Method and system for processing or searching user records

• US 7,873,639 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Shipman, Robert A
• Primary Examiner(s): Yen; Syling
• Application Number:
  US10/532,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20060080283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,646 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/102, 707/610, 707/706, 707/713, 707/722, 707/737, 707/741, 707/752, 707/770, 707/791, 707/802, 707/828, 707/999.003, 707/999.01, 707/999.101, 707/999.103, 707/999.107, 709/201, 709/203, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/189, 379/188
• US Class Current: 707/737
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories

Abstract

Preferably for use in a directory enquires system, a method and system are provided for processing user records to determine common entries between them. When two user records are determined to store common information then link data is generated and stored in each user record indicating a link between the two records. This link information is then used in subsequent searching of the user records to determine the most likely result from a list of possible results obtained from a search of the user records. In a directory enquiries system the user records contain user ID and telephone number details as well as address book data of each user'"'"'s friends, family, or other acquaintances. The address book data is used to determine whether a link between user records should be formed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for processing and searching user records for user addresses in response to a request therefor, the method comprising:

a) receiving user record information from a plurality of users, each set of user record information including at least a user record user identifier and a user record user address, and at least a subset of the received sets of user record information each further including a list of one or more list user identifiers and list user addresses;

b) storing, in a computer storage device, the received sets of user record information as a plurality of user records;

c) processing, using a computer processing unit, the user records to determine, for each list user address stored in the list of each user record, whether the list user address is the same as any of the user record user addresses of any other user records and storing link information in each user record linking the particular user record to those other user records whose user record user address is the same as a list user address stored in the list of the particular user record, and further processing the user records to determine, for each user record, whether the user record user address thereof is the same as any of the list user addresses from the other user records and further storing link information in each user record linking the particular user record to those other of the user records which include a list user address which is the same as the particular user record'"'"'s user record user address;

d) receiving a search request from a user specifying a user identifier for which the corresponding user address is required;

e) identifying the user record of the user making the search request; and

f) searching the stored user records using the link information to produce a list of search results corresponding to the search request, wherein the link information is iteratively used to identify further user records located up to a predetermined number of links from the user record of the user making the search request.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one or more of the user addresses are telephone numbers.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least some of the telephone numbers are mobile telephone numbers.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one or more of the user identifiers are the names of registered users.

5. A system for processing and searching user records for user addresses in response to a request therefor, comprising:

a) means for receiving user record information from a plurality of users, each set of user record information including at least a user record user identifier and a user record user address, and at least a subset of the received sets of user record information each further including a list of one or more list user identifiers and list user addresses;

b) record storage means for storing the received sets of user record information as a plurality of user records;

c) record processing means for processing the user records to determine, for each list user address stored in the list of each user record, whether the list user address is the same as any of the user record user addresses of any other user records and storing link information in each user record linking the particular user record to those other user records whose user record user address is the same as a list user address stored in the list of the particular user record, the record processing means being further operable to process the user records to determine, for each user record, whether the user address thereof is the same as any of the list user addresses from the other user records and to store link information in each user record linking the particular user record to those other of the user records which include a list user address which is the same as the particular user record'"'"'s user address;

d) means for receiving a search request from a user specifying a user identifier for which the corresponding user address is required;

e) means for identifying the user record of the user making the search request; and

f) search means for searching the stored user records using the link information to produce a list of search results corresponding to the search request, wherein the link information is iteratively used to identify further user records located up to a predetermined number of links from the user record of the user making the search request.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein at least one or more of the user addresses are telephone numbers.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein at least some of the telephone numbers are mobile telephone numbers.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein at least one or more of the user identifiers are the names of registered users.