U.S. patent application number 15/058061 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-15 for social network system and method of operation.
The applicant listed for this patent is INTEL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Julian Malcom Cone, Gary Lee Franklin, Derick Ian Robinson, Grant James Ryan, William Ferguson Stalker.
Application Number | 20160269383 15/058061 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26652278 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160269383 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ryan; Grant James ; et
al. |
September 15, 2016 |
SOCIAL NETWORK SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION
Abstract
A method of forming unique, private, personal, virtual social
networks on a social network system that includes a database
storing data relating to corresponding user entities. The method
includes: a first user entity sending an invitation to a second
user entity, recording in the database the second user entity as a
direct contact of the first user entity and determining that third
user entities, directly connected to the second user entity, are
indirect contacts. A unique, personal, social network formed from
direct and indirect contacts is thereby created for each user
entity. Each user entity is able to control privacy of its data
with respect to other user entities depending on the connection
factor to that other entity and/or that other entity's attributes.
Each user entity is able to take the role of provider or
participant in applications where the provider provides an item or
service to the participant.
Inventors: |
Ryan; Grant James;
(Christchurch, NZ) ; Franklin; Gary Lee;
(Christchurch, NZ) ; Cone; Julian Malcom;
(Christchurch, NZ) ; Stalker; William Ferguson;
(Christchurch, NZ) ; Robinson; Derick Ian;
(Christchurch, NZ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
INTEL CORPORATION |
Santa Clara |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
26652278 |
Appl. No.: |
15/058061 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13950108 |
Jul 24, 2013 |
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15058061 |
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13009822 |
Jan 19, 2011 |
8521817 |
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13950108 |
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10812789 |
Mar 29, 2004 |
7904511 |
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13009822 |
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PCT/NZ02/00199 |
Sep 30, 2002 |
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10812789 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 50/01 20130101;
H04M 2203/6009 20130101; H04M 2203/557 20130101; H04L 51/32
20130101; G06Q 99/00 20130101; G06Q 30/0214 20130101; H04L 51/20
20130101; H04L 63/08 20130101; G06Q 10/1053 20130101; H04M 1/2757
20200101; H04M 2203/554 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 29/06 20060101
H04L029/06; H04L 12/58 20060101 H04L012/58; G06Q 30/02 20060101
G06Q030/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 30, 2001 |
NZ |
514368 |
Apr 29, 2002 |
NZ |
518624 |
Claims
1. A method performed by a social network system accessible over a
data network with a plurality of data input devices connectable to
said data network, said social network system including a plurality
of entity data records each relating to a corresponding user entity
and containing one or more entity attributes including at least one
identifying characteristic of said corresponding user entity, said
method including providing, via said data network, a given user
entity with: a virtual, unique, personal, social network
(hereinafter `social network`) formed from connections between
contacts, said contacts including other user entities connected
directly or indirectly to said given user entity; respective
interrelationship context information including: details of any
common entity attributes, and/or a connection factor, between two
contacts and/or between a contact and the given user entity; access
to at least part of at least one the entity data records; the
option to take a role in a predetermined activity and/or
application via said data network, wherein said role includes at
least one of provider or participant, wherein a provider is a user
entity providing an item or service to at least one other user
entity; and a participant is a user entity utilising said
provider's item or service.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said application
includes at least one of: consumer decisions, buying, selling,
trading loaning; finding flatmates/roommates, tenants; organising
activities and events, recommendations/opinions including those
related to films, plays, books, employment, services, tradesmen,
accommodation, restaurants, comparison and explorations of common
interests; sharing peer-to-peer personal or business creative work
or content, including photos, art-work, literature, music; managing
a club or society; locating/supplying/"blacklisting" providers of
goods or services; business or technological advice unsuitable for
publication; recruitment, job-seeking; estate agents; venture
capital; collaborative ventures; referrals; police/security
information gathering/informants; event manager; address book
manager; search engines; headhunting; book mark service; spam
filtering; car sharing; sales leads; market entry advice;
real-estate; sharing files; company knowledge management; medical
advice; travel organiser, lending/borrowing; house-sitting;
baby-sitting; classified advertisements; finding musicians.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined
activity includes instigating, continuing, terminating or
responding to an application, search, and/or communication.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said entity attributes
include at least one identifying characteristic, information
regarding personal details, contacts; contact details, factors or
interests; friends; relations; school alumni; employment factors;
business colleagues; professional acquaintances; sexual
preferences, persuasions, or proclivities; sporting interests;
entertainment, artistic, creative or leisure interests; travel
interests, commercial, religious, political, theological or
ideological belief or opinions; academic, scientific, or
engineering disciplines; humanitarian, social, security/military or
economic fields and any combination of same.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user entities
include an individual, family, personal or organised network,
organisation, club, society, company, partnership, religion, or
other entity that exists as a particular and discrete unit.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of forming
said social network includes: communicating an invitation from a
first said user entity to one or more other user entities selected
by said first user entity for inclusion in the first user entity's
social network as a contact; designating each user entity accepting
said invitation as being a direct contact directly connected to the
first user entity by a first degree of separation; wherein for: any
second user entity directly connected to the first user entity and
any third user entity directly connected to the second user entity
but not directly connected to the first user entity, the first and
third user entities are indirect contacts, indirectly connected to
each other with a second degree of separation; repeating the above
steps for a given user entity having a corresponding entity data
record, wherein said given user entity is equivalent to said first
user entity in said repeated steps to create, for each said given
user entity, a corresponding social network, thereby collectively
forming a plurality of social networks on said social network
system, inter-connected by mutually connected contacts.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including providing a
given user entity with at least partial control of privacy of their
social network with respect to a user entity seeking access to the
given user entity's data record by permitting the given user entity
to specify: which seeking user entities are allowed or denied
access to the given user's data record; and/or which entity
attributes in the given user entity's data record are accessible or
inaccessible to said seeking user entity.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said seeking user
entities allowed or denied access to the given user's data records
are determined by; a connection factor between the given user
entity and said seeking user entity; and/or one or more entity
attributes of said seeking user entity.
9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said access is
available only to seeking user entities meeting defined eligibility
criteria, wherein said criteria includes at least one of: an entity
attribute, identifying characteristic, supplementary attribute,
subscription and/or payment.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said eligibility
criteria is defined by the given user entity.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1, including providing said
seeking user entity with searchable access to at least one of said
entity data records.
12. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said seeking user
entities allowed or denied access to the given user entity's data
record are determined according to the predetermined activity
and/or application.
13. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including allowing a
given user entity to at least partially define at least one of; the
given user entity's participation and degree of interaction in said
predetermined activity and/or application; and/or the given user
entity's visibility and/or accessibility to contacts or other user
entities with respect to said predetermined activity and/or
application.
14. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including allowing a
given user entity to at least partially define at least one of; a
contact's participation and degree of interaction in said
predetermined activity and/or application; and/or a contact's
visibility and/or accessibility to other contacts or user entities
with respect to said predetermined activity and/or application.
15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user entity's
role in said predetermined activity and/or application is assigned
by the user entity, the social network system, another user entity,
and/or an entity external to said social network system.
16. The method as claimed in claim 1, including allowing a user
entity to specify whether or not data generated by said
predetermined activity and/or application is stored in said social
network system after completion of said predetermined activity
and/or application.
17. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined
activity and/or application is implemented by an entity or
organised network external to said social network system.
18. The method as claimed in claim 1, including permitting a given
user entity to participate in said predetermined activity and/or
application with networks external to the social network
system.
19. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined
activity and/or application incorporates at least one of:
Mobile-Notification Services allowing a given user entity to
optionally select whether they receive alerts from said social
network system, said alerts provided in the form of a Short-Message
(SMS), Enhanced SMS (EMS), Multi-Media Message (MMS), plain email,
a paging message, or other message format sent to a mobile
communication device; Data-Application Services enabling user
entities to optionally and selectively initiate or receive data
communications related to their social network via SMS, EMS, MMS,
email, WAP, paging, or other wireless application communication
data format; Location-Based Services to provide a given user entity
with location data using position location systems including one or
more of: mobile-phone cell-site location, GPS location, manual or
menu-driven location selection, and/or any combination of same,
wherein information generated by said predetermined activity and/or
application for is at least partially derived from and/or
designated by said location data.
20. The method as claimed in claim 1, including recording the given
user entity's recommendations regarding said item and/or
service.
21. The method as claimed in claim 20, further including providing
an item, service and/or financial reward to said recommending user
entity according to a predetermined number of hyperlink accesses
attributed to the recommending user entity.
22. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including providing a
hyperlink to a given user entity of said predetermined activity
and/or application, said hyperlink connection being to a website of
the item and/or service provider.
23. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said item or service
is selectively made available by said provider to other user
entities with predetermined entity attributes.
24. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roles in said
predetermined activity and/or application further include the role
of a facilitator, being an entity providing a link or facilitating
interaction between a said provider and a said participant.
25. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said facilitator is
rewarded for aiding in linking a provider with a participant.
26. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the given user entity
is rewarded according to their success in fulfilling a said role in
the predetermined activity and/or application.
27. A social network system accessible over a data network with a
plurality of data input devices connectable to said data network,
said social network system including a plurality of entity data
records each relating to a corresponding user entity and containing
one or more entity attributes including at least one identifying
characteristic of said corresponding user entity, said system
configured to provide, via said data network, a given user entity
with: a virtual, unique, personal, social network (hereinafter
`social network`) formed from connections between contacts, said
contacts including other user entities connected directly or
indirectly to said given user entity; respective interrelationship
context information including: details of any common entity
attributes, and/or a connection factor, between two contacts and/or
between a contact and the given user entity; access to at least
part of at least one of the entity data records; the option to take
a role in a predetermined activity and/or application via said data
network, wherein said role includes at least one of provider or
participant, wherein a provider is a user entity providing an item
or service to at least one other user entity; and a participant is
a user entity utilising said provider's item or service.
28. A social network system as claimed in claim 27, configured to
provide an open-platform for development of third party social
network software applications.
29. A social network software application in use with a social
network system accessible over a data network with a plurality of
data input devices connectable to said data network, said social
network system including a plurality of entity data records each
relating to a corresponding user entity and containing one or more
entity attributes including at least one identifying characteristic
of said corresponding user entity, said system configured to
provide, via said data network, a given user entity with: a
virtual, unique, personal, social network (hereinafter `social
network`) formed from connections between contacts, said contacts
including other user entities connected directly or indirectly to
said given user entity; respective interrelationship context
information including: details of any common entity attributes,
and/or a connection factor, between two contacts and/or between a
contact and the given user entity; access to at least part of at
least one of the entity data records; the option to take a role in
a predetermined activity and/or application via said data network,
wherein said role includes at least one of provider or participant,
wherein a provider is a user entity providing an item or service to
at least one other user entity; and a participant is a user entity
utilising said provider's item or service.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present patent application is a continuation of prior
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/812,789 filed on Mar. 29, 2004,
which claims priority from PCT Patent Application No.
