Relationship-based processing
First Claim
1. Computer-readable storage media encoded with computer executable instructions for providing relationship-based processing, by a method comprising:
- receiving from a first application a request for an indication of a relationship between a first entity and a second entity, wherein the relationship between the first entity and the second entity is not known to the first application at the time the request for the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity is received;
in response to receiving the request for an indication of a relationship between the first entity and the second entity, determining the relationship between the first entity and the second entity based on a plurality of ordered relationship rules, each relationship rule specifying a relationship and having an associated priority from high to low, by analyzing the plurality of ordered relationship rules, in priority order from high priority to low priority, until a relationship rule is satisfied so that after one relationship rule is satisfied, no additional lower priority relationship rules are analyzed in the determining of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity;
sending to the first application an indication of the determined relationship between the first entity and the second entity, as determined by analyzing the ordered relationship rules;
receiving from a second application a request for an indication of a relationship between a third entity and a fourth entity, at least one of the third and fourth entities being different from both the first and second entities, wherein the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity is not known to the second application at the time the request for the indication of the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity is received;
in response to receiving the request for an indication of a relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity, determining the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity based on the plurality of ordered relationship rules by analyzing the plurality of ordered relationship rules, in order from high priority to low priority, until a relationship rule is satisfied so that after one relationship rule is satisfied, no additional lower priority relationship rules are analyzed in the determining of the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity, the relationship between the third and fourth entities being different from the relationship between the first and second entities; and
sending to the second application an indication of the determined relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity, as determined by analyzing the ordered relationship rules,such that the first application bases its processing behaviors at least in part on the sent indication of the determined relationship between the first entity and the second entity andsuch that the second application bases its processing behaviors at least in part on the sent indication of the determined relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A relationship engine provides for the management of relationship information between entities. The relationship information indicates the level (or degree) of relationship between an entity and another entity or entities. The relationship engine allows applications to access the relationship information that is being managed by the relationship engine. For example, when an application needs to process an interaction between one entity and another entity, the application can query the relationship engine for the relationship between the entities. The application can then base its processing behavior at least in part on the relationship information obtained from the relationship engine.
41 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. Computer-readable storage media encoded with computer executable instructions for providing relationship-based processing, by a method comprising:
-
receiving from a first application a request for an indication of a relationship between a first entity and a second entity, wherein the relationship between the first entity and the second entity is not known to the first application at the time the request for the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity is received; in response to receiving the request for an indication of a relationship between the first entity and the second entity, determining the relationship between the first entity and the second entity based on a plurality of ordered relationship rules, each relationship rule specifying a relationship and having an associated priority from high to low, by analyzing the plurality of ordered relationship rules, in priority order from high priority to low priority, until a relationship rule is satisfied so that after one relationship rule is satisfied, no additional lower priority relationship rules are analyzed in the determining of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity; sending to the first application an indication of the determined relationship between the first entity and the second entity, as determined by analyzing the ordered relationship rules; receiving from a second application a request for an indication of a relationship between a third entity and a fourth entity, at least one of the third and fourth entities being different from both the first and second entities, wherein the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity is not known to the second application at the time the request for the indication of the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity is received; in response to receiving the request for an indication of a relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity, determining the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity based on the plurality of ordered relationship rules by analyzing the plurality of ordered relationship rules, in order from high priority to low priority, until a relationship rule is satisfied so that after one relationship rule is satisfied, no additional lower priority relationship rules are analyzed in the determining of the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity, the relationship between the third and fourth entities being different from the relationship between the first and second entities; and sending to the second application an indication of the determined relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity, as determined by analyzing the ordered relationship rules, such that the first application bases its processing behaviors at least in part on the sent indication of the determined relationship between the first entity and the second entity and such that the second application bases its processing behaviors at least in part on the sent indication of the determined relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A computer-implemented method performed by a computer having a memory and a processor for providing relationship-based processing, the method comprising:
-
receiving, from each of a plurality of applications, a request for an indication of a relationship between two entities, each request made by an application upon detecting a need to process an interaction between the two entities, wherein the relationship between the two entities is not known to the application at the time the request for the indication of the relationship between the two entities is received; and for each request for an indication of a relationship between two entities that is received from the plurality of applications, with a processor, sending a request to at least one of the entities for authorization to release relationship information between the two entities, and in response to receiving from the at least one of the two entities authorization to release relationship information between the two entities, with a processor, determining the relationship between the two entities at least in part by, accessing a plurality of ordered relationship rules, each relationship rule specifying a relationship and having an associated priority, and analyzing the plurality of ordered relationship rules, in priority order from high priority to low priority, until a relationship rule is satisfied so that after one relationship rule is satisfied, no additional lower priority relationship rules are analyzed in the determining of the relationship between the two entities, and sending to the application that requested the indication an indication of the relationship specified by the satisfied relationship rule indicating the relationship between the two entities based on the analysis of the ordered relationship rules, such that a requesting application bases its processing of the interaction between the two entities at least in part on the indication of the relationship between the two entities. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A system having a memory and a processor for providing relationship-based processing, comprising:
-
a component that receives from a first user a first plurality of ordered relationship rules and that receives from a second user a second plurality of ordered relationship rules different from the first plurality of ordered relationship rules; and a relationship engine that, receives from an application a first request for a relationship between the first entity and the first user, determines the relationship between the first entity and the first user at least in part by analyzing the first plurality of ordered relationship rules from high priority to low priority until a relationship rule is satisfied so that after one relationship rule is satisfied, no additional lower priority relationship rules are analyzed in the determining of the relationship between the first entity and the first user, sends an indication of the relationship between the first entity and the first user to the application, the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the first user including the identification of the relationship between the first entity and the first user and receives from the application a second request for a relationship between the first entity and the second user, determines the relationship between the first entity and the second user at least in part by analyzing the second plurality of ordered relationship rules from high priority to low priority until a relationship rule is satisfied so that after one relationship rule is satisfied, no additional lower priority relationship rules are analyzed in the determining of the relationship between the first entity and the second user, and sends an indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second user to the application, the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second user including the identification of the relationship between the first entity and the second user, wherein the application is stored as instructions in the memory for execution by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification