US20070218900A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20070218900A1
Application number: US11/603,442
Authority: US
Inventors: Raj Vasant Abhyanker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Google LLC
Priority date: 2006-03-17
Filing date: 2006-11-22
Publication date: 2007-09-20
Also published as: WO2007108927A3; WO2007108927A2; US8775328B1; WO2007108928A3; WO2007108928B1; WO2007108928A2; US20070233582A1; US20070219712A1; US20140195629A1

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system of map based community search and neighborhood contribution are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes associating a verified registered user with a user profile, associating the user profile with a specific geographic location, generating a map concurrently displaying the user profile and the specific geographic location and simultaneously generating, in the map, wiki profiles associated with different geographic locations surrounding the specific geographic location associated with the user profile.

Description

CLAIMS OF PRIORITY

This patent application claims priority from:

(1) U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/783,226, titled ‘Trade identity licensing in a professional services environment with conflict’ filed on Mar. 17, 2006.(2) U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/817,470 titled ‘Segmented services having a global structure of networked independent entities’, filed Jun. 28, 2006.(3) U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/853,499, titled ‘Method and apparatus of neighborhood expression and user contribution system’ filed on Oct. 19, 2006.(4) U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/854,230 titled ‘Method and apparatus of neighborhood expression and user contribution system’ filed on Oct. 25, 2006.FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

This disclosure relates generally to the technical fields of communications and, in one example embodiment, to a method, apparatus, and system of map based community search and neighborhood contribution.

BACKGROUND

A neighborhood may be a geographically localized community in a larger city, town, and/or suburb. Residents of the neighborhood may refer to each other as neighbors, although this term may also be used across much larger distances in rural areas. In theory, the neighborhood may be small enough that the neighbors may be able to know each other by walking and/or driving a short distance (e.g., 5 miles) around their place of residence and/or their place of work. However, in practice, the neighbors may not know one another very well (e.g., because of busy schedules, fenced communities, lack of effort, a lack of time, etc.).

The neighborhood may be given a designated status through a neighborhood association, a neighborhood watch group, a political group, a homeowners association, and/or a tenant association. These groups may help in matters such as lawn care and fence height, and they may provide such services as block parties, neighborhood parks, children activities, special interest groups, and/or community security. However, getting messages out to residents of the neighborhood may require expensive direct mail, and/or time consuming door to door meetings with residents of the neighborhood.

A neighborhood watch (e.g., a crime watch, a block watch, a neighborhood crime watch, etc.) may be an organization of active residents devoted to crime and/or vandalism prevention in the neighborhood. Members of the neighborhood watch may stay alert of unusual activity, behaviors, and/or crime in the neighborhood. However, most residents may not be active participants of the neighborhood association (e.g., because of a lack of time), and may be unaware of safety, security, and/or prevention issues in their immediate area.

For example, in many American communities, while a few active residents know a lot of their neighbors, there are far more residents who do not even know what professions, interests, and reputations are of their immediate next-door neighbors. As a result, friendships among neighbors don't form as often, neighbors have more difficult time asking other neighbors for help, safety in the neighborhood suffers, quality of life is impacted, and a sense of community is diminishing.

SUMMARY

A method, apparatus and system of map based neighborhood search and community contribution are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes associating a verified registered user with a user profile, associating the user profile with a specific geographic location, generating a map concurrently displaying the user profile and the specific geographic location, and simultaneously generating, in the map, wiki profiles associated with different geographic locations surrounding the specific geographic location associated with the user profile.

The method may also includes processing a query of at least one of the user profile and the specific geographic location and converting a particular wiki profile of the wiki profiles to another user profile when a different registered user claims a particular geographic location to the specific geographic location associated with the particular wiki profile, wherein the user profile is tied to a specific property in a neighborhood, and wherein the particular wiki profile is associated with a neighboring property to the specific property in the neighborhood.