PCT/NZ/02/00199 filed on Sep. 30, 2002, which claims priority from
New Zealand Patent Application No. 514368 filed on Sep. 30, 2001
and New Zealand Patent Application No. 518624 filed on Apr. 29,
2002, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a database of
records compiled from entities with mutual common links and
personal and business services based upon these records.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] The interconnectivity of individuals and organisations has
increased exponentially in recent times with advent of various
telecommunication means, including the Internet.
[0004] The Internet has connected the world with literally billions
of connected nodes (or users) representing entities of various
types, - people, organisations, computers, and other devices. Many
solutions such as the world wide web, online bulletin boards,
email, online instant messaging, and peer-to-peer solutions allow
direct contact between any number of these nodes. The very success
of this inter-node connectivity/accessibility has however lead to
further problems where a node/entity would prefer to control its
`visibility` and accessibility to a subset of the potential
world-wide internet community, for any number of reasons, e.g.
discretion, trust, association, preference, improving the quality
and relevance of information and so forth.
[0005] Existing means of addressing this problem include specific
implementation web-sites configurations. These typically require
secure access using authentication, with an associated increase in
costs, maintenance, administration and lack of flexibility.
Specific emails and/or direct telephone contact is often employed,
though these require time and effort to implement.
[0006] Virtual Private Networks, or Intranets provide companies
with secure networks on which only their employees and/or clients
and partners can utilise, though again, at a high cost.
[0007] There is therefore a need for a system where nodes/entities
can still interact with a wide range of implementations and other
nodes/entities via any appropriate communication methods, whilst
providing control over the distribution of information flow between
the nodes and also the degree of `visibility` of the node/entity,
i.e. the degree to which information flow and/or the
interconnection between nodes in a user's unique private personal
network is discernable to other nodes.
[0008] Incentives to restrict the distribution and flow of
information within a network include obtaining some form of
filtering of irrelevant, useless, unwanted, offensive, intrusive or
in any way undesirable information or interaction with other
nodes/entities. Humans consciously and subconsciously already
utilise such filtering in their daily life by placing greater
weighting on information from friends and acquaintances than from
unfamiliar sources.
[0009] Throughout virtually every aspect of human life, economic,
social, personal and business decisions are either directly or
indirectly affected by the preferences, tastes and actions of our
friends, colleagues and acquaintances. This is in contrast to
widely accepted economic theory in the fields of, for example,
consumer purchases where it is assumed individuals make rational
choices based upon the available product or service information. In
actual fact, a recommendation, or an adverse comment from a close
trusted acquaintance regarding a specific product will often
override other factors in a commercial purchase decision, rightly
or not. There are many other areas in which the opinions of
respected acquaintances or even organisations can affect the
decision making of individuals or organisations.
[0010] Examples of just a few embodiments or activities in which
trusted or respected contacts or recommendations play a significant
role include seeking employment and filling job vacancies,
investment opportunities, academic co-operation, finding
accommodation or people to share accommodation with, buying and
selling goods and services, arranging social/sporting functions,
finding friendship, romantic and/or social relationships and so
forth.
[0011] There are thus numerous possible embodiments that could
benefit from a discriminating means of forming a network of
contacts with entities of known value to the user.
[0012] Considering the example of employment, the task of finding a
suitable employee amongst a potentially huge number of applicants
obtained through public advertising can be a significant deterrent
to many employers. Consequently, many vacancies are only advertised
internally or simply filled by recommendations from existing
employees. However, such a system is, by its very nature, haphazard
and dependant on a non-systematic information distribution system.
Conversely, an ideal candidate seeking employment who wants to be
aware of a suitable vacancy known to one of his friends would have
to systematically inquire with his friends on a regular basis. In
practice, this type of behaviour would alienate many friends and
thus is not typical. In addition, the candidate would not be aware
of vacancies know to friends of his friends unless he could
convince his friends to systematically enquire with their friends,
which they are unlikely to do.
[0013] Nevertheless, employers are still confronted by numerous
deficiencies in the existing alternatives to finding an employee.
As discussed above, advertising via traditional media outlets such
as the newspapers, magazines and so forth can produce an excessive
number of applicants. The filtering required to shortlist
candidates for interview may be based on misleading impressions
formed from Curriculum Vitas, formal qualifications, age,
experience and so forth. Furthermore, the cost of the advertising
itself together with the processing cost of all the low quality
enquires can be a significant burden.
[0014] Recruitment agencies may be employed to locate and
pre-filter potential candidates for higher calibre applicants,
though this places a further overhead on the employment
process.
[0015] Internet employment advertising on online job-boards with
open access for all potential candidates can expose the vacancy to
a large number of potential candidates. However, this can also lead
to numerous inappropriate responses from a variety of sources.
Furthermore, the aforementioned disadvantages of newspaper magazine
advertising are also present with this method.
[0016] There is thus a need to harness the discriminatory powers of
the knowledge, opinions and recommendations of an individual's
extended social network in an efficient and systematic manner
without irritating or alienating members of the network.
[0017] As a further example, the process of finding a personal
friend or romantic partner is strongly affected by social
connections. The desire to establish fulfilling relationships with
other humans, whether romantic or otherwise is one of the strongest
human drives and can be the cause of a great deal of anxiety,
stress and uncertainty. The very process of establishing
relationships with other humans is often fraught with difficulties,
compounded by the inherent characteristics of most humans to avoid
risk and/or potential rejection.
[0018] Many relationships and marriages have traditionally been
arranged by families and/or stem from relationships established
during school, work, or other situations where humans experience a
common bond. Traditional demographics and cultural characteristics
which historically have provided structures and opportunities for
like minded individuals to meet are increasingly being replaced or
are considered undesirable and/or unacceptable to a large portion
of society.
[0019] The increasing urbanisation of populations has resulted with
people having lifestyles and schedules which preclude them from
establishing successful relationships. Consequently, many people
have turned to less traditional means of finding potential mates
and a variety of dating services have been provided to meet such
needs.
[0020] However, many of the factors which inhibit or pose
difficulties for individuals to establish relationships with
strangers are equally applicable to many such dating services. Even
when two people would both like to initiate the first steps in a
relationship, shyness, fear of rejection, or other social pressures
or constraints often prevent the parties from establishing
contact.
[0021] To overcome such difficulties, systems exist whereby people
view video tapes/pictures of prospective partners and/or assess
common areas of interest such as hobbies, employment and so forth
to determine their interest in the potential partner.
[0022] The introduction of both parties is only effected if both
parties are willing to do so.
[0023] Unfortunately, for many people, the visual appearance and/or
the stated personal interests are often not sufficient in
themselves to overcome the feeling of unease or trepidation of a
user from meeting such a potential stranger on a `blind date`. The
initial step itself actually approaching a dating service can prove
too embarrassing for many people thus precluding them from being
assessed by potentially suitable partners who do make use of the
dating service.
[0024] Alternative means of matching potential partners include the
use of personal advertisements placed in magazines, newspapers and
so forth. In recent times, this has been extended to include use of
the internet as a means of increasing the potential pool of
suitable partners. In such advertisements, people provide a brief
description of their own personality traits and interests and
express their preference of such traits in potential respondents.
However, such descriptions are often misleading or even untruthful
and due to the lack of any independent means of verification
available to the enquirer, such advertisements are often treated
with a great deal of scepticism by potential users.
[0025] Various attempts have been made to enhance such dating
services by computerising the recordal and organisation of various
human characteristics, seeking to provide enquirers with candidates
matching their desired lists of characteristics. None of the
systems however overcome the fundamental reluctance of most people
to initiate a relationship with a completely unknown
individual.
[0026] People often become acquainted with their partner due to
their environment, i.e. school, college work and so forth and/or
due to contact through mutual friends. The most prevalent factor
leading to the majority of human relationships is the existence of
such a common bond, link or situation/circumstance, either directly
or indirectly with the eventual partner.
[0027] The very act of establishing friendship with a particular
person confers at least a partial affirmation of the person's
character, judgement and personality without which the friendship
would not have been established in the first place. By proxy
therefore, it is widely felt that friends of a friend are also
likely to meet the same criteria or standards which formed the
basis for the established friendship. The common factor of having a
mutual friend provides both potential partners with a degree of
reassurance of potential compatibility and like-mindedness which is
not discernible through known dating services.
[0028] Despite the advantages of seeking potential relationships
with friends and friends of friends, it is generally impossible for
people to attend all the social functions required to meet all the
potentially suitable partners in such an extended network of
friends. Furthermore, whilst many friends might be willing or keen
to help match potentially suitable partners, they may not want to
become duly involved themselves.
[0029] Although the act of seeking a romantic relationship may
involve contact with an individual's extended network of friends,
many non-romantic activities and/or decisions are also influenced
by the individual's extended social network.
[0030] Contemporary living has confronted many individuals with a
daily surplus of information. This bewildering array of choices and
decisions vies for the individual's attention in almost every
aspect of their work, recreation, and social lives. The vast
majority of information sources received by most individuals is
biased to some extent by commercial interests. Consequently, there
is at least the perception the information may be incomplete,
misleading or false. The lack of independent objectivity from these
information sources leads to scepticism and/or a sense of futility,
helplessness, or ambivalence in obtaining worthwhile advice. In
contrast, a recommendation by trusted friend of a particular
product, service or the like, is likely to be given far greater
weighting. Such recommendations will often be accorded far greater
significance than any number of expensive, professionally produced,
and theoretically compelling advertisements/product
recommendations.
[0031] An individual may seek a friend's opinion on a variety of
issues, aside from commercial purchase issues. The choice of
plumbers, dentists, lawyers and other suppliers for example, may be
strongly influenced by personal recommendation. Whilst such
specific choices may only arise infrequently, friends and
acquaintances are often in frequent contact and may cover a wide
range of matters, including opinions/recommendations on issues such
as books, films, entertainment, restaurants, and many others.
[0032] Potential implementations which may benefit from such a
system are potentially limitless and the above are given solely by
way of example.
[0033] Various prior art methods have addressed these issues
including:
[0034] U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,369 Robertson which teaches a means of
implementing a computer-based personal contact manager that allows
members to create and maintain contacts with other members and in
doing so incorporate their contact details on their personalised
address books. As further members join the group, their contact
details are optionally incorporated in the address books of the
existing members. Furthermore, any changes in the contact details
of the members are automatically updated in the address books of
the other members. However, the system is primarily directed to
maintaining connectivity between individuals by updating their
contacts details, rather than sharing information between members
of a unique private personal network.
[0035] US 2002/0091538 Schwartz et al teaches a means of
fundraising via a network of friends. However, the system is tiered
in a pyramid structure, preventing meaningful any two-way exchange
of information between members of the network. Each member seeks to
raise funds from their other friends in a cascading fashion.
[0036] US 2002/0049816 Costin, IV et a/ also addresses the issue of
fundraising, but does not provide a unique personal, private
network through which its members may exchange information and
interact.
[0037] WO 01/63423 lkimbo, Inc teaches an "information and
application distribution system (IADS)" allowing interaction and
communication within defined communities. The system requires the
installation of a client-side executable application for each
member of the community. The community is an organised network
rather than a personalised one and is not private.
[0038] WO 02/15050 Luth Research Inc teaches a method of conducting
surveys and collecting information. The invention invites people to
become part of a network of people wishing to answer surveys and is
not a unique, private personal network that is unique to each
user.
[0039] US 2001/0025253 Heintz et al teaches a multi-level award
programme in which the internet activity of a enrolled user is
tracked with award points being earned for various specified
activities. Further bonus points can be accrued by the user from
other "second, third, forth level" users and so on. Heintz does not
teach any means of selective interaction within a group of entities
known directly or indirectly to each other on a unique, private
personal network.
[0040] WO 01/01307 teaches a viral-based marketing system for use
over a computer network in which merchants of goods/services
provide a commission to referral web sites according to the sales
corresponding to the referred users. The system is not a unique,
private, personal network suitable for selective interaction with
the members who are all known, directly or indirectly to the
user.
[0041] U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,572 Morton et a/ teaches methods for
introducing potential customers to an information service having a
voice-based interface and is specifically restricted to such audio
systems. Therefore, the system does not provide for non-audio
interaction of entities within a unique, private, personal network,
nor for non-commercial activities.
[0042] WO 01/37232 teaches an internet-based match-making service
between two people who already know each other, of each other, or
met each other at a previous situation that can be described in
sufficient detail to facilitate a match. This system does not
relate to individuals who have not met though share a common link
through an intermediary individual.
[0043] Other prior art systems include a great diversity of
websites, networks and systems which enable users to interconnect
with other users. However, none of the prior art provides a unique,
private, personal network for use with a membership which is
specifically tailored and personalised to the user and whose
details cannot be discerned for an external source outside the
network and/or without specific permission from the user.
[0044] All references, including any patents or patent applications
cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference.
No admission is made that any reference constitutes relevant prior
art. The discussion of the references states what their authors
assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the
accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly
understood that, although a number of prior art publications are
referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission
that any of these documents form part of the common general
knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.
[0045] It is acknowledged that the term `comprise` may, under
varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an
inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and
unless otherwise noted, the term `comprise` shall have an inclusive
meaning--i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not
only the listed components it directly references, but also other
non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be
used when the term `comprised` or `comprising` is used in relation
to one or more steps in a method or process.
[0046] It is an object of the present invention to address the
foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful
choice.
[0047] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way
of example only.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0048] A social network system and method performed by a social
network system accessible over a data network with a plurality of
data input devices connectable to said data network, said social
network system including at least one host computer and a database
of entity data records each relating to a corresponding user entity
and containing one or more entity attributes including at least one
identifying characteristic of said corresponding user entity,
[0049] said method providing a given user entity with a virtual,
unique, private, personal, social network (hereinafter `social
network`) formed from connections between contacts, said contacts
being other user entities connected directly or indirectly to said
first user entity; said method including: [0050] communicating an
invitation from a first user entity to one or more other user
entities selected by said first user entity for inclusion in the
first user entity's social network as a contact; [0051] recording,
in said database, each user entity accepting said invitation as
being a direct contact directly connected to the first user entity
by a first degree of separation; [0052] determining that for:
[0053] any second user entity directly connected to the first user
entity and [0054] any third user entity directly connected to the
second user entity but not directly connected to the first user
entity, [0055] the first and third user entities are determined as
being indirect contacts, indirectly connected to each other with a
second degree of separation; [0056] repeating the above steps for a
given user entity having a corresponding entity data record in said
database, wherein said given user entity is equivalent to said
first user entity in said repeated steps to create, for each said
given user entity, a corresponding individual, unique, personal,
virtual social network, thereby collectively forming a plurality of
social networks on said social network system, inter-connected by
mutually connected contacts; and [0057] providing a given user
entity with searchable access to at least part of the entity data
records stored in said database; [0058] providing a given user
entity with at least partial control of privacy of their
individual, unique, personal, virtual social network with respect
to a user entity seeking access to the given user entity's data
record by permitting the given user entity to specify: [0059] a
connection factor between the given user entity and said seeking
user entity and/or [0060] one or more entity attributes of said
seeking user entity, [0061] required to allow the seeking user
entity access to said given user entity's data record; [0062]
permitting a given user entity to take a role of provider or
participant in a predetermined activity and/or application via said
data network, wherein [0063] a provider is a user entity providing
an item or service to at least one other user entity; and [0064] a
participant is a user,entity utilising said provider's item or
service.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0065] Further aspects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description which is given by way of
example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0066] FIG. 1. shows a schematic block diagram of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0067] FIG. 2. shows a first embodiment flow chart implementation
of the invention shown in FIG. 1;
[0068] FIG. 3. shows a web page forming part of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0069] FIG. 4. shows an e-mail forming part of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0070] FIG. 5. shows a web page forming part of a second preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0071] FIG. 6. shows a web page forming part of the second
preferred embodiment listing employment search results;
[0072] FIG. 7. shows a web page of an expanded job description of
the results shown in FIG. 6;
[0073] FIG. 8. shows a user profile update according to the present
invention;
[0074] FIG. 9. shows a web page form for inputting details of
vacancy according to said second preferred embodiment;
[0075] FIG. 10. shows a invitation message template according to
the second preferred embodiment.
[0076] FIG. 11. shows a visual indication of a network of connected
individuals highlighting two interconnected unique personal
networks of first order friendships, and
[0077] FIG. 12. shows the network displayed in FIG. 11 with a
single user's second, third and fourth degree connections
highlighted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0078] As discussed above, the present invention may be implemented
in numerous forms and embodiments. However, common to each
embodiment is a social network system including; at least one host
computer processor connectable to at least one data network, a
database accessible over said data network, and a plurality of data
input devices connectable to said data network, said system
configured to provided each user entity with a virtual, unique,
private, personal, social network (herein a `social network`)
formed from connections between contacts, said contacts being
entities connected directly or indirectly to a user entity.
[0079] According to one aspect, the present invention provides
system providing one or more users with a unique, private personal
network formed from contacts with one or more entities known
directly or indirectly to the user, characterised in that said
unique private personal network provides respective
interrelationship context information associated between at least
two entities and/or between an entity and the user.
[0080] As used herein, the term `entity` or `entities` refers to
any individual, family, personal or organised network,
organisation, club, society, company, partnership, religion, or
entity that exists as a particular and discrete unit.
[0081] By being private, the social network prevents unrestricted
access to the information and the user entity's contacts contained
therein, filtering out unwanted approaches by unauthorised
entities.
[0082] Preferably, said system includes for each entity one or more
entity attributes, including at least one identifying
characteristic.
[0083] Preferably, said entity attributes include information
regarding personal details, factors or interests; friends;
relations; school alumni; employment factors; business colleagues;
professional acquaintances; sexual preferences, persuasions, or
proclivities; sporting interests; entertainment, artistic, creative
or leisure interests; travel interests, commercial, religious,
political, theological or ideological belief or opinions; academic,
scientific, or engineering disciplines; humanitarian, social,
security/military or economic fields and any combination of
same.
[0084] Preferably, said interrelationship context information
includes a connection factor indicative of the separation between
entity contact and the user entity, and optionally also the
separation between contacts in said user entity's social
network.
[0085] Preferably, said identifying characteristics of an entity
encompasses any communication means capable of individually
communicating with said entity including, but not limited to, the
entities name and preferably a means of contacting the entity,
preferably including an e-mail address; telephone and/or facsimile
number; postal address an/or any combination of such means.
[0086] The interrelationship context information optionally
includes details of one or more entity attributes. Therefore, in
addition to the user's knowledge that another entity is a direct
contact (i.e. there is no intermediary between the entity and the
user entity) or knowledge of the connections via which the entity
is indirectly known/connected to the user (i.e. the connection
factor), further interrelationship context information may be
available via details of any corresponding entity attributes made
available to the user
[0087] It is thus axiomatic that said interrelationship context
information self-explanatorily provides information about the
context of the interrelationship between a connection between at
least two contacts and/or between a contact and said user. More
specifically, and in summary of the above, said interrelationship
context information includes at least one: [0088] entity attribute,
[0089] entity identifying characteristic, and/or [0090] a
connection factor indicative of the separation between two contacts
and/or between a contact and the user
[0091] It will be appreciated that there is a distinct difference
in the present invention between organised networks and unique,
private personal social networks. An organised network forms a
group/organisation with a defined membership who all have a common
aim, or interest such as, political parties, academic or
engineering institutes, sporting bodies and so forth.
[0092] In contrast, a unique, private personal social network is
formed from a combination of contacts that are unique to an
individual with entities such as friends and colleagues. Thus, an
individual user entity of the present invention may be linked to
other user entity's unique, private personal social networks and be
linked to (or even be a member of) organised networks.
[0093] Said organised network entities may be formed by groups of
individual entities possessing one or more common entity
attributes.
[0094] Thus, an organised network may be connected to a user's
unique social network as; [0095] a single entity with entity
attributes relating to the whole organised network, and/or [0096]
as a plurality of entities comprising the membership of the
organised network, whereby each such entity would each posses at
least the common entity attribute of membership of the organised
network.
[0097] Preferably, access to the interrelationship context
information between the user and said entities is restricted.
According to one aspect of the present invention, said restricted
access defined by the user.
[0098] According to an alternative aspect, the present invention
further provides a tool to map relationship networks.
[0099] Entities, including the user entity may be considered as
"nodes" in a network.
[0100] The invention provides a unique, private personal network
with a plurality of users or entities represented as nodes, each
node being at the origin of an individual unique, private personal
network consisting of the user and a variable number of additional
nodes.
[0101] Each node preferably includes at least one identifying
characteristics of the corresponding entity it represents including
the entities name and preferably a means of contacting the entity,
preferably including an e-mail address; telephone and/or facsimile
number; postal address and/or any communication means capable of
individually communicating with the entity or any combination of
such means.
[0102] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a means of visually displaying the
interconnections between the nodes.
[0103] Preferably, a user's unique, private personal network may be
visually represented on an electronic display in one or more of the
following forms, including: [0104] graphical, alphanumeric and/or
animated symbols representing nodes joined by lines, or some form
of visual link representing the connections between the nodes;
[0105] a solid line indicating entities who have joined or have
consented to join the user's unique, private personal network;
[0106] dotted lines indicating entities who have been invited but
they have not joined the user's unique, private personal network;
[0107] different symbols to differentiate between nodes
representing different types of entities; [0108] different symbols
to depict nodes representing entities who are individuals and those
representing organisations; [0109] symbols at least partially
resembling people to depict nodes representing actual individuals;
[0110] different symbols, colours, animations and/or sounds for a
node to indicate the existence of defined information of interest
including a particular predetermined activity, identifying
characteristic, entity attribute, or other data recorded in a nodes
data record; [0111] different colours/symbols for different roles
in a specific application, such as in an employment application for
employers and job seekers and/or the existence of a link to details
of a job vacancy; [0112] displaying further defined information of
interest or permitted actions when positioning a cursor or visual
indicator over a node depending, and varying the information
displayed depending on the user's degree of separation from the
node; [0113] nodes representing a person or an organised network
also showing a numerical indication of the number of direct
contacts associated with the node; [0114] a indicative rather than
literal indication of the number of links to a node if number
exceeds a defined value, with a numerical value showing the actual
number of connections; [0115] user customisable representations for
nodes, including images, photographs and figures; [0116] different
visual appearance of a node symbol to indicate the status of an
activity, e.g. a higher intensity symbol indicating a successful
linking of a job seeker with a vacancy;
[0117] Preferably said identifying characteristics also include at
least one of said entity attributes.
