System and Method for Searching for a Target Contact and for Generating a Contact Path

• US 20110167085A1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hans M. Haschek
• Original Assignee: Hans M. Haschek
• Inventors: Haschek, Hans M.
• Application Number:
  US13/063,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167085A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for searching for a target contact from a plurality of contacts associated with one or more applications is described. A search request for the target contact is received from a searching entity. Information relating to the target contact is retrieved from a contacts database. One or more first contacts are identified in the contacts database that connect to the searching entity. If the one or more contacts do not connect to the target contact, one or more additional contacts are identified in the contacts database until one or more of the additional contacts connect to the target contact. One or more contact paths are generated that extend from the searching entity to the target contact. The one or more contact paths include one or more contacts between the searching entity and the target contact.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for searching for a target contact from a plurality of contacts associated with one or more applications, comprising:

receiving a search request for the target contact from a searching entity;

retrieving information relating to the target contact from a contacts database;

identifying one or more first contacts in the contacts database that connect to the searching entity;

if the one or more contacts do not connect to the target contact, identifying one or more additional contacts in the contacts database until one or more of the additional contacts connect to the target contact; and

generating one or more contact paths from the searching entity to the target contact, wherein the one or more contact paths include one or more contacts between the searching entity and the target contact.

2. The method of claim 1, transmitting the one or more contact paths to the searching entity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more applications comprise online social networking portals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more first contacts connected to the searching entity comprises a trust classification.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the trust classification indicates a trust relationship, an uncertain relationship, or an untrust relationship between each of the one or more first contacts connected to the searching entity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more contact paths transmitted to the searching entity comprise information relating to the one or more first contacts, a trust classification, and a distance indicator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the distance indicator indicates a number of contacts between the searching entity and the target contact.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading one or more contacts to the contacts database, wherein the one or more downloaded contacts are associated with a trust classification.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading information relating to the searching entity in a users database and the contacts database.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing a contact from being included in a contact path if a time period indicator indicates the contact is unavailable.

11. A computer system configured to search for a target contact from a plurality of contacts associated with one or more applications, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

a contact path generator module configured to;

receive a search request for the target contact from a searching entity;

retrieve information relating to the target contact from a contacts database;

identify one or more first contacts in the contacts database that connect to the searching entity;

if the one or more contacts do not connect to the target contact, identify one or more additional contacts in the contacts database until one or more of the additional contacts connect to the target contact; and

generate one or more contact paths from the searching entity to the target contact, wherein the one or more contact paths include one or more contacts between the searching entity and the target contact.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the contact path generator module is further configured to transmit the one or more contact paths to the searching entity.

13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more applications comprise online social networking portals.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more first contacts connected to the searching entity comprises a trust classification.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the trust classification indicates a trust relationship, an uncertain relationship, or an untrust relationship between each of the one or more first contacts connected to the searching entity.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein one or more contact paths transmitted to the searching entity comprise information relating to the one or more first contacts, a trust classification, and a distance indicator.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the distance indicator indicates a number of contacts between the searching entity and the target contact.

18. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the contact path generator module is further configured to download one or more contacts to the contacts database, wherein the one or more contacts are associated with a trust classification.

19. A computer-program product for searching for a target contact from a plurality of contacts associated with one or more applications, the computer-program product comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code programmed to receive a search request for the target contact from a searching entity;

code programmed to retrieve information relating to the target contact from a contacts database;

code programmed to identify one or more first contacts in the contacts database that connect to the searching entity;

if the one or more contacts do not connect to the target contact, code programmed to identify one or more additional contacts in the contacts database until one or more of the additional contacts connect to the target contact; and

code programmed to generate one or more contact paths from the searching entity to the target contact, wherein the one or more contact paths include one or more contacts between the searching entity and the target contact.

20. A computer-implemented method for connecting a searching entity with a target contact through a contact path, comprising:

validating login credentials of the searching entity;

collecting one or more contacts of the searching entity;

applying a trust classification to each of the one or more collected contacts;

submitting a search request for the target contact;

receiving one or more contact paths from the searching entity to the target contact, wherein each contact path comprises one or more contacts between the searching entity and the target contact; and

transmitting a message from the searching entity to a first level of contacts connected to the searching entity;

if the message has not arrived at the target contact, forwarding the transmitted message from the first level of contacts to additional contacts on the contact patch until the message arrives at the target contact.