Search system and method involving user and provider associated beneficiary groups

• US 6,980,982 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2000
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alexandra H O'Hara, Daniel H O'Hara, Paula A. Geddes, William T. Geddes IV
• Original Assignee: GCG, LLC
• Inventors: Geddes, Jr., William T., Chase, Peter N., Gherardi, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Leslie
• Application Number:
  US09/650,046
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707/102, 707/104.1, 705 26- 28, 709/203, 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A search system and method provide a user with a fast and efficient way to progressively expand a search for providers of a specified search object, such as a good, service, or information; while maintaining a desired link to a beneficiary group including a particular geographic community, a community of interest, or a user-preferred class of providers. More specifically, the user and/or provider is initially associated with at least one of a plurality of beneficiary groups, such as a local church for example. The system and method then affords the user an arrangement, such as a synergistic concentric circle arrangement for example, for searching for a provider associated with a user-specified beneficiary group or groups. Thus, a user may conduct a targeted search for a specified search object from providers associated with a similarly specified beneficiary group. The search or beneficiary group can thereafter be expanded by the user, until the user selects a provider of the user-specified good, service, or information, associated with the user-specified beneficiary group(s).

Claims

1. A computer implemented user directed search method, the method comprising the steps of:

associating a user with at least one of a plurality of beneficiary groups;

associating at least one of a plurality of providers with the at least one of the plurality of beneficiary groups;

entering search request input parameters in a database;

entering beneficiary input parameters in the database;

comparing the search request input parameters to the beneficiary input parameters in the database; and

selecting a provider from the at least one of the plurality of providers to provide one of a good, service and information defined in the search request by dynamically prioritizing expanding or contracting synergistic concentric circles of a search result.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein information regarding the user, the at least one of the plurality of beneficiary groups and the at least one of the plurality of providers is stored on an information server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein an owner of the information server receives a percentage of the proceeds of one of the good, the service and the information defined in the search request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of providers receives a percentage of the proceeds of one of the good, service and the information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the search request is first conducted for the at least one of the plurality of providers that is associated with the at least one of the plurality of beneficiary groups specified by the user in the search request.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a first inner synergistic concentric circle of the search result is created.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user receives an unsatisfactory search result, the search request is expanded based on predetermined and assigned priorities by expanding the search request input parameters.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a second synergistic concentric circle of the search result is created.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

associating a primary beneficiary group with the user; and

associating a secondary beneficiary group with the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the search request is initially conducted in association with the primary beneficiary group and if the search results are unsatisfactory, a synergistic concentric circle is expanded to a new plane.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the user adds a search object to the search request to locate the at least one of the plurality of providers to provide one of a good, service and information defined in the search request.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the user an option of setting priorities for expanding the search request to a synergistic concentric circle involving an additional beneficiary group.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the user an option of setting additional search request input parameters and additional beneficiary input parameters.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the information server conducts a search for all the at least one of the plurality of providers who are associated with all the at least one of the plurality of beneficiary groups and matches any additional parameters thus selecting the provider from the at least one of the plurality of providers to provide one of the good, the service and the information defined in the search request.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the user conducts business with a selected provider.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user can click on a link hyperlink and link to a website of the selected provider to conduct a business transaction of one of the good, the service and the information defined in the search request.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of beneficiary groups is an entity.

18. A search system, comprising:

a database, adapted to store information associating a user with at least one beneficiary group, to store information associating a provider with at least one beneficiary group, to store search request input parameters and adapted to store beneficiary input parameters; and

a controller, to receive a search request from a computer device of a user, to compare the search request input parameters to the beneficiary input parameters in the database and to provide a search result to the user including a provider associated with the beneficiary group of the user by dynamically prioritizing expanding or contracting synergistic concentric circles of a search result.

19. The search system of claim 18, wherein the database is to be searched in expandable synergistic concentric circles formed based upon the search request and associated beneficiary group of the user.

20. The search system of claim 18, wherein the beneficiary group is an entity.

21. A search method for a computer device, the method comprising the steps of:

associating a user with at least one of a plurality of beneficiary groups;

associating at least one of a plurality of providers with the at least one of the plurality of beneficiary groups;

entering search request input parameters and beneficiary input parameters in a database creating a self directed expandable search;

searching for a provider by comparing the search request input parameters to the beneficiary input parameters in the database and expanding the search by searching in expandable synergistic concentric circles formed based upon the search request and associated beneficiary group of the user if the provider is not initially found; and

selecting a provider from the at least one of the plurality of providers to provide one of a good, service and information defined in the search request by dynamically prioritizing expanding or contracting synergistic concentric circles of a search result.

22. The search method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving information from the user for expanding the synergistic expandable concentric circles.

23. The search method of claim 21, wherein a beneficiary group associated with the user includes assignable priority over another beneficiary group associated with the user.