[0118] Optionally, said identifying characteristics may include
supplementary attributes of said user or entity.
[0119] The need for such supplementary attribute(s) is dependent on
the specific purpose to which the system/ unique, private personal
network is being applied.
[0120] Preferably, a entity becomes a contact in the social network
system by independent registration or by accepting an invitation
from a user entity to become a contact directly connected to the
user entity.
[0121] Entities agreeing to inclusion in a user's unique, private
personal social network are said to be direct contacts.
[0122] According to one embodiment, entities included in the
database system which are indirectly or unconnected to a user
entity may become directly connected by mutual agreement,
preferably by one entity sending an invitation and the other
accepting.
[0123] As referred to herein, if two entities are linked through
any number of intermediate entities they are said to be
"connected". Furthermore, if two entities exist independently in
the database system or an individual user entity's social network
with no intermediate connecting entities are said to be
"disconnected".
[0124] In one embodiment, the said connection factor incorporates
the connection path length between two contacts, given by the
number of connections in a chain of contacts separating two
contacts.
[0125] In a further embodiment, the said connection factor
incorporates the degree of separation between two contacts and is
equal to the shortest connection path length of all the available
connection paths between the contacts, wherein a direct contact
directly connected to another contact is a "1.sup.st degree
contact," and has a connection path length of one, two contacts
connected via one intermediate contact are said to be "2.sup.nd
degree contacts," and have a connection path length of two, and
wherein any two contacts whose shortest connection path is via
"N-1" contacts, with a path length of "N" have an "N.sup.th" degree
contact, where "N" is an integer.
[0126] According to one embodiment, an application or communication
is initiated by one or more entities, and responded to by one or
more further entities. According to a further embodiment, users may
search for other entities that desire to conduct an application or
communication, optionally selecting to be notified of future such
events.
[0127] According to one embodiment, the present invention is
configured to allow a user entity to apply a selective interaction
with other entities for a predetermined activity by controlling the
value of N.sup.th degrees of connections separating the user from a
contact to be included, where N is a variable determined by the
user.
[0128] Preferably, said predetermined activity includes
instigating, continuing, terminating or responding to an
application, search, communication, and/or selective information
distribution.
[0129] Alternatively, a user engaged in one or more said
predetermined activities may specify the activity to apply to
[0130] all degrees of contact in the user's unique, private
personal network, at any connection path length, or [0131] the
entire system network of all entities, including those who are not
connected to the user.
[0132] Preferably, said applications include (but are not limited
to) consumer decisions, buying, selling, trading, loaning; finding
flatmates/roommates, tenants; organising activities and events,
recommendations/opinions including those related to films, plays,
books, employment, services, tradesmen, accommodation, restaurants
and the like, comparison and explorations of common interests, e.g.
horse riding, snowboarding, etc; sharing peer-to-peer personal or
business creative work or content, e.g. photos, art-work,
literature, music; managing a club or society;
locating/supplying/"blacklisting" providers of goods or services;
business or technological advice unsuitable for publication;
recruitment, job-seeking; estate agents; venture capital;
collaborative ventures; referrals; police/security information
gathering/informants; event manager; address book manager; search
engines; headhunting; book mark service; spam filtering; car
sharing; sales leads; market entry advice; real-estate; sharing
personal or business files; company knowledge management; medical
advice; travel organiser, lending/borrowing; house-sitting;
baby-sitting; classified advertisements; finding musicians.
[0133] In addition, the present invention permits conducting
applications with networks outside the system network.
[0134] This control over information distribution allows the user
entities to balance the trade-off between the amount of visibility
of the application or communication or search in their social
network, and the degrees of separation between the user entity and
potential initiating or responding entities.
[0135] It will be appreciated that there are numerous potential
reasons for limiting the degrees of separation of entities
contacted by the user for any predetermined activity, said reasons
including, but are not limited to, social, economic, or political
contexts such as trust, discretion, interest, association,
preference, shared experience, ethnicity, religion, language,
location, allegiance, alliance, treaty, politics, or
government.
[0136] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
access to at least a portion of the said identifying
characteristics of each entity is restricted, optionally as a
function of the connection factor.
[0137] In one embodiment, each user entity may only access the name
and contact details of direct contacts in its social network.
Optionally, each user entity can see for each of its direct
contacts the number of direct contacts that they have, in order to
recognise which of their contacts are successful and which are not
in connecting to others, and to prompt them.
[0138] Optionally, a user entity can only see the number or partial
name of contacts connected within each of the user's N degrees of
contacts greater than the second degree of separation. This
achieves two purposes, firstly it prevents user entities from
inviting other entities to be direct contacts without the existence
of an appropriate interrelationship context or relationship which
predisposes the entities to be direct contacts, and secondly, it
still allows two entities involved in an application, for example,
to consult their direct contacts in the connection path that links
them, and if necessary, their direct contacts can consult their
direct contacts further into the linking connection path, to
support the entities use of the application.
[0139] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
communication between entities may be restricted to contact solely
via the system according to the degree of separation between the
entities.
[0140] In one embodiment, only a user entity's direct contact(s)
are provided with the user entity's contact details enabling
communication independently of the system.
[0141] Thus, entities known indirectly to the user, i.e. second
degree contacts or those with a greater connection path may only
communicate with the user via the system and are not given the
user's e-mail address for example.
[0142] This provides a yet further screen for users from direct
interaction with entities with whom they are not yet totally
familiar. If the situation changes and an entity becomes trusted,
better known to the user, they may be upgraded to a direct contact
and given the user's telephone number, email address or similar
contact details. Alternatively, a user entity particularly
concerned with privacy may exclude even their first degree contacts
from accessing their contact details. All contact would then be via
the system.
[0143] The assurance that email (or other communication means prone
to include unsolicited messages/correspondence) from the user's
social network comes from a defined list of entities whose
knowledge of the user's contact details is controllable by the user
entity.
[0144] Thus, the present invention may be used as a filter for any
form of electronic communication by prioritising communications
from entities in the user's social network within a defined degree
of separation, over other communications.
[0145] This effectively acts as a spam filter for e-mail, text
messaging, voice mail, or any other means which identifies the
communication's originator, which may then be compared with the
user entity's direct contacts for example.
[0146] In further embodiments, the user entities may selectively
control access to the identifying characteristics of itself and/or,
with consent, any contact within a permitted degree of separation
from the user entity. Preferably, said selective control is
variable according on the predetermined activity being
undertaken.
[0147] Although access to the identifying characteristics and
connection paths of particular entities may be restricted to
specific entities according to the configuration settings of the
system and/or entities involved, nevertheless the system records
and maintains these details.
[0148] Therefore, according to a further embodiment, the system
automatically updates changes in the identifying characteristics,
contact details, entity attributes, and any other data associated
with and/or inputted by a user entity and records same in entity
data records associated with each entity.
[0149] Thus, according to a further aspect, the system
automatically maintains connectivity between contacts following
changes in contact details and/or the integrity of any aspect of a
predetermined activity dependant on the contents of said entity
data records of the contacts involved by virtue of said automatic
updating.
[0150] In one embodiment, the system auto-synchronises the contact
details of contacts accessible to the user with electric contact
details stored in any electronic or data storage media connected to
the system, e.g. address books in laptops, mobile phones, PC and so
forth.
[0151] Preferably, after a user entity has formed its own social
network, it may vary the degree of separation of the contacts to be
involved in a predetermined activity, without need to reconstruct
the social network for each activity.
[0152] Even if a user entity is not active in building its network
of direct contacts, its network may continue to evolve and grow or
shrink depending on the invitation activity of other contacts it is
connected with.
[0153] The said system provides a platform for developers to
provide the user entities with applications and communication
services. The system may also be provided to the user entity with
an initial suite of specific applications and communication
services.
[0154] There are clearly a myriad of possible applications where
knowledge of a direct contact, or recommendation by, a trusted
entity will affect the decisions of a user entity.
[0155] As an illustration, a commercial entity such as a
multinational software producer may utilise a database composed of
suppliers with a proven track record, e.g. secure credit history,
prompt product delivery or low product faults. The user entity's
1.sup.st degree may be asked for recommendations for further trade
related entities, employment vacancies, collaboration request and
so forth.
[0156] A police/security service database may include data on
informants with a creditability factor assigned to each according
to the assessment of other police/security agencies or individual
of same. Other security agencies accessing the data would be able
to infer a measure of credibility to the data from their degree of
separation from the other agency and/or informant.
[0157] In addition to a user entity's awareness of the degree of
separation between themselves and a given entity, various other
information regarding the personal details and/or activities of
other entities in the user's social network may be searchable or
otherwise made available to the user entity.
[0158] Thus, the present invention also provides a user entity with
searchable access to the system for information derived from a
variety of sources, including that recorded in said data records,
including the identifying characteristics, contact details, entity
attributes, and said predetermined activities.
[0159] Also optionally searchable are various supplementary
attributes detailing specific details of the entity relevant to a
particular application or activity. As an example, in a
romance/friendship related database, the supplementary attribute
may include (but are not limited to) the following; [0160] marital
or relationship status (e.g. single, married divorced, separated,
de facto, single but uninterested in a relationship at present, and
so forth); [0161] physical attributes; [0162] photographs; [0163] a
rating, assessment, quantification, qualification, or comment on
the or each said entity attribute from one or more chosen entities
by the user.
[0164] Optionally said chosen users may prohibit the recordal of
any or all details stored or potentially stored in their respective
user entity data record from being searchable and/or stored on said
database.
[0165] According to a further aspect, the present invention
provides users with searchable access to the system to search for
entities matching a predetermined profile composed of user-defined
entity attributes, identifying characteristics, supplementary
attributes, predetermined activities or any combination of
same.
[0166] The present invention may also be used to contact and/or
convey information to entities matching a said predetermined
profile.
[0167] Thus, according to a further aspect of the present
invention, said database is searchable for entities matching a
predetermined profile.
[0168] In one embodiment, a number of core steps are applicable to
compiling and using a database for different applications. A first
user entity inputs the details of all the entities (i.e. their
friends, colleagues, family or anyone else they value in some way)
they believe would be willing to be recorded on the database as
chosen individuals, and specifies their e-mail address as their
identifying characteristic and optionally `friend` as the link
between the parties.
[0169] Each chosen individual is then notified of their inclusion
(or potential inclusion) in the database and optionally notified of
the or each common factor liking them to the first user if this is
not self evident, e.g. "you have received an invitation from your
friend David to be recorded on [application specific] database and
he invites you to input details (i.e. e-mail address) of your
friends to the data base . . . "
[0170] The process is then repeated as each friend of the original
user agreeing to participate provides the requested identifying
characteristic information and their chosen friends are
automatically contacted (via e-mail) in the same manner and invited
to participate.
[0171] In one embodiment, said searchable access is available only
to prescribed user entities.
[0172] According to one aspect of the present invention, the said
prescribed users provided with searchable access of the database
are determined by a defined eligibility criteria.
[0173] In one embodiment, said eligibility criteria includes being
a paying subscriber to said system.
[0174] In alternative embodiments, the said eligibility criteria
definition may be based on any of the above described entity
attributes, identifying characteristic - including said,
supplementary attributes or combination of same.
[0175] According to one aspect of the present invention, individual
user entities may chose to optionally restrict access to part or
all of their stored data in their entity data record to other
entities with particular identifying characteristics, supplementary
attributes and/or entity attributes.
[0176] In this manner, entities are able to alter their searchable
details according to different applications--for example, an
individual may be willing to be contacted by any search looking for
photography enthusiasts but does not want unrestricted access to
the fact they work for a genetic research laboratory.
[0177] Potential users of such a system can be reassured that they
will be included in a unique, private personal social network
whereby only others with a common connection (e.g. friends, friends
of friends, or friends of friends of friends and so forth) will be
able to access their personal details if they chose to make them
available.
[0178] Furthermore, the system does not necessarily require the
user entity to make contact with an entity located through a search
of the system database. Instead, the system provides a means of
informing the user entity of the existence of the located entity
together with the knowledge of a common link, e.g. a shared mutual
acquaintance.
[0179] Preferably, the system allows user access across a network,
including the Internet, an intranet; wide and local area networks;
a telephone or pager networks, telephone-based text-messaging or
facsimiles; automated mail-server systems; power transmission
networks, wireless networks; networks comprised of other
telecommunication links: postal or courier services and the
like.
[0180] It will be appreciated that the present invention may be
used with a multitude of applications as given above. These include
any application where an action may be influenced, or information
sought, as a result of knowledge derived from an entity known,
either directly, or indirectly to the user.
[0181] The present invention enables information flow not only
between immediate acquaintances, but also with the subsequent tiers
of entity acquaintances, e.g. friends of friends, friends of
friends of friends, and beyond, to include even larger domains of
entities. The core principles and elements of the invention, namely
the ability to transfer information within a social network whose
members are directly or indirectly known to the user, giving an
interrelationship context to any information transfer, may be
applied a diverse range of applications without need to adapt the
principles of operation.
[0182] Multiple applications may be derived using a database
comprised of data from the same entities by utilising different
aspects of the entity interrelations. Moreover, the present
invention enables user entities to record information about
themselves and apply selective screening on who else may view the
information, and from whom they obtain information.
[0183] In one embodiment, a user entity may choose or be assigned
(by the system or another entity) a role in an application, or a
said predetermined activity.
[0184] Preferably, the roles include at least one of provider,
participant, or facilitator roles.
[0185] Although the exact nature of a provider, participant or
facilitator role in an application will vary according to the
specifics of the application, in general these terms may be defined
as follows; [0186] A provider is an entity with some form of
tangible (e.g. a product to sell, a job vacancy, a house to let) or
intangible (e.g. information, participation in a sporting event,
emotional support for counselling, on offer of friendship/romance)
item, element or service which they can contribute, pass on, give,
sell, make available to another entity. [0187] A participant is an
entity utilising the provider's tangible or intangible item or
service, e.g., obtaining from the provider (either directly or
indirectly) a product, service, job, advice, recommendation,
contact details, specific information, a relationship and so forth.
[0188] A facilitator or link is an entity facilitating a successful
interaction between a provider and participant, e.g. an entity who
forwards a job vacancy from a provider (an employer) to a potential
participant (a job seeker) without seeking the
product/service/activity from the provider for their own use.
[0189] Fees for use of the system may constitute a subscription,
one-off payment, an on-going time-based payment, be based on the
quantity or nature of database search results, or based on the
number and type of successful outcomes from use of the
services.
[0190] The system may also be used to reward user entities for
their contribution in a predetermined activity such as linking
potential employer with an appropriate employee. Thus, according to
one embodiment, a reward is provided to an entity according to
their success in fulfilling their designated role in a
predetermined activity.
[0191] Preferably, a reward is given to a facilitator for aiding in
linking a provider with a participant.
[0192] Optionally, the reward recipient is chosen by the provider
or facilitator.
[0193] According to a further aspect of the present invention, said
system includes; [0194] at least one host computer processor
connectable to one or more network(s), [0195] a database accessible
over said network(s), [0196] a plurality of data input devices
connectable to said network(s), [0197] wherein said system is
capable of forming said unique private personal social network for
each of one or more user entities by receiving input from the said
user entity including at least one identifying characteristic of
the user entity and of one or more chosen entities known to said
user, [0198] recording said identifying characteristic of each
entity including the user to form one or more corresponding entity
data records in said database, [0199] notifying the or each chosen
entity of their recordal on said system and requesting input of at
least one identifying characteristic of one or more further
entities known to the or each said chosen entity, [0200] recording
the identifying characteristic of each further entity inputted by
the or each said chosen entity to form further corresponding entity
data records, [0201] repeating the above steps of successive
notification of further entities and recordal of the identifying
characteristic of each further entity chosen as further entity data
records, [0202] providing searchable access to at least part of the
entity data records stored in said database.
[0203] Searchable access to an entity data record may be restricted
by the entity to other said prescribed entities.
[0204] Preferably, said data input devices are computer terminals,
PDAs, telephones, mobile phones, laptops, notebooks, any other
portable personal computing device connectable to said network,
preferably but not limited to the internet. Said data input devices
may provide webpage, e-mail, text message, DTMF tone, voice or
video access to the said host computer or between entities and/or
web-browsing access to said host computer via a dedicated web-site
interface.
[0205] According to one embodiment, entities stored on said
database may be periodically provided with indicative information
relating to additional new entities with an entity attribute
matching that recorded in the entities user data record, which have
been inputted to the system since the entities' last system access
and/or said automated periodic update.
[0206] Said indicative information may provide a simple numerical
indication of new recorded entities, new or altered identifying
characteristics or entity attributes of existing stored entities,
or alternatively may include at least part of the details contained
in the respective entity user data records of the new users.
[0207] According to a further embodiment, a referral chain formed
by the sequence of preceding chosen entities sharing a common
predetermined factor leading to the eventual choice of a particular
entity for inclusion in the database may be recorded in the entity
user data record.
[0208] According to a still further embodiment, anonymous
references regarding a particular entity may be requested of one or
more entities identified within the corresponding referral chain
relating to said particular individual.
[0209] As potential users of this system may be reluctant to
disclose some or all of the various entity attributes, identifying
characteristics, supplementary attributes referred to above, a
variety of incentives or reassurances may be provided according to
the nature of the system. In a relationship/romantic
implementation, a means of indirectly assessing the potential
suitability of an individual for a relationship of some kind may be
garnered by considering the prospective individual's response or
opinion to various neutral or non-threatening issues, such as the
user's favourite joke, quote, movie and the like.
[0210] Thus, in a further aspect of the present invention, an
entity is prompted for a response to predetermined questions
relating to non-sensitive, matters of opinion on neutral topics,
said responses being stored as part of the entity data record
searchable by said selected users.
[0211] A consequence of the information distribution systems
prevalent throughout the world and the aggressive marketing of
products and services are a potential overload of information.
Filtering this information is a fundamental task to permit
decisions on the numerous choices confronting a typical individual.
The advice and example provided by our peers/close friends and
relatives is a significant filtering technique employed
unconsciously by most people. The present invention harnesses this
filtering ability and the collective opinions and knowledge of an
entity's extended network of contacts.
[0212] Thus, instead of compiling a searchable database purely for
a single purpose, e.g. job finding, sporting interests, or
friendship/romantic motives, alternative/additional applications
may be layered onto the database. The additional data obtained from
the entity's identifying characteristics may be used to provide
users with the means of obtaining information related to any of the
above applications from within their own unique extended unique,
private personal network of contacts.
[0213] The present invention enables a more systematic access to
the opinions, knowledge, recommendations and so forth of an
extended network of contacts than would otherwise be possible
without endlessly disturbing each contact.
[0214] Applications most suited for implementation of the present
invention are characterised by; [0215] a high reliance on personal
relationships; [0216] a significant need/problem to solve; [0217] a
need to access an extended social, business, recreational, cultural
or other restricted network but not the general public; [0218]
networks with a large number of people; [0219] high inter-personal
information flows; and/or [0220] a large number of people to
co-ordinate; and/or [0221] the network members have insufficient
time available to perform all their desired activities, or have
insufficient time to communicate with or maintain connections with
their personal contacts.
[0222] To effect a successful implementation of the present
invention to a new application ideally requires the identification
of the following factors; [0223] the different roles of the
possible participants (e.g. employer, employee, facilitator/link,
recruiter); [0224] any social rules that may apply (e.g.
notification only for jobs of interest or when candidates enquire);
[0225] any specific restrictions or special features related to the
possible participants; and; [0226] the different motivations of
different roles.
[0227] These factors may be readily used to adapt the core
functionality of the invention in an open-platform software
embodiment. This platform would enable third parties to develop
network applications that link into it as well. Although these
applications are currently implemented on an Internet and e-mail
platform they are not necessarily restricted to same.
[0228] It can be thus seen that individual industries may adapt the
present invention to their own peculiarities and characteristics.
Personal or organisation networks are utilised by each Industry in
different ways and to varying degrees. A Share broker and Venture
Capitalists would use personal networks, though in a distinct
manner and purpose. Nevertheless, by identifying what the unique,
private personal social networks are used for, and the different
roles played by individuals/organisations (i.e. entities) in the
industry, the present invention may be adapted to enhance
individuals/organisations effectiveness.
[0229] Different companies within a given sector of an industry may
have specific criteria to define how their employees utilize their
networks of friends and colleagues as part of their work. This
could be as simple as a particular company template used for e-mail
communication with other entities via the said database.
[0230] Using the Venture Capital example again, personal social
networks may be used in a variety of tasks--some industry specific,
some generic commercial tasks. These may range from senior
executive recruitment, seeking specialized co-investment partners,
conducting technical due diligence to ordering office supplies.
However, in each instance, the present invention may be used to
compile, maintain and update their list of contacts.
[0231] Furthermore, unlike existing information-gathering
systems/techniques, the present invention allows the user to extend
their information search (whether it be for a potential olive
pressing plant investment company or a new office photocopier
supplier) beyond their immediate contacts. Moreover, it also avoids
incessantly interrupting all of their contacts whilst ensuring the
potentially relevant ones are notified.
