull up a star (e.g., "***) rating based on
user reviews, and/or a link to the profile for the property. A
mouse-over action on the apartment complex may pull up a building
schematic for the complex with floor plans, on which the user can
see friends/profiles for various floors or rooms. Question marks
indicated in the display may prompt users to own that profile or
post comments on the wall for that space. A user action on any
house displayed in the mapping interface may pull up a profile
link, summary info such as status, profession, interests, etc.
associated with the profile owner, a link to add the person as a
friend, and/or a link to send a message to the user (e.g., the
profile owner).
[0244] In another embodiment, a default profile view shown is that
of the current user (e.g., logged in), and if the user clicks on
any other profile, it may show their profile in that space instead
(with few text changes to indicate different person). The events in
your area view of the profile display in may have a default radius
for notification of events (e.g., by street, by block, by
neighborhood, county, etc.) Events are associated with user
profiles and may link to locations displayed on the mapping
interfaces. The hot picks section may be an ad/promotional zone,
with default settings for radius of alerts also configurable.
[0245] For example, the "Find a Friend" section may permit users to
search by name, address, interests, status, profession, favorite
movies/music/food etc. Users are also able to search within a given
radius of their location. In one embodiment, the user interface
view may include a link for the user to invite other people to join
the network (e.g., may encourage users who see a question-mark on a
house or a location on the mapping interface that corresponds to a
real location associated with someone they know to contact that
person and encourage them to join and own that profile through the
social community module).
[0246] Some of the reasons we believe these embodiments are unique
include:
[0247] Search engine that provides a visual map (e.g., rather than
text) display of information relevant to user queries.
[0248] Users can search on the map for other people having certain
professional, educational, personal, extracurricular, cultural,
political and/or family etc. profiles or interests, within any
location range.
[0249] Users can search for information on the map, that is
accessible directly through profile displays. For example, the user
may search for information about a certain subject and be directed
to a profile of another user having information about the subject.
Alternatively, the user may view the search subject itself as a
visible item (e.g., if applicable to the search query) having a
profile on the map display, along with additional information
associated with the item (e.g., contributed by other users).
[0250] Allows users to search, browse and view information posted
by other users about an entity location such as a home, a business
property, a condo, an apartment complex, etc. directly on a map
display
[0251] Allows users to browse, form and join groups and communities
based on location, preferences, interests, friend requests,
etc.
[0252] Users can send messages to other people through their
profiles within the map display
[0253] Users can find friends, business associates, vendors,
romantic partners, etc. on the map within any location range (e.g.,
in their neighborhood, street, subdivision, etc.) by browsing the
map display or searching for people with certain profile
characteristics and/or similar interests.
[0254] Users can view, browse and post comments/information/reviews
about entity locations and/or people associated with those
locations (e.g., occupants of a house, families, apartment
residents, businesses, non-governmental entities, etc.), even for
locations that do not have a profile owner. For example, all entity
locations visible on the map display may link to a profiles on
which any user can post comments. To own the profile and edit the
information posted about an entity location or the occupant(s), the
occupant(s) would have to join the network associated with the
social community module and become the owner of the profile. The
profile owner would then become visible in the map display (e.g.,
entity locations without profile owners may only be visible as
questions marks on the map, having blank profiles but public
comment sections).
[0255] Users can share their comments and opinions about locations,
preferences and/or interests on their profiles that are visible and
searchable on the map display
[0256] Automatically notifies users of events and promotions in an
area (e.g., scope of area can be selected by the user), and
highlights venues and user profiles on the map.
[0257] Users can post reviews about entity locations (e.g.,
businesses) such that ratings for entity locations are visible on
the map. Other users can trace the location of the users that
posted the comments on the map.
[0258] Users who post comments on other profiles can be traced
directly on the map through their comments. Alternatively, users
can choose to submit anonymous postings or comments on other
user/entity profiles, and/or may choose not to be traceable on the
map through their comments.
[0259] For entity locations having more than one residency unit
(e.g., apartment complexes), people can create and post on profiles
for any room/floor of the location (e.g., by entering information
on a schematic view of the location that is visible on the
map).
[0260] Users can visually determine routes/directions/orientation
to locations that they can browse within the map display.
Additionally, users can generate written driving, walking or public
transit directions between points of interest (e.g., from the
user's house to a friend's house) within the map display.
