Patent ID: 7921201
Filing Date: 2011-04-05
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of electronically determining a status of multiple users within a computer network, the method comprising: storing a status indication for each of a first user and a second user having access to the computer network; creating a first storage field for the first user and a second storage field for the second user; assigning the first user to a first user set and assigning the second user to a second user set; automatically and periodically sending a first electronic validation request to the first user within the first user set requiring the first user to respond to the first electronic validation request to validate the status of the second user; automatically and periodically sending a second electronic validation request to the second user within the second user set requiring the second user to respond to the second electronic validation request to validate the status of the first user; storing indications of the responses to the first and second electronic validation requests in the first and second storage fields, including storing an indication of when the second electronic validation request was sent to the second user in a first storage location within the first storage field and storing an indication of when the response to the second electronic validation request was received in a second storage location in the first storage field; determining the validity of the status indication of the first user at any particular time based on information stored in the first storage field and based on the receipt of a response from the second user to the second electronic validation request; determining the validity of the status indication of the second user at any particular time based on information stored in the second storage field and based on the receipt of a response from the first user to the first electronic validation request.