SYSTEM AND METHOD OF TRACKING AND RECOGNIZING THE EXCHANGE OF FAVORS

• US 20080034061A1
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Beares
• Original Assignee: Michael Beares
• Inventors: BEARES, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/834,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20080034061A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A system and method for explicitly building, using, tracking and displaying relationship capital. In one embodiment, the system includes user profile data, a favor recognition system, and favor exchange and rating systems. Each user is able to enter their profile information and exchange favors with other users. The system tracks the exchanges and allows users to provide feedback on the other user'"'"'s performance. Exchanges are between two users, but can be posted to multiple users. The giver of a favor receives credits to their account and the receiver'"'"'s account is debited for the equivalent amount. The system stores and displays the user'"'"'s transaction history and provides a summary which includes the favor balance and feedback summary. Relationships between different users are defined by their exchange history.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging and recognizing favors in an online system, the method comprising:

collecting user data from every user in the online system, said user data including i) a profile of each user, ii) relationship capital data comprising information about exchange of favors within the system;

storing said profile and said relationship capital data;

calculating a favor balance from the relationship capital data; and

displaying a relationship capital summary.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a communication process for a user to request a favor from another user and use that process to accept, decline, negotiate alternatives, and indicate completion.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the display of the favor status based on the user actions in the favor exchange process.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the display of numbers of favors given, received and the favor balance.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the display of quantitative feedback metrics based on feedback given on the exchange of favors.

6. A favor exchange and recognition system for connecting a first user to a second user, the system comprising:

a first user interface device;

a second user interface device;

a network coupled to said first user device and said second user device;

a server connected to said network, said server having;

a database storing user data of every user, said user data including i) a professional profile of each user, ii) relationship capital data comprising information about exchange of favors within the system; and

said server calculating a favor balance from the relationship capital data; and

said server transmitting display information about the favor balance to the first user interface device and the second user interface device.

7. The system of claim 6 which further comprises:

a communication system for a user to request a favor from another user and use that system to accept, decline, negotiate alternatives, and indicate completion.

8. The system of claim 6 which further comprises:

the display of the favor status based on the user actions in the favor exchange process.

9. The system of claim 6 which further comprises:

the display of numbers of favors given, received and the favor balance.

10. The system of claim 6 which further comprises:

the display of quantitative feedback metrics based on feedback given on the exchange of favors.

11. A web service for integrating a web-based application for exchanging and recognizing favors into an existing social networking service, comprising:

a server connected to a network having programming to provide favor exchange and recognition information which comprises favor exchange data (e.g. favors given, favors received, favor balance and positive feedback) to one or more social networking services, wherein the web service acts as a central favor recognition bank and feedback consolidator.

12. The web service of claim 14, wherein the social networking service is selected from LinkedIn, Friendster, Xing, Face Book, and My Space.