[0261] Users can communicate (e.g., through live chat) directly
with other users in the area based on an association determined
through their profiles
[0262] Business entity locations can generate targeted ads and
promotions within locations on the map display (e.g., virtual
billboards).
[0263] The social community module can realize revenue based on ad
clickthroughs by users, without the users being directed away from
the interface. For example, when a user clicks on any targeted
ad/promotion displayed on the map, the profile of the entity
associated with the ad/promotion may be generated alongside the map
display.
[0264] Neighborhood or neighborhood (see spelling differences) is a
geographically localized community located within a larger city or
suburb. The residents of a given neighborhood are called neighbors
(or neighbors), although this term may also be used across much
larger distances in rural areas.
[0265] Traditionally, a neighborhood is small enough that the
neighbors are all able to know each other. However in practice,
neighbors may not know one another very well at all. Villages
aren't divided into neighborhoods, because they are already small
enough that the villagers can all know each other.
[0266] The system however may work in any country and any geography
of the world. In Canada and the United States, neighborhoods are
often given official or semi-official status through neighborhood
associations, neighborhood watches, or block watches. These may
regulate such matters as lawn care and fence height, and they may
provide such services as block parties, neighborhood parks, and
community security. In some other places the equivalent
organization is the parish, though a parish may have several
neighborhoods within it depending on the area.
[0267] In localities where neighborhoods do not have an official
status, questions can arise as to where one neighborhood begins and
another ends, such as in the city of Philadelphia, Pa. Many cities
may use districts and wards as official divisions of the city,
rather than traditional neighborhood boundaries.
[0268] In the mainland of the People's Republic of China, the term
is generally used for the urban administrative unit usually found
immediately below the district level, although an intermediate,
sub-district level exists in some cities. They are also called
streets (administrative terminology may vary from city to city).
Neighborhoods encompass 2,000 to 10,000 families. Within
neighborhoods, families are grouped into smaller residential units
or quarters of 100 to 600 families and supervised by a residents'
committee; these are subdivided into residents' small groups of
fifteen to forty families. In most urban areas of China,
neighborhood, community, residential community, residential unit,
residential quarter have the same meaning: or or and is the direct
sublevel of a subdistrict which is the direct sublevel of a
district which is the direct sublevel of a city (See Political
divisions of China.
[0269] The system and methods may be distributed through
neighborhood associations. A neighborhood or neighborhood (see
spelling differences) is a geographically localized community
located within a larger city or suburb. The residents of a given
neighborhood are called neighbors (or neighbors), although this
term may also be used across much larger distances in rural
areas.
[0270] Traditionally, a neighborhood is small enough that the
neighbors are all able to know each other. However in practice,
neighbors may not know one another very well at all. Villages
aren't divided into neighborhoods, because they are already small
enough that the villagers can all know each other. Each of the
technologies and concepts disclosed herein may be embodied in
software and/or hardware through one or more of the
modules/embodiments discussed in FIGS. 1-28.
[0271] A block party is a large public celebration in which many
members of a single neighborhood congregate to observe a positive
event of some importance. Many times, there will be celebration in
the form of playing music and dance. Block parties gained
popularity in the United States during the 1970s. Block Parties
were often held outdoors and power for the DJ's sound system was
taken illegally from street lights. This was famously referenced in
the song "South Bronx" by KRS-One with the line:
[0272] "Power from a street light made the place dark. But yo, they
didn't care, they turned it out." It is also interesting to note
that many inner city block parties were actually held illegally, as
they might be described as loitering. However, police turned a
blind eye to them, reasoning that if everyone from the neighborhood
was gathered in one place there was less chance of crime being
committed elsewhere.
[0273] In the suburbs, block parties are commonly held on holidays
such as Fourth of July or Labor Day. Sometimes the occasion may be
a theme such a "Welcome to the Neighborhood" for a new family or a
recent popular movie. Often block parties involve barbecuing, lawn
games such as Simon Says and group dancing such as the Electric
Slide, the Macarena or line dancing.
[0274] In other usage, a block party has come to mean any informal
public celebration. For example, a block party can be conducted via
television even though there is no real block in the observance.
The same is true for the Internet. The block party is closely
related to the beach party. The British equivalent is the street
party.
[0275] The systems and methods illustrated in FIGS. 1-28 may have
software to emulate a block party or a neighborhood watch. A
neighborhood watch (also called a crime watch or neighborhood crime
watch) is a citizens' organization devoted to crime and vandalism
prevention within a neighborhood. It is not a vigilante
organization, since members are expected not to directly intervene
in possible criminal activity. Instead, neighborhood watch members
are to stay alert to unusual activity and contact the authorities.
It builds on the concept of a town watch from Colonial America.
[0276] The current American system of neighborhood watches began
developing in the late 1960s as a response to the rape and murder
of Kitty Genovese in Queens, N.Y. People became outraged that three
dozen witnesses did nothing to save Genovese or to apprehend her
killer. Some locals formed groups to watch over their neighborhoods
and to look out for any suspicious activity in their areas. Shortly
thereafter, the National Sheriffs' Association began a concerted
effort in 1972 to revitalize the "watch group" effort
nationwide.
[0277] A neighborhood watch (also called a crime watch or
neighborhood crime watch) is a citizens' organization devoted to
crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood. It is not a
vigilante organization, since members are expected not to directly
intervene in possible criminal activity. Instead, neighborhood
watch members are to stay alert to unusual activity and contact the
authorities. It builds on the concept of a town watch from Colonial
America.
[0278] The current American system of neighborhood watches began
developing in the late 1960s as a response to the rape and murder
of Kitty Genovese in Queens, N.Y. People became outraged that three
dozen witnesses did nothing to save Genovese or to apprehend her
killer. Some locals formed groups to watch over their neighborhoods
and to look out for any suspicious activity in their areas. Shortly
thereafter, the National Sheriffs' Association began a concerted
effort in 1972 to revitalize the "watch group" effort
nationwide.
[0279] The various methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed
herein and illustrated and described using the attached FIGS. 1-28
can be applied to creating online community organizations of
neighborhoods of any form. During human growth and maturation,
people encounter sets of other individuals and experiences. Infants
encounter first, their immediate family, then extended family, and
then local community (such as school and work). They thus develop
individual and group identity through associations that connect
them to life-long community experiences.
[0280] As people grow, they learn about and form perceptions of
social structures. During this progression, they form personal and
cultural values, a world view and attitudes toward the larger
society. Gaining an understanding of group dynamics and how to "fit
in" is part of socialization. Individuals develop interpersonal
relationships and begin to make choices about whom to associate
with and under what circumstances.
[0281] During adolescence and adulthood, the individual tends to
develop a more sophisticated identity, often taking on a role as a
leader or follower in groups. If associated individuals develop the
intent to give of themselves, and commit to the collective
well-being of the group, they begin to acquire a sense of
community.
[0282] Socialization: The process of learning to adopt the behavior
patterns of the community is called socialization. The most fertile
time of socialization is usually the early stages of life, during
which individuals develop the skills and knowledge and learn the
roles necessary to function within their culture and social
environment. For some psychologists, especially those in the
psychodynamic tradition, the most important period of socialization
is between the ages of 1 and 10. But socialization also includes
adults moving into a significantly different environment, where
they must learn a new set of behaviors.
[0283] Socialization is influenced primarily by the family, through
which children first learn community norms. Other important
influences include school, peer groups, mass media, the workplace
and government. The degree to which the norms of a particular
society or community are adopted determines one's willingness to
engage with others. The norms of tolerance, reciprocity and trust
are important "habits of the heart," as de Tocqueville put it, in
an individual's involvement in community.
[0284] Continuity of the connections between leaders, between
leaders and followers, and among followers is vital to the strength
of a community. Members individually hold the collective
personality of the whole. With sustained connections and continued
conversations, participants in communities develop emotional bonds,
intellectual pathways, enhanced linguistic abilities, and even a
higher capacity for critical thinking and problem-solving. It could
be argued that successive and sustained contact with other people
might help to remove some of the tension of isolation, due to
alienation, thus opening creative avenues that would have otherwise
remained impassable.
[0285] Conversely, sustained involvement in tight communities may
tend to increase tension in some people. However, in many cases, it
is easy enough to distance oneself from the "hive" temporarily to
ease this stress. Psychological maturity and effective
communication skills are thought to be a function of this ability.
In nearly every context, individual and collective behaviors are
required to find a balance between inclusion and exclusion; for the
individual, a matter of choice; for the group, a matter of charter.
The sum of the creative energy (often referred to as "synergy") and
the strength of the mechanisms that maintain this balance is
manifest as an observable and resilient sense of community.