The method may further include delisting a certain wiki profile of the wiki profiles when a private registered user claims a certain geographic location adjacent to at least one of the specific geographic location and the particular geographic location and masking the certain wiki profile in the map when the certain wiki profile is delisted through the request of the private registered user. Moreover, the method may include processing a tag data associated with at least one of the specific geographic location, a particular geographic location, and/or the delisted geographic location, displaying a frequent one of the tag data when the specific geographic location and/or the particular geographic location is made active, but not when a geographic location is delisted, permitting a commercial user to purchase a customizable business profile associated with a commercial geographic location, enabling the verified registered user to communicate a message to the neighborhood based on a selectable distance range away from the specific geographic location and/or processing a payment of the commercial user and the verified registered user.

Furthermore, the method may also include permitting the verified registered user to edit any information in the wiki profiles including the particular wiki profile and the certain wiki profile until the certain wiki profile is claimed by the different registered user and/or the private registered user, enabling a claimant of any wiki profile to control what information is displayed on their user profile and/or allowing the claimant to segregate certain information on their user profile such that only other registered users directly connected to the claimant are able to view data on their user profile.

Also, the method may include applying a first user ID with the verified registered user and a second user ID to the different registered user, connecting the verified registered user with the different registered user with each other through at least one of a geo-positioning data associated with the first user ID and the second user ID, setting a maximum degree of separation (Nmax) of at least two that is allowed for connecting any two registered users, wherein two registered users who are directly connected are deemed to be separated by one degree of separation, two registered users who are connected through no less than one other registered user are deemed to be separated by two degrees of separation and/or two registered users who are connected through no less than N other registered users are deemed to be separated by N+1 degrees of separation, searching the user ID of the different registered user in a set of user IDs that are stored of registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user, and not in the sets of user IDs that are stored for registered users who are greater than or equal to Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user, until the user ID of the different registered user is found in one of the searched sets and/or connecting the verified registered user to the different registered user if the user ID of the different registered user is found in one of the searched sets, wherein the method limits the searching of the different registered user in the sets of user IDs that are stored of registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user, such that the verified registered user and/or the different registered user who are separated by more than Nmax degrees of separation are not found and connected.

The method may also include storing of each registered user associated e-mail addresses of individuals who are not registered users and/or identified by each registered user as neighbors, communicating out an invitation to become a new user to neighbors of the particular user, processing an acceptance of a neighbor to whom the invitation was sent, adding the neighbor to a database and/or storing of the neighbor, a user ID and/or a set of user IDs of registered users who are directly connected to the neighbor, the set of user IDs stored of the neighbor including at least the user ID of the verified registered user, notifying the verified registered user that the invitation to the neighbor has been accepted when an acceptance is processed and/or processing inputs from the neighbor having descriptive data about the friend and storing the inputs in the database.

Moreover the method may include communicating brief profiles of registered users, including a brief profile of the different registered user, to the verified registered user for display, each of the brief profiles including a hyperlink to a corresponding full profile, processing a hyperlink selection from the verified registered user, wherein, upon processing the hyperlink selection of the full profile of the different registered user, the full profile of the different registered user may be communicated to the verified registered user for display and ensuring that brief profiles of those registered users who are more than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user are not communicated to the verified registered user for display.

In another aspect, a system includes any number of neighborhoods having registered users and/or unregistered users of a global neighborhood environment, a social community module of the global neighborhood environment to generate a building creator in which the registered users may create and/or modify empty wiki profiles, building layouts, social network pages, and/or floor levels structures housing residents and/or businesses in the neighborhood, a wiki module of the global neighborhood environment to enable the registered users to create a social network page of themselves, and/or to edit information associated with the unregistered users identifiable through a viewing of physical properties in which the unregistered users reside when the registered users have knowledge of characteristics associated with the unregistered users.

In addition, a search module of the global neighborhood environment may enable a people search, a business search, and a category search of any data in the social community module and/or to enable embedding of any content in the global neighborhood environment in other search engines, blogs, social networks, professional networks and static websites, a commerce module of the global neighborhood environment to provide an advertisement system to a business who purchase their location in the global neighborhood environment in which the advertisement may be viewable concurrently with a map indicating a location of the business, and in which revenue may be attributed to the global neighborhood environment when the registered users and/or the unregistered users click-in on a simultaneously displayed data of the advertisement along with the map indicating a location of the business, and/or a map module of the global neighborhood environment to include a map data associated with a satellite data which serves as a basis of rendering the map in the global neighborhood environment and/or which includes a simplified map generator which may transform the map to a fewer color and/or location complex form using a parcel data which identifies some residence, civic, and business locations in the satellite data.

The system may include a verify module of the social community module to authenticate an email address of a registered user prior to enabling the registered user to edit information associated with the unregistered users through an email response and a digital signature technique, a group generator module of the social community module to enable the registered users to form groups with each other surrounding a common neighborhood political, cultural, educational, professional and/or social interest, a tagging module of the social community module to enable the registered users and/or the unregistered users to leave brief comments on each of the wiki profiles and social network pages in the global neighborhood environment.

Brief comments may be simultaneously displayed when a pointing device rolls over a pushpin indicating a physical property associated with any of the registered users and/or the unregistered users, a pushpin module of the social community module to generate customized indicators of different types of users, locations, and/or interests directly in the map, an announce module of the social community module to distribute a message in a specified range of distance away from the registered users when the registered user purchases the message to communicate to certain ones of the registered users surrounding a geographic vicinity adjacent to the particular registered user originating the message, wherein the particular registered user purchases the message through a governmental currency and a number of tokens collected by the particular user through a creation of content in the global neighborhood environment, an nth degree module of the social community module to enable the particular registered user to communicate with an unknown registered user through a common registered user known by the particular registered user and/or the unknown registered user that may be an nth degree of separation away from the particular registered user and the unknown registered user and a profile module of the social community module to create a set of profiles of each one of the registered users and/or to enable each one of the registered users to submit media content of themselves, other registered users, and unregistered users identifiable through the map.

Moreover, the system may include a claim module of wiki module to enable the unregistered users to claim the physical properties associated with their residence, a dispute resolution module of the wiki module to determine a legitimate user of different unregistered users who claim a same physical property, a defamation prevention module of the wiki module to enable the registered users to modify the information associated with the unregistered users identifiable through the viewing of the physical properties, and/or to enable registered user voting of an accuracy of the information associated with the unregistered users, a reviews module of the wiki module to provide comments, local reviews and/or ratings of various businesses as contributed by the registered users and/or unregistered users of the global network environment, a wiki-social network conversion module of the wiki module to transform the wiki profiles to social network profiles when the registered users claim the wiki profiles.

Furthermore, the system may include a communication module of the search module to enable voice over internet, live chat, and/or group announcement functionality in the global neighborhood environment among different members of the global neighborhood environment, a directory assistance module of the search module to provide voice response assistance to the users assessable through a web and/or telephony interface of any category, business, community, and/or residence search queries of the users of any search engine embedding content of the global neighborhood environment, an embed module of the search module to automatically extract address and/or contact info from other social networks, search engines, and/or content providers, and/or to enable automatic extraction of group lists from contact databases of instant messaging platforms and a no-match module of the search module to request additional information from the verified registered user about a person, place, and business having no listing in the global neighborhood environment when no matches are found in a search query of the verified registered user, and/or to create a new wiki page based on a response of the verified registered user about the person, place, and business not previously indexed in the global neighborhood environment.

The system may further include a geo-position advertisement ranking module of the commerce module to determine an order of the advertisement (e.g., the advertisement may be a display advertisement, a text advertisement, and/or an employment recruiting portal associated with the business that is simultaneously displayed with the map indicating the location of the business) in a series of other advertisements provided in the global neighborhood environment by other advertisers, a click-through tracking module of the commerce module to determine a number of click throughs from the advertisement to a primary website of the business, click-in tracking module of the commerce module to determine a number of users who clicked in to the advertisement simultaneously displayed with the map indicating the location of the business, a community marketplace module of the commerce module to provide a forum in which the registered users may trade and/or announce messages of trading events with certain registered users in geographic proximity from each other and a content syndication module of the commerce module to enable any data in the commerce module to be syndicated to other network based trading platforms.

The system may include a cartoon map converter module in the map module to apply a filter to the satellite data to transform the satellite data into a simplified polygon based representation using a Bezier curve algorithm that converts point data of the satellite data to a simplified form.

In yet another aspect, a global neighborhood environment includes a first instruction set to enable a social network to reside above a map data, in which the social network may be associated with specific geographical locations identifiable in the map data, a second instruction set integrated with the first instruction set to enable users of the social network to create profiles of other people through a forum which provides a free form of expression of the users sharing information about any entities and/or people residing in any geographical location identifiable in the satellite map data, and/or to provide a technique of each of the users to claim a geographic location to control content in their respective claimed geographic locations and a third instruction set integrated with the first instruction set and the second instruction set to enable searching of people in the global neighborhood environment by indexing each of the data shared by the users of any of the people and/or the entities residing in any geographic location.

The global neighborhood environment may include a fourth instruction set to provide a moderation of content about each other posted of the users through trusted users of the global neighborhood environment who have an ability to ban specific users and/or delete any offensive and libelous content in the global neighborhood environment. Also, the global neighborhood environment may include a fifth instruction set to enable an insertion of any content generated in the global neighborhood environment in other search engines through a syndication and/or advertising relationship between the global neighborhood environment and/or other internet commerce and search portals.

Furthermore, the global neighborhood environment may include a sixth instruction set to grow the social network through neighborhood groups, local politicians, block watch communities, issue activism groups, and neighbors who invite other known parties and/or members to share profiles of themselves and learn characteristics and information about other supporters and/or residents in a geographic area of interest through the global neighborhood environment.

The global neighborhood environment may also include a seventh instruction set to determine quantify an effect on a desirability of a location, a popularity of a location, and/or a market value of a location based on an algorithm that considers a number of demographic and social characteristics of a region surrounding the location through a reviews module.

The methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein may be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects, and may be executed in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform any of the operations disclosed herein. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a system view of a global neighborhood environment communicating with the neighborhood(s) through a network, an advertiser(s), a global map data and an occupant data according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a social community module ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a search module ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a wiki module ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a commerce module ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a map module ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a table view of user address details, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a social community view of a social community module, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a profile view of a profile module, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a contribute view of a neighborhood network module, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic system view of a data processing system in which any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be performed, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 12A is a user interface view of mapping user profile of the geographical location, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 12B is a user interface view of mapping of the wiki profile, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 13A is a user interface view of mapping of a wiki profile of the commercial user, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 13B is a user interface view of mapping of customizable business profile of the commercial user, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a user interface view of a group view associated with particular geographical location, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a user interface view of claim view, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a user interface view of a building builder, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a systematic view of communication of wiki data, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a systematic view of a network view, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a database, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an exemplary graphical user interface view for data collection, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 21 is an exemplary graphical user interface view of image collection, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 22 is an exemplary graphical user interface view of an invitation, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of inviting the invitee(s) by the registered user, notifying the registered user upon the acceptance of the invitation by the invitee(s) and, processing and storing the input data associated with the user in the database, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of adding the neighbor to the queue, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of communicating brief profiles of the registered users, processing a hyperlink selection from the verified registered user and calculating and ensuring the Nmax degree of separation of the registered users away from verified registered users, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 26 is an N degree separation view, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a user interface view showing a map, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 28A is a process flow chart of searching a map based community and neighborhood contribution, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 28B is a continuation of process flow ofFIG. 28A showing additional processes, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 28C is a continuation of process flow ofFIG. 28B showing additional processes, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 28D is a continuation of process flow ofFIG. 28C showing additional processes, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 28E is a continuation of process flow ofFIG. 28D showing additional processes, according to one embodiment.

Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method, apparatus and system of map based neighborhood search and community contribution are disclosed. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It will be evident, however to one skilled in the art that the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.

In one embodiment, a method includes associating a verified registered user (e.g., a verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, a verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) with a user profile, associating the user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A) with a specific geographic location, generating a map (e.g., amap1701 ofFIG. 17) concurrently displaying the user profile and/or the specific geographic location and simultaneously generating, in the map (e.g., themap1701 ofFIG. 17), wiki profiles (e.g., awiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, awiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, awiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) associated with different geographic locations surrounding the specific geographic location associated with the user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A).

In another embodiment, a system includes a plurality of neighborhoods (e.g., the neighborhood(s)102A-N ofFIG. 1) having registered users and/or unregistered users of a global neighborhood environment (e.g., aglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1), a social community module (e.g., asocial community module106 ofFIG. 1, asocial community module106 ofFIG. 2) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) to generate a building creator (e.g., throughbuilding builder200 ofFIG. 2) in which the registered users may create and/or modify empty wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17), building layouts, social network pages, and/or floor levels structures housing residents and businesses in the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood100 ofFIG. 1), a wiki module (e.g., awiki module110 ofFIG. 1, awiki module110 ofFIG. 4) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) to enable the registered users to create a social network page of themselves, and/or to edit information associated with the unregistered users identifiable through a viewing of physical properties in which the unregistered users reside when the registered users have knowledge of characteristics associated with the unregistered users.

In addition, the system may include search module (e.g., asearch module108 ofFIG. 1, asearch module108 ofFIG. 3) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) to enable a people search (e.g., information stored inpeople database216 ofFIG. 2), a business search (e.g., information stored in business database220 ofFIG. 2), and a category search of any data in the social community module (asocial community module106 ofFIG. 1, asocial community module106 ofFIG. 2) and/or to enable embedding of any content in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) in other search engines, blogs, social networks, professional networks and/or static websites, a commerce module (e.g., acommerce module112 ofFIG. 1, acommerce module112 ofFIG. 5) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

In yet another embodiment, a global neighborhood environment (e.g., aglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) includes a first instruction set to enable a social network to reside above a map data, in which the social network may be associated with specific geographical locations identifiable in the map data, a second instruction set integrated with the first instruction set to enable the users (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) of the social network to create profiles of other people through a forum which provides a free form of expression of the users sharing information about any entities and/or people residing in any geographical location identifiable in the satellite map data, and/or to provide a technique of each of the users (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) to claim a geographic location (ageographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A) to control content in their respective claimed geographic locations and a third instruction set integrated with the first instruction set and/or the second instruction set to enable searching of people in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) by indexing each of the data shared by the users (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) of any of the people and entities residing in any geographic location (ageographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A).

FIG. 1 is a system view of aglobal neighborhood environment100 communicating with neighborhood(s)102A-N through anetwork104, an advertiser(s)124, aglobal map data126, anoccupant data128, according to one embodiment. ParticularlyFIG. 1 illustrates theglobal neighborhood environment100, theneighborhood102A-N, thenetwork104, advertiser(s)124,global map data126, and theoccupant data128, according to one embodiment. Theglobal neighborhood environment100 may contain asocial community module106, asearch module108, awiki module110, acommerce module112 and amap module114. The neighborhood may include a user116, acommunity center120, aresidence118, aneighbor120 and a business122, according to one embodiment.

Theglobal neighborhood environment100 may include any number of neighborhoods having registered users and/or unregistered users. The neighborhood(s)102 may be a geographically localized community in a larger city, town, and/or suburb. Thenetwork104 may be search engines, blogs, social networks, professional networks and static website that may unite individuals, groups and/or community. Thesocial community module106 may generate a building creator in which the registered users may create and/or modify empty wiki profiles (e.g., awiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, awiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, awiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17). Thesearch module108 may include searching of information of an individual, group and/or community.

Thewiki module110 may enable the registered users to create and/or update their information. A ‘wiki’ (e.g., may be enabled through the wiki module110) can be defined as a perpetual collective work of many authors. Similar to a blog in structure and logic, a wiki allows anyone to edit, delete or modify content that has been placed on the Web site using a browser interface, including the work of previous authors. In contrast, a blog (e.g., or a social network page), typically authored by an individual, may not allow visitors to change the original posted material, only add comments to the original content. The term wiki refers to either the web site or the software used to create the site. The term ‘wiki’ also implies fast creation, ease of creation, and community approval in many software contexts (e.g., wiki means “quick” in Hawaiian).

Thecommerce module112 may provide an advertisement system to a business that may enable the users to purchase location in the neighborhood(s)102. Themap module114 may be indulged in study, practice, representing and/or generating maps, or globes. The user116 may be an individuals and/or households that may purchase and/or use goods and services and/or be an active member of any group or community and/or resident and/or a part of any neighborhood(s)102. Theresidence118 may be a house, a place to live and/or like a nursing home in a neighborhood(s)102.

Thecommunity center120 may be public locations where members of a community may gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. The business122 may be a customer service, finance, sales, production, communications/public relations and/or marketing organization that may be located in the neighborhood(s)102. The advertiser(s)124 may be an individual and/or a firm drawing public who may be responsible in encouraging the people attention to goods and/or services by promoting businesses, and/or may perform through a variety of media. Theglobal map data126 may contain the details/maps of any area, region and/or neighborhood. Thesocial community module106 of theglobal neighborhood environment100 may communicate with the neighborhood(s)102 through thenetwork104 and/or thesearch module108. Thesocial community module106 of theglobal neighborhood environment100 may communicate with the advertiser(s)124 through the commerce module, theoccupant data128 and/orglobal map data126 through themap module114.

For example, theneighborhoods102A-N may have registered users and/or unregistered users of aglobal neighborhood environment100. Also, thesocial community module106 of theglobal neighborhood environment100 may generate a building creator (e.g.,building builder1602 ofFIG. 16) in which the registered users may create and/or modify empty wiki profiles, building layouts, social network pages, and/or floor levels structures housing residents and/or businesses in the neighborhood.

In addition, thewiki module110 of theglobal neighborhood environment100 may enable the registered users to create a social network page of themselves, and/or may edit information associated with the unregistered users identifiable through a viewing of physical properties in which, the unregistered users reside when the registered users have knowledge of characteristics associated with the unregistered users.

Furthermore, thesearch module108 of theglobal neighborhood environment100 may enable a people search (e.g., the people searchwidget300 ofFIG. 3), a business search (e.g., the business search module302 ofFIG. 3), and/or a category search (e.g., thecategory search widget304 ofFIG. 3) of any data in thesocial community module106 and/or may enable embedding of any content in theglobal neighborhood environment100 in other search engines, blogs, social networks, professional networks and/or static websites.

Thecommerce module112 of theglobal neighborhood environment100 may provide an advertisement system to a business who purchase their location in theglobal neighborhood environment100 in which the advertisement may be viewable concurrently with a map indicating a location of the business, and/or in which revenue may be attributed to theglobal neighborhood environment100 when the registered users and/or the unregistered users click-in on a simultaneously displayed data of the advertisement along with the map indicating a location of the business.

Moreover, amap module114 of theglobal neighborhood environment100 may include a map data associated with a satellite data (e.g., generated by thesatellite data module600 ofFIG. 6) which may serve as a basis of rendering the map in theglobal neighborhood environment100 and/or which includes a simplified map generator which may transform the map to a fewer color and/or location complex form using a parcel data which identifies some residence, civic, and/or business locations in the satellite data.

In addition, a first instruction set may enable a social network to reside above a map data, in which the social network may be associated with specific geographical locations identifiable in the map data. Also, a second instruction set integrated with the first instruction set may enable users of the social network to create profiles of other people through a forum which provides a free form of expression of the users sharing information about any entities and/or people residing in any geographical location identifiable in the satellite map data, and/or to provide a technique of each of the users to claim a geographic location (e.g., a geographic location1024 ofFIG. 12A) to control content in their respective claimed geographic locations (e.g., a geographic location1024 ofFIG. 12A).

