Patent ID: 7117205

Claim:
A computer implemented method for searching identifying data, comprising: (a) compiling a master library of data from users of a network, wherein said master library includes a collection of individual user libraries; (b) measuring proximity of a first library to a second library, including assigning a standard of proximity between a ranking of names in said first library to a ranking of names in said second library as (1/n)Σabs(r i −s i ), where r is a ranking of names in said first library, s is a ranking of names in said second library, i is a coefficient for a current ranking of names in one of said libraries, and n is the quantity of names in said libraries, wherein the step of measuring proximity includes comparing, a list of names within said libraries that are common within a predetermined factor; and (c) compiling a list of common names within a collection of said libraries based upon said measured proximity factor.