System, method and computer program product for identifying and displaying inter-relationships between corporate directors and boards
First Claim
1. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to identify and display inter-relationships between corporate directors, said computer program logic comprising:
- first means for enabling the processor to select a query director;
second means for enabling the processor to search a database to identify corporations having a board of directors upon which said query director sits;
third means for enabling the processor to search said database to identify a first group of directors, wherein each director in said first group of directors sits on a board of one or more of said corporations identified by said second means;
fourth means for enabling the processor to identify a second group of directors from said first group of directors, wherein each director in said second group of directors sits on a board of two or more of said corporations identified by said second means; and
fifth means for enabling the processor to display results generated by said third means and said fourth means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method and computer program product for identifying and displaying inter-relationships between corporate directors and boards is provided. The system includes a user interface that permits a user to select a query entity, which can include a director or corporation and an application program that accesses a relational database to identify interlinks between the query entity and other entities. Where the query entity is a director, interlinks can be identified based on membership on a common board of directors or an affiliation with a common non-corporate organization, and where the query entity is a corporation, interlinks can be identified based on sharing a common director. Where two entities share two or more interlinks, an “interlock” is identified, which signifies a relationship of mutual self-interest or potential conflicts-of-interest that may adversely impact corporate governance. Results are displayed to a user via a graphical or tabular display interface.
227 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to identify and display inter-relationships between corporate directors, said computer program logic comprising:
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first means for enabling the processor to select a query director;
second means for enabling the processor to search a database to identify corporations having a board of directors upon which said query director sits;
third means for enabling the processor to search said database to identify a first group of directors, wherein each director in said first group of directors sits on a board of one or more of said corporations identified by said second means;
fourth means for enabling the processor to identify a second group of directors from said first group of directors, wherein each director in said second group of directors sits on a board of two or more of said corporations identified by said second means; and
fifth means for enabling the processor to display results generated by said third means and said fourth means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to identify and display inter-relationships between corporations, said computer program logic comprising:
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first means for enabling the processor to select a query corporation;
second means for enabling the processor to search a database to identify directors that sit on a board of directors of said query corporation;
third means for enabling the processor to search said database to identify a first group of corporations, wherein each corporation in said first group of corporations has a board of directors that includes one or more of said directors identified by said second means;
fourth means for enabling the processor to identify a second group of corporations from said first group of corporations, wherein each corporation in said second group of corporations has a board of directors that includes two or more of said directors identified by said second means; and
fifth means for enabling the processor to display results generated by said third means and said fourth means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for identifying and displaying inter-relationships between corporate directors, comprising:
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(a) selecting a query director;
(b) searching a database to identify corporations having a board of directors upon which said query director sits;
(c) searching said database to identify a first group of directors, wherein each director in said first group of directors sits on a board of one or more of said corporations identified in step (b);
(d) identifying a second group of directors from said first group of directors, wherein each director in said second group of directors sits on a board of two or more of said corporations identified in step (b); and
(e) displaying results from steps (c) and (d). - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for identifying and displaying inter-relationships between corporations, comprising:
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(a) selecting a query corporation;
(b) searching a database to identify directors that sit on a board of directors of said query corporation;
(c) searching said database to identify a first group of corporations, wherein each corporation in said first group of corporations has a board of directors that includes one or more of said directors identified in step (b);
(d) identifying a second group of corporations from said first group of corporations, wherein each corporation in said second group of corporations has a board of directors that includes two or more of said directors identified in step (b); and
(e) displaying results from steps (c) and (d). - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification