Human relationships registering system, method and device for registering human relationships, program for registering human relationships, and medium storing human relationships registering program and readable by computer

• US 7,707,172 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mekiki Company Limited, Mekiki Creates Company Limited (Mekiki Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Mekiki Company Limited, Mekiki Creates Company Limited (Mekiki Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ninomiya, Kenichi, Deguchi, Hikaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Isaac M
• Application Number:
  US12/265,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 707600-789
• US Class Current: 707/607
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2291 User-Defined Types; Storage management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2471 Distributed queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

To provide a human relationships registering system, a method and a server for registering human relationships, a program for registering human relationships, and a medium storing human relationships registering program and readable by a computer, all of which are used to establish wide and close relationships with members having a variety of occupations or engaged in various technical fields and to obtain expert knowledge or information. The human relationships registering system comprises first data processing units 2 and 3 including sections for receiving personal data of a new member, and a second data processing unit including a section for storing the received personal data. The second data processing unit stores the personal data of the new member in correlation to an existing member when the existing member confirms the new member.

Claims

1. An apparatus including a server configured to establish and update relationships between members registered to a human relationships registering system, the apparatus comprising:

a database configured to store personal attribute information of the members, the personal attribute information including an identification code, a name, and relationship coefficients indicating respective degrees of relationship between the members;

a message communicator configured to communicate a message from a first member to a second member and configured to communicate a response to the message from the second member to the first member, the response establishing a relationship between the first member and the second member;

a database update unit configured to update, when the relationship is established between the first member and the second member, the relationship coefficients indicating respective degrees of relationship between (i) the first member and the second member, (ii) the first member and the members having relationships with the second member, and (iii) the second member and the members having relationships with the first member; and

a data retriever configured to communicate an identity of target members having personal attribute information satisfying one or more key words of a search criterion, the one or more key words including at least a target relationship coefficient indicating the degree of relationship between the identified target members and a particular member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the target relationship coefficient includes a range of values.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data retriever is further configured to retrieve from the database the personal attribute information of common members having relationships with both a searcher and the identified target members, and to provide the searcher with the retrieved personal attribute information.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the data retriever is further configured to retrieve from the database the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the searcher and the common members.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the data retriever is further configured to retrieve from the database the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the searcher and the identified target members.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the data retriever is further configured to retrieve from the database the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the identified target members and the common members.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message comprises an invitation to establish a relationship with the first member and the response comprises an acceptance of the invitation.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, when the identification code comprises a member e-mail address.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search criteria are included in a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) request.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message and the response both comprise protocol e-mails.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the relationship coefficient values are stored as a table and the database update unit updates the table.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particular member comprises the first member.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personal attribute information further comprises a specialized field.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification code further comprises a username.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message from the first member includes personal attribute information of the first member.

16. A method of establishing and updating relationships between members registered to a human relationships registering system, the method comprising:

storing personal attribute information of the members in a server coupled to a communication network, the personal attribute information including an identification code, a name, and relationship coefficients indicating respective degrees of relationship between the members;

communicating a message from a first member to a second member utilizing the communication network;

communicating a response to the message from the second member to the first member utilizing the communication network, the response establishing a relationship between the first member and the second member;

updating the server coupled to the communication network, when the relationship is established between the first member and the second member, the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between (i) the first member and the second member, (ii) the first member and the members having relationships with the second member, and (iii) the second member and the members having relationships with the first member; and

communicating utilizing the communication network an identification of target members having personal attribute information satisfying one or more key words of a search criterion, the one or more key words including at least the relationship coefficient indicating the degree of relationship between the identified target members and a particular member.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the target relationship coefficient includes a range of values.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

retrieving from the database the personal attribute information of common members having relationships with both a searcher and the identified target members;

and providing the searcher with the retrieved personal attribute information.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

retrieving from the database the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the searcher and the common members.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

retrieving from the database the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the searcher and the identified target members.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

retrieving from the database the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the identified target members and the common members.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the message comprises an invitation to establish a relationship with the first member and the response comprises an acceptance of the invitation.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein the search criteria are included in a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) request.

24. The method according to claim 16, wherein the message and the response comprise protocol e-mails.

25. The method according to claim 16, wherein the relationship coefficient values are stored as a table and the database update unit updates the table.

26. The method according to claim 16, wherein the particular member comprises the first member.

27. The method according to claim 16, wherein the personal attribute information further comprises a specialized field.

28. The method according to claim 16, wherein the identification code further comprises a username.

29. The method according to claim 16, wherein the message from the first member includes personal attribute information of the first member.

30. The method according to claim 16, wherein the communication network comprises Internet.

31. The method according to claim 16, wherein the search criteria are from the particular member.

32. A computer readable medium storing program code for causing a processor to execute processing to establish and update relationships between members registered to a human relationships registering system in a server coupled to a network, the processing comprising:

storing personal attribute information of the members in the server coupled to the network, the personal attribute information including an identification code, a name, a and relationship coefficients indicating respective degrees of relationship between the members;

communicating a message from a first member to a second member utilizing the network;

communicating a response utilizing the network to the message from the second member to the first member, the response establishing a relationship between the first member and the second member;

updating the server coupled to the communication network, when the relationship is established between the first member and the second member, the relationship coefficient indicating the respective degrees of relationship between (i) the first member and the second member, (ii) the first member and the members having relationships with the second member, and (iii) the second member and the members having relationships with the first member; and

communicating utilizing the communication network an identification of target members having personal attribute information satisfying one or more key words of a search criterion, the one or more key words including at least the relationship coefficient indicating the degree of relationship between the identified target members and a particular member.

