US008380796B2
`
`a2 United States Patent
`
`Robertson et al.
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`D
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`4,626,836 A
`4,862,357 A
`
`SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM
`
`Brian D. Robertson, Boston, MA (US);
`Warren W. Adams, Edgartown, MA
`Us)
`
`Inventors:
`
`Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc., Reno, NV
`
`Us)
`Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 426 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`
`claimer.
`
`Appl. No.: 12/506,167
`
`Filed: Jul. 20, 2009
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2009/0282121 Al Now. 12, 2009
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Division of application No. 12/127,495, filed on May
`27, 2008, now Pat. No. 7,739,139, which is a
`continuation of application No. 11/022,089, filed on
`Dec. 22, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,386,464, which is a
`division of application No. 10/780,486, filed on Feb.
`
`(Continued)
`Int. CI.
`GO6F 15/16 (2006.01)
`US.CL ... 709/206; 709/204; 709/205; 709/207
`
`Field of Classification Search 709/206,
`709/204, 205, 207
`
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`12/1986 Curtis et al.
`8/1989 Ahlstrom et al.
`
`10y Patent No.: US 8,380,796 B2
`45) Date of Patent: *Feb. 19, 2013
`
`5,086,394 A 2/1992 Shapira
`
`5,133,075 A 7/1992 Risch
`
`5,263,160 A 11/1993 Porter, Jr. et al.
`
`5,276,901 A 1/1994 Howell et al.
`
`5,459,859 A * 10/1995 Senda .......cococovviiiiiiiiniiinnnns 1/1
`
`5,539,813 A 7/1996 Jonsson
`
`5,737,726 A 4/1998 Cameron et al.
`
`5,794,210 A 8/1998 Goldhaber et al.
`
`5,796,395 A * 8/1998 deHond ........cceevvrnenn 715/751
`
`5,831,611 A 11/1998 Kennedy et al.
`
`5,835,087 A 11/1998 Herz et al.
`
`5,848,395 A 12/1998 Edgar et al.
`
`5,918,227 A 6/1999 Polnerow et al.
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Jp 05-108902 4/1993
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`ClassMates; ClassMates Online web snapshot retrieved via
`
`Hittp:archive.org, dated Apr. 1997.*
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Lynn Feild
`
`Assistant Examiner — Lin Liu
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Knobbe, Martens, Olson &
`Bear LLP
`
`(&7
`
`A networked computer system provides various services for
`assisting users in locating, and establishing contact relation-
`ships with, other users. For example, in one embodiment,
`users can identify other users based on their affiliations with
`particular schools or other organizations. The system also
`provides a mechanism for a user to selectively establish con-
`tact relationships or connections with other users, and to grant
`permissions for such other users to view personal information
`of'the user. The system may also include features for enabling
`users to identify contacts of their respective contacts. In addi-
`tion, the system may automatically notify users of personal
`information updates made by their respective contacts.
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`18 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
`
`T~ server
`
`T
`
`JIE
`
`DATABASE
`
`11
`
`I\ | 2 RAM
`WEB SERVER
`SOFTWARE
`
`PERS. CONTACT MGR.
`JE5—" SOFTWARE
`
`Jdd ~ | ~OPERATING
`SYSTEM
`
`MODEM
`
`DIsc =
`
`PROGRAM
`FILES
`OPERATING
`SYSTEM
`
`cPU
`
`346
`N
`
`JE0
`WORLD WIDE
`WEB
`
`CLIENT COMPUTER
`
`7
`\
`
`RAM
`WEB BROWSER
`SOFTWARE
`OPERATING
`SYSTEM
`
`370 ~
`
`JE2 —
`
`pIs¢ |—J3%
`
`WEB BROWSER ~ 386
`
`SOFTWARE
`LOCAL DATA—[ ™52
`O 02
`
`JE0
`
`USER
`INTERFACE
`
`[~5722
`
`PIM SOFTWARE
`
`(oPT) CPU
`
`OPERATING -~ |™~J88
`SYSTEM
`
`J
`
`EXHIBIT 1004 - 0001
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`US 8,380,796 B2
`Page 2
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`17, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,194,419, which is a continu-
`ation of application No. 09/348,355, filed on Jul. 7,
`1999, now Pat. No. 6,714,916, which is a continuation
`of application No. 08/962,997, filed on Nov. 2, 1997,
`now Pat. No. 6,269,369.
`
`(56) References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,920,845 A * 7/1999 Risemberg .........cccoouni.. 705/319
`5,933,778 A * §/1999 Buhrmannetal. ........ 455/461
`5,948,040 A 9/1999 Delorme et al.
`5,950,200 A * 9/1999 Sudaietal. ......ccccoeevrrrrinnne. 1/1
`5,995,597 A * 11/1999 Woltz etal. ................ 379/93.24
`6,049,796 A 4/2000 Siitonen et al.
`6,052,122 A * 4/2000 Sutcliffe et al. ............... 715/751
`6,061,681 A * 5/2000 Collins
`6,070,160 A 5/2000 Geary
`6,092,088 A 7/2000 Takeda
`6,175,831 Bl 1/2001 Weinreich et al.
`6,269,369 Bl 7/2001 Robertson et al.
`6,272,467 B1* 82001 Durandetal. ...........c.o.... 705/5
`6,460,036 Bl 10/2002 Herz
`6,714,916 Bl 3/2004 Robertson et al.
`7,194,419 B2 3/2007 Robertson et al.
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`“1997 Edition GS Lotus Organizer/Exploring Organizer/Windows
`95 edition” pp. iii-vii and 8-1-8-6. (of-record in parent application).
`“Applications Handbook for the Palm III™ Organizer” 3Com pp.
`iii-v and 1-12 (Apr. 1998) (of-record in parent application).
`“Symantec ACT! User’s Guide and Reference Version 2.0 for Win-
`dows” pp. ix-xvi and 3-11-3-26 (of-record in parent application).
`“Information about Lotus Notes from the Lotus Web Site (www.
`Lotus.com)” pp. 1-13 (Apr. 1998) (of-record in parent application).
`“Domino 4.6 Features Overview” Jul. 1997 2 pages www.lotus.com/
`domino (of-record in parent application).
`
`“Yahoo! White Pages” Copyright 1994-1998 Yahoo! http://www.
`yahoo.com/ (of-record in parent application).
`
`“WhoWhere?” Copyright 1995-1998 Who/Where? Inc. http://www.
`whowhere.com/ (of-record in parent application).
`
`“R. Tamura et al. Lotus Notes 4” pp. 39 64-65 and 176 (1996)
`(of-record in parent application).
`
`Cardwell “Cyberscene Planet Keeps You in Touch” Dec. 1996 Boston
`Herald Boston (of-record in parent application).
`
`Day “New Software Tracks Corporate Travel Plans” Jan. 1991 Den-
`ver Post (Denver Cous) V99 N153 sC p2 Dialog File 63 Accession
`No. 0187621 (of-record in parent application).
`
`Wetzel “Municipally-owned venues feel brunt of city budget cuts”
`Aug. 1991 Amusement Business v103 n31 p3(3) Dialog File 148
`Accession No. 05427255 (of-record in parent application).
`
`“Should manufacturers try to establish rapport with their agents’
`other principals” Mar. 1995 Agency Sales Magazine v25n3 pp. 13-15
`Dialog File 15 Accession No. 00988855 (of-record in parent appli-
`cation).
`
`Smith “Companies Meet Each Other at the Airport” Jul. 1995 The
`Los Angeles Times ISSN: 04583035 (of-record in parent applica-
`tion).
`
`Gerety “Whose Job Is It Anyway?; Meetings As a Subset of Travel:
`Yes or No?” Apr. 1992 Business Travel News ISSN: 8750-3670
`(of-record in parent application).
`
`Brisson et al. “Lifeco Puts Pre-Trip Control in Travel Managers’
`Hands” Mar. 1991 Business Travel News ISSN: 8750-3670 (of-
`record in parent application).
`
`“PlanetAll plans to Make a World of Difference in Busy Lives” Nov.
`1996 PR Newswire pp. 11 13NEW025 (of-record in parent applica-
`tion).
`
`“Fall Internet World *96 Exhibitor Previews” Dec. 3, 1996 Business
`Wire p12030220 Dialog File 16 Accession No. 04716024 (of-record
`in parent application).
`
`Answer and Second Amended Counterclaims of Defendant Amazon.
`com Inc. In Cordance Corporation v. Amazon.com Inc. (C.A. No.
`06-491-MPT) (of-record in parent application).
`
`Dialog “Special Report: Russell Information Sciences’ Calendar
`Manager,” Sep. 1995; PCNetter, v10, n9; Dialog file 636, Accession
`No. 02840105 (of-record in parent application).
`
`Wellman (for a Social Network Analysis of Computer Networks),
`Jan. 1996, ACM, pp. 1-11.
`
`Kautz, et al., (ReferralWeb: Combining Social Networks and Col-
`laborating Filtering), Mar. 1997, Communication of the ACM, vol.
`40, No. 3, pp. 1-4.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`APPLE
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`EXHIBIT 1004 - 0002
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`US 8,380,796 B2
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`Feb. 19, 2013
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`U.S. Patent
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`US 8,380,796 B2
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`Feb. 19, 2013
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`US 8,380,796 B2
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`Sheet 3 of 14
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`Feb. 19, 2013
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`EXHIBIT 1004 - 0005
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`US 8,380,796 B2
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`Feb. 19, 2013
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`EXHIBIT 1004 - 0008
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`U.S. Patent Feb. 19, 2013 Sheet 7 of 14 US 8,380,796 B2
`
`60—
`
`PSEUDO REGISTRATION FORM
`
`602
`Name
`HomeAddress 5604
`Home Phone |— 5606
`Work Address | —560-&8
`Work Phone - 560-70
`56072
`Birthday
`S60-74
`Your High School
`560-16 P60-18 ~
`Year of Enrollment Graduation Year
`S60-20
`Your College
`560-22 —~ S04~
`Year of Enrollment Graduation Year
`56'0—25—'\
`
`rG 7
`
`APPLE
`EXHIBIT 1004 - 0009
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`U.S. Patent Feb. 19, 2013 Sheet 8 of 14 US 8,380,796 B2
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`580
`,_\
`
`PSEUDO GROUP LIST FORM
`
`Following are the other members who went to
`your college at about the same time.
`
`/ S804
`
`Click on the boxes next to the names of the people
`you'd like to add fo your Address Book.
`
`580-6 —~ e ad
`State University, 1982-1986
`580~ 10 S60-72
`580—74 —, |
`
`John Doe (Graduated 1985)
`
`Robert Johnson (Graduated 1986)
`
`Jane Smith (Graduated 1986)
`
`S80—-76 ——i
`
`G, &
`
`APPLE
`EXHIBIT 1004 - 0010
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`U.S. Patent Feb. 19, 2013 Sheet 9 of 14 US 8,380,796 B2
`
`600
`
`PSEUDO PERMISSION FORM
`
`/‘500—2
`Click on the boxes next to the Permission Levels that
`you would like to grant to your new contact
`
`600-4
`John Doe
`600-6
`600-7~ . - I
`Crossing Paths Notification Permission
`. T 600-8
`600-9 —] Personal Information
`600-70
`Work Information -
`_—600-72
`Birthday Notification
`600—-74
`s
`
`Friend of Friends Information
`
`600-76 "\
`
`G 9
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`APPLE
`EXHIBIT 1004 - 0011
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`US 8,380,796 B2
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`Sheet 10 of 14
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`Feb. 19, 2013
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`U.S. Patent
`
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`EXHIBIT 1004 - 0012
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`U.S. Patent Feb. 19, 2013 Sheet 11 of 14 US 8,380,796 B2
`
`650
`\
`
`PSEUDO MEMBER UPDATE
`
`Member Update — 650-2
`December 7, 1998
`
`/—6'50—4
`The following of your contacts have upcoming birthdays:
`— Avery Rogers (Dec. 11) .
`- Jane Bigelow (Dec. 14) 630-6
`650-&
`
`Your contacts have registered the following address changes:
`-~ Tom Kohn
`
`New work address:
`1000 Wilson Boulevard 650~70
`Arlington, Va 22229
`
`New work phone: _
`703-558-3312 }550 Z
`
`65074
`/"
`
`The following new members have affiliated with the same groups as you:
`—~ Gary Clayton (State College, 1985
`y Clayton ( g ) 55715
`
`650-78
`
`The following members have linked to you and have requested that
`you reciprocate:
`— Jun Ohama
`
`— Lee Rogers }550*20
`
`650-22
`
`You have scheduled a trip to Phoenix on December 14, The following of
`your contacts live in Phoenix or will be in Phoenix on that date:
`
`— Andrew Kress
`- Taylor Pierce }550—24
`
`650-26
`
`According to Astrology, the following of your contacts are compatible with
`you today (Libras)
`
`— Bryan Jamieson _
`= Anne Thierry }550 i
`
`76, 17
`
`APPLE
`EXHIBIT 1004 - 0013
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`US 8,380,796 B2
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`Sheet 12 of 14
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`Feb. 19, 2013
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`U.S. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`1
`SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No.
`12/127,495, filed May 27, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,739,139,
`which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/022,
`089, filed Dec. 22, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,386,464, which
`is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/780,486,
`filed Feb. 17,2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,194,419), which is a
`continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/348,355,
`filed Jul. 7, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,714,916), which is a
`continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/962,997, filed
`Nov. 2, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,369).
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates generally to multi-user com-
`puter systems, such as contact management systems, that
`provide services for users to locate and share personal infor-
`mation with other users.
`
`2. Description of Related Art
`
`Several types of prior art for managing contact information
`exist, including Personal Information Management software
`applications, Groupware Applications, and Internet-based
`“White Pages” and e-mail services.
`
`Personal Information Management Software. As repre-
`sented generally in FIG. 1, in a typical prior art Personal
`Information Management (PIM) software application (e.g.,
`Lotus Organizer, Microsoft Outlook, or U.S. Robotics Palm
`Pilot), a PIM software application 120, 124 that stores contact
`information in a database resides on a workstation or hand-
`held computer 100 having a central processing unit 102, a
`display 108, a keyboard and/or mouse 110, a primary memory
`104 (e.g., random access memory) for program execution, a
`secondary memory 106 (e.g., a hard disc) for program stor-
`age, and peripheral devices 112. As is well known, programs,
`such as the PIM software 120, are executed in the RAM 104
`by the CPU 102 under control of the operating system soft-
`ware 122, 126.
`
`In the prior art, users themselves enter the contact infor-
`mation that they want to store in the PIM software. A variety
`of methods exist for entering this contact information. It may
`be entered manually using the keyboard, imported from an
`existing file on their computer, or imported via a peripheral
`device such as a business card scanner. The defining charac-
`teristic of this class of prior art is that the input of the contact
`information is performed by the user of the software and,
`when the information changes, the user must modify the
`information himself. What this class of prior art lacks is a
`means for information to be shared between multiple users
`and a means for a given user to post changes to his own
`information for the benefit of others.
`
`Groupware Applications. As generally represented in FI1G.
`2, in a typical prior art Groupware application (e.g., Lotus
`Notes), auser workstation 160 accesses information stored on
`a central server computer 130 over a computer network 150,
`such as a Local Area Network or Intranet. The server system
`consists of a central processing unit 132, a primary memory
`134 (e.g., random access memory) for program execution, a
`secondary storage device 136 (e.g., a hard disc) for program
`storage, and a modem 138 or other device for connecting to
`the computer network. The user workstation 160 is the same
`as the user workstation 100 described in reference to FIG. 1
`with the addition of a modem 162 or other device for con-
`necting to the computer network. The file server or database
`
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`contains data files 148 that can be accessed only by authorized
`users. The user uses client software 174, 176 running on the
`user workstation 160 to access the files 148 under the media-
`tion of server software 140, 144 running on the server 130.
`
`Typically, in such a system a central system administrator
`organizes users into classes and the creator of a file 148
`determines what classes of users may view the file. The rules
`governing which individual users or classes of users have the
`authorization to view a particular file 148 may be stored as
`part of the file itself. Alternatively, these rules are based upon
`the hierarchical directory structure of the file server in which
`the file is stored. That is, a particular user may view files in
`one directory but not another.
`
`FIG. 3 represents a common deployment of a contact man-
`agement system based on Groupware. Each user enters infor-
`mation 202 about himself and specifies a set of permissions
`204 that define what classes of users are able to view various
`pieces of the information 202. What this deployment of the
`prior art lacks is the ability to authorize viewing privileges on
`auser-by-user basis rather than on a class-by-class basis. For
`instance, a user would be able to grant access to his home
`phone number 206 to the Human Resources department ofhis
`employer (e.g., Class A) while denying access to the same
`information to his co-workers (e.g., Class C). The user would
`not be able (o give access (0 his home phone number selec-
`tively to a first co-worker while denying it to a second co-
`worker if both co-workers were part of the same class of users
`as organized by the central system administrator. Further-
`more, such a system would lack a practical notification meth-
`odology. There would be no way for a user to specify “notify
`me when the first co-worker changes his information but not
`when the second co-worker changes his information.”
