Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-17
2001-01-16
Amsbury, Wayne (Department: 2771)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C345S215000, 36
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175831
ABSTRACT:
MICROFICHE APPENDIX
A Microfiche Appendix containing computer source code is attached. The Microfiche Appendix comprises 7 sheets of microfiche having 607 frames, including one title frame.
The Microfiche Appendix contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of such material, as it appears in the files of the Patent and Trademark Office, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a networking database having a plurality of records corresponding to individuals, more particularly to a networking database in which the records of registered individuals are linked by defined relationships to a record of one or more other individuals.
2. Background of the Invention
The concept of networking, that is, expanding one's knowledge of other people for a personal or professional advantage, is as old as politics. The advance of technology has made it easier for a person to contact another, but it still requires person-to-person contact.
With the remarkable spread of the Internet and the World Wide Web (“the Web”) (collectively, the “Internet”), in recent years, electronic mail, or e-mail systems, have become well-known to the public. E-mail systems are used to transmit information among users, wherein each “user” is identified by a unique e-mail address.
Commonly, an e-mail address is assigned to each employee of large corporations or organizations for communication with colleagues or clients, as well as for internal communications between co-workers. The same is true of universities which often assign an e-mail address to each of their students, professors, and staff. Outside of these relationships, one may also obtain an e-mail address using on-line services, such as America Online and CompuServe, or more specialized e-mail providers, such as MCI Mail, and other Internet-access providers. Needless to say, to communicate by e-mail, one generally must first know the intended recipient's address. E-mail address directories may or may not be available to the general public.
Obtaining e-mail service from a private company is often expensive and, in many cases, the services provided are more expansive than a customer would like to endure. Thus, the service can be cumbersome and hard to comprehend for the user.
Recently, however, some firms have started e-mail systems that are free to consumers. For example, Juno Online Services offers an e-mail service wherein a user is assigned an e-mail address in exchange for a profile describing themselves and their tastes. The Juno system provides software that is loaded onto the hard drive of the user's computer system to be used and provides the user with the ability to read incoming e-mail messages and send e-mail messages. The Juno system, however, does not allow the user to send or receive attachments such as computer records containing graphics or spreadsheets along with an incoming or outgoing e-mail message. Moreover, Juno, in exchange for using the system, sends advertisements to the user based upon the personal information requested, which includes hobbies, traits, education, occupation, etc. This potentially becomes a significant nuisance. In addition, the system is generally slower than other systems because of the added text from the advertisements. This is problematic, especially, when the user is anxiously awaiting an e-mail message.
These e-mail systems are useful for e-mail advertising and marketing. They generate money based on subscription cost or by advertising to the user. However, they are otherwise limited in their usefulness to the users of the system.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As realized by the present applicants, these prior art systems do not provide any mechanism whereby one user can take advantage of the database comprised of the authorized users of e-mail systems for personal and/or professional gain. As also realized by the inventors, if an individual can register with the database, for example, by providing professional and personal data, and perhaps other selected criteria common to all (or significant numbers of the users), the user consequently can be linked to a plurality of other such individuals who have similarly provided information based on defined linking relationships.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a networking database in which a plurality of individuals register and become respectively linked with one or more other registered individuals by defined relationships.
It is another object to provide a method of constructing such a networking database.
It is yet another object to allow a user to perform a search using the database and the defined relationships in order to determine specific information about a registered user.
The present invention is thus broadly directed to a networking database and a method of constructing a networking database. The invention also relates to applications of the networking database in commercial enterprise.
In one embodiment, the method of the present invention is directed to constructing a networking database by having a first user sponsor a second user using a first defined relationship, wherein the second user confirms the sponsored defined relationship, and in turn, sponsors a third user using a first (or a different) defined relationship. The confirmation of a defined relationship and the sponsoring of the third user renders the second user a member of the database. The third user, upon sponsoring a fourth user and confirming the proposed defined relationship with the second user, also is in the database. Thus, a link is established between the first and fourth users, who it is assumed do not know each other, through the second and third users, through a chain of three defined relationships. In this manner, by each sponsored user confirming the original sponsored defined relationship and in turn sponsoring one or more other users, the database grows in size, arithmetically, geometrically, or exponentially as the case may be.
In a preferred embodiment, the method of constructing the database concerns issuing an e-mail from a database service provider to a first individual. The individual is invited to respond to the delivered e-mail by providing selected information. The selected information includes, for example, a name and an e-mail address of a second individual that the first individual proposes to sponsor for membership in the database, a description of a relationship between the first individual and the second individual, and perhaps selected information about the first individual. The first individual preferably returns the selected information by e-mail to the database service provider. The database service provider scans the incoming e-mail from the first individual, extracts from the e-mail message the information concerning the second individual, and then generates and transmits to the second individual an e-mail message inviting the second individual to join the database.
The second individual is thus invited to respond by providing information about a third individual, and perhaps by providing selected information regarding the second individual. The information about the third individual includes, a description of a relationship between the second individual and the third individual, for example, the name and an e-mail address, and perhaps other information. In the case of a second individual, the second individual is also invited to confirm the relationship between the first individual and the second individual. The second individual may confirm or deny the relationship with the first individual. In addition perhaps, the second individual may modify the relationship type as proposed by the first individual.
In the case that the second individual confirms the relationship with the first individual, this confirmation creates a defined relationship between the first and second individuals. This information is stored in the database, in records respectively assoc
Berlyn Nicole D.
Boddu Chandrasekhar
Chibnik Ron
Clifford Scott
Green Justin
Amsbury Wayne
Havan Thu-Thao
Pennie & Edmonds LLP
six degrees, inc.
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