[0232] A key benefit of the present invention is the ability to
layer information requests or dissemination with the user's
extended social network of contacts according to the user's
purpose. If an individual is embarking on a project requiring
diverse and/or specialist input, then information requests may be
restricted from clearly uninterested contacts. Thus, an individual
organizing a working-party detail at a remote club ski-field for
example, would exclude contacting any non-local individuals.
[0233] In this instance, the particular criterion used in
restricting the database search results is geographical proximity.
It may be seen that by adding additional criteria, e.g. "possesses
four wheeled drive transport, physically able, an interest in the
outdoor, a relevant craft/trade skill (welding, carpentry, diesel
mechanic)" may further optimize the search. The available criteria
depend on the information stored in the respective entity data
records, i.e. the identifying characteristics, entity attributes
and supplementary attributes.
[0234] A venture capitalist thinking of investing in a
biotechnology project may only notify specific entities within
their network. However, the same individual may want include
different friends and colleagues in your "romance" and "employment"
situations.
[0235] In an employment-orientated application, the user may notify
different people within their network depending on the nature of
the employment. As an example, finding a new sales person will
undoubtedly engage a different part of a user's social network
compared to seeking a new software database programmer. It may be
appropriate to exclude certain individuals from a search, e.g. the
superior of a disenchanted employee, where the user knows both
individuals.
[0236] The manner in which a user controls information flow is
adaptable to social or commercial change. A user may have close
trusted friends who are categorised as able to see all information.
Less trusted acquaintances may be accorded certain restrictions or
qualifications, e.g., "don't invite Sam Dee to any function without
Jane Doe".
[0237] It can be thus seen that the criteria forming the
predetermined profile of an entity sought by the user may include
additional `external` factors from those stored in an entity data
record according to a user defined `rule`. These external factors
may be extremely varied and diverse and include, for example, world
or local events, the weather, time, anniversaries/birthdays or
whatever factors or issues a user wishes to affect their
activities.
[0238] As an illustration, a user may wish to automatically contact
other individuals who snowboard for a backcountry trip, but only if
the meteorological office indicates a `powder day`, or if there is
no avalanche warnings. Whilst being a snowboarder could be stored
as an entity attribute/identifying characteristic, clearly the
snow/weather reports are externally generated and altered
dynamically.
[0239] Therefore, according to a further aspect of the present
invention, criteria for matching a predetermined profile in a
search of said database includes one or more external factors,
preferably according to one or more said user-defined rules.
[0240] As previously stated, friends and colleagues often ask each
other for recommendations when selecting product and services,
e.g., "do you know a good doctor, mechanic etc". These
recommendations can be stored in an entity data record as either an
entity attribute, identifying characteristic, or supplementary
attribute pertaining to that entity.
[0241] This enables, for example, a user's friends to see what
washing machine they recommended (or did not recommend) and
optionally use a hyperlink connection to the manufacturers
web-site, for example. Such a mechanism would enable a means of
generating revenue from the product manufacturer.
[0242] In one embodiment therefore, the present invention records a
user entity's recommendations regarding consumer items and/or
services as part of the user's data record.
[0243] Preferably, a hyperlink connection to a web site of a
manufacturer of a recommended product.
[0244] A variety of means are possible including, according to one
embodiment, a financial, product or service reward is provided to
an entity by a manufacturer according to a predetermined number of
hyperlink accesses attributed to the user' recommendation.
[0245] Alternatively in a further embodiment, the manufacturer may
directly subsidise the company hosting the searchable database
system according to the total number of referrals, whilst
optionally, the individual system users may receive a
proportionally discounted subscription to the system.
[0246] Alternatively, the service and/or product providers receive
a predetermined number of recommendations without charge after
which they are invited to pay a fee to be maintained as a
searchable term on the database. In use for example, a user entity
may know his close friend has a particular brand washing machine.
The user entity may then search to see who else has that particular
machine rather than asking all his contacts on the database what
washing machine they posses.
[0247] The service/product providers may be contacted informing
them which entities contacted them directly via the present
invention. This demonstrates to the service/product provider the
value of this method for generating business, thus encouraging them
to pay to join the service.
[0248] It is necessary to provide an incentive for entities to
record their recommendations, or opinions of products and services.
One method is for service/product providers to provide discounts to
entities that recommend them. The present invention monitors all
successful referrals and ensures the appropriate discounts are
received by the relevant entities. Revenue is generated from a
retaining a percentage of the discounted savings received from the
service/product provider.
[0249] To facilitate ease of use, service and product providers
using the present invention can use customizable emails that they
send to happy customers. This e-mail includes a one click link to
allow the service or product provider to be added to that persons
list of recommendations. If the individual is not a user of the
present invention, they are prompted to join.
[0250] The present invention may be expanded from an essentially
web-email base system to incorporate a mobile voice connectivity
component. In the simplest embodiment, the system of the present
invention defines a social network formed by the entities stored in
the database. This social network communicates via email and the
web, and if voice communication is needed, the system users may
simply telephone each other. No direct assistance is needed other
than possibly viewing the relevant portion of other entities data
record or being informed via a message (email, SMS, EMS, MMS, or
chat, for example) of the other entity's phone number(s).
[0251] According to a further aspect of the present invention there
is provided a method of creating a unique, private personal social
network for a user entity using a system including at least one
host computer processor connectable to at least one data network, a
database accessible over said data network, and a plurality of data
input devices connectable to said data network,
[0252] said system being configured by said method to provide each
user entity with a virtual, unique, private, personal, social
network formed from connections between contacts, being entities
connected directly or indirectly to a user entity, said method
including the steps of:: [0253] said system receiving a user entity
data input including at least one identifying characteristic of the
user entity and recording said data input in a corresponding entity
data record; [0254] said system receiving a further user entity
data input including at least one identifying characteristic of one
or more entities known directly or indirectly to said user entity
and chosen by said user entity for invitation to the user entity's
social network as a contact; [0255] communicating said invitation
to said chosen entities; [0256] recording each consenting entity
accepting said invitation as a new contact connected to the user
entity and storing at least the identifying characteristic of each
new contact in a corresponding database entity data record; [0257]
repeating the above steps for each consenting entity to create
corresponding individual, unique, private, personnel social
networks, collectively forming a plurality of social networks on
said system, inter-connected by mutually connected contacts; [0258]
providing searchable access to at least part of the entity data
records stored in said database.
[0259] In a more sophisticated implementation, the present
invention can offer automation of the dialing process and
value-added services such as conferencing, messaging, and
interactive voice response / premium-rate services.
[0260] In a further embodiment, the system further provides
automated dialing via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
through a web-based function allowing the user to request the
telephone network to make a call to two or more entities involved
in a predetermined activity and connect them via a bridge in the
networking the network. Automation through Internet telephony would
allow the user to directly initiate an Internet telephony call to
the desired parties.
[0261] Telephone conferencing may be used to facilitate combining
the features and services of the present invention into a single
call. Again, this can be accomplished through a PSTN conference
bridge or Internet telephony.
[0262] Providing a voice mailbox to which a user could redirect
their existing voice mail subscriptions could be used to supplement
existing messaging facilities. The advantage of a social-network
based messaging system is that it would be able to separate
messages from within the social network from those from outside
(assuming caller-id is available or authentication is used to
distinguish members of the social network from those who are not
members).
[0263] Interactive-Voice Response and Premium-Rate telephone
services could be used to support such social network functions as
event management and simple profile management.
[0264] Three key platform and implementation extensions are
provided to extend social networks into the mobile environment:
Mobile Notification Services, Data Application Services, and
Location-Based Services.
[0265] Mobile Notification Services allow the user to optionally
and selectively receive alerts to their mobile device. These alerts
could be in the form of a Short-Message (SMS), Enhanced SMS (EMS),
Multi-Media Message (MMS), plain email, a paging message, or other
message format.
[0266] Data Application Services allow the user(s) to optionally
and selectively initiate or receive data communications related to
their social network(s). These communications could be via SMS,
EMS, MMS, email, WAP, paging, or other wireless application data
format.
[0267] Location-Based Services allow users to utilise the benefit
of their social network taking account of their physical location.
The user's location may be determined by mobile-phone cellsite
location, GPS location, manual or menu-driven location selection,
or other known methods.
[0268] An example service which takes advantage of all the above
services is as follows:
[0269] User A is at a sports-stadium. He has previously selected on
a web site link to the searchable database to be notified by SMS
when his direct friends or friends of his friends who match a
particular predetermined profile have their mobile devices active
in the same cell-site as him for a minimum of 20 minutes duration.
This time restriction eliminates people who are just traveling
through the cell-site area.
[0270] User A receives an SMS that User B, a friend of his friend
User C, is in the same cell-site. The SMS gives a brief biography
of User B.
[0271] User A is interested to communicate with User B, but only
after checking with User C about the person. Because it is
time-dependent, User A needs to reach User C directly. In a simple
implementation, User A will simply call or send a text-message to
User C. In a sophisticated implementation, the system will give
User A the option to be placed directly into contact via voice or
data with User C.
[0272] User A reaches User C and User C replies positively to User
A's interest in contacting User B. User A then responds to the
original alert message with that preference. User B then receives a
text message asking if User B would like to meet up with User A, a
friend of their mutual friend User C. If User B responds
positively, both User A and User B are sent messages which give
their phone numbers, allowing them to contact each other. In a
sophisticated implementation, they would have the option to be
placed directly into communication.
[0273] The present invention relates generally to a means of
harnessing the discriminatory powers of the knowledge, opinions and
recommendations of an entities extended network of contacts in an
efficient and systematic manner and without irritating or
alienating members of the network. There are numerous potential
implementations for the present invention of which the examples
described in more detail below are by way of illustration only.
[0274] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a system for
providing connections between entities, implemented on a computer
system (1) according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0275] The term `entity` or `entities` includes any individual,
family, organisation, club, society, company, partnership,
religion, or the like that exists as a particular and discrete
unit. However, though for the sake of clarity and convenience the
term individual or user entity (as appropriate) is used in the
following examples, this does not restrict the present invention to
same.
[0276] The computer system (1) includes a host computer in the form
of an Internet web server (2), containing a processor (3)
connectable to a network, in particular the internet (4), a
database (5) accessible over said network and a plurality of data
input devices, represented by user entity computers (6, 7).
[0277] It will be appreciated that by those skilled in the art that
the invention is not necessarily limited to use with the internet
(4) and that a connection to the host computer/web server (2) may
be provided by a propriety network (8) enabling access by via
text-messaging telephones (9) for example.
[0278] The present invention provides system providing one or more
user entities with a unique, private personal social network formed
from connections between contacts being entities connected directly
or indirectly to the user.
[0279] Thus, the present invention is particularly suited to
implementation in a variety of implementations, including, as an
example, a relationship service to facilitate the introduction of
individuals from a user's unique, personal private network. In
dating-type service or system embodiment, the users would be drawn
from friends or friends of friends, or even optionally friends of
friend of friends and so forth.
