System and method for identifying relationship paths to a target entity
First Claim
1. A method of identifying a relationship path to a target entity comprising the steps of:
- (a) establishing a central database of combined public and private information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(b) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said central database;
(c) obtaining at least one client database of contact information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(d) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said client database;
(e) loading said client database into said central database;
(f) integrating said central database with said client database;
(g) entering a target entity by a user;
(h) determining whether relationship paths exist to said target entity; and
(i) identifying said relationship paths.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of identifying a relationship path from a user or from a start entity to a target entity by establishing a computer platform including an algorithm for determining the shortest path; establishing a central database of combined public and private information comprising a plurality of items of contact information; assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said central database; obtaining at least one client database of contact information comprising a plurality of items of contact information; assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said client database; loading said client database into said central database; integrating said central database with said client database; providing a user interface to said platform for a user to enter start or user entities and a target entity; determining whether relationship paths exist to said target entity; and identifying said relationship paths.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of identifying a relationship path to a target entity comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing a central database of combined public and private information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(b) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said central database;
(c) obtaining at least one client database of contact information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(d) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said client database;
(e) loading said client database into said central database;
(f) integrating said central database with said client database;
(g) entering a target entity by a user;
(h) determining whether relationship paths exist to said target entity; and
(i) identifying said relationship paths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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7. A method of identifying a relationship from a user to a target entity via the global computer communication network having a host computer with a front end interface and at least one remote computer comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing a central database of combined public and private information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(b) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said central database;
(c) obtaining at least one client database of contact information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(d) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said client database;
(e) loading said client database into said central database;
(f) integrating said central database with said client database;
(g) entering a target entity by said user; and
(h) determining whether a relationship path exists from said user to said target entity; and
(i) identifying said relationship paths.
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12. A method of identifying a relationship path from a user to a target entity comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing a central database of combined public and private information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(b) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said central database;
(c) obtaining at least one client database of contact information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(d) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said client database;
(e) loading said client database into said central database;
(f) integrating said central database with said client database;
(g) entering a target entity by said user;
(h) determining whether a plurality of relationship paths exist from said user to said target entity;
(i) identifying said plurality of relationship paths;
(j) assigning a score to each of said relationship paths;
(k) determining the shortest relationship path using said score and a shortest path algorithm; and
(l) displaying said relationship paths to user in ranked order based on assigned score. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 36, 37)
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16. A method of identifying a relationship path from a user to a target entity comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing a central database of combined public and private information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(b) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said central database;
(c) obtaining at least one client database of contact information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(d) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said client database;
(e) loading said client database into said central database;
(f) integrating said central database with said client database;
(g) entering a target entity by said user;
(h) determining whether a plurality of relationship paths exists from said user to said target entity;
(i) identifying no relationship path with a first or second degree of separation from said user to said target entity;
(j) identifying at least one relationship path with a third degree of separation from said user to said target entity;
(k) assigning a score to each said relationship path;
(l) determining the shortest relationship path using said score and a shortest path algorithm; and
(m) displaying said relationship paths to user in ranked order based on assigned score. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of identifying a relationship path from a starting entity to a target entity comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing a central database of combined public and private information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(b) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said central database;
(c) obtaining at least one client database of contact information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(d) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said client database;
(e) loading said client database into said central database;
(f) integrating said central database with said client database;
(g) entering a starting entity by a user;
(h) entering a target entity by said user;
(i) determining whether a plurality of relationship paths exist from said starting entity to said target entity;
(j) identifying said plurality of relationship paths;
(k) assigning a score to each of said relationship paths;
(l) determining the shortest relationship path using said score and a shortest path algorithm; and
(m) displaying said relationship paths to user in ranked order based on assigned score. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 38, 39)
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28. A method of identifying a relationship path from a starting entity to a target entity comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing a central database of combined public and private information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(b) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said central database;
(c) obtaining at least one client database of contact information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(d) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said client database;
(e) loading said client database into said central database;
(f) integrating said central database with said client database;
(g) entering a starting entity by a user;
(h) entering a target entity by said user;
(i) determining whether a plurality of relationship paths exists from said starting entity to said target entity;
(j) identifying no relationship path with a first or second degree of separation from said starting entity to said target entity;
(k) identifying at least one relationship path with a third degree of separation from said starting entity to said target entity;
(l) assigning a score to each said relationship path;
(m) determining the shortest relationship path using said score and a shortest path algorithm; and
(n) displaying said relationship paths to user in ranked order based on assigned score. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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40. A method of identifying a relationship path from a starting entity to a target entity comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing a central database of combined public and private information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(b) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said central database;
(c) entering a starting entity by a user;
(d) entering a target entity by said user;
(e) determining whether a plurality of relationship paths exist from said starting entity to said target entity;
(f) identifying said plurality of relationship paths;
(g) assigning a score to each of said relationship paths;
(h) determining the shortest relationship path using said score and a shortest path algorithm; and
(i) displaying said relationship paths to user in ranked order based on assigned score.
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41. A method of identifying a relationship path from a user or starting entity to a target entity comprising the steps of establishing a computer platform which includes an algorithm for determining the shortest path between a user or starting entity and target entity:
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(a) establishing a central database of combined public and private information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(b) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said central database;
(c) obtaining at least one client database of contact information comprising a plurality of items of contact information;
(d) assigning a unique, relational identifier to each item of contact information in said client database;
(e) loading said client database into said central database;
(j) integrating said central database with said client database;
(k) providing a user interface to said platform which allows a user to input the identities of the user or starting entity and the target entity;
(l) determining whether relationship paths exist from said user or starting entity to said target entity; and
(m) identifying said relationship paths.
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Specification