US 8,244,674 B2 · Interactive peer directory

Abstract

A system is provided for locating peers having a desired expertise. User profile information is stored in a profiles database. A search engine indexes the profiles database and appends appropriate profile tags to this information. A peer relevancy algorithm searches for candidate peers among the indexed user profile information. Weights are assigned to candidate peers based on different categories of the indexed user profile information, and peer matches are selected based on the assigned weights. In order to provide matches that are most likely to accept a connection request, data is maintained as to which potential peers have a history of accepting requests to connect and which have a history of refusing to connect. Potential matches are biased to favor those that have a tendency to accept connection requests. Contact information of requester and recipients are not disclosed until the recipient accepts the requester's connection request.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A peer directory system implemented on a digital computer network, comprising:

a user interface enabling user profile information to be entered and stored in a profiles database;
a search engine configured to append tags to said user profile information;
a search index associated with said search engine for storing tagged user profile information in an indexed form;
and
a peer relevancy algorithm associated with said search engine to search for candidate peers among the indexed user profile information stored in said search index;
said peer relevancy algorithm assigning weights to candidate peers based on different categories of the indexed user profile information and selecting peer matches based on said weights wherein:
said search index stores information indicative of past connection responses for candidate peers;
and
said peer relevancy algorithm provides:
(a) a negative bias to candidate peers that have poor past connection responses, and
(b) a positive bias to candidate peers that have good past connection responses.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interactive peer directory

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Interactive peer directory

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19