Method of creating and displaying relationship chains between users of a computerized network

Claim 1

A method of identifying relationships between users of a computer network, said method comprising: extracting information directly from data sources in personal information management systems of said users, wherein said data sources comprise at least one of a calendar, a to-do list, a journal, an address book, e-mails, and a phone log; processing said information to detect interactions between said users for detecting relationships between said users; producing sets of contacts for each of said users, wherein a set of contacts for a corresponding user comprises a list of other users having a relationship with said corresponding user; establishing multiple relationship chains between a first user of said computer network and a second user of said computer network, wherein each relationship chain comprises at least three users and wherein said establishing comprises finding intersections between a first set of contacts of said first user and a second set of contacts of said second user; and displaying said multiple relationship chains in an order based on a criteria.

Claim 2

A method of identifying relationships between users of a computer network, said method comprising: extracting information directly from data sources in personal information management systems of said users, wherein said data sources comprise at least one of a calendar, a to-do list, a journal, an address book, e-mails, and a phone log; processing said information to detect interactions between said users for detecting relationships between said users; producing sets of contacts for each of said users, wherein a set of contacts for a corresponding user comprises a list of other users having a relationship with said corresponding user; establishing multiple relationship chains between a first user of said computer network and a second user of said computer network, wherein each relationship chain comprises at least three users and wherein said establishing comprises finding intersections between a first set of contacts of said first user and a second set of contacts of said second user; and displaying said multiple relationship chains in an order based on a criteria.

Claim 8

A method of identifying relationships between users of a computer network, said method comprising: evaluating network information and network communications between said users to produce metrics, wherein said network information comprises data sources in personal information managements systems of said users and does not comprise entries made for said computer network and wherein said metrics comprise at least one of times and places of meetings, telephone records, email records, and address books; processing said metrics to produce contact information, wherein said contact information indicates whether personal relationships exists between said users; producing sets of contacts for each of said users, wherein a set of contacts for a corresponding user comprises a list of other users having a relationship with said corresponding user; establishing multiple relationship chains between a first user of said computer network and a second user of said computer network, wherein each relationship chain comprises at least three users and wherein said establishing comprises finding intersections between a first set of contacts of said first user and a second set of contacts of said second user; and displaying said multiple relationship chains in an order based on a criteria.

Claim 9

A method of identifying relationships between users of a computer network, said method comprising: evaluating network information and network communications between said users to produce metrics, wherein said network information comprises data sources in personal information managements systems of said users and does not comprise entries made for said computer network and wherein said metrics comprise at least one of times and places of meetings, telephone records, email records, and address books; processing said metrics to produce contact information, wherein said contact information indicates whether personal relationships exists between said users; producing sets of contacts for each of said users, wherein a set of contacts for a corresponding user comprises a list of other users having a relationship with said corresponding user; establishing multiple relationship chains between a first user of said computer network and a second user of said computer network, wherein each relationship chain comprises at least three users and wherein said establishing comprises finding intersections between a first set of contacts of said first user and a second set of contacts of said second user; and displaying said multiple relationship chains in an order based on a criteria.

Claim 15

A method of identifying relationships between users of a computer network, said method comprising: extracting information directly from data sources in personal information management systems of said users, wherein said data sources comprise at least one of a calendar, a to-do list, a journal, an address book, e-mails, and a phone log; processing said information to detect interactions between said users for detecting relationships between said users; producing sets of contacts for each of said users, wherein a set of contacts for a corresponding user comprises a list of other users having a relationship with said corresponding user; producing relationship values representing strengths of each of said relationships, wherein said relationship values are based on at least one of longevity, currency, frequency, exclusivity, complexity and reciprocity of said relationships; establishing multiple relationship chains between a first user of said computer network and a second user of said computer network, wherein each of said multiple relationship chains comprises a plurality of said relationships that link at least three users and wherein said establishing comprises finding intersections between a first set of contacts of said first user and a second set of contacts of said second user; and displaying said multiple relationship chains in an order that is based in part upon said strengths of said relationships in said multiple relationship chains.

Claim 16

A method of identifying relationships between users of a computer network, said method comprising: extracting information directly from data sources in personal information management systems of said users, wherein said data sources comprise at least one of a calendar, a to-do list, a journal, an address book, e-mails, and a phone log; processing said information to detect interactions between said users for detecting relationships between said users; producing sets of contacts for each of said users, wherein a set of contacts for a corresponding user comprises a list of other users having a relationship with said corresponding user; producing relationship values representing strengths of each of said relationships, wherein said relationship values are based on at least one of longevity, currency, frequency, exclusivity, complexity and reciprocity of said relationships; establishing multiple relationship chains between a first user of said computer network and a second user of said computer network, wherein each of said multiple relationship chains comprises a plurality of said relationships that link at least three users and wherein said establishing comprises finding intersections between a first set of contacts of said first user and a second set of contacts of said second user; and displaying said multiple relationship chains in an order that is based in part upon said strengths of said relationships in said multiple relationship chains.