Patent ID: 8150881
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus including a server coupled to a communication network configured to establish and update relationships between members registered to a relationships registering system coupled to the communication network, the apparatus comprising: a database configured to store personal attribute information of the members and relationship data indicating a direct relationship between at least some of the members, the personal attribute information of each member including at least one of an e-mail address and a name; a message communicator configured to communicate via the communication network a first message to a second member indicating that a first member wishes to establish a direct relationship with the second member, and to communicate via the communication network a second message to the first member indicating that the second member has accepted the direct relationship with the first member, wherein the database further updates, once the direct relationship is established between the first member and the second member, the relationship data stored in the database to reflect the direct relationship between the first member and the second member; a data retriever configured, in response to receiving one or more key words of a search criteria including the personal attribute information of the first member and the second member, to search the database specifically for one or more third members that are directly related to both the first member and the second member; and a data sender configured to communicate to the first member via the communication network at least a portion of the personal attribute information of at least a subset of the one or more third members.