Patent ID: 6745196
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, composing:registering a first user from the community on a computer applications service by storing information representative of the first user in the database, wherein the computer applications service records initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community; automatically generating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first registered user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a first unregistered user in the community, a field representing a role of the first registered user in the first transaction; and a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction: and inviting the first unregistered user to register with the service by transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the first unregistered user; creating a second transaction record in the database from information inputted by a registered user initiating a second transaction, wherein the second transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a registered user in the community required to approve the second transaction, and a field representing a role of the registered user initiating the second transaction; and predicting an identity of the registered user in the community required to approve the second transaction by querying the database to identify a peer of the registered user initiating the second transaction, and then selecting a manager of the peer as the registered user in the community required to approve the second transaction.