[0286] McMillan and Chavis (1986) identify four elements of "sense
of community": 1) membership, 2) influence, 3) integration and
fulfillment of needs, and 4) shared emotional connection. They give
the following example of the interplay between these factors:
Someone puts an announcement on the dormitory bulletin board about
the formation of an intramural dormitory basketball team. People
attend the organizational meeting as strangers out of their
individual needs (integration and fulfillment of needs). The team
is bound by place of residence (membership boundaries are set) and
spends time together in practice (the contact hypothesis). They
play a game and win (successful shared valent event). While
playing, members exert energy on behalf of the team (personal
investment in the group). As the team continues to win, team
members become recognized and congratulated (gaining honor and
status for being members). Someone suggests that they all buy
matching shirts and shoes (common symbols) and they do so
(influence).
[0287] A Sense of Community Index (SCI) has been developed by
Chavis and his colleagues (1986). Although originally designed to
assess sense of community in neighborhoods, the index has been
adapted for use in schools, the workplace and a variety of types of
communities.
[0288] Communitarianism as a group of related but distinct
philosophies (or ideologies) began in the late 20th century,
opposing classical liberalism, capitalism and socialism while
advocating phenomena such as civil society. Not necessarily hostile
to social liberalism, communitarianism rather has a different
emphasis, shifting the focus of interest toward communities and
societies and away from the individual. The question of priority,
whether for the individual or community, must be determined in
dealing with pressing ethical questions about a variety of social
issues, such as health care, abortion, multiculturalism, and hate
speech.
[0289] Effective communication practices in group and
organizational settings are important to the formation and
maintenance of communities. How ideas and values are communicated
within communities are important to the induction of new members,
the formulation of agendas, the selection of leaders and many other
aspects. Organizational communication is the study of how people
communicate within an organizational context and the influences and
interactions within organizational structures. Group members depend
on the flow of communication to establish their own identity within
these structures and learn to function in the group setting.
Although organizational communication, as a field of study, is
usually geared toward companies and business groups, these may also
be seen as communities. The principles can also be applied to other
types of communities.
[0290] If the sense of community exists, both freedom and security
exist as well. The community then takes on a life of its own, as
people become free enough to share and secure enough to get along.
The sense of connectedness and formation of social networks
comprise what has become known as social capital.
[0291] Azadi Tower is a town square in modern Iran. Social capital
is defined by Robert D. Putnam as "the collective value of all
social networks (who people know) and the inclinations that arise
from these networks to do things for each other (norms of
reciprocity)." Social capital in action can be seen in groups of
varying formality, including neighbors keeping an eye on each
others' homes. However, as Putnam notes in Bowling Alone: The
Collapse and Revival of American Community (2000), social capital
has been falling in the United States. Putnam found that over the
past 25 years, attendance at club meetings has fallen 58 percent,
family dinners are down 33 percent, and having friends visit has
fallen 45 percent.
[0292] Western cultures are thus said to be losing the spirit of
community that once were found in institutions including churches
and community centers. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg states in The
Great Good Place that people need three places: 1) The home, 2) the
workplace, and, 3) the community hangout or gathering place.
[0293] With this philosophy in mind, many grassroots efforts such
as The Project for Public Spaces are being started to create this
"Third Place" in communities. They are taking form in independent
bookstores, coffeehouses, local pubs and through many innovative
means to create the social capital needed to foster the sense and
spirit of community.
[0294] Community development is often formally conducted by
universities or government agencies to improve the social
well-being of local, regional and, sometimes, national communities.
Less formal efforts, called community building or community
organizing, seek to empower individuals and groups of people by
providing them with the skills they need to effect change in their
own communities. These skills often assist in building political
power through the formation of large social groups working for a
common agenda. Community development practitioners must understand
both how to work with individuals and how to affect communities'
positions within the context of larger social institutions.
[0295] Formal programs conducted by universities are often used to
build a knowledge base to drive curricula in sociology and
community studies. The General Social Survey from the National
Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago and the
Saguaro Seminar at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at
Harvard University are examples of national community development
in the United States. In The United Kingdom, Oxford University has
led in providing extensive research in the field through its
Community Development Journal, used worldwide by sociologists and
community development practitioners.
