Patent ID: 7836088
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. Computer-readable storage media encoded with computer executable instructions for providing relationship-based processing, by a method comprising: receiving from a first application a request for an indication of a relationship between a first entity and a second entity, wherein the relationship between the first entity and the second entity is not known to the first application at the time the request for the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity is received; in response to receiving the request for an indication of a relationship between the first entity and the second entity, determining the relationship between the first entity and the second entity based on a plurality of ordered relationship rules, each relationship rule specifying a relationship and having an associated priority from high to low, by analyzing the plurality of ordered relationship rules, in priority order from high priority to low priority, until a relationship rule is satisfied so that after one relationship rule is satisfied, no additional lower priority relationship rules are analyzed in the determining of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity; sending to the first application an indication of the determined relationship between the first entity and the second entity, as determined by analyzing the ordered relationship rules; receiving from a second application a request for an indication of a relationship between a third entity and a fourth entity, at least one of the third and fourth entities being different from both the first and second entities, wherein the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity is not known to the second application at the time the request for the indication of the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity is received; in response to receiving the request for an indication of a relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity, determining the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity based on the plurality of ordered relationship rules by analyzing the plurality of ordered relationship rules, in order from high priority to low priority, until a relationship rule is satisfied so that after one relationship rule is satisfied, no additional lower priority relationship rules are analyzed in the determining of the relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity, the relationship between the third and fourth entities being different from the relationship between the first and second entities; and sending to the second application an indication of the determined relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity, as determined by analyzing the ordered relationship rules, such that the first application bases its processing behaviors at least in part on the sent indication of the determined relationship between the first entity and the second entity and such that the second application bases its processing behaviors at least in part on the sent indication of the determined relationship between the third entity and the fourth entity.