Patent Document ID: 9361624
Application ID: 13069942
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A computer implemented method of searching for a target entity for which a source entity has greater than a threshold affinity without consideration of data that directly links the source entity and the target entity, comprising: performing a search for a target entity for which a source entity has greater than a threshold affinity based on a query, wherein performing the search comprises: identifying, using a computer system, a first intermediate entity and a second intermediate entity that are relatable to a source entity; identifying, using the computer system, a target entity that is relatable to the first intermediate entity and the second intermediate entity; determining, using the computer system, a first similarity score identifying a degree of similarity between the source entity and the first intermediate entity, or the target entity and the first intermediate entity; determining, using the computer system, a second similarity score identifying a degree of similarity between the source entity and the second intermediate entity, or the target entity and the second intermediate entity; determining a normalization value based on the first similarity score and the second similarity score, wherein the normalization value is determined based on a square root of a sum of squares of the first similarity score and the second similarity score; calculating, using the computer system, an intermediate affinity score of the source entity and the intermediate entity, or the target entity and the intermediate entity; and determining, using the computer system, an affinity score of the source entity and the target entity based on the first similarity score, the second similarity score, the intermediate affinity score, and the normalization value; and displaying an indication of the target entity on a graphical user interface when the affinity score is greater than a threshold level.