Christopher J Roon

US Patent:

7539697, May 26, 2009

Filed:

Dec 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/320783

Inventors:

Prasad N. Akella - Pleasanton CA, US
Timothy J. Connors - Menlo Park CA, US
James Kelly - San Francisco CA, US
Christopher J. Roon - Menlo Park CA, US
Andrew M. Rosenbaum - San Jose CA, US
Christopher S. Tolles - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Spoke Software - San Mateo CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707102, 707 10, 707101, 707201

Abstract:

A relationship graph representing a social network connecting multiple entities is created and maintained as nodes and edges. Data received for an entity is used to create a new node. A strength of relationship value is calculated for each relationship between the new entity and an entity represented by an existing node and assigned to an edge is created to represent each relationship. Data received for an existing node causes the node to be updated, and the strength of relationship values for each of its relationships to be recalculated and assigned to the appropriate edge. More than one node may exist for an entity and conflicts among the data of the multiple nodes are reconciled. The received data may be extracted from data sources owned by a user in accordance with privacy criteria for the user, or may result from processing data in the relationship graph.