Social Network of Identities and Query Method Therefor
First Claim
1. A method of gathering information in a social network requested by a first entity, wherein the social network includes the first entity, a second entity and a third entity, the first and second entities having a social relationship, and the second and third entities having a social relationship, wherein each of the first, second and third entities have first, second and third identity accounts, respectively, embodied on one or more computers connected in a computer network, wherein the first and second entities have an electronic contract specifying data the first and second entities have agreed to share, and the second and third entities have an electronic contract specifying data the second and third entities have agreed to share, the method comprising,receiving a request for the information requested by the first entity;
- searching for the information in response to the request; and
if the information is located in the second identity account, sending the information in response to the request for information if the information corresponds to the data specified in the electronic contract between the first and second entities, and if the information is located in the third identity account, sending the information in response to the request for the information if the information corresponds to the data specified in the electronic contract between the second and third entities.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The method of gathering information within a social network of identities in which people or other identities have social relationships with one another, such as personal or business relationships, and each person has an identity account (101) containing information about that person. The identity accounts reside on identity servers (150A, 150B, 150N) connected by way of a computer network (110A, 110B, 110N). Information, such as address and telephone information, is held in each person'"'"'s identity account (101). The identity accounts (101) can be queried based on the social relationships to find information. One person can query a second person'"'"'s contact information. The second person can then query others known to that second person for the information. Electronic contracts embody agreements between the people in the social network, specify the terms and conditions for using data in the identity accounts, and can limit the information returned to the person making the query.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of gathering information in a social network requested by a first entity, wherein the social network includes the first entity, a second entity and a third entity, the first and second entities having a social relationship, and the second and third entities having a social relationship, wherein each of the first, second and third entities have first, second and third identity accounts, respectively, embodied on one or more computers connected in a computer network, wherein the first and second entities have an electronic contract specifying data the first and second entities have agreed to share, and the second and third entities have an electronic contract specifying data the second and third entities have agreed to share, the method comprising,
receiving a request for the information requested by the first entity; -
searching for the information in response to the request; and if the information is located in the second identity account, sending the information in response to the request for information if the information corresponds to the data specified in the electronic contract between the first and second entities, and if the information is located in the third identity account, sending the information in response to the request for the information if the information corresponds to the data specified in the electronic contract between the second and third entities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for participating in a computerized social network of users, comprising:
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an identity account associated with a first one of the users in the social network, the identity account having information about the first user; an electronic contract specifying information in the identity account for sharing with a second one of the users in the social network; and means for qualifying the information specified in the identity account to be shared with the second user based on a type of relationship between the first and second users. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of obtaining information about an entity among a plurality of entities in a social network, wherein the social network includes a plurality of identity accounts associated with the plurality of entities, respectively, wherein between the plurality of identity accounts are electronic contracts, the method comprising:
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requesting information related to the entity; and receiving the requested information related to the entity based at least on a social relationship established between the entity and a second entity having an identity account. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of obtaining information in a social network, the social network having a plurality of identity accounts wherein each identity account of the first plurality of identity accounts is associated with an entity and wherein an exchange of information between the plurality of identity accounts is governed by electronic contracts, the method comprising:
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a first identity account receiving a query from a second identity account, the exchange of information between the first identity account and second identity account being governed by an electronic contract, the query containing a request for certain information about the contents of the first identity account; searching the first identity account for the certain information to determine if the first identity account contains the certain information; if the first identity account contains the certain information, determining if the first identity account is permitted to exchange the certain information with the second identity account based on the electronic contract between the first identity account and the second identity account; and sending the certain information to the second identity account if it is determined that the electronic contract so permits. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification