Method and apparatus for optimizing networking potential using a secured system for an online community
First Claim
1. A method of providing a multi-level hierarchical communications network comprising the steps of:
- accessing a network central database;
creating a networking data set by entering information relating to multiple entities;
assigning specific access rights of varying levels to each entity;
storing the information at the database;
searching the networking data set to identify entities satisfying a specific criteria; and
verifying the access rights assigned to the entities found in the search result.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for users to search networks, both their own network and their peers'"'"' networks, all under the umbrella of a “multiple level access” security system. The present invention has been designed to optimize networking capabilities among users in a comprehensive online community. Networking among such a secured environment will allow users an opportunity to enhance their networking potential by expanding their networks to their peers'"'"' and beyond. A user registers with the online community and personally adds individuals that they know to their personal networking database. While adding these peers to the networking database, the user grants a specific level of access to each individual. This security measure is devised to discourage solicitation from other unwanted online users. The levels of access give the user an opportunity to control the amount of personal information, including contacts that they make, available to their individual peers. Based on the level of access granted by the user, the peer may or may not be able to access the users information or the user'"'"'s personal databases for potential networking. The level of access granted by two individuals need not be the same for each other.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method of providing a multi-level hierarchical communications network comprising the steps of:
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accessing a network central database;
creating a networking data set by entering information relating to multiple entities;
assigning specific access rights of varying levels to each entity;
storing the information at the database;
searching the networking data set to identify entities satisfying a specific criteria; and
verifying the access rights assigned to the entities found in the search result. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of providing a networking database comprising the steps of:
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connecting to a central database;
storing multiple user profiles at the central database;
assigning user access rights to each user profile;
searching network search fields associated with each user profile for specific criteria;
receiving information regarding user profiles related to the specific search criteria; and
performing a subsequent network search by searching the information received to determine additional user profiles. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30)
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14. A method of searching a network database comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing information relating to a first entity in a first network database;
(b) storing information relating to a second entity in a second network database;
(c) assigning access rights to the information relating to each entity in the first and second network databases;
(d) searching the first network database for specific data relating to the first entity;
(e) searching the second network database for the specific data requirement if the search of the first network database does not find criteria matching the specific data requirement;
(f) associating a multibridge linking code with the second entity if the entity has criteria matching the specific data requirement from the second search;
(g) retrieving the specific data by using the multibridge linking code; and
(h) establishing contact with the entity.
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25. A networking system comprising:
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an internal interface gateway;
an input/output device in communication with the internal interface gateway;
a processor connected to the input/output device;
an external interface gateway; and
wherein the internal interface gateway connects the processor with the external interface gateway.
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28. A multi-level hierarchical communications network comprising:
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a network central database;
a data set including information relating to multiple entities;
a storing device for storing the information at the database;
a network interface for searching the database; and
a user interface in communication with the network interface.
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31. A network database system comprising:
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means for storing information relating to a first entity in a first network central database;
means for storing information relating to a second entity in a second network central database;
means for assigning access rights to the information relating to each entity in the first and second network databases;
means for searching the first network database for the specific data relating to the first entity;
means for searching the second network database for the specific data requirement if the search of the first network does not find criteria matching the specific data requirement;
means for associating a multibridge linking code with each individual in the second group; and
means for retrieving the specific data by using the multibridge linking code. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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36. A system for providing a networking database comprising:
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means for connecting to a central database;
means for storing multiple user profiles at the central database;
means for assigning user access rights to each user profile;
means for searching network search fields associated with each user profile for specific criteria;
means for receiving information regarding user profiles related to the specific search criteria; and
means for performing a subsequent network search by searching the information received to determine additional user profiles.
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41. A communications network comprising:
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means for accessing a network central database;
means for creating a networking data set by entering information relating to multiple entities;
means for assigning specific access rights of varying levels to each entity;
means for storing the information at the database;
means for searching the networking data set to identify entities satisfying a specific criteria; and
means for verifying the access rights assigned to the entities found in the search result. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of networking comprising the steps of:
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providing a network database comprised of different companies and/or groups;
geographically segmenting the companies and/or groups;
categorizing the companies and/or groups by industry;
categorizing the companies and/or groups by services provided;
categorizing the companies and/or groups by products made;
categorizing the companies and/or groups by expertise;
assigning one or more keywords to each category;
searching the network database using the one or more keywords for one or more companies and/or groups having criteria matching a specific requirement; and
further searching the network database to identify one or more contacts associated with the companies and/or groups found in a search result.
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50. A method of networking comprising the steps of:
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providing a network database comprised of at least one of different companies or groups;
geographically segmenting the at least one company or group;
categorizing the at least one company or group by industry;
categorizing the at least one company or group by services provided;
categorizing the at least one company or group by products made;
categorizing the at least one company or group by expertise;
assigning one or more keywords to each category;
searching the network database using the one or more keywords for one or more companies or groups having criteria matching a specific requirement; and
further searching the network database to identify one or more contacts associated with the companies or groups found in a search result.
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51. A method of optimizing networking capability comprising the steps of:
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providing a networking database comprised of information relating to multiple entities;
searching the networking database for specific data relating to the entities;
assigning a multibridge linking code to each entity found during the search that has criteria matching the specific data requirement;
creating a hierarchical chain between each entity found during the search;
assigning a key to represent all the multibridge linking codes that have been assigned during the search;
configuring the key to be passed between each entity in the hierarchical chain;
using the key to contact the first entity in the hierarchical chain found during the search;
using the key to contact the next entity in the hierarchical chain found during the search;
wherein each entity in the hierarchical chain decides whether to forward the key to the subsequent entity in the hierarchical chain. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification