System and method for searching a social network

• US 7,594,000 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Richard B. Himmelstein
• Inventors: Himmelstein, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEURAUTER, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US11/691,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 709/217, 715/765, 715/780
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A system and method for efficiently accessing Internet resources is disclosed. One example method for providing information from a database of an institution is disclosed which comprises the step of receiving a request from a centralized database management system to forward information from the database of an institution. The method further comprises the step of identifying information within the database based on a key phrase included in the request. The method also includes the steps of identifying a subset of the requested information based on a priority access level and formatting the subset of identified information into a data table having at least one row and at least two columns. The method further includes transmitting the data table.

Claims

1. A method for providing information from a database of an institution, the method comprising:

identifying information within a database of an institution based on a key phrase;

retrieving the identified information from the database of the institution;

accessing a subset of the retrieved information based on a priority access level;

populating a data table with the subset of the retrieved information, the data table having at least one row and at least two columns; and

transmitting the data table.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises information from a database linked to the institution.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data table is transmitted to a user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data table is transmitted to a centralized database management system.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

interfacing with a software application; and

creating the database using the software application.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

restricting a centralized database management system from changing the information stored within the database of the institution.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the retrieving is performed automatically as a user accesses a new web page.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

defining the at least two columns from among a plurality of standard columns.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

creating a customized column heading.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the populating comprises correlating information from an institution-defined column of the database to the data table.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the priority access level is based on a restriction placed on the database by the institution.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the priority access level is based on a user.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the columns include data maintained by the institution.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the populating includes organizing the data table according to an organizational structure of an institution.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the organizational structure is determined by a title.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the information has been verified for accuracy.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the data table comprises a desired method of contact.

18. A system for providing information from a database of an institution, the system comprising:

a processor;

an output device connected to the processor;

a memory connected to the processor and storing instructions to control the operation of the processor, the memory further storing a database of an institution;

the processor identifying information within the database of the institution based on a key phrase;

the processor retrieving the identified information from the database of the institution;

the processor accessing a subset of the retrieved information based on a priority access level;

the processor populating a data table with the subset of the retrieved information, the data table having at least one row and at least two columns; and

the output device transmitting the data table.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the output device transmits the data table to a user.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the output device transmits the data table to a centralized database management system.

21. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

the processor interfacing with a software application; and

the processor creating the database using the software application.

22. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

the processor restricting a centralized database management system from changing the information stored within the database of the institution.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein the processor retrieving the identified information comprises retrieving the identified information as a user accesses a new web page.

24. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

the processor defining the at least two columns from among a plurality of standard columns.

25. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

the processor creating a customized column heading.

26. The system of claim 18 further comprising the processor correlating information from an institution-defined column of the database to the data table.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein the priority access level is based on a restriction placed on the database by the institution.

28. The system of claim 18 wherein the priority access level is based on a user.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein at least one of the columns include data maintained by the institution.

30. The system of claim 18 wherein the processor organizes the data table according to an organizational structure of an institution.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the organizational structure is determined by a title.

32. The system of claim 18 wherein the processor verifies at least a portion of the information for accuracy.

33. The system of claim 18 wherein the data table comprises a desired method of contact.