(12) United States Patent
`Weinreich et al.
`
`USOO6175831B1
`US 6,175,831 B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`Jan. 16, 2001
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONSTRUCTING ANETWORKING
`DATABASE AND SYSTEM
`
`(75) Inventors: Andrew P. Weinreich; Mark R.
`Salamon; Shoshana Zilberberg; Nicole
`D. Berlyn; Leeann Mitchell; Cliff
`Rosen; Adam Seifer, Justin Green, all
`of New York; David Haber, Great
`Neck; David Samuels, Atlantic Beach;
`Ron Chibnik, New York; Scott
`Clifford, East Moriches, all of NY
`(US); Chandrasekhar Boddu,
`Piscataway, NJ (US)
`(73) Assignee: six degrees, inc., New York, NY (US)
`(*) Notice:
`Under 35 U.S.C. 154(b), the term of this
`patent shall be extended for 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 08/785.559
`(22) Filed:
`Jan. 17, 1997
`(51) Int. Cl." .................................................. G06F 17/30
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................ 707/10; 707/130; 707/104;
`345/333; 364/918
`(58) Field of Search .............................. 707/130, 10, 104,
`707/511; 395/200; 370/407; 706/47, 60;
`345/333; 358/402,440, 444; 705/14; 434/350;
`364/918
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,008,853 * 4/1991 Bly et al. ............................. 364/228
`5,220,657 * 6/1993 Bly et al. ...
`... 364/228
`5,632,018 * 5/1997 Otorii .........
`... 395/200
`5,754,938
`5/1998 Herz et al. ............................... 455/2
`5,781,901
`7/1998 Kuzma ................................... 707/10
`5,790,790 * 8/1998 Smith et al. ......................... 395/200
`
`
`
`8/1998 Goldhaber et al. .................... 705/14
`5,794,210
`9/1998 Shaw et al. .......................... 395/200
`5,809,242
`5,822,523 * 10/1998 Rothschild et al.
`395/200
`5,826,269
`10/1998 Hussey ................................... 707/10
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`G. Welz. The Ad Game-Internet World Magazine vol. 7
`No. 8, (c) 1996 Mecklermedia Corporation (8 pp).
`L. Napoli-Enough Already Girls Science Project Opens
`E-Mail Floodgates-May 1, 1996 (2 pp).
`Pages from The Great Providence Brewing Co. Website
`Aug. 7, 1996 (3 pp).
`W. S. Mossberg-Some Firms Offer Free E-Mail, But
`There's A Price To Pay-Aug. 1, 1996 (The Wall Street
`Journal Interactive Edition) (3 pp).
`S. Elliott-Ad-Supported E-Mail Service Opens For Busi
`ness—Apr. 22, 1996 (The New York Times “CyberTimes”)
`(2 pp).
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Wayne Amsbury
`ASSistant Examiner Thu-Thao Havan
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Pennie & Edmonds LLP
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A networking database containing a plurality of records for
`different individuals in which individuals are connected to
`one another in the database by defined relationships. Each
`individual has the opportunity to define the relationship
`which may be confirmed or denied. E-mail messaging and
`interactive communication between individuals and a data
`base Service provider provide a method of constructing the
`database. The method includes having a registered indi
`vidual identify further individuals and define therewith a
`relationship. The further individuals then, in turn, establish
`their own defined relationships with still other individuals.
`The defined relationships are mutually defined.
`
`36 Claims, 33 Drawing Sheets
`
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`non-rullastname
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`&rontend?
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`Personal Prote. Update Contacts - add new
`PP Relationship
`Manage?
`SERVCPROFLE CONTACTSSS DEFAULT
`ADNEYCONTACT
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`Page
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`Add new relationship
`
`M
`tal
`Rel. Type
`ese are relationships perding your contination
`click to reclassity
`conim deny
`John Smith, smihaolcor is you orothero
`o
`confirm
`deny
`O C
`ese are 'elationships pending B's contimaton
`click to cancelorCorrect
`De Smits the aol.com's your epice?
`led Smi, FsMihaolco is you fenc
`types pen gyoy? contimato?.
`Cortim deny
`clickoreclass of delete
`C
`O
`tage yake Mwalker.aol.com is your rend
`SUBMI
`es: are you confirmed and listed rationships
`also Smith, Nsmithaco so, in
`Sally Smt.Ss thaol.com is you Moner
`
`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 33
`
`US 6,175,831 B1
`
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`
`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 of 33
`
`175,831 B1
`US 6
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
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`Page 003
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`Exhibit 1023
`Page 004
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 004
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`
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 of 33
`
`US 6,175,831 B1
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet § of 33
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`US 6,175,831 BI
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`Page 006
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
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`Page 006
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 of 33
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`US 6,175,831 BI
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`Page 007
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 007
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 7 of 33
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`Page 008
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 9 of 33
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`Page 010
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 10 of 33
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 11 of 33
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`US 6,175,831 BI
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`Page 012
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
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`Page 012
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`
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 12 of 33
`
`US 6,175,831 B1
`
`
`
`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 013
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 13 of 33
`
`US 6,175,831 B1
`
`call 6D e-mail
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`Fred Smith, FSmith aol.com is your friend
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`Sally Smith, SSM thaol.com is your Mother
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 014
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 14 of 33
`
`US 6,175,831 B1
`
`FROM
`FIG 9A
`G.)