Furthermore, a third instruction set integrated with the first instruction set and the second instruction set may enable searching of people in theglobal neighborhood environment100 by indexing each of the data shared by the user116 of any of the people and/or the entities residing in any geographic location (e.g., a geographic location1024 ofFIG. 12A). A fourth instruction set may provide a moderation of content about each other posted of the users116 through trusted users of theglobal neighborhood environment100 who have an ability to ban specific users and/or delete any offensive and libelous content in theglobal neighborhood environment100.

Also, a fifth instruction set may enable an insertion of any content generated in theglobal neighborhood environment100 in other search engines through a syndication and/or advertising relationship between theglobal neighborhood environment100 and/or other internet commerce and search portals.

Moreover, a sixth instruction set may grow the social network through neighborhood groups, local politicians, block watch communities, issue activism groups, and neighbor(s)120 who invite other known parties and/or members to share profiles of themselves and/or learn characteristics and information about other supporters and/or residents in a geographic area of interest through theglobal neighborhood environment100.

Also, a seventh instruction set may determine quantify an effect on at least one of a desirability of a location, a popularity of a location, and a market value of a location based on an algorithm that considers a number of demographic and social characteristics of a region surrounding the location through a reviews module.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment. ParticularlyFIG. 2 illustrates abuilding builder module200, an N^thdegree module202, atagging module204, a verifymodule206, agroups generator module208, a pushpin module210, aprofile module212, an announcemodule214, apeople database216, aplaces database218, a business database220, a friend finder module222 and a neighbor-neighbor help module224, according to one embodiment.

The N^thdegree module202 may enable the particular registered user to communicate with an unknown registered user through a common registered user who may be a friend and/or a member of a common community. Thetagging module204 may enable the user116 to leave brief comments on each of the wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) and social network pages in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

The verifymodule206 may validate the data, profiles and/or email addresses received from various registered user(s) before any changes may be included. Thegroups generator module208 may enable the registered users to form groups may be depending on common interest, culture, style, hobbies and/or caste. The pushpin module210 may generate customized indicators of different types of users, locations, and interests directly in the map. Theprofile module212 may enable the user to create a set of profiles of the registered users and to submit media content of themselves, identifiable through a map

The announcemodule214 may distribute a message in a specified range of distance away from the registered users when a registered user purchases a message to communicate to certain ones of the registered users surrounding a geographic vicinity adjacent to the particular registered user originating the message. Thepeople database216 may keep records of the visitor/users (e.g., a user116 ofFIG. 1). Theplaces database module218 may manage the data related to the location of the user (e.g., address of the registered user). The business database220 may manage an extensive list of leading information related to business. The friend finder module222 may match the profile of the registered user with common interest and/or help the registered user to get in touch with new friends or acquaintances.

For example, the verifymodule206 of thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1 may authenticate an email address of a registered user prior to enabling the registered user to edit information associated with the unregistered users through an email response and/or a digital signature technique. Thegroups generator module208 of the social community module (e.g., thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1) may enable the registered users to form groups with each other surrounding at least one of a common neighborhood (e.g., aneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1), political, cultural, educational, professional and/or social interest.

In addition, thetagging module204 of the social community module (e.g., thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1) may enable the registered users and/or the unregistered users to leave brief comments on each of the wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) and/or social network pages in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1), in which the brief comments may be simultaneously displayed when a pointing device rolls over a pushpin indicating a physical property associated with any of the registered users and/or the unregistered users. Also, the pushpin module210 of thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1 may be generating customized indicators of different types of users, locations, and/or interests directly in the map.

