Method and apparatus for collection and dissemination of information over a computer network

• US 20060074727A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: mBlast, Inc.
• Original Assignee: mBlast, Inc.
• Inventors: Briere, Daniel D.
• Application Number:
  US10/875,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074727A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/986 Document structures and storage, e.g. HTML extensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6236 between heterogeneous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 : for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 : Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

A system for managing relationships in an industry community having various groups of parties, each of which has a common interest in the industry. The system includes means for collecting and sharing information between the parties. The collected information is classified in accordance with the group from which it came and the relationship between the groups is managed in accordance with a set of relationship rules.

Claims

1. A system for managing relationships in an industry community having a first group of parties and a second group of parties each of which has a common interest in said industry, said system comprising:

first information collection means for collecting information about said first group of parties;

second information collection means for collecting information about said second group of parties;

first classification means for classifying said information about said first group of parties in a predetermined manner;

second classification means for classifying said information about said second group of parties in a predetermined manner; and

predetermined relationship management rules for managing the relationships between said first and second groups in accordance with their classification.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first group of parties includes a company marketing department.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first group of parties includes a company public relations department.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first group of parties includes a marketing firm.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first group of parties includes a public relations firm.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry publisher.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry reporter.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry analyst.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry association.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry forums group.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry standards organization.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry event organizer.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry regulatory body.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second classification means includes a three-tiered classification system for classifying said first and second groups of parties.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said three-tiered classification system classifies said first and second groups of parties in accordance with the industry to which said first and second group belongs.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said three-tiered classification system classifies said first and second groups of parties in accordance with the product and/or services that said first and second group offers.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said three-tiered classification system classifies said first and second groups of parties in accordance with the industries said first and second groups support.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said three-tiered classification system classifies said first and second groups of parties in accordance with the industry to which said first and second group belongs and in accordance with the product and/or services that said first and second group offers.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said three-tiered classification system classifies said first and second groups of parties in accordance with the industry to which said first and second group belongs, in accordance with the product and/or services that said first and second group offers and in accordance with the industries said first and second groups support.

73. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of telecommunication devices for permitting said parties to communicate with one another.

74. The system of claim 1, wherein said telecommunication devices include unicaste conferencing facilities.

75. The system of claim 1, wherein said telecommunication devices include multicaste conferencing facilities.

20. A system for electronically managing relationships in an industry community having a first group of parties and a second group of parties each of which has a common interest in said industry, said system comprising:

first data collection means for electronically collecting data about said first group of parties;

second data collection means for electronically collecting data about said second group of parties;

first classification means for electronically classifying said data about said first group of parties in a predetermined manner;

second classification means for electronically classifying said data about said second group of parties in a predetermined manner,

a plurality of predetermined relationship management rules; and

processing means for electronically processing said data for managing said relationships between said first and second groups in accordance with their classification and disseminating said data in accordance with said relationships.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said first group of parties includes a company marketing department.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said first group of parties includes a company public relations department.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein said first group of parties includes a marketing firm.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein said first group of parties includes a public relations firm.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry publisher.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry reporter.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry analyst.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry association.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry forums group.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry standards organization.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry event organizer.

32. The system of claim 20, wherein said second group of parties includes an industry regulatory body.

33. The system of claim 20, wherein said first and second classification means includes a three-tiered classification system for classifying said first and second groups of parties.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said three-tiered classification system classifies said first and second groups of parties in accordance with the industry to which said first and second group belongs.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein said three-tiered classification system classifies said first and second groups of parties in accordance with the product and/or services that said first and second group offers.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein said three-tiered classification system classifies said first and second groups of parties in accordance with the industries said first and second groups support.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein said three-tiered classification system classifies said first and second groups of parties in accordance with the industry to which said first and second group belongs and in accordance with the product and/or services that said first and second group offers.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein said three-tiered classification system classifies said first and second groups of parties in accordance with the industry to which said first and second group belongs, in accordance with the product and/or services that said first and second group offers and in accordance with the industries said first and second groups support.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein said processing means including input means for manually inputting said data.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein said processing means including input means for accepting an electronic data feed of said data.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein said processing means including control means for managing the content of said data and controlling its dissemination.

42. The system of claim 33, further including synchronizing means for synchronizing industry data published over a computer network.

43. The system of claim 33, further including synchronizing means for synchronizing industry data published on an Internet website.

44. The system of claim 33, further including synchronizing means for synchronizing industry data published in a newsletter.

45. The system of claim 33, further including synchronizing means for synchronizing industry data published in an article.

46. The system of claim 33, further including synchronizing means for synchronizing industry data published in a brief.

47. The system of claim 33, further including synchronizing means for synchronizing industry data published in a newspaper.

48. The system of claim 33, further including synchronizing means for synchronizing industry data published in a directory.

49. The system of claim 33, further including synchronizing means for synchronizing industry data published in an Internet webcast.

50. The system of claim 33, further including alert means for alerting users of said system when predetermined data in said system has changed.

51. A system for electronically managing relationships in an industry community having a first group of parties and a second group of parties each of which has a common interest in said industry, said system comprising:

first data collection means for electronically collecting data about said first group of parties and storing said data on a storage layer;

second data collection means for electronically collecting data about said second group of parties and storing said data on said storage layer;

first classification means for electronically classifying said data about said first group of parties in a predetermined manner within said storage layer;

second classification means for electronically classifying said data about said second group of parties in a predetermined manner within said storage layer;

a plurality of predetermined relationship management rules stored in said storage layer;

processing means for electronically processing said data for managing said relationships between said first and second groups in accordance with their classification in a processing layer; and

user interface face means within an interface layer for disseminating said data to users of said system in accordance with said relationships.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein said processing layer is between said storage layer and said interface layer

53. The system of claim 51, wherein each of said layers is self-contained and communicating with adjacent layers using established procedures and protocols.

54. The system of claim 51, further including a security layer between said storage layer and said processing layer.

55. The system of claim 51, wherein all layers are located on a network server.

56. The system of claim 51, wherein said storage and processing layers urn on a network server.

57. The system of claim 51, wherein said interface layer runs a computer desktop.

58. The system of claim 51, wherein all of said layers runs a computer desktop.

59. The system of claim 51, wherein said storage layer uses an SQL database.

60. The system of claim 51, wherein said storage layer uses a MYSQL database.

61. The system of claim 51, wherein said storage layer uses an Oracle database.

62. The system of claim 51, wherein said processing means includes a plurality of processing engines selected from among the group:

retriever engine for retrieving data requested by the user.

submitter engine for submitting user requests for processing by processing layer.

search engine for searching the data layer in response to a user request.

workflow engine for organizing the work flow the processing layer.

presentation engine for communication with the interface layer.

notification engine for providing notification messages to the user.

forms engine for generating forms for use in the presentation layer.

messaging engine for generating messages for the user, processing outgoing messages from the user and processing incoming messages for the user.

Import/export engine for importing and exporting data into and out of the data layer.

63. A method of communicating information within a community having a first group of parties and a second group of parties each of which has a common interest in said community, said method having the following steps:

collecting information about said first group of parties;

collecting information about said second group of parties;

classifying said information about said first group of parties in a predetermined manner;

classifying said information about said second group of parties in a predetermined manner;

establishing a relationship rule between said first group of parties and said second group of parties; and

communicating said information between said first group of parties and said second group of parties in accordance with said relationship rule.

64. The method of claim 63 further including the step of alerting said parties when information is available for communicating.

65. The method of claim 63, further including the step of including within said first group a company marketing department.

66. The method of claim 64, further including the step of including within said first group a company public relations department.

67. The method of claim 63, further including the step of including within said second group an industry publisher.

68. The method of claim 64, further including the step of including within said second group an industry publisher.

69. The method of claim 63, further including the step of including within said second group an industry reporter.

70. The method of claim 64, further including the step of including within said second group an industry reporter.

71. The method of claim 63, further including the step of including within said second group an industry analyst.

72. The method of claim 64, further including the step of including within said second group an industry organizer.