Abstract:
A system includes a relator configured to receive data from an external source, a data store configured to store the data, a first processor to assign a relevance value to each of the stored data, a transceiver to receive a query for data meeting certain criteria, and a second processor to analyze the relevance value of each of the stored data in order to determine whether the certain criteria are met. The system automatically determines, stores, and shares relevant information by establishing trusted relationships.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority and the benefit thereof from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/934,487, filed on Jun. 14, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention is directed generally to a system and method of providing relevant information, and, more particularly, to determining, storing, and sharing the relevance of information, and assigning a value to the relevance of the information. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    When making certain decisions, people often rely on a trusted source of information to inform their decision. This trusted source may be a perceived expert in the field, or may be a friend, colleague, or family member who has previously provided valuable information in the field. For example, when deciding upon a mortgage broker, a home buyer may ask his real estate agent for a referral, on an assumption that the agent has significant experience with various mortgage brokers, and can recommend the best broker for the buyer&#39;s situation. Other examples of perceived experts in their respective fields include movie and book critics, restaurant critics, and car and stereo specialty magazines. As another example, when deciding upon a new book to read, a reader may ask a friend, colleague, or family member who has previously recommended books that the reader has enjoyed. 
         [0006]    Historically, though, this method of obtaining information has been limited in at least four ways. First, the person seeking a referral in order to make an informed decision may not know all of the qualifications and experiences of all of his contacts. For example, he may not know that his friend&#39;s wife works for a mortgage broker, and knows the reputations of all the local firms. 
         [0007]    Second, such information is not always timely received. For example, a reader may normally solicit book recommendations from relatives at holiday meals. Hence, when preparing for her summer vacation, she may stop by a book store, and wonder what she should buy, not having her trusted sources of information at her disposal. 
         [0008]    Third, no record is kept of the value of the recommendation. For example, a person might or might not remember that a particular friend recommended three movies, and that the person enjoyed all three movies immensely. When the friend later recommends a fourth movie, the person might not know what value to place on the recommendation: is the friend a trusted source of movie recommendations, or does the friend have different tastes? 
         [0009]    Fourth, the known methods are limited in scope to the acquaintances, friends, colleagues, and relatives of the person seeking input on his decision. These known people may be referred to as the user&#39;s “first degree” relationships, and the people who are known to the user&#39;s first degrees may be referred to as “second degree” relationships, etc. 
         [0010]    Services such as Amazon.com® and others have attempted to capitalize on and improve such referral methods by encouraging buyers to review, rate, or comment on particular products or services. For example, if a buyer sees rave reviews from numerous unknown other buyers, the buyer may be more inclined to purchase the item. However, these methods are also limited in several ways. First, the people giving the recommendations cannot be ranked by level of trust. A buyer cannot know whether he will have the same interests, or needs, or sense of humor as the person giving the recommendation. Second, the buyer cannot evaluate the recommender&#39;s expertise, credentials, or skill level from such recommendations. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method to determine the relevance of information, store that information until needed, share the information with other people as appropriate, and assign a value to the relevance of the information. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    The invention meets the foregoing need and avoids the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art by providing a system and method to determine the relevance of information, store that information until needed, share the information with other people as appropriate, and assign a value to the relevance of the information. The novel system and method of the invention result in a significant improvements in efficiency, satisfaction, and ease of communication, as well as other advantages apparent from the discussion herein. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention a system includes a relator configured to receive data from an external source, a data store configured to store the data, a first processor to assign a relevance value to each of the stored data, a transceiver to receive a query for data meeting certain criteria, and a second processor to analyze the relevance value of each of the stored data in order to determine whether the certain criteria are met. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the invention method includes capturing data from an external source to a relator, storing the data, assigning a relevance value to each of the stored data, receiving a query for data meeting certain criteria, wherein one of the criteria is source of the data, and analyzing the relevance value of each of the stored data in order to determine whether the certain criteria are met. 
         [0015]    In yet another aspect of the invention a machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a general-purpose processor cause the general-purpose processor to provide information, the instructions including instructions for capturing data from a source external to the system to a relator, instructions for storing the data in the system, instructions for assigning a relevance value to each of the stored data, instructions for receiving a query for data meeting certain criteria, wherein one of the criteria is source of the data, and instructions for analyzing the relevance value of each of the stored data in order to determine whether the certain criteria are met. 
         [0016]    Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. No attempt is made to show structural details of the disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the disclosure and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart showing an example of a system for capturing information from an external source, storing the information, and assigning relevance thereto; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart showing an example of a system for retrieving information from the system and providing it to a user who previously located it and/or a user who had not previously located it; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing an example of a system for identifying an expert in a particular field; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing an example of a system for identifying group relationships; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing an example of a system for providing filtered results to a source outside of the system; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing an example of a system for providing filtered results in response to access to the system through a source outside the system; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing an example of a system for providing information to or fulfilling a request of a source outside of the system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The embodiments of the invention and the various features and details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure teaching principles of the disclosed embodiments. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice disclosed the embodiments. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
         [0026]    The present invention allows users to obtain information such as detailed information about products or services, referrals or recommendations, relevance information (which may also be referred to as a relevance value, or a confidence value), and the like. The information may be accessible virtually 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through a communication device, including, e.g., a mobile telephone, desktop computer, laptop computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a notebook computer, an SDR radio, a work station, a television, or the like. A user may obtain information at his own convenience, even when other users are not available to give information in real time. 
         [0027]    A user may limit the information obtained to only information that meets certain search criteria. The results may be limited to information that was previously submitted by people he knows, that is, his first degree relationships, or the results may be expanded to include information previously submitted by people known to the people he knows, that is his second degree relationships, etc., and may even include all information that meets his search criteria. 
         [0028]    In an embodiment, the invention may track the user&#39;s receipt of information and subsequent evaluation of this information, creating a feedback loop that thus provides the user with more relevant information with each use of the system. For example, when a first user seeks a recommendation for a movie, he can query the system for recommended movies. After he receives certain recommendations, makes his decision based on the recommendation of a second user, and then watches the movie himself, he can then submit information about the movie to the system. That is, if the user enjoyed the movie, then he can add the movie to the list of those he recommends, and the system can correlate the recommendation that he gave with the recommendation he received. Thus, when the user seeks a second recommendation for a movie, any other recommendations given by the second user may be given stronger weight, or higher relevance, than recommendations given by other sources. This feedback may be topic specific, that is, a user may weigh movie recommendations from his sister heavily, but may also weigh book recommendations from his college roommate more heavily. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, a user may limit access to only certain authorized users. For example, a user may limit access to his recommendations and referrals to only those within two degrees of separation from himself. 
         [0030]    In another embodiment, the system may use geo-location information, such as information obtained from a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS), as one of the search criteria. For example, a user accessing the system through a mobile device may request recommendations on restaurants in the area near his current location. In response, the system may learn his current location by accessing geo-location information on his mobile device, examine the other search criteria, and provide only the more relevant results. A mobile device may include any machine, device, circuit, component, or module, or any system of machines, devices, circuits, components, modules, or the like, which are capable of receiving and/or sending data, and which are further capable of manipulating data according to one or more instructions, such as, for example, without limitation, a processor, a microprocessor, a central processing unit, a general purpose computer, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, a notebook computer, or the like, or an array of processors, microprocessors, central processing units, general purpose computers, personal computers, laptop computers, palmtop computers, notebook computers, or the like. For example, a mobile device may include, without limitation, a smart telephone, a cellular telephone device, a satellite telephone device, a cordless telephone, a software-defined-radio (SDR), a two-way radio, a personal data assistant (PDA), a game console, a game controller, or the like. The results may be provided based on other pre-determined search criteria. 
         [0031]    In yet another embodiment, a user may obtain results from multiple other users simultaneously, particularly when searching for a consensus on a topic. Thus, for example, a user may solicit recommendations for a local dentist, and the results may be displayed in a ranked order, e.g., ranking the first dentist as the one most frequently recommended, and the last as the least frequently recommended. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a flow chart shows an example of a system  100  for capturing information from an external source  130 , storing the information, and applying relevance thereto. In this embodiment, the system  100  may include information regarding each user, groups of users, and the relationships between the users. The relationships between the users may fall into one or more of the following categories, but are not limited to these categories: colleague, acquaintance, classmate, neighbor, friend, relative, or other type of earned trust. The information may be any form of data, including but not limited to text, image, audio, video, web pages, opinions, feedback, recommendations, and referrals. The information may further include metadata such as the relevance or value of each datum, which may be obtained from the feedback mechanism described above. The relevance or value may be assigned by a user, and/or may be determined by the system  100  based upon interactions between users. 