[0280] Existing dating services are hampered by the instinctive
reluctance of many users, or potential user's to engage in
relationships with individuals of whom they have no prior
knowledge. Attempts to overcome this difficulty have been
predominately based on systems which record various personal
details of the users to provide a basis for filtering potential
partners based on the perceived suitability of the recorded
personal details.
[0281] However, most people's friendships (both platonic and
non-platonic) are formed with other individuals with whom they
respect, feel comfortable with, whose company they enjoy, with a
compatible outlook, sense of humour/beliefs and/or a host of other
traits. A friend's friends are thus, widely perceived to be people
with a similar outlook/character to the friend in question.
Therefore, even if a friend's friend is unknown to an individual,
the existence of the mutual friend between the parties mitigates
much of the above-mentioned concerns.
[0282] It will be appreciated that the same principals of using an
extended social network of acquaintances as a means of locating a
particular individual can be extended to a plurality of non-romance
related areas. As an example, people seeking a particular type of
tradesman such as an electrician, confronted by a potentially
random choice from listings in a phone book would often be very
willing to choose an electrician recommended by a friend. The
principle is equally applicable across a huge range of human
activities/endeavours and is a fundamental feature of many
societies.
[0283] The use of the system (1) for romantic purposes illustrated
in FIGS. 1-4 nevertheless illustrates the operation and
characteristics of the present inventions.
[0284] FIG. 2 show a flow diagram symbolising the implementation of
the present invention of the system (1) as shown in FIG. 1, wherein
an individual having an extended personal social network of friends
wishes to identify potential relationships from within said
network.
[0285] To initiate the process, the individual accesses the host
computer/web server (2) via the Internet (4) using a user computer
(6) and is connected to a web site (10) interface with the
service.
[0286] In the initial step 100 the individual enters his/her
identifying characteristics (11) which preferably includes a means
of contacting the individual, preferably via e-mail and their name.
This is recorded by the systems (1) as part of an individual data
record (12) unique to each person and stored or updated on the
database (5) in step 101.
[0287] As discussed above, in the present embodiment, the system
(1) is primarily directed towards a single application-specific
system, i.e., to facilitate romantic relationships between
individuals, and the website (10) and associated
correspondence/communication between the users will reflect this
single purpose. It is therefore not necessary for the user to
specifically record the reason/object for using the service, nor
any entity attributes (13) of the individuals stored in their
respective data records (12).
[0288] Furthermore, due to the fundamental premise of the system
(i.e. joining a personal network of composed of
entities/individuals all of whom are known to each other either
directly or by at least one other common entity/individual), the
system can operate if necessary with minimal personal information
being disclosed by the individual.
[0289] However, in alternative embodiments, the system (1), may be
configured to further categorise individuals by entity attributes
other than just the existence of a common friend/contact.
[0290] These factors may encompass the full gamut of human
interactions with each other and may include family relations;
business colleagues; professional acquaintances; sexual
preferences, persuasions, or proclivities; sporting or leisure
interests; religious, political, theological or ideological
beliefs; academic, scientific, or engineering disciplines;
humanitarian, social or economic fields and any combination of
same.
[0291] Such entity attributes (13) may be recorded in step 101 as
part of the individual's data records (12) on the database (5).
[0292] After entering the user's identifying characteristic (11),
the user selects one or more chosen individuals from their network
of friends in step 102. Each said chosen friend is then notified by
an e-mail as shown in the exemplary email illustration represented
in FIG. 3. The e-mail notification (14) effected in step 103,
conveys to the recipient a brief outline of the service (15)
together with a request (16) for their participation (step
104).
[0293] No individual data records (12) are recorded/stored for
recipients choosing not to participate (step 105) or simply wishing
to help their friends without their own details being accessible to
others. Individuals willing to participate are invited (17) to
enter details of their own friends in a repetition of step 102. The
details of the chosen friends entered, i.e., the identifying
characteristic (11) in this embodiment are the friend's e-mail
address and name. The individuals chosen for contact are notified
by e-mail in a repetition of step 103.
[0294] The whole process (as described above in steps 102-105) of
notifying friends, recording the details of willing participants as
individual user data records, and contacting the chosen friend's
friends and so forth is successively repeated in this manner until
the full extended network of friends has been contacted.
[0295] Within a typical extended network of friends, there may be
single individuals seeking relationships, single individuals not
actively seeking a relationship, couples, separated couples, and so
forth. Prescribed individuals meeting certain eligibility criteria
are invited to register to obtain searchable access of the database
(5).
[0296] In the present embodiment (and as shown in FIG. 2), the said
eligibility criteria for registration is whether that the
individual is single (step 106).
[0297] Individuals meeting this criteria, i.e., they are single
(automatically detected by said processor (3) reading said data
records (12) in the database (5)) are sent an e-mail notification
(18) (as shown in FIG. 4) in step 107 to invite them to register
for searchable access of the database (5). If user is recorded as
not being single in the individual's data record (12), no
invitation for registration is sent--step 108.
[0298] In the example represented in FIG. 4, the e-mail (18)
includes the option (19) of restricting the information in their
own individual data record to be available to just `friends of
friends` or `friends of friends of friends`, i.e. individuals of
2.sup.nd or 3.sup.rd degree of contact separation from the user. It
also permits the user to register the type of relationship they are
interested in via a selection menu (20).
[0299] This key feature of the present invention enables a user to
apply selective control over the type of interaction with other
system users depending on their degree of separation from the
user.
[0300] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that many
variants of the described embodiment are possible without departing
from the scope of the invention.
[0301] In alternative embodiment (not shown), any of the users may
input a variety of supplementary personal attributes/information as
part of the identifying characteristics (11) including their
including marital or relationship status (e.g. single, married
divorced, separated, de facto, single but uninterested in a
relationship at present, and so forth); physical attributes;
photographs.
[0302] Furthermore, close friends (i.e. direct contacts), as
opposed to friends of friends, may be offered a means of recording
a rating, assessment, quantification, qualification, or comment
regarding the details stored in the relevant individual data record
(12). This can provide a means of limiting any excessive
boasting/hyperbole or reticence/down-playing by an individual and
thus provide a more accurate description.
[0303] It should understood that the system (1) does not
specifically require the user entities to contact each other via
the Internet, rather, it provides the information required (e.g. a
common friend) to contact an individual with whom the inquirer is
known to share a common link.
[0304] Even though many user entities may find e-mail to be a
convenient means of contact, there is nothing precluding the use of
the telephone, letter writing, personal contact or any of the
`conventional` means already available to the public. Such contact
details may simply be recorded as part of the data (12) records and
made searchable to prescribed users.
[0305] The invention possesses several security features not shared
by existing `dating-services`. Firstly, only individuals sharing a
common link (e.g. friendship) are able to obtain access to another
individual's personal details, i.e. their data record (12). No
information is disclosed to the `outside world`. This greatly
reduces the concern and likelihood of approaches from `crank
individuals`, whether perceived or actual.
[0306] Secondly, the system does not rely on the user entities
inputting large amounts of personal and potentially private
information into a database over which they have no access control.
Many users may feel less threatened by recording the minimal
information needed on the database (5), particularly with the
reassurance that the information is only viewable by friends or
friends of friends (or friends of friends of friends).
[0307] Further features or embellishments to the basic system
include cross checking the details of new individuals proposed for
inclusion on the database to see if they are already present. This
prevents people receiving unwanted duplicate e-mail requests (14)
to join the service.
[0308] Eligible individuals, i.e. single friends meeting a
particular search criteria may be listed with the along with the
path of referring friends to provides a sense of context and
background information. User entities can be provided with the
option of whether they want their referring friends to be
`attached` to them in this manner.
[0309] Registered users may be notified periodically about the
number of new eligible individuals included in the service since
they last used the service and/or we last notified.
[0310] User entities may customise the format of the e-mail
notifications (14) to suit their own tastes. As will be seen in the
outline of the service (15) shown in FIG. 3, there are two
drop-down boxes to enable the user to customise the characterising
description of the service and the salutation with the minimum of
effort.
[0311] If a user entity dislikes a particular individual within an
extended network of friends, they may deny to access of their
individual data details during any search of the database (5)
conducted by said particular individual (or not accept a link to
them in the database (5) at all).
[0312] Instead of accessing the service via the internet (4), any
proprietary network could be employed such as an intranet, wide and
local area networks; a telephone or pager networks, telephone-based
text-messaging or facsimiles; automated mailserver systems; power
transmission networks, wireless networks; networks comprised of
other telecommunication links: postal or courier services and the
like.
[0313] The now widespread text-based phone-messaging feature of
telephones, particularly mobile telephones (9) can be utilised as a
convenient and attractive means of accessing the service through a
proprietary network (8).
[0314] Instead of each user instantaneously sending their e-mail
requests (14) to the friends chosen for possible inclusion in the
service in `real-time`, these may be grouped together so that an
individual receives a single notification indicating all the
friends who have recommended them.
[0315] A further variant of this feature is to periodically notify
a user entity of all the other individuals who have registered and
who want to refer to the user as their friend.
[0316] A `referral chain` of individuals connecting two people
provides a means for both parties to inquire about each other
through any of the parties in the referral chain. This provides a
means of obtaining further information about an individual before
committing to a date/meeting. This essentially mimics the age-old
social mechanism whereby friends are used as intermediates or
envoys to discover details of potential mates/partners.
[0317] A means of extracting information from an individual's on
which character assessments may be made is possible by means of
obtaining response from said individual to a range of questions on
neutral, mainstream, non-threatening or non-sensitive issues. Such
questions could relate to the user's favourite joke, quote, movie
and the like. Said responses may be stored as part of the
individual user data record and may be searchable by said selected
users. This avoids the understandable reluctance of many potential
users to divulge personal, private and/or physical details to the
scrutiny of third parties.
[0318] The entry of an expanded list of identifying
characteristics/entity attributes (11, 13) as referred to above can
enable the user entities to contact other people for non-romantic
purposes. This may range from golfers seeking like-minded playing
partners to lawyers seeking reliable associates in overseas
jurisdictions.
[0319] The recommendation of a friend or colleague or even
indirectly by someone (even if not a direct acquaintance) whose
judgement is respected can greatly influence people's action and
choices. The choice of say, a builder, dentist or mechanic for
example may be influence by acquired personal experiences or by
reputation, and/or recommendation. The latter option is often given
preference due to the greater potential impartiality and its
ability to draw on a wider pool of personal experiences.
[0320] The present invention is readily adaptable to such
relationships, and in fact, may be utilised in facilitating
interaction between parties in almost any sphere of human activity,
provided the parties share a common connection (either directly or
indirectly) with an entity which is respected by the said
parties.
[0321] As discussed, specific applications may be formed from the
core features set of features of the present invention.