[0296] At the intersection between community development and
community building are a number of programs and organizations with
community development tools. One example of this is the program of
the Asset Based Community Development Institute of Northwestern
University. The institute makes available downloadable tools to
assess community assets and make connections between non-profit
groups and other organizations that can help in community building.
The Institute focuses on helping communities develop by "mobilizing
neighborhood assets"--building from the inside out rather than the
outside in.
[0297] Community building and organizing: M. Scott Peck is of the
view that the almost accidental sense of community which exists at
times of crisis, for example in New York City after the attacks of
Sep. 11, 2001, can be consciously built. Peck believes that the
process of "conscious community building" is a process of building
a shared story, and consensual decision making, built upon respect
for all individuals and inclusivity of difference. He is of the
belief that this process goes through four stages:
[0298] Pseudo-community: Where participants are "nice with each
other", playing-safe, and presenting what they feel is the most
favorable sides of their personalities. Chaos: When people move
beyond the inauthenticity of pseudo-community and feel safe enough
to present their "shadow" selves. This stage places great demands
upon the facilitator for greater leadership and organization, but
Peck believes that "organizations are not communities", and this
pressure should be resisted.
[0299] Emptying: This stage moves beyond the attempts to fix, heal
and convert of the chaos stage, when all people become capable of
acknowledging their own woundedness and brokenness, common to us
all as human beings. Out of this emptying comes
[0300] Authentic community: the process of deep respect and true
listening for the needs of the other people in this community. This
stage Peck believes can only be described as "glory" and reflects a
deep yearning in every human soul for compassionate understanding
from one's fellows.
[0301] More recently Scott Peck has remarked that building a sense
of community is easy. It is maintaining this sense of community
that is difficult in the modern world. The Ithaca Hour is an
example of community-based currency. Community building can use a
wide variety of practices, ranging from simple events such as
potlucks and small book clubs to larger-scale efforts such as mass
festivals and construction projects that involve local participants
rather than outside contractors. Some communities have developed
their own "Local Exchange Trading Systems" (LETS) and local
currencies, such as the Ithaca Hours system, to encourage economic
growth and an enhanced sense of community.
[0302] Community building that is geared toward activism is usually
termed "community organizing." In these cases, organized community
groups seek accountability from elected officials and increased
direct representation within decision-making bodies. Where
good-faith negotiations fail, these constituency-led organizations
seek to pressure the decision-makers through a variety of means,
including picketing, boycotting, sit-ins, petitioning, and
electoral politics. The ARISE Detroit! coalition and the Toronto
Public Space Committee are examples of activist networks committed
to shielding local communities from government and corporate
domination and inordinate influence.
[0303] Community organizing is sometimes focused on more than just
resolving specific issues. Organizing often means building a widely
accessible power structure, often with the end goal of distributing
power equally throughout the community. Community organizers
generally seek to build groups that are open and democratic in
governance. Such groups facilitate and encourage consensus
decision-making with a focus on the general health of the community
rather than a specific interest group.
[0304] The three basic types of community organizing are grassroots
organizing, coalition building, and faith-based community
organizing (also called "institution-based community organizing,"
"broad-based community organizing" or "congregation-based community
organizing").
[0305] Community service is usually performed in connection with a
nonprofit organization, but it may also be undertaken under the
auspices of government, one or more businesses, or by individuals.
It is typically unpaid and voluntary. However, it can be part of
alternative sentencing approaches in a justice system and it can be
required by educational institutions.
[0306] The most common usage of the word "community" indicates a
large group living in close proximity. Examples of local community
include: A municipality is an administrative local area generally
composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a
town or village. Although large cities are also municipalities,
they are often thought of as a collection of communities, due to
their diversity.
[0307] A neighborhood is a geographically localized community,
often within a larger city or suburb. A planned community is one
that was designed from scratch and grew up more or less following
the plan. Several of the world's capital cities are planned cities,
notably Washington, D.C., in the United States, Canberra in
Australia, and Brasilia in Brazil. It was also common during the
European colonization of the Americas to build according to a plan
either on fresh ground or on the ruins of earlier Amerindian
cities. Identity: In some contexts, "community" indicates a group
of people with a common identity other than location. Members often
interact regularly. Common examples in everyday usage include: A
"professional community" is a group of people with the same or
related occupations. Some of those members may join a professional
society, making a more defined and formalized group.
