Collections of Linked Databases

• US 20100153832A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Within3, Inc.
• Original Assignee: S.M.A.R.T. Link Medical, Inc., Within 3 Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Brian N., Markus, Michael J., Markus (nee McGuire), Heather A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,453,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems relating to inferential networks are provided herein. This technology is further directed to methods and systems for making and using inferential networks. Still further, this technology 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 informing a reader of an electronic document that a reader'"'"'s personal communication network includes a database that is likely to possess information on a topic related to a word appearing in the electronic document, the method comprising the steps of:

comparing text recited in the electronic document and content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network, the personal communication network being a type of social network that is based upon communication links between electronically stored databases;

identifying a relationship between the word appearing in the electronic document and the content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network, and

displaying a visual indicator distinguishing the word from other words in the electronic document that are unrelated to the content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of establishing a hyperlink from the word appearing in the electronic document to the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing a hyperlink from the visual indicator to the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the relationship comprises the steps of:

searching the text recited in the electronic document;

searching the content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network; and

determining whether the topic is related to at least one word of text recited in the electronic document and at least a portion of the content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the visual indicator comprises the step of:

altering a color of the word to a color that distinguishes the word from surrounding text in the electronic document.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the visual indicator comprises the step of:

underscoring the word to a color that distinguishes the word from surrounding text in the electronic document.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the visual indicator comprises the steps of:

altering a color of the word to a color that distinguishes the word from surrounding text in the electronic document; and

underscoring the word to a color that distinguishes the word from surrounding text in the electronic document.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the related term is a topic having sub-topics;

the method further comprising the steps of;

identifying the sub-topics of the topic by accessing a library of related terms and topics; and

comparing the sub-topics recited in the electronic document with the databases in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal communication network is stored on a computer network.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the personal communication network is accessible to users over the Internet.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is in the medical or legal profession.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the word appearing in the electronic document is distinguished from other words in the electronic document that are of a different topic.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the word distinguished in the electronic document is on a distinct topic than the other words in the electronic document.

8. A system for informing a reader of an electronic document that the reader'"'"'s personal communication network includes a database that is likely to possess information on a topic related to a word appearing in the electronic document, the system comprising a network that includes a server and a remotely-located terminal in communication with the server over a communication link,

wherein at least one of the server and the terminal comprises:

means for comparing text recited in the electronic document and content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network, the personal communication network being a type of social network that is based upon communication links between electronically stored databases;

means for identifying a relationship between the word appearing in the electronic document and at least a portion of the content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network; and

means for displaying a visual indicator distinguishing the word from other words in the electronic document that are unrelated to the content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the server and the terminal further comprises an electronic library of terms and topics related to the word.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the server and the terminal further comprises means for establishing a hyperlink from the word to the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the server and the terminal further comprises means for establishing a hyperlink from the visual indicator to the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the means for identifying the relationship comprises.

means for searching the text recited in the electronic document;

means for searching the content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network; and

means for determining whether the topic is related to at least one word of text recited in the electronic document and at least a portion of the content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein the electronic document is stored in a memory of the terminal.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein the electronic document is a web page retrieved from a host server in communication with the network.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the web page displays search results returned in response to at least one of a directed search and a broadcast search of the reader'"'"'s, personal communication network.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising the steps of:

identifying a word included in an electronic document that is related to a topic about which a reader of the electronic document can likely obtain useful information from a database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network, the personal communication network being a type of social network that is based upon communication links between electronically stored databases; and

displaying a visual indicator distinguishing the word from other words included in the electronic document.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16 further comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

establishing a hyperlink between the word distinguished by the visual indicator to the database in reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the step of identifying the word comprises the steps of:

comparing text in the electronic document to content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network; and

identifying a topic common to both the word in the electronic document and the content within the database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

19. A method of identifying and linking a database in a reader'"'"'s personal communication network with a related term in an electronic document, the method comprising:

comparing text recited in the electronic document with databases in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network to determine a related database, the personal communication network being a type of social network that is based upon communication links between electronically stored databases;

identifying a relationship between the related term in the electronic document and content within the related database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network; and

displaying a visual indicator distinguishing the related term from text in the electronic document that is unrelated to the content in the databases in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

20. The method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of establishing a hyperlink from the related term or the visual indicator, to the related database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of comparing text in the electronic document with the databases in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network comprises the steps of:

searching the text recited in the electronic document;

searching content of a profile portion of the databases in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network; and

determining whether the text recited in the electronic document is related to a term recited in the profile portion of the databases in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of:

differentiating the related term from a second related term; and

displaying the visual indicator of the related term in a manner that distinguishes it from the second related term.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the related term is linked to the related database and the second term is linked to a second related database;

and

the related term is differentiated from the second related term based on a different number of degrees of separation that the first and second related databases are from a selected database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network, the selected database being designated by the reader as being likely to have searchable data that is related to at least a portion of the sought-after data.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the related term is differentiated from the second related term based on relative strengths of the relationships between the reader and a member identified with the related database, and between the reader and a member identified with a second related database associated with the second related term.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

limiting the databases compared in the comparing step to a reader-selected number of degrees of separation from a selected database in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network, selected database being designated by the reader as being likely to have searchable data that is related to at least a portion of the sought-after data.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

limiting the databases compared in the comparing step to one or more databases identified with one or more members of the reader'"'"'s personal communication network that are located in a desired geographic region or affiliated with a desired medical institution.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the related term and the related database is determined by referencing a library of related terms and topics.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the related term in the electronic document is a first term in the library of related terms and topics and content in the related database is a second, related term in the library of related terms and topics.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the electronic document is a reference source containing volumes of information about a broad range of topics.

30. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of establishing a hyperlink from the related term or the visual indicator to a profile of the member in the reader'"'"'s personal communication network that is identified with the related database.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein a path that connects the reader to the member that is identified with the related database is displayed.

32. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of comparing text recited in the electronic document with other electronic documents or websites to determine additional related databases.

34. The method of claim 19, wherein the related term is linked to the related database and the second term is linked to a second related database;

and

the related term is differentiated from the second related term based on a different number of degrees of separation that the first and second related databases are from the reader.