System and method for search operations

• US 20050283497A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Piece Future Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Farkas, Lorant, Nurminen, Jukka K., Bakos, Balazs
• Granted Patent: US 8,832,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Systems and methods, applicable, for example, in employing a user'"'"'s social network in providing that user with results to searches for individuals, businesses, content (e.g., pictures, music, software, and/or the like), and/or the like. Further, systems and methods whereby, for example, information regarding individuals having social connection to individuals, businesses, and/or the like identified via such search may be available.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a search query, wherein the search query specifies search criteria;

searching for a profile matching the search criteria among one or more held profiles corresponding to entities;

consulting a depth indicator associated with the search query; and

forwarding the search query to one or more nodes within a social network of a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the entities comprise individuals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the entities comprise businesses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the nodes within the social network are indicated by a held address book.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the nodes within the social network are indicated by a held connection log.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising dispatching at least part of a profile matching the search criteria to an originator of the search query.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein likelihood of an originator of the search query receiving at least part of a profile corresponding to a particular entity is dependent upon one or more evaluations of the particular entity.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the originator of the search query is provided with an evaluation of an entity corresponding to the profile of which at least part is dispatched.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the originator of the search query is provided with information of how many individuals within the social network have a connection to the entity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein notification is provided to an entity corresponding to a profile matching the search criteria.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the depth indicator acts to define search limits within the social network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein propagation proceeds no further once the depth indicator has reached a threshold.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the depth indicator is decremented.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more intermediate nodes are employed in data dispatch.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more profile portions are marked private.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more address book entries are marked private.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more connection log entries are marked private.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an identity request, wherein the identity request includes profile information corresponding to an entity;

determining if there is held reference to the entity;

consulting a depth indicator associated with the identity request; and

forwarding the identity request to one or more nodes part of the social network of the user.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising dispatching identity information, corresponding to the user, to an originator of the identity request.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein permission to dispatch the identity information is received from the user.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the held reference comprises a held address book.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the held reference comprises a held connection log.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an evaluation request.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user is queried for an evaluation.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein encryption is employed.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein hashing is employed.

27. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a server, a search query, wherein the search query specifies search criteria;

searching for a profile matching the search criteria among one or more held profiles corresponding to entities wherein the held profiles were received from a node, and wherein a node that originated the search query has held reference to the node from which the held profiles were received;

consulting a depth indicator associated with the search query; and

processing the search query with respect to one or more nodes, wherein the node from which the held profiles were received has held reference to the one or more nodes.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein one or more of the held references comprise a held address book.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein one or more of the held references comprise a held connection log.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the entities comprise individuals.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the entities comprise businesses.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising dispatching at least part of a profile matching the search criteria to the node that originated the search query.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the node that originated the search query receives an evaluation of an entity corresponding to a profile matching the search criteria.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the node that originated the search query learns how many individuals having social connection to an entity corresponding to a profile matching the criteria.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein notification is provided to an entity corresponding to a profile matching the search criteria.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the depth indicator acts to define search limits within a social network.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein traversal proceeds no further once the depth indicator has reached a threshold.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the depth indicator is decremented.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein one or more intermediate nodes are employed in data dispatch.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein one or more profile portions are marked private.

41. The method of claim 27, wherein one or more address book entries are marked private.

42. The method of claim 27, wherein one or more connection log entries are marked private.

43. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving an identity request, wherein the identity request includes profile information corresponding to an entity;

determining if there is held reference to the entity, wherein the held reference to the entity is received from a node to which a node that originated the identity request has held reference;

consulting a depth indicator associated with the identity request; and

processing the identity request with respect to one or more nodes referenced by the received held reference.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein polling is employed.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising dispatching identity information to the node that originated the identity request.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein permission to dispatch the identity information is received.

47. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving an evaluation request.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein a user is queried for an evaluation.

49. The method of claim 27, wherein encryption is employed.

50. The method of claim 27, wherein hashing is employed.

51. A system, comprising:

a memory having program code stored therein; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with the stored program code;

wherein the program code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform;

receiving a search query, wherein the search query specifies search criteria;

searching for a profile matching the search criteria among one or more held profiles corresponding to entities;

consulting a depth indicator associated with the search query; and

forwarding the search query to one or more nodes within a social network of a user.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the entities comprise individuals.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the entities comprise businesses.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein the nodes within the social network are indicated by a held address book.

55. The system of claim 51, wherein the nodes within the social network are indicated by a held connection log.

56. The system of claim 51, wherein the processor further performs dispatching at least part of a profile matching the search criteria to an originator of the search query.

57. The system of claim 51, wherein likelihood of an originator of the search query receiving at least part of a profile corresponding to a particular entity is dependent upon one or more evaluations of the particular entity.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the originator of the search query is provided with an evaluation of an entity corresponding to the profile of which at least part is dispatched.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the originator of the search query is provided with information of how many individuals within the social network have a connection to the entity.

60. The system of claim 51, wherein notification is provided to an entity corresponding to a profile matching the search criteria.

61. The system of claim 51, wherein the depth indicator acts to define search limits within the social network.

62. The system of claim 51, wherein propagation proceeds no further once the depth indicator has reached a threshold.

63. The system of claim 51, wherein the depth indicator is decremented.

64. The system of claim 51, wherein one or more intermediate nodes are employed in data dispatch.

65. The system of claim 51, wherein one or more profile portions are marked private.

66. The system of claim 51, wherein one or more address book entries are marked private.

67. The system of claim 51, wherein one or more connection log entries are marked private.

68. The system of claim 51, wherein the processor further performs:

receiving an identity request, wherein the identity request includes profile information corresponding to an entity;

determining if there is held reference to the entity;

consulting a depth indicator associated with the identity request; and

forwarding the identity request to one or more nodes part of the social network of the user.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the processor further performs dispatching identity information, corresponding to the user, to an originator of the identity request.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein permission to dispatch the identity information is received from the user.

71. The system of claim 68, wherein the held reference comprises a held address book.

72. The system of claim 68, wherein the held reference comprises a held connection log.

73. The system of claim 51, wherein the processor further performs receiving an evaluation request.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein the user is queried for an evaluation.

75. The system of claim 51, wherein encryption is employed.

76. The system of claim 51, wherein hashing is employed.

77. A system, comprising:

a memory having program code stored therein; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with the stored program code;

wherein the program code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform;

receiving, at a server, a search query, wherein the search query specifies search criteria;

searching for a profile matching the search criteria among one or more held profiles corresponding to entities, wherein the held profiles were received from a node, and wherein a node that originated the search query has held reference to the node from which the held profiles were received;

consulting a depth indicator associated with the search query; and

processing the search query with respect to one or more nodes, wherein the node from which the held profiles were received has held reference to the one or more nodes.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein one or more of the held references comprise a held address book.

79. The system of claim 77, wherein one or more of the held references comprise a held connection log.

80. The system of claim 77, wherein the entities comprise individuals.

81. The system of claim 77, wherein the entities comprise businesses.

82. The system of claim 77, wherein the processor further performs dispatching at least part of a profile matching the search criteria to the node that originated the search query.

83. The system of claim 77, wherein the node that originated the search query receives an evaluation of an entity corresponding to a profile matching the search criteria.

84. The system of claim 77, wherein the node that originated the search query learns how many individuals having social connection to an entity corresponding to a profile matching the criteria.

85. The system of claim 77, wherein notification is provided to an entity corresponding to a profile matching the search criteria.

86. The system of claim 77, wherein the depth indicator acts to define search limits within a social network.

87. The system of claim 77, wherein traversal proceeds no further once the depth indicator has reached a threshold.

88. The system of claim 77, wherein the depth indicator is decremented.

89. The system of claim 77, wherein one or more intermediate nodes are employed in data dispatch.

90. The system of claim 77, wherein one or more profile portions are marked private.

91. The system of claim 77, wherein one or more address book entries are marked private.

92. The system of claim 77, wherein one or more connection log entries are marked private.

93. The system of claim 77, wherein the processor further performs:

receiving an identity request, wherein the identity request includes profile information corresponding to an entity;

determining if there is held reference to the entity, wherein the held reference to the entity is received from a node to which a node that originated the identity request has held reference;

consulting a depth indicator associated with the identity request; and

processing the identity request with respect to one or more nodes referenced by the received held reference.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein polling is employed.

95. The system of claim 93, wherein the processor further performs dispatching identity information to the node that originated the identity request.

96. The system of claim 95, wherein permission to dispatch the identity information is received.

97. The system of claim 77, wherein the processor further performs receiving an evaluation request.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein a user is queried for an evaluation.

99. The system of claim 77, wherein encryption is employed.

100. The system of claim 77, wherein hashing is employed.

101. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium containing program code that when executed causes a wireless node to perform:

receiving a search query, wherein the search query specifies search criteria;

searching for a profile matching the search criteria among one or more held profiles corresponding to entities;

consulting a depth indicator associated with the search query; and

forwarding the search query to one or more nodes within a social network of a user.

102. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium containing program code that when executed causes a server to perform:

receiving, at a server, a search query, wherein the search query specifies search criteria;

searching for a profile matching the search criteria among one or more held profiles corresponding to entities, wherein the held profiles were received from a node, and wherein a node that originated the search query has held reference to the node from which the held profiles were received;

consulting a depth indicator associated with the search query; and

processing the search query with respect to one or more nodes, wherein the node from which the held profiles were received has held reference to the one or more nodes.