[0308] These are also sometimes known as communities of practice. A
virtual community is a group of people primarily or initially
communicating or interacting with each other by means of
information technologies, typically over the Internet, rather than
in person. These may be either communities of interest, practice or
communion. (See below.) Research interest is evolving in the
motivations for contributing to online communities.
[0309] Some communities share both location and other attributes.
Members choose to live near each other because of one or more
common interests. A retirement community is designated and at least
usually designed for retirees and seniors--often restricted to
those over a certain age, such as 55. It differs from a retirement
home, which is a single building or small complex, by having a
number of autonomous households.
[0310] An intentional community is a deliberate residential
community with a much higher degree of social interaction than
other communities. The members of an intentional community
typically hold a common social, political or spiritual vision and
share responsibilities and resources. Intentional communities
include Amish villages, ashrams, cohousing, communes, ecovillages,
housing cooperatives, kibbutzim, and land trusts.
[0311] Special nature of human community Music in Central Park, a
public space. Definitions of community as "organisms inhabiting a
common environment and interacting with one another," while
scientifically accurate, do not convey the richness, diversity and
complexity of human communities. Their classification, likewise is
almost never precise. Untidy as it may be, community is vital for
humans. M. Scott Peck expresses this in the following way: "There
can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community
without vulnerability; there can be no peace, and ultimately no
life, without community." This conveys some of the distinctiveness
of human community.
[0312] Although the present embodiments have been described with
reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that
various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments
without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various
embodiments. For example, the various devices, modules, analyzers,
generators, etc. described herein may be enabled and operated using
hardware circuitry (e.g., CMOS based logic circuitry), firmware,
software and/or any combination of hardware, firmware, and/or
software (e.g., embodied in a machine readable medium). For
example, the various electrical structure and methods may be
embodied using transistors, logic gates, and electrical circuits
(e.g., application specific integrated ASIC circuitry and/or in
Digital Signal; Processor DSP circuitry).
[0313] For example, the social community module 106, the search
module 108, the wiki module 110, the commerce module 112, the map
module 114, the building builder module 200, the N.sup.th degree
module, the tagging module 204, the verify module 206, the groups
generator module 208, the pushpin module 210, the profile module
212, the announce module 214, the friend finder module 222, the
neighbor-neighbor help module 224, the business search module 302,
the communicate module 306, the directory assistance module 308,
the embedding module 310, the no-match module 312, the range
selector module 314, the user-place wiki module, the user-user wiki
module 402, the user-neighbor wiki module 404, the user-business
wiki module 406, the reviews module 408, the defamation prevention
module 410, the wiki social network conversion module 412, the
claim module 414, the data segment module 416, the dispute
resolution module 418, the resident announce payment module 500,
the business display advertisement module 502, the geo-position
advertisement ranking module 504, the content syndication module
506, the text advertisement module 508, the community market place
module 510, the click-in tracking module 512, the satellite data
module 600, the cartoon map converter module 604, the profile
pointer module 606, the parcel module 608 and the occupant module
610 of FIGS. 1-28 may be embodied through the social community
circuit, the search circuit, the wiki circuit, the commerce
circuit, the map circuit, the building builder circuit, the
N.sup.th degree circuit, the tagging circuit, the verify circuit,
the groups circuit, the pushpin circuit, the profile circuit, the
announce circuit, the friends finder circuit, the neighbor-neighbor
help circuit, the business search circuit, the communicate circuit,
the embedding circuit, the no-match circuit, the range selector
circuit, the user-place wiki circuit, the user-user wiki circuit,
the user-neighbor wiki circuit, the user-business circuit, the
reviews circuit, the defamation prevention circuit, the wiki social
network conversion circuit, the claim circuit, the data segment
circuit, the dispute resolution circuit, the resident announce
payment circuit, the business display advertisement circuit, the
geo-position advertisement ranking circuit, the content syndication
circuit, the text advertisement circuit, the community market place
circuit, the click-in tracking circuit, the satellite data circuit,
the cartoon map converter circuit, the profile pointer circuit, the
parcel circuit, the occupant circuit using one or more of the
technologies described herein.
[0314] In addition, it will be appreciated that the various
operations, processes, and methods disclosed herein may be embodied
in a machine-readable medium and/or a machine accessible medium
compatible with a data processing system (e.g., a computer system),
and may be performed in any order. Accordingly, the specification
and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a
restrictive sense.
* * * * *
References