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 015
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 15 0f 33
`
`US 6,175,831 B1
`
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 016
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 16 of 33
`
`US 6,175,831 B1
`
`84
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 017
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 17 of 33
`
`US 6,175,831 B1
`
`FROM
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`
`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 018
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 18 of 33
`
`US 6,175,831 BI
`
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`Exhibit 1023
`Page 019
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 019
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
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`Page 020
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 23 of 33
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`US 6,175,831 BI
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 024
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 024
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 24 of 33
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`US 6,175,831 B1
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`Fig.11
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 025
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 25 of 33
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
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`Page 026
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 026
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 26 of 33
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`Page 027
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 27 of 33
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`Page 028
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Page 031
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 31 of 33
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`US 6,175,831 B1
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
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`Page 032
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 32 0f 33
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`Exhibit 1023
`Page 033
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 33 of 33
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`It's all about who you know
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`Meta Platforms, Inc.
`Exhibit 1023
`Page 034
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`

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`US 6,175,831 B1
`
`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONSTRUCTING ANETWORKING
`DATABASE AND SYSTEM
`
`2
`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 autho
`rized users of e-mail Systems for personal and/or profes
`Sional 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 relation
`ships.
`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 net
`working database and a method of constructing a network
`ing 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 Spon
`Sored defined relationship, and in turn, Sponsors a third user
`using a first (or a different) defined relationship. The con
`firmation 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 spon
`Sored user confirming the original sponsored defined rela
`tionship 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 indi
`vidual 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
`
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`MICROFICHEAPPENDIX
`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 com
`35
`munication 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 commu
`nicate 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 SyS
`tems 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
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`Page 035
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`3
`concerning the Second individual, and then generates and
`transmits to the Second individual an e-mail message invit
`ing 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 indi
`vidual 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 rela
`tionship with the first individual, this confirmation creates a
`defined relationship between the first and second individu
`als. This information is Stored in the database, in records
`respectively associated with the first and Second individuals.
`Similarly, if the third individual confirms or denies a rela
`tionship with the Second individual, this information also is
`Stored in the relationship database. In the event that each
`25
`individual has at least one defined relationship, that indi
`vidual becomes a pre-registered member of the database. A
`pre-registered member who completes all of the other mem
`bership requirements (see FIGS. 4A-4C) is known as an
`“active' member. Importantly, in this embodiment, the mes
`Saging is entirely electronic, that is, by e-mail. It is, thus,
`automatic and a database can be quickly constructed.
`In the foregoing manner, numerous individuals can
`become members of the database, each member having a
`defined relationship to at least one other member in the
`database which is a confirmed relationship of one Sort or
`another.
`In addition to the e-mail communication System for
`joining the database, individuals also may be able to join the
`database by accessing a Web-site of the database Service
`provider on the Internet. This is done in a conventional
`manner by accessing the Web-site through an Internet Ser
`vice provider. Once the user has logged into the Web-site, he
`can input certain information and Sponsor other individuals
`to become members, thereby beginning the registration
`process. Each individual who is a pre-registered member
`will have the opportunity to provide additional information
`regarding personal characteristics. This information also
`becomes part of the database associated with the individual.
`This information is preferably input, and thus can be edited,
`via the Web site of the database service provider.
`The first individual sponsoring a Second individual, via
`the Web-site, causes an e-mail message to be automatically
`generated and delivered to the Second individual. This
`e-mail message prompts the Second individual to respond by
`e-mail in the manner as previously described. The Second
`individual may respond by e-mail as previously described,
`or alternatively, may access the Web-site to find out more
`information regarding the database Service provider, and
`proceed with the registration process through the Web-site
`instead of the e-mail communications technique.
`In this way, the database can become constructed
`automatically, based on information which is entered elec
`tronically. Moreover, the growth of the database can become
`exponential as more and more members sign up additional
`members who in turn sign up an additional number of
`members. Thus, it is not inconceivable that the database can
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`contain hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of
`individuals, each having a record in a database, in which the
`individual provides selected personal information. The files
`are password protected for Security and privacy reasons.
`The database, thus constructed, contains defined relation
`ships between different pairs (or groups) of individuals. AS
`noted, these pairs of individuals can be linked or intercon
`nected by chains of defined relationships. So that one indi
`vidual can access the database and, through one or more
`defined relationships, locate another individual who is also
`a member of the database by Some characteristic, that is
`information that was input into the database. Although the
`Searching individual may not personally know the individual
`who is the object of the Search, the Searching individual has
`a defined relationship with Someone, who has a defined
`relationship with Someone, who has a defined relationship
`with Someone, etc., and finally the object individual can be
`connected through this networking to the Searching indi
`vidual.
`AS appreciated by the inventors, the basic concept of the
`networking database, having defined relationships between
`individuals, is a unique application of the theory that every
`one is linked to everyone else on the planet through a
`maximum of Six defined relationships.
`Although the principal invention concerns the use of
`e-mail and the Internet based on ease of communications
`and automatic processing, it should be understood that
`alternate messaging forms could be used, for example,
`telephone numbers whereby information could be input by
`touchtone keypads.
`The networking database of the present invention has
`applications for Searching in terms of finding other individu
`als in the database, finding a connection to other users in the
`database, and finding other individuals in the database
`having particular professional or personal characteristics or
`features that are of interest to another member.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Further features of the invention, its nature, and various
`advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying
`drawings, and the following detailed description in which
`like