[0322] Table 1 below contains an exemplary list of possible
applications.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Application Problem solved Roles
Application-specific factors Employment Finding high quality
Employer, Best employees and or jobs people for jobs at a Employee,
are often found through the low cost Facilitator/link, referrals of
friends and Seeker/candidate, colleagues Recruiter Romance Finding
a partner Single, The majority of people find Facilitator/Link
their partner via common friends and colleagues Flatmate Finding a
existing flatmates, It is better to choose (Roomate) trustworthy
and New flatmates, someone you know finder interesting person
Facilitator/Link compared to an to live with advertisement in the
paper where you do not know the person at all Investment Finding
investors Offerer, A large proportion of private opportunities with
skill and desire Investor, equity is placed via personal to invest
in Consultant, networks and would benefit particular areas
Facilitator/Link from a more systematic system. An optional
additional requirement is the person posting the investment
opportunity gives specific approval to each entity in the personal
network wanting to view the information Recommendation Finding good
Reviewer, Friends often ask, "have you engine for entertainment
Link/facilitator, seen any good movies, read movies, Entertainment
any good books" and this books, plays seeker makes it easy to see
what etc people think is interesting and worthwhile. Event Way for
people to Organizer, When organizing sports manager organize
gathering participant, teams etc it is time and find people to
Facilitator/link, consuming to call around a make up numbers person
with see if everyone can make it. interests This service may be
configured to cease issuing invitations to the event after a
defined number of people had confirmed their attendance. Service
and Way to find good Service/ This provides an an product product
and product provider, alternative to scanning recommendation
services to buy and consumers, telephone or trade engine those to
avoid Facilitator/link directories for product or providers. Users
prefer recommendations from their personal network of contacts.
Academic Way to keep up to Academics, There are numerous ways
collaboration date in a research Facilitator/links academics use
networks to field collaborate on performing, writing up and
presenting research. This helps them Contact Keeping your Friends
and This feature could sync your manager contact information
colleagues local address book with an of friends and online one.
Because you are colleagues up to linked to your friends via the
date social network when they change their contact details it
updates them online and then updates them on your local computer
when they sync the address books. You will always have their
updated contact information Business Way to find Question When you
have a specific problem information from askers, problem you often
ask solving business question colleagues for the answer or
colleagues and answerers, who to go to for the answer. share
information moderators With this service you can sign up to
different areas of interest and choose what discussions you want to
participate in based on your network of colleagues. Finding Find
trusted Potential These positions are often company business people
for directors, filled via word of mouth. Directors this role in
Boards The present invention would companies seeking make the
process more directors systematic Spam filtering Problem of Emails
that come from your receiving extended network of unsolicited
emails contacts could automatically be a higher priority than other
email. Email that comes from addresses that is not part of any
trusted network would be further lowered in priority (defined as
spam). Car pooling Finding someone to Drivers, Generally people
prefer to share a ride with travelers share a car with someone
either for they trust than a total commuting or other stranger.
purposes Generating Finding people in Sellers, Often sales leads
are sales leads companies through potential generated through
mutual mutual contacts customers, contacts. that can help with
Facilitator/links the sales process Real Estate Finding good
Landlord, Landlords prefer to have tenants for tenants, tenants
they can trust and properties Facilitator/links they would prefer
to have people that are part of their extended network of contacts.
Similarly tenants may prefer a trustworthy landlord Travel Find
good places to Traveler, Organizer stay and things to travel
supplier, do when you travel Facilitator/links Babysitting Finding
a good Babysitter, babysitter caregivers, Facilitator/links House
sitting Find someone to House owner, look after your house sitter,
house when you Facilitator/link are away Classifieds Buy sell or
trade Buyer, seller, property, products, Facilitator/link and
services Sharing Share your content Provider/ Many people create or
private peer- with selected requester share content with others
to-peer degrees of your but do not want to use content contacts
traditional peer-to-peer systems which are open and subject to
abuse.
[0323] In a second embodiment, an employment-related application is
shown, as illustrated in FIGS. 5-10.
[0324] The employment application may operate as a stand-alone
application or, as shown in the drawings, be layered onto other
applications such as the romance/friendship application described
above using the same system (1). The basis for the application is
founded on the same principles and core functions, i.e. using the
knowledge, experience, contacts, opinions, or recommendations of an
entity's unique, personal private network of contacts to enhance
the effectiveness of their activity of interest.
[0325] As discussed earlier, finding employment or the right
applicant for a vacancy can be a frustrating and often futile task.
The searchable database system (1) (as shown in FIG. 1) of the
present invention maybe utilised to address these difficulties for
either task as follows.
[0326] In this embodiment, corresponding elements of system (1) are
like numbered. The system is again described with reference to an
Internet (4) based platform, though again, the invention need not
necessarily be so restricted. The database (5) may be populated in
the same manner as described in the first embodiment with data
records (12) relating to entities known (directly or indirectly) to
each other. Once compiled, such a database (5) may be effectively
reused for quite distinct purposes.
[0327] The various entity attributes (13) and/or identifying
characteristics (11) (including any supplementary attributes)
entered into the individual data records (12) provide a means to
discriminate information flow between relevant employment
entities/individuals. A user accessing the website (10) to seek
potential job vacancies and selecting an appropriate hyperlink from
the home page will be brought to the web page (21) shown in FIG.
5.
[0328] In addition to pursuing a search for employment vacancies,
the user is offered choices on managing their own unique, personal
private network referred to in the illustrations as the user's
unique, personal network formed (in the FIG. 5) from their friends
and friends of friends. A numerical status indicator (22) in the
upper right of the page (21) keeps the user informed of the total
number of contacts in their personal network, also indicating the
potential number of recipients of a search they may conduct.
[0329] A further restricted list of options (22) prompts the user
to edit their profile, i.e. their data record (12), add additional
friends to the system (1), alter their password and/or their
contact details (one of their identifying characteristics (11)).
Under a further "Jobs :Options" (23) list of options, the user may
select from the following job related options; [0330] Managing Job
postings; [0331] Searching Jobs; [0332] Manage saved
searches/alerts; [0333] Edit User job Preferences; and [0334]
Change User Status.
[0335] Access to the expanded list of all the available user
options may be accesses via links entitled "Jobs: Options" (23),
"Managing My Personnel Account" (24) and/or "My Network of Friends"
(25) links.
[0336] However, assuming for convenience that a user wishes to
search for a job and selects the relevant option, they are taken to
the `Job Search` web page (26) shown in FIG. 6.
[0337] At the job search-criteria web page (26), the user is able
to specify (via selectable options (27)) search restriction
criteria such as job category, geographical region and one or more
identifying characteristic (11)/entity attributes (13). In the
embodiment shown, the identifying characteristic (11)/entity
attribute (13) is the link between the user and the potential
recipient, e.g. friend of a friend and/or a friend of a friend of a
friend. Searches may be saved for future use, and previous searches
recalled using their respective icons (27, 28). The example shown
in FIG. 6, the web page (26) is showing a result summary (30) of a
search conducted on the criteria specified in above options
(26).
[0338] In this example, a single job vacancy has been found by the
search. The summary of the job details indicates the vacancy was
posted onto the system (1) by "Julian, a friend of John (a friend
known to the user Jane), together with basic job details. If these
sufficiently interest the user, the full vacancy details may be
obtained by following the job title hyperlink (31) that leads to
the web page (32) shown in FIG. 7.
[0339] In addition to giving an expanded description (33) of the
job vacancy, the web page (32) also provides an identifying
characteristic (11) of the individual posting the vacancy, i.e.,
Julian's e-mail address (33). Also given are the connection(s) (35)
between the user and Julian. The user thus has the choice of
contacting Julian, the vacancy poster, one of their mutual friends,
as identified by the connections (35), or enquire directly to the
company advertising the vacancy via a dedicated link (36).
[0340] The vacancy poster Julian may optionally withheld his e-mail
address (34) from being visible to some or all of job seekers.
[0341] It will be appreciated that the above search procedure may
be easily adapted to other applications in addition to those of
romance or employment illustrated.
[0342] The various entities/individual users of the system (1) may
specify their interest in particular types of employment (as an
identifying characteristic/entity attribute (11, 13)) by updating
their profile i.e., their entity data record (12) accordingly. This
information may be used by another user as a criterion for
inclusion in vacancy notifications.
[0343] FIG. 8, shows a web page (37) used for updating a user's
profile (12). As this embodiment particularly refers specifically
to employment, the primary selection available to the user is a
selection of vacancy types they may be interested in via a
drop-down box (38). Clearly, alternative or additional information
may also be recorded in further embodiments.
[0344] In the case of an individual or company wishing to circulate
a vacancy amongst their network of contacts, FIG. 9 shows a further
web page (39) for defining the vacancy details. Again, the user is
able to restrict the circulation of the vacancy to friends, friends
of friends, or everyone via appropriate check-boxes (40). The user
is provided with various optional and required inputs, including a
job title/reference (41), job description (42), contact e-mail
address (43), geographical location of vacancy (44), generic
vacancy category (45), vacancy type (e.g. casual, permanent) (46),
expected hours of employment (47), vacancy level (48), and maximum,
minimum and annual pay (49).
[0345] The primary mechanism for new users to join the system (1)
is through contact with existing members. This may be performed as
part of the act of seeking a vacancy, seeking an employee, or as a
facilitating/link individual who facilitates contact between the
relevant parties. FIG. 10 shows a further web page enabling a user
to send an appropriate invitation to their
friends/colleagues/acquaintances, with a customisable text message.
In FIG. 10, the proposed text (51) is worded to indicate the user
has some vacancies that need filing. However, the text may be
replaced, edited within the user's own e-mail editing program if
desired by selecting an appropriate link (52), or pasted directly
into an e-mail or ICQ/Instant messenger service if desired via a
further link (53).
[0346] FIGS. 11 and 12 show a graphical representation of the
networks referred to throughout the patent whereby the
relationships between individual entities (54) are illustrated by
interconnecting links (55). It will be apparent that each
individual has their own unique private network which differs even
from those to whom they are connected, as illustrated in FIG. 11.
FIG. 12 shows the different networks associated with each
individual when the connections include second, third and fourth
order friendships, as illustrated by the concentric circles
enclosing second, third and fourth order connections. (56, 57, 58)
respectively.
[0347] This job application can include an incentive payment (cash,
gift or gift certificate etc) paid to entities that helped link the
employer to the jobseeker. When the facilitator entity notifies the
system of the successful linking to claim their payment, the system
is indirectly being notified that the employer should be invoiced
for having found a successful candidate via the system. This
invoicing double check helps detects employers tempted to avoid
indicating the recruitment service was responsible for finding an
employee. This incentive can appear to the receiver to be initiated
by either the system or optionally by the user who received the
successful outcome (in this case, the job seeker or employer).
[0348] Another method to identify if an employer has hired a
jobseeker via the recruitment service is to send an enquiry email
to the new company address using the typical email format given of
company employees, e.g. firstname.lastnam@companyname.com and see
whether the email is returned as an invalid address--if the email
is successfully delivered and read (if tracking options permit) the
individual is likely to be working for the employer and thus needs
to pay for the recruitment service.
[0349] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way
of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and
additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope
thereof.
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