SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RANKING USER DEFINED TARGETS IN A UNIVERSAL GRAPH DATABASE

• US 20120095998A1
• Filed: 10/19/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reachable, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reachable, Inc.
• Inventors: Stafford, Richard, Sheehan, Timothy Patrick, Bates, Christian Michael, Stevens, Paul Samuel Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,402,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/728
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for determining a connection ranking value between entities includes receiving private information from a user, and retrieving public information from publicly available sources. The method also includes matching the public information with the private information, generating a graph database with the public and private information, establishing at least one search criteria, and generating a connection ranking value between entities in the graph database based on the search criteria.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for determining a connection ranking value between entities, comprising:

receiving private information from a user;

retrieving public information from publicly available sources;

matching the public information with the private information;

generating a graph database with the public and private information;

establishing at least one search criteria;

generating a connection ranking value between entities in the graph database based on the at least one search criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the private information includes relationship information between the user and a plurality of contacts.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising continuously retrieving the public information and automatically updating the connection ranking value.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a connection pathway between the entities based on the at least one search criteria, the connection ranking value being based at least in part on the connection pathway.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising displaying the connection pathway and connection ranking value.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving private information about the user.

7. A computer system configured to determine a connection ranking value between entities, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

a ranking generating module is configured to;

receive private information from a user;

retrieve public information from publicly available sources;

match the public information with the private information;

generate a graph database with the public and private information;

establish at least one search criteria;

generate a ranking value between entities in the graph database based on the at least one search criteria.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the ranking generating module is further configured to continuously retrieve the public information and automatically update the ranking values.

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the ranking generating module is further configured to create a pathway between the entities based on the at least one search criteria.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the ranking value represents aspects of the pathway.

11. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the ranking value is based at least in part on relationship information between the user and at least one of the entities.

12. A computer-program product for determining connections between entities, the computer-program product comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code programmed to receive private information from a user;

code programmed to retrieve public information from publicly available sources;

code programmed to match the public information with the private information;

code programmed to generate a graph database with the public and private information;

code programmed to establish at least one search criteria;

code programmed to generate a ranking value between entities in the graph database based on the at least one search criteria.

13. The computer-program product of claim 12, wherein the instructions further comprise code programmed to create a pathway based on the at least one search criteria.

14. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise displaying the ranking value and the pathway.

15. A computer-implemented method for generating a ranking value for a user defined target, comprising:

establishing at least one search criteria for a user defined target;

retrieving public information relating to the at least one search criteria from publicly available sources;

creating at least one pathway to the user defined target that meets the at least one search criteria;

generating a ranking value for the at least one pathway;

displaying the ranking value.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying the at least one pathway.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising continuously retrieving the public information and automatically updating the ranking value.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one pathway includes a plurality of pathways, wherein the ranking value is based on at least one of a strength of each of the plurality of pathways, a total number of pathways, and a length of the plurality of pathways.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving personal information from at least one user, and matching the personal information with the public information.

20. A computer system configured to generate a ranking value for a user defined target, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

a ranking generating module configured to;

establish at least one search criteria for a user defined target;

retrieve public information relating to the at least one search criteria from publicly available sources;

create at least one pathway to the user defined target that meets the at least one search criteria;

generate a ranking value for the at least one pathway;

display the ranking value.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the ranking generating module is further configured to display the at least one pathway.

22. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the ranking generating module is further configured to store the at least one pathway and the ranking value.

23. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the ranking generating module is further configured to continuously retrieve the public information and automatically update the at least one pathway and the ranking value.

24. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the at least one pathway includes a plurality of pathways, wherein the ranking value is based on at least one of a strength of each of the plurality of pathways, a total number of pathways, and a length of the at least one pathway.

25. A computer-program product for generating a ranking value for a user defined target, the computer-program product comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code programmed to establish at least one search criteria for a user defined target;

code programmed to retrieve public information relating to the at least one search criteria from publicly available sources;

code programmed to create at least one pathway to the user defined target that meets the at least one search criteria;

code programmed to generate a ranking value for the at least one pathway;

code programmed to display the ranking value.

26. The computer-program product of claim 25, wherein the instructions further comprise code programmed to display the at least one pathway.

27. The computer-program product of claim 25, wherein the instructions further comprise code programmed to receive personal information from at least one user, and the at least one pathway is created using the public and private information.

28. The computer-program product of claim 25, wherein the at least one pathway includes a plurality of pathways, wherein the ranking value is based on at least one of a strength of each of the plurality of pathways, a total number of pathways, and a length of the at least one pathway.