Method and system for establishing and using a social network to facilitate people in life issues

• US 8,812,562 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NetSoc, LLC
• Original Assignee: Emily White
• Inventors: White, Emily
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, BINH VAN
• Application Number:
  US13/173,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20110258552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 707/806
• US Class Current: 707/806
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide numerous applications and implementations of a social network to facilitate individuals to resolve various life issues. These issues may include issues that arise when individuals or families relocate, including logistic problems, assimilation of family members in a community, and roommate pairings. As will be described, embodiments described herein greatly facilitate corporations in relocating their employees logistically, and also assist employees and their families with life issues that may determine whether the employees'"'"' relocation will be a success.

Claims

1. A method for operating a social network, the method being implemented by one or more processors and comprising:

maintaining a list comprising a plurality of participants, wherein each participant in the plurality of participants corresponds to one or more individuals, wherein the list also includes information associated with at least one of each participant or the one or more individuals that correspond to each participant;

storing biographical information about each participant in the plurality of participants, including information about each participant'"'"'s occupation, education and geographic residence;

presenting a user with a plurality of categories from which the user may make a selection of a category from the plurality of categories, wherein the plurality of categories include a plurality of categories that relate to geographic destinations;

receiving the selection of the category by the user;

in conjunction with the selection of the category, receiving an electronic communication containing an inquiry of the user, the communication identifying geographic information that is relevant to the inquiry;

after receiving the selection of the category by the user, selecting one or more participants from the list to receive the electronic communication based on (i) the selection of the category, (ii) the geographic information that is relevant to the inquiry, and (iii) the biographical information of each of the one or more participants;

sending the inquiry to the selected one or more participants;

enabling the one or more participants to provide a reply to the inquiry, the reply from each of the one or more participants including biographical information about that participant; and

tracking a performance of at least one of the one or more participants in replying to the inquiry, including determining a feedback from the user for the at least one of the one or more participants and a time in which the reply from that participant was provided.

2. The method of claim of claim 1, wherein sending the inquiry includes providing biographical information with the inquiry about the user.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for implementing a social network, the computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processor to perform operations that include:

maintaining a list comprising a plurality of participants, wherein each participant in the plurality of participants corresponds to one or more individuals, wherein the list also includes information associated with at least one of each participant or the one or more individuals that correspond to each participant;

storing biographical information about each participant in the plurality of participants, including information about each participant'"'"'s occupation, education and geographic residence;

presenting a user with a plurality of categories from which the user may make a selection of a category from the plurality of categories, wherein the plurality of categories include a plurality of categories that relate to geographic destinations;

receiving the selection of the category by the user;

in conjunction with the selection of the category, receiving an electronic communication containing an inquiry of the user, the communication identifying geographic information that is relevant to the inquiry;

after receiving the selection of the category by the user, selecting one or more participants from the list to receive the electronic communication based on (i) the selection of the category, (ii) the geographic information that is relevant to the inquiry, and (iii) the biographical information of each of the one or more participants;

sending the inquiry to the selected one or more participants;

enabling the one or more participants to provide a reply to the inquiry, the reply from each of the one or more participants including biographical information about that participant; and

tracking a performance of at least one of the one or more participants in replying to the inquiry, including determining a feedback from the user for the at least one of the one or more participants and a time in which the reply from that participant was provided.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein instructions for sending the inquiry includes instructions for providing biographical information with the inquiry about the user.