Method and apparatus for mapping a community through user interactions on a computer network

A method for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:

• registering a first user from the community on a computer applications service by storing information representative of the first user in the database, wherein the computer applications service records initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community;
• automatically generating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first registered user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a first unregistered user in the community, a field representing a role of the first registered user in the first transaction;
• and a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction;
• and
• inviting the first unregistered user to register with the service by transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the first unregistered user;
• creating a second transaction record in the database from information inputted by a registered user initiating a second transaction, wherein the second transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a registered user in the community required to approve the second transaction, and a field representing a role of the registered user initiating the second transaction;
• branding the first user as being an invitee of a third party service, wherein the first user is invited by the third party service;
• and
• branding each registered user as being an indirect invitee of the third party service.

A method for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:

• registering a first user from the community on a computer applications service by storing information representative of the first user in the database, wherein the computer applications service records initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community;
• automatically generating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first registered user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a first unregistered user in the community, a field representing a role of the first registered user in the first transaction;
• and a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction, wherein the first transaction corresponds to a vacation request made by the first registered user to the first unregistered user, wherein the role of the first registered user in the first transaction corresponds to a transaction requestor, and the role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction corresponds to a transaction approver;
• inviting the first unregistered user to register with the service by transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the first unregistered user;
• creating a second transaction record in the database from information inputted by a registered user initiating a second transaction, wherein the second transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a registered user in the community required to approve the second transaction, and a field representing a role of the registered user initiating the second transaction;
• branding the first user as being an invitee of a third party service, wherein the first user is invited by the third party service;
• and
• branding each registered user as being an indirect invitee of the third party service.

A method for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:

• registering a first user from the community on a computer applications service by storing information representative of the first user in the database, wherein the computer applications service records initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community;
• automatically generating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first registered user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a first unregistered user in the community a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction;
• and a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction, wherein the first transaction corresponds to a purchase order request made by the first registered user to the first unregistered user, wherein the role of the first registered user in the first transaction corresponds to a transaction requestor, and the role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction corresponds to a transaction approver;
• inviting the first unregistered user to register with the service by transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the first unregistered user;
• creating a second transaction record in the database from information inputted by a registered user initiating a second transaction, wherein the second transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a registered user in the community required to approve the second transaction, and a field representing a role of the registered user initiating the second transaction;
• branding the first user as being an invitee of a third party service, wherein the first user is invited by the third party service;
• and
• branding each registered user as being an indirect invitee of the third party service.

A system for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:

• a server that registers a first user from the community on a computer applications service by storing information representative of the first user in the database, wherein the computer applications service facilitates initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community;
• wherein the server creates a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first registered user, the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a first unregistered user in the community, a field representing a role of the first registered user in the first transaction;
• and a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction;
• wherein the server invites the first unregistered user to register with the service by transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the first unregistered user;
• wherein the server creates a second transaction record in the database from information inputted by a registered user initiating a second transaction, wherein the second transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a registered user in the community required to approve the second transaction, and a field representing a role of the registered user initiating the second transaction;
• wherein the server brands the first user as being an invitee of a third party service, wherein the first user is invited by the third party service and brands each registered user as being an indirect invitee of the third party service;
• and
• wherein the server registers the first unregistered user with the service, in response to a reaction of the first unregistered use to receipt of the information representative of the first transaction, by storing information representative of the first unregistered user in the database, thereby transforming the first unregistered use user into a second registered user.

A system for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:

• means for registering a first user from the community on a computer applications service by storing information representative of the first user in the database, wherein the computer applications service facilitates initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community;
• means for creating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first registered user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a first unregistered user in the community, a field representing a role of the first registered user in the first transaction;
• and a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction;
• and
• means for inviting the first unregistered user to register with the service by transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the first unregistered user;
• means for creating a second transaction record in the database from information inputted by a registered user initiating a second transaction, wherein the second transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a registered user in the community required to approve the second transaction, and a field representing a role of the registered user initiating the second transaction;
• means for branding the first user as being an invitee of a third party service, wherein the first user is invited by the third party service and for branding each registered user as being an indirect invitee of the third party service;
• and
• means for registering the first unregistered user with the service, in response to a reaction of the first unregistered use to the inviting step, by storing information representative of the first unregistered user in the database, thereby transforming the first unregistered use into a second registered user.

A method for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:

• storing information representative of the first user from the community in the database, wherein the computer applications service records initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community;
• creating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a second user in the community, a field representing a role of the first user in the first transaction;
• and a field representing a role of the second user in the first transaction;
• transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the second user;
• storing further information representative of the hierarchical organizational structure of the community of users by:
• creating a her transaction record in the database from information inputted by a user initiating the further transaction, wherein the further transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a user in the community required to approve the further transaction, a field representing a role of the user initiating the further transaction in the further transaction, and a field representing a role of the user initiating the further transaction in the further transaction;
• and
• branding the first user as being an invitee of a third party service, wherein the first user is invited by the third party service and branding each registered user as being an indirect invitee of the third party service.

A system for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:

• means for storing information representative of the first user from the community in the database, wherein the computer applications service records initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community;
• means for automatically generating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a second user in the community, a field representing a role of the first user in the first transaction;
• and a field representing a role of the second user in the first transaction;
• means for transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the second user;
• means for storing further information representative of the hierarchical organizational structure of the community of users, said means for storing further information including:
• means for creating a further transaction record in the database from information inputted by a user initiating the further transaction, wherein the further transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a user in the community required to approve the further transaction, a field representing a role of the user initiating the further transaction in the further transaction, and a field representing a role of the user initiating the further transaction in the further transaction;
• and
• means for branding the first user as being an invitee of a third party service, wherein the first user is invited by the third party service and branding each registered user as being an indirect invitee of the third party service.