Interactive peer directory
First Claim
1. A peer directory system implemented on a digital computer network, comprising:
- a user interface enabling user profile information to be entered and stored in a profiles database;
a search engine configured to append tags to said user profile information;
a search index associated with said search engine for storing tagged user profile information in an indexed form; and
a peer relevancy algorithm associated with said search engine to search for candidate peers among the indexed user profile information stored in said search index;
said peer relevancy algorithm assigning weights to candidate peers based on different categories of the indexed user profile information and selecting peer matches based on said weights wherein;
said search index stores information indicative of past connection responses for candidate peers; and
said peer relevancy algorithm provides;
(a) a negative bias to candidate peers that have poor past connection responses, and(b) a positive bias to candidate peers that have good past connection responses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for locating peers having a desired expertise. User profile information is stored in a profiles database. A search engine indexes the profiles database and appends appropriate profile tags to this information. A peer relevancy algorithm searches for candidate peers among the indexed user profile information. Weights are assigned to candidate peers based on different categories of the indexed user profile information, and peer matches are selected based on the assigned weights. In order to provide matches that are most likely to accept a connection request, data is maintained as to which potential peers have a history of accepting requests to connect and which have a history of refusing to connect. Potential matches are biased to favor those that have a tendency to accept connection requests. Contact information of requester and recipients are not disclosed until the recipient accepts the requester'"'"'s connection request.
66 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A peer directory system implemented on a digital computer network, comprising:
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a user interface enabling user profile information to be entered and stored in a profiles database; a search engine configured to append tags to said user profile information; a search index associated with said search engine for storing tagged user profile information in an indexed form; and a peer relevancy algorithm associated with said search engine to search for candidate peers among the indexed user profile information stored in said search index; said peer relevancy algorithm assigning weights to candidate peers based on different categories of the indexed user profile information and selecting peer matches based on said weights wherein; said search index stores information indicative of past connection responses for candidate peers; and said peer relevancy algorithm provides; (a) a negative bias to candidate peers that have poor past connection responses, and (b) a positive bias to candidate peers that have good past connection responses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. The method for connecting peers having common interests, comprising the steps of:
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enabling user profile information to be collected; appending tags to said user profile information; storing tagged user profile information in a profiles database in an indexed form; searching said profiles database to identify candidate peers in response to a request for a peer match, the identification of candidate peers being based on correlations between a requester'"'"'s user profile information and user profile information for the candidate peers; assigning weights to the candidate peers; selecting peer matches based on said weights; storing information indicative of past connection responses for candidate peers; and providing; (a) a negative bias to candidate peers that have poor past connection responses, (b) a positive bias to candidate peers that have good past connection responses. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification