Method and apparatus for building small business graph from electronic business data

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for building a small business social graph, the method comprising:

• receiving a collection of data from a first business;
• and
• building a social graph that adheres to a Resource Description Framework Schema (RDFS) by:
• determining an ontology for businesses in the social graph;
• determining if a first node for the first business exists in the social graph, wherein the social graph is a graph-based data model that indicates relationships among various businesses;
• if not, adding the first node for the first business to the social graph according to the ontology;
• analyzing the collection of data to identify a second business;
• determining if a second node for the second business exists in the social graph;
• if not, adding the second node for the second business to the social graph according to the ontology;
• adding a relationship between the first node and the second node to the social graph, according to the ontology, to indicate the relationship between the first business and the second business,
• analyzing the collection of data to identify a first person;
• determining if a third node for the first person exists in the social graph;
• if not, adding the third node for the first person to the social graph according to the ontology;
• determining that the second node and the third node share a unique identifier;
• and
• relating the second business and the first person as a same entity.

An apparatus configured for building a small business social graph, comprising:

• a memory;
• a processor;
• a receiving mechanism configured to receive a collection of data from a first business;
• a graphing mechanism configured to build a social graph that adheres to a Resource Description Framework Schema (RDFS);
• a determination mechanism configured to determine an ontology for businesses in the social graph
• wherein the determination mechanism is further configured to determine if a first node for the first business exists in the social graph, wherein the social graph is a graph-based data model that indicates relationships among various businesses;
• wherein the graphing mechanism is further configured to add the first node for the first business to the social graph according to the ontology if the first node does not already exist in the social graph;
• an analysis mechanism configured to analyze the collection of data to identify a second business;
• wherein the determination mechanism is further configured to determine if a second node for the second business exists in the social graph;
• wherein the graphing mechanism is further configured to add the second node for the second business to the social graph according to the ontology if the second node does not already exist in the social graph;
• wherein the graphing mechanism is further configured to add a relationship between the first node and the second node to the social graph, according to the ontology, to indicate the relationship between the first business and the second business;
• wherein the analysis mechanism is further configured to analyze the collection of data to identify a first person;
• wherein the determination mechanism is further configured to determine if a third node for the first person exists in the social graph;
• wherein the graphing mechanism is further configured to add the third node for the first person to the social graph according to the ontology if the third node does not exist;
• wherein the determination mechanism is further configured to determine that the second node and the third node share a unique identifier;
• and
• wherein the graphing mechanism is further configured to relate the second business and the first person as a same entity.