COLLECTIONS OF LINKED DATABASES

• US 20080229244A1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3degrees LLC
• Original Assignee: 3degrees LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Brian N., Markus, Michael J., McGuire, Heather A., Kionga-Kamau, Peter M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/811
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2471 Distributed queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

Methods and or systems relating to inferential networks. This invention is further directed to methods and systems for making and using inferential networks. Still farther, this invention is generally directed to making one or more inferential networks by using data generated from directed searches of collections of linked databases.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a social network member as potentially possessing information about a topic so the social network member can be returned by a search conducted in an attempt to locate the information, the method comprising the steps of:

storing historical data generated by the network member'"'"'s exposure or communications with databases;

establishing that the network member has previously been exposed to a database likely to possess useful information about the topic; and

attributing an initial likelihood that the network member possesses the useful information based at least in part on the network member'"'"'s previous exposure to the database.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of establishing that the network member has previously been exposed to the database comprises the step of accessing the historical data to establish that the network member has previously accessed an electronic database possessing information related to the useful information.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the electronic database is selected from a group consisting of a website, an electronic document, and an electronic profile of a network member who possibly possesses the useful information.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of attributing the initial likelihood comprises the step of attributing the initial likelihood based at least in part on a change made to the network member'"'"'s profile subsequent to being exposed to the database.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the change to the network member'"'"'s profile comprises an addition of a keyword related to the useful information.

6. A method of determining a likelihood that a first network member possesses useful information about a topic relative to a second network member, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing that the first network member has communicated a willingness to be consulted by the second network member about the topic to the second network member; and

attributing the likelihood that the first network member is more likely to possess useful information about the topic than the second network member based at least in part on the first network member'"'"'s willingness to be consulted about the topic communicated to the second network member.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of establishing that the first network member has communicated the willingness comprises the steps of:

communicating an invitation to the second network member inviting the second network member to become a first-degree contact of the first network member with reference to a topic;

communicating an election by the first network member to automatically accept a reciprocal invitation from the second network member with regard to the topic to the second network member; and

capturing data identifying the topic specified by the first network member in electing to automatically accept the reciprocal invitation.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of attributing the likelihood comprises the steps of:

weighting the first network member'"'"'s communicated willingness to be consulted about the topic; and

determining the likelihood that the first network member possesses useful information about the topic relative to the second network member based at least in part on the weighted willingness of the first network member to be consulted about the topic.

9. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

weighting at least one of the first and second network members'"'"' rank as an opinion leader about the topic; and

determining the likelihood that the first network member possesses useful information about the topic relative to the second network member based at least in part on the weighted rank as an opinion leader.

10. A computer implemented method of filtering search results returned in response to a search conducted for information about a topic, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a social network of context-specified links between social network members;

establishing a keyword and a context specified by a search initiator to define the search;

searching the network for one or more databases that could potentially possess information about the keyword defined by the search initiator; and

limiting the search results returned by the search to those that are separated from the search initiator by one or more context-specified links having the context specified by the search initiator.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein all links extending between the search initiator and each search result returned by the search are in the context specified by the search initiator.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein at least the links between the search initiator and each first-degree contact of the search initiator returned by the search are in the context specified by the search initiator.

13. A portable communication device comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting communication data from the portable device;

a receiver for receiving incoming communication data to be received by the portable device;

a data-entry device to allow a user to specify a keyword that will be used to conduct a search of a network and return search results;

an electronically-readable memory to store contact information that allows the user to communicate with acquaintances;

means for capturing data indicating an inferential link between the user and a database associated with the network,

wherein the data includes the keyword and a record of an attempt to communicate with the database returned as part of the search results.

14. The portable communication device of claim 13, wherein the data is used to vary a strength variable associated with the database or a link between the database and the user.

15. The portable communication device according to claim 13 further comprising means for establishing an anchor database specified by the user to conduct the search with the portable communication device.

16. The portable communication device according to claim 13, wherein the attempt to communicate with the database returned as the search result is at least one of a telephone call, an electronic-mail message, a text message, and any combination thereof.

17. A method of forming an inferential link between members of a network, the method comprising the steps of:

conducting a search of the network in an attempt to identify databases that could potentially possess useful information about a keyword specified by a search initiator;

displaying one or more databases as search results that could potentially possess useful information about the keyword;

capturing data identifying a search result selected by the search initiator to indicate a belief by the search initiator that the search result selected possesses useful information about the keyword; and

using the data identifying the search result selected by the search initiator to establish an inference that the search result selected by the search initiator possesses the useful information about the keyword.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of increasing a strength of the inference that the search result selected by the search initiator possesses useful information about the keyword each time the search result is selected in response to a search conducted for a same or a related keyword.

19. The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of increasing a strength of the inference that the search result selected by the search initiator possesses useful information about the keyword each time the search result is specified as an anchor database when conducting a search using a same or a related keyword.

20. The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of weakening a strength of the inference that the search result selected by the search initiator possesses useful information about the keyword when, over a predetermined period of time, the search result is not specified as an anchor database in a search, nor selected when the search result is returned by a subsequent search.