SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING INFORMATION IN NETWORKS

• US 20080281918A1
• Filed: 10/08/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Kirkwood
• Original Assignee: Michael Kirkwood
• Inventors: Kirkwood, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/868,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20080281918A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]

Abstract

System and method for sharing information in a network is provided. The system creates and maintains relationships between data elements in a network using a first server configured to store a unique identity object for a first data element. The server distributes the unique identity object to other servers. A plurality of contexts are associated with the first data element and applied to the element. Utilizing the applied context, relationships are created with other data elements in the network.

Claims

1. A system for creating and maintaining relationships between data elements in a network comprising:

a server configured to store a unique identity object for a first data element and distribute it to other servers;

a first module configured to store a plurality of contexts associated with the first data element;

a second module configured to apply one of the stored contexts to the first data element; and

a third module configured to provide a relationship between the first data element and other data elements using the applied context.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data element is a person on the network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the other data elements comprise entities in the network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the other data elements comprise identities in the network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first server is further configured to store a unique identity object for at least one of the other data elements.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the unique identity object for the first element is created based on a verification of a real world existence of the first data element.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the verification is provided by a verification source.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the verification source comprises an identification of relationships between the first data element and other data elements having unique identity objects associated therewith.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the entities in the network represent ideas and/or concepts that exist.

10. A system for creating and maintaining relationships between persons and other entities comprising:

a server configured to store a unique identity object for each person;

a first module configured to store a plurality of contexts associated with each person;

a second module configured to apply one of said contexts to a first person; and

a third module configured to provide a relationship between said first person and the other entities using the applied context.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the other entities comprise additional people.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the other entities comprise stores, restaurants, or manufacturers.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the unique identity object is a software object.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the first module comprises a data storage system configured to store the plurality of contexts and the unique identity objects.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the contexts comprise “

at work”

, “

at home”

, “

in school”

, “

do not disturb”

, “

shopping”

, or “

busy”

contexts.

16. A computer-implemented method for creating and maintaining relationships between users and other entities in an electronic system, comprising:

determining a unique identity for a user of the system;

selecting a context for the user, wherein the context determines how other entities communicate with the user;

identifying an entity that desires to communicate with the user; and

providing a communication link between the user and the entity, wherein the entity communicates context-sensitive information to the user.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein contexts may be defined by the user.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein determining a unique identity comprises receiving personal information from the person through a website.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein selecting the context for the user comprises receiving a request for the context from the person.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the communication link comprises an identification of a preferred email address.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the communication link comprises an identification of a preferred telephone number.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the communication link comprises a voice-over internet protocol (VOIP) telephone link.

23. A computer-implemented method of transmitting data between a first entity and other entities based on predefined relationships between the entities, the entities being connected to a digital network, the method comprising:

receiving a message indicative of the first entity'"'"'s presence in a location;

selecting a context for the first entity based at least in part on the location;

determining the first entity'"'"'s relationships with other entities which are relevant to the entity in the selected context; and

sending context-sensitive data from at least one of the other entities to the entity based on the entity'"'"'s relationships.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein the first entity comprises a mobile device.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein the current context for the mobile device comprises “

at work”

, “

at home”

, or “

shopping”

.