RELATIONSHIP DATA MANAGEMENT

• US 20090327347A1
• Filed: 03/16/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory Danforth, Khanh Hoang
• Original Assignee: Gregory Danforth, Khanh Hoang
• Inventors: Danforth, Gregory, Hoang, Khanh
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/03 Data mining
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a system for processing relationship data that expresses relationship between various entities. In some embodiments, the entities are entities associated directly with an enterprise. The entities in some embodiments described below also include entities associated indirectly with the enterprise through other entities. However, one of ordinary skill will realize that some embodiments might only track relationships between entities directly associated with an enterprise. In some embodiments, the system consolidates disparate relationship data sets that relate to the same set of entities. For instance, in some embodiments, the system includes several data storages that store relationship data. For at least two entities, at least two different data storages store two different relationship data sets that differently express the relationship between the two entities. The system includes a hierarchy manager that receives the two different relationship data sets and consolidates the two different relationship data sets into one relationship data set that best expresses the relationship between the two entities.

Claims

1. A system for processing relationship data sets that express relationship between various entities associated with an enterprise, the system comprising:

a) a plurality of data storages for storing a plurality of relationship data sets, each relationship data set expressing a relationship between a plurality of entities;

b) a master reference manager for storing master reference data sets, each master reference data set uniquely identifying an entity;

c) a hierarchy manager for aggregating relationship data sets for the entities identified by the master reference data sets.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an activity manager for processing activity data for the entities.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein activity data is data relating to interactions with an entity, while reference and relationship data sets are non-interaction data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the data storages further store a plurality of relationship data sets relating to entities that are not associated with the enterprise, but are related to entities that are associated with the enterprise.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a master data store for storing the consolidated relationship data sets.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hierarchy manager aggregates the relationship data sets to provide a comprehensive view of the relationships the entities.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the hierarchy manager provides a user of the system with an ability to examine relationships that are defined for an entity along different relationship dimensions.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the hierarchy manager aggregates the relationship data sets to provide a user of the system with an ability to identify indirect relationships between entities that do not have a direct relationship.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregated relationship data sets provide a comprehensive view of the relationships the entities.

15. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing a user with an ability to examine relationships that are defined for an entity along different relationship dimensions.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregated relationship data sets provide a user with an ability to identify indirect relationships between entities that do not have a direct relationship.

9. A method for processing relationship data sets that express relationship between various entities associated with an enterprise, the method comprising:

a) storing a plurality of relationship data sets, each relationship data set expressing a relationship between a plurality of entities;

b) storing master reference data sets, each master reference data set uniquely identifying an entity;

c) aggregating relationship data sets for the entities identified by the master reference data sets.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising processing activity data for the entities.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein activity data is data relating to interactions with an entity, while reference and relationship data sets are non-interaction data.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising storing a plurality of relationship data sets relating to entities that are not associated with the enterprise, but are related to entities that are associated with the enterprise.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising storing the aggregated relationship data sets.