33. An apparatus including a server configured to establish and update relationships between members registered to a human relationships registering system, the apparatus comprising:

a database for storing personal attribute information of the members, the personal attribute information including a member e-mail address, a name, username, and relationship coefficients indicating respective degrees of relationship between the members;

a message communicator for communicating a message to a second member inviting the second member to establish a relationship with a first member, and for communicating a message to the first member indicating that the second member has accepted the invitation, the acceptance establishing a relationship between the first member and the second member;

a database update unit for updating, when the relationship is established between the first member and the second member, the relationship coefficients indicating respective degrees of relationship between the first member and the second member; and

a data retriever for providing a particular member an identity of target members having personal attribute information satisfying one or more key words of a search criterion of the particular member, the one or more key words including at least a target relationship coefficient indicating the degree of relationship between the identified target members and the particular member.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

the data retriever is further configured to retrieve from the database the personal attribute information of common members having relationships with both the first member and the identified target members, and to provide the first member with the retrieved personal attribute information.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the data retriever is further configured to retrieve from the database the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the first member and the common members.

36. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the data retriever is further configured to retrieve from the database the relation coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the identified target members and common members.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

the data retriever is further configured to retrieve from the database the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the first member and the identified target members.

38. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the particular member comprises the first member.

39. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the message from the first member includes personal attribute information of the first member.

40. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the search criteria are included in a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) request.

41. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the message and the response both comprise protocol e-mails.

42. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the relationship coefficient values are stored as a table and the database update unit updates the table.

43. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the personal attribute information further comprises a specialized field.

44. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the identification code further comprises a username.

45. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the message from the first member includes personal attribute information of the first member.

46. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the database update unit for updating, when the relationship is established between the first member and the second member, further updates the relationship coefficients indicating respective degrees of relationship between the first member and the members having relationships with the second member and the second member and the members having relationships with the first member.

47. A method of establishing and updating relationships between members registered to a human relationships registering system, the method comprising:

storing personal attribute information of the members on a web server coupled to a communication network, the personal attribute information including a member e-mail address, a name, a username, and relationship coefficients indicating respective degrees of relationship between the members;

communicating a message utilizing the communication network from a first member to a second member inviting the second member to establish a relationship with a first member;

communicating a message utilizing the communication network to the first member indicating the second member has accepted the invitation, the acceptance establishing a relationship between the first member and the second member;

updating the server coupled to the communication network, when the relationship is established between the first member and the second member, the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the first member and the second member; and

communicating to a particular member, utilizing the server coupled to the communication network, an identification of target members having personal attribute information satisfying one or more key words of a search criterion, the one or more key words including at least the relationship coefficient indicating the degree of relationship between the identified target members and a particular member.

48. The method of claim 47 further comprising:

retrieving from the database the personal attribute information of common members having relationships with both the first member and the identified target members; and

providing the first member with the retrieved personal attribute information.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

retrieving from the database the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the first member and the common members.

50. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

retrieving from the database the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the identified target members and the common members.

51. The method of claim 47 further comprising:

retrieving from the database the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the first member and the identified target members.

52. The method according to claim 47, wherein the message from the first member includes personal attribute information of the first member.

53. The method according to claim 47, wherein further updating the server coupled to the communication network, when the relationship is established between the first and second member, the relationship coefficients between the respective degrees of relationship between the first member and the members having relationships with the second member and the second member and the members having relationships with the first member.

54. A computer readable medium storing program code for causing a processor to execute processing to establish and update relationships between members registered to a human relationships registering system on a web server coupled to internet, the processing comprising:

storing personal attribute information of the members in a server coupled to a communication network, the personal attribute information including a members e-mail address, a name, and relationship coefficients indicating respective degrees of relationship between the members;

communicating a message utilizing the communication network to a second member inviting the second member to establish a relationship with a first member;

communicating a message utilizing the communication network to the first member indicating the second member has accepted the invitation, the acceptance establishing a relationship between the first member and the second member;

updating the server coupled to the communication network, when the relationship is established between the first member and the second member, the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the first member and the second member; and

providing to a particular member, utilizing the server coupled to the communication network, an identification of target members having personal attribute information satisfying one or more key words of a search criterion, the one or more key words including at least the relationship coefficient indicating the degree of relationship between the identified target members and a particular member.

55. The computer readable medium storing program code according to claim 54, wherein the particular member comprises the first member.

56. The computer readable medium storing program code according to claim 54, wherein the communication network comprises Internet.

57. The computer readable medium according to claim 54, wherein the search criteria are included in a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) request.

58. The computer readable medium according to claim 54, wherein the message and the response comprise protocol e-mails.

59. The computer readable medium according to claim 54, wherein the relationship coefficient values are stored as a table and the database update unit updates the table.

60. The computer readable medium according to claim 54, wherein the personal attribute information further comprises a specialized field.

61. The computer readable medium according to claim 54, wherein the identification code further comprises a username.

62. The computer readable medium according to claim 54, wherein the message from the first member includes personal attribute information of the first member.

63. The computer readable medium according to claim 54, wherein the search criteria are from the particular member.

64. A computer readable medium storing program code according to claim 54, wherein further updating the server coupled to the communication network, when the relationship is established between the first member and the second member, the relationship coefficients indicating the respective degrees of relationship between the first member and the second members having relationship with the second member and the second member and the members having relationships with the first member.