         [0033]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the user  120  may seek information. The user  120  may access the system directly, or through a network. The network may include, but is not limited to, for example, any one or more of a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a campus area network (CAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a broadband network (BBN), the Internet, or the like. Further, the network may include, but is not limited to, for example, any one or more of the following network topologies, including a bus network, a star network, a ring network, a mesh network, a star-bus network, tree or hierarchical network, or the like. 
         [0034]    For example, the user  120  may seek a well qualified real estate agent with experience selling high-end homes in the user&#39;s neighborhood. When the user  120  finds the information the user  120  seeks, that information may be entered into the data store  110 . For example, the user  120  may conduct an online search, from which the user  120  may find an article in a local paper identifying the top real estate agents in the user&#39;s area. If this information was electronically generated, the system  100  may capture this information automatically; alternatively, if the user  120  obtained this information from a printed paper, or other non-electronic format, the user  120  may enter the information into the system  100  manually. The system  100  may then store the information, as well as specific inherent characteristics of the information, in the data store  110 . For example, in the case of a graphic found on an external source  130 , such as, e.g., the Internet, these characteristics may include data such as: size of a file; type of a file; creation date of a file; location (URL) of a file, or the like. In addition, the user  120  may assign additional data the user  120  considers relevant to this information such as: key words or tags describing the data, or a memorable name for later retrieving the information, or the like. 
         [0035]    The information may be available in a file or record associated with the particular user  120 . The file or record may be retained indefinitely, allowing the user  120  to access it from any device that can connect to the system  100  such as a computer and a browser, a mobile phone and a software application (such as a mobile browser) that can view the Internet, or the same or similar which can view an internal network or other system, or any other device or application that can be so connected. The user  120  may group this information with other information that the user  120  may have captured, or found within the system  100  and deemed relevant using, for example, a folder, grouping, assignment, or the like, and assign additional data that the user  120  may consider relevant to the group. The user  120  may share this information with other users, or may restrict access thereto. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a flow chart shows an example of a system  200  for retrieving information, and providing the information to a user  210 . The user receiving the information may be a first user  210 , who had previously captured the information. For example, after identifying a qualified real estate agent, the user  210  may save the information, and return to it later when ready to act on the information. The user receiving the information may alternatively be a second user  220 , who is likewise seeking a qualified real estate agent in his neighborhood, and who is authorized to see the first users ( 210 ) recommendations. That is, unless access to the information is restricted, other users that have access to the system  200  will be able to view it, and if allowed, will have full access to maintain or modify the additional assigned data by the first user  210 , within an account associated with user  210 . When a second user  220  retrieves, views, and/or saves the first user&#39;s ( 210 ) previously captured information to an account associated with the second user  220 , the system may automatically increase the value of the information. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flow chart shows an example of a system  300  for identifying an expert in a particular field. In this embodiment, a first user  310  may know and have great trust in a second user  320 , and a third user  330 , since both users  320  and  330  in the first user&#39;s ( 310 ) first degree. The second user  320  may have less trust in the third user  330  and vice-versa, because they are in the second degree of each other. As degrees continue to progress, anonymity may become greater and trust may become less. In this embodiment, the second user  320  may be seeking a real estate agent having certain qualifications. An expert user  340  having those qualifications may have been identified by the third user  330 . Although the second user  320  might not otherwise have any trust in recommendations of the third user  330 , because the second user  320  trusts the first user  310 , and the first user  310  trusts the third user  330 , the second user  320  may weigh the third user&#39;s ( 330 ) recommendations more heavily by extension of the trust placed in the first user&#39;s ( 310 ) recommendations. As discussed above, the level of trust assigned to this expert user  340  in this field may be further increased by the number of successful recommendations. 
         [0038]    In an embodiment, in the event that a user has looked for information within the system and cannot locate what they are looking for, the system may retain the query until a match is found. A user may also authorize another user to see their information request and fulfill it through existing information in the system, or by capturing the information via an external source. In addition, a first user can submit an information request to another user or users or groups within their first degree relationships. If those users or groups cannot fulfill the information request, they can pass it on to their first degree relationships, unless restricted by either the user initially requesting the information, or by a user in their first degree who is blocking such requests. Additionally, it should be noted that the system  300  may facilitate a first user “introducing” a second user to a third user, such that, although the second and third users may not have previously known each other or been acquainted, their relationship may be changed to one of first degree. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart shows an example of a system  400 , including a relator  450  for identifying group relationships. The relator  450 , according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, includes a computer (not shown), a data store (not shown), and a communications interface (not shown). The computer may include any machine, device, circuit, component, or module, or any system of machines, devices, circuits, components, modules, or the like, which are capable of manipulating data according to one or more instructions, such as, for example, without limitation, a processor, a microprocessor, a central processing unit, a general purpose computer, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a workstation computer, a server, or the like, or an array of processors, microprocessors, central processing units, general purpose computers, personal computers, laptop computers, palmtop computers, notebook computers, desktop computers, workstation computers, servers, or the like. The data store may include a database, a plurality of databases, a plurality of relational databases, or the like. The communications interface is configured to interface with any network protocol. 
         [0040]    In an embodiment, a user group  420  may take on the same characteristics as an individual user, including an expert group  440 . For example, a first group  420 , may exchange information with a first user  410  or a second user  430 . The group&#39;s values may be determined by the users within the group  420 , and the group&#39;s relationship to other users. A group&#39;s value may also be determined automatically by the value(s) that the members of the group  420  have provided to other users  410 ,  430  and groups  440  within the system  400 , including but not limited to the amount of information they have provided, the relevance and value of each datum, etc. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a flow chart shows an example of a system  500 , including a relator  520  for providing filtered results to a user  510  accessing the system  500  through a source  530  external to the relator  520 . In an embodiment, an external source  530  may be connected directly to the relator  520  and provide trusted results to the user  510 . For example, if the user  510  has an account with Amazon.com® and visit&#39;s that web site, Amazon.com may display a slider or other device through an API (or other method as agreed between the system and the external source) that would allow the user  510  to view information, opinions, recommendations, etc. about a certain product or service offered by Amazon.com by those trusted relationships one degree, or multiple degrees from the user  510 . Thus, the external source  530 , such as, e.g., Amazon.com, may interact with the system  500  to gain knowledge and information that may assist users in making purchases, or even to offer incentives to users, or rewards to those relationships that promoted the external source, their product or service. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a flow chart shows an example of a system  600  for providing filtered results in response to access to a relator  620  through a source  630  outside the relator  620 . In an embodiment, a user  610  may access the information on external sources  630  directly through a method, such as, e.g., a plug-in. While this method is related to that discussed with respect to  FIG. 5 , it differs in that in this embodiment the information provided by the system  600  would not be visible to the external source  630 . It should be noted, though, that interaction between an external source  630  and the relator  620  are possible in this embodiment with, e.g., the plug-in, in a reverse manner to that described with respect to  FIG. 5  above, by including the external source&#39;s ( 630 ) API into the relator  620 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a flow chart shows an example of a system  700  for providing information to or fulfilling a request of a source  710  outside of the relator  720 . In the event that a user  730  visits an external source  710  (e.g., a web site) and the external source  710  has a connection with the relator  720  through the user  730  or a group  740  (such as the business that controls the web site), the relator  720  will allow the user  730  to provide information such as, but not limited to feedback and opinions, to a second user  750 , the group  740 , or the external source  710 . 
         [0044]    In addition, if the profile of a first user meets specific criteria set by a second user or external source, the system may provide a highly targeted offer, incentive, or valued item to the first user. The first user may choose to accept the incentive or alternatively, may pass the incentive on to a third user that they believe could use such an incentive. As an example, when a user visits an external source, such as the web site www.Porsche.com, if the user meets certain criteria previously set by a second user or external source, the system may provide an incentive for the user to give feedback on the external source, or provide other incentives encouraging the user to take a desired action whether online, or in the physical world (such as, offering an opportunity to test drive a 911 Cabriolet for a month). 
         [0045]    However, when the user either accepts or rejects such an incentive, the system may note the action taken, such that the incentive will not be offered again unless overridden by the offeror. That is, if the user accepts the offer, then the user may be prevented from taking advantage of the offer repeatedly; conversely, if the user rejects the offer, the user may not repeatedly be offered the same unwanted incentive.