`
`Internet-Based “White Pages” and E-Mail Directory Ser-
`vices. In a typical prior art “white pages” or e-mail service,
`client computers and a server computer are connected via the
`World Wide Web as depicted in FIG. 4. A user subscribes to a
`White Pages or E-Mail service via a client computer 270
`operating a web browser 282 or other software application
`residing in memory 274 that allows it to display information
`downloaded from a server computer 230 over the World Wide
`Web 260. The server computer system accesses a database
`240 containing contact information entered by registered
`users. The service enables users to view contact information
`entered by other users. The authorization scheme may allow
`all users to limit certain classes of users from viewing certain
`parts of their user record as represented in FIG. 3. However,
`there are no linkages between individual users and thus users
`cannot restrict the viewing of their information on a user-by-
`user basis. Furthermore, users cannot be notified when infor-
`mation for particular users has changed.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`A networked computer system provides various services
`for assisting users in locating, and establishing contact rela-
`tionships with, other users. For example, in one embodiment,
`users can identify other users based on their affiliations with
`particular schools or other organizations. The system also
`provides a mechanism for a user to selectively establish con-
`tactrelationships or connections with other users, and to grant
`permissions for such other users to view personal information
`of'the user. The system may also include features for enabling
`users to identify contacts of their respective contacts. In addi-
`tion, the system may automatically notify users of personal
`information updates made by their respective contacts.
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`3
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
`and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments
`of the invention, wherein:
`
`FIG. 1 depicts a computer loaded with Personal Informa-
`tion Management software;
`
`FIG. 2 generally depicts the data schema of a category of
`prior art known as groupware applications;
`
`FIG. 3 shows a common scheme for authorizing permis-
`sion to view information in the prior art;
`
`FIG. 4 depicts two computers interconnected via the Inter-
`net, one of which is a server connected to a database and the
`other of which represents a user’s client workstation, both of
`which are configured according to the prior art;
`
`FIG. 5 depicts two computers interconnected via the Inter-
`net, one of which is a server connected to a database and the
`other of which represents a user’s client workstation, both of
`which are configured according to the present invention;
`
`FIG. 6 represents an object model of the key tables in the
`relational database maintained on the server computer in the
`preferred embodiment of the present invention;
`
`FIG. 7 represents a pseudo graphical user interface in
`which a user enters information in specific data fields to create
`a personal data record;
`
`I'IG. 8 represents a pseudo graphical user interface for
`listing other users with the same group affiliation as that
`specified by a first user;
`
`FIG. 9 represents a pseudo graphical user interface for
`specifying what type of data fields from a first user’s personal
`data record to which the first user wishes to grant a specific
`second user access;
`
`FIG. 10 represents a pseudo graphical user interface that
`displays the information stored in a user’s personal address
`book;
`
`FIG. 11 represents a pseudo graphical user interface that
`provides a first user with specific information that has
`changed about the other users to which the first user is linked;
`
`FIG. 12 represents a pseudo graphical user interface that
`allows a first user to enter travel information and find out
`which contacts have overlapping travel schedules;
`
`FIG. 13 represents a pseudo graphical user interface that
`allows a first user to gather information about the contacts of
`his contacts; and
`
`FIG. 14 is a data flow diagram of an alternative embodi-
`ment of the present invention where a personal digital assis-
`tant is synchronized with a server database of user informa-
`tion.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
`embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illus-
`trated in the accompanying figures. While the invention will
`be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments,
`it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the
`invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, the inven-
`tion is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and
`equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and
`scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
`
`As represented in FIG. 5, the preferred embodiment fol-
`lows a standard Internet architecture, in which client comput-
`ers 370 and a server computer 330 are connected via the
`World Wide Web 360 and modems 338, 378 or other com-
`munications channels. A user accesses the server 360 via a
`client computer 370 operating a web browser 382 or other
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`software application residing in memory 374 that allows it to
`display information downloaded from a server computer 330.
`The server computer system 330 runs server software 342,
`including the network-computer-based personal contact
`manager 343 of the present invention, which interacts with
`the client computers 370 and a user information database 340.
`In a commercial embodiment of the present invention, the
`personal contact manager 343 is the heart of a Web-based
`personal contact management service called PlanetAll. The
`database 340 contains contact information entered by regis-
`tered users. The personal contact manager 343 in some situ-
`ations will notify a set of users of updates made to the data-
`base 340 by another user to whom the notified set is related.
`
`The database 340 in is a relational database built from a set
`of relational tables 350. In the conventional manner, both the
`server 330 and the clients 370 include respective storage
`devices, such as hard disks 336 and 376 and operate under the
`control of operating systems 344, 384 executed in RAM 334,
`374 by the CPUs 332, 372. The server storage device 336
`stores program files 346 and the operating system 348. Simi-
`larly, the client storage devices 376 store the web browser
`software 386 and the operating systems 388. In an alternative
`configuration, in which the client is a personal information
`manager (PIM), such as the U.S. Robotics Palm Pilot, the disc
`376 can also include a local PIM database 390 and PIM
`software, which performs data management and synchroni-
`zation functions.
`
`FIG. 6 outlines the data structure of the relational database
`340 in the preferred embodiment, in which seven tables 350
`are employed to enable most of the functionality of the sys-
`tem:
`
`(1) Customer Table 440;
`
`(2) Friend Table 460;
`
`(3) Group Table 400;
`
`(4) Affinity Table 420;
`
`(5) Address Table 480;
`
`(6) Phone Table 500; and
`
`(7) Travel Event Table 520;
`
`The Customer Table 440 contains one record for each
`unique user. The key field in this table is CustomerID 440-2.
`All information stored in the various database tables relating
`to a particular member is linked together by a unique number
`in this field. Other important fields in this table include infor-
`mation used by users to login to the system (Username 440-6
`and Password 440-8), information which helps users identify
`each other (First Name 440-10, Last Name 440-12, and
`E-mail 440-20), information required to provide Birthday
`Notification (Birthday 440-16) and information required to
`provide Crossing Paths notification (CityID 440-14). Each
`record in the Customer Table 440 is time-stamped via the
`RecordDate field 440-4. Other fields 440-22 can also be
`included in the Customer Table 440 (and the other tables as
`well).
`
`The Friend Table 460 relates users to each other. Each
`record in the table represents a relationship between one user,
`identified by CustomerID 460-4, and another, identified by
`FriendID 460-6, with a certain level of permissions 460-10.
`The user interface of the system provides a multitude of ways
`for users to view information about other users, and every one
`of these ways relies on a database query of the Friend Table
`460 to determine the list of other users whose information a
`particular user may see. Each record is time-stamped via the
`RecordDate ficld 460-8 so that uscrs may be notified when
`their contacts’ records change. Each record is uniquely iden-
`tified by a RelationID 460-2.
`
`The Group Table 400 contains one record for each unique
`group with which users may affiliate. Each group is identified
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`by a GroupName 400-4 and GroupType 400-6. Examples of
`these groups would be GroupName 400-4=“Massachusetts
`Institute of Technology” (GroupType="University”’) and
`GroupName 400-4="Sigma Chi”
`(GroupType=“Fraternity”’). Each record has a time-stamp
`400-8 and a unique identifier 400-2.
`
`Each record of the Affinity Table 420 relates a user, iden-
`tified by CustomerID 420-4, to a group, identified by
`GroupID 420-6. If a user affiliates with six groups, there
`would be six records in the Affinity Table 420. This table
`stores information about the time period of a user’s affiliation
`with a particular group in the FromYear and ToYear fields
`420-8, 420-10 so that the system may help users find their
`contemporaries. Each record is time-stamped 420-12 so that
`the system may report to users when other users join the
`group, has a unique identifier 420-2 and can include addi-
`tional fields 420-14.
`
`The Address Table 480 stores information for any number
`and kind of addresses for a particular user, identified by
`CustomerID 480-4. For instance, if a user wants to make his
`home address, work address and summer home address avail-
`able to his contacts, there would be three records for that user
`in the Address Table 480, each being identified in part by an
`appropriate AddressType 480-8 (e.g., home, work, summer
`home). Each record is time-stamped 480-16 so that the sys-
`tem can notify users when their contacts have added or modi-
`fied address information and has a unique identifier 480-2.
`Address information is conventional, including street
`Address 480-8, CityID 480-10, Postal code 480-12, and mili-
`tary Base 480-14 fields.
`
`The Phone Table 500 is directly analogous to the Address
`Table 480, but it stores telephone and fax number information
`instead of address information. Each record is identified by a
`unique PhoneRecordID 500-2 and includes the CustomerID
`500-4 of the user whose phone information is contained in the
`record, a phone type ID 500-6 indicating, e.g., whether the
`record is for a telephone or fax, the phone number 500-8 and
`a time-stamp 500-10.
`
`The Travel Event Table 520 stores information about users’
`travel plans. This table is required to notify users when their
`travel plans intersect with the travel plans of their contacts. A
`record in the Travel Event Table 520 includes the CustomerID
`520-4 of the user whose travel information is contained in the
`record, arrival and departure dates 520-6, 520-8 and a CityID
`520-10 identifying the travel destination. Fach record is
`uniquel