Further, the announcemodule214 of thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1 may distribute a message in a specified range of distance away from the registered users when a registered user purchases a message to communicate to certain ones of the registered users surrounding a geographic vicinity adjacent to the particular registered user originating the message, wherein the particular registered user purchases the message through a governmental currency and/or a number of tokens collected by the particular user (e.g. the user116 ofFIG. 1) through a creation of content in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

In addition, the N^thdegree module202 of thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1 may enable the particular registered user to communicate with an unknown registered user through a common registered user known by the particular registered user and/or the unknown registered user that is an N^thdegree of separation away from the particular registered user and/or the unknown registered user.

Moreover, theprofile module212 of thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1 may create a set of profiles of each one of the registered users and to enable each one of the registered users to submit media content of themselves, other registered users, and unregistered users identifiable through the map.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of thesearch module108 ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment. ParticularlyFIG. 3 illustrates apeople search widget300, a business search module302, acategory search widget304, acommunication module306, adirectory assistance module308, an embeddingmodule310, a no-match module312, arange selector module314, achat widget316, agroup announcement widget318, a Voice OverIP widget320, according to one embodiment.

The people searchwidget300 may help in getting the information like the address, phone number and/or e-mail id of the people of particular interest from a group and/or community. The business search module302 may help the users (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) to find the companies, products, services, and/or business related information they need to know about.

Thecategory search widget304 may narrow down searches from a broader scope (e.g., if one is interested in information from a particular center, one can go to the category under the center and enter one's query there and it will return results from that particular category only). Thecommunication module306 may provide/facilitate multiple by which one can communicate, people to communicate with, and subjects to communicate about among different members of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

Thedirectory assistance module308 may provide voice response assistance to users (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) assessable through a web and telephony interface of any category, business and search queries of user's of any search engine contents. The embeddingmodule310 may automatically extract address and/or contact info from other social networks, search engines, and content providers.

The no-match module312 may request additional information from a verified registered user (e.g., a verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, a verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) about a person, place, and business having no listing in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) when no matches are found in a search query of the verified registered user (e.g., a verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, a verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16).

Thechat widget316 may provide people to chat online, which is a way of communicating by broadcasting messages to people on the same site in real time. Thegroup announcement widget318 may communicate with a group and/or community in may be by Usenet, Mailing list, calling and/or E-mail message sent to notify subscribers. The Voice overIP widget320 may help in routing of voice conversations over the Internet and/or through any other IP-based network. Thecommunication module306 may communicate directly with the people searchwidget300, the business search module302, thecategory search widget304, thedirectory assistance module308, the embeddingmodule310 may communicate with the no-match module312 through therange selector module314.

For example, asearch module108 of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theneighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) may enable the people search, the business search, and the category search of any data in the social community module (e.g., thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1) and/or may enable embedding of any content in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) in other search engines, blogs, social networks, professional networks and/or static websites.

In addition, the communicatemodule306 of thesearch module106 may enable voice over internet, live chat, and/or group announcement functionality in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) among different members of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

Also, thedirectory assistance module308 of thesearch module108 may provide voice response assistance to users (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) assessable through a web and/or telephony interface of any category, business, community, and residence search queries of users (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) of any search engine embedding content of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

The embeddingmodule310 of thesearch module108 may automatically extract address and/or contact info from other social networks, search engines, and content providers, and/or to enable automatic extraction of group lists from contact databases of instant messaging platforms.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of thewiki module110 ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment. ParticularlyFIG. 4 illustrates a user-place wiki module400, a user-user wiki module402, a user-neighbor wiki module404, a user-business wiki module406, areviews module408, adefamation prevention module410, a wiki-socialnetwork conversion module412, aclaim module414, adata segment module416, adispute resolution module418 and a media manage module420, according to one embodiment.

The user-place wiki module400 may manage the information of the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) location in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). The user-user wiki module402 may manage the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) to view a profile of another user and geographical location in the neighborhood. The user-neighbor wiki module404 may manage the user (e.g., the users116 ofFIG. 1) to view the profile of the registered neighbor and/or may trace the geographical location of the user in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). The user-business wiki module406 may manage the profile of the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) managing a commercial business in the neighborhood environment. Thereviews module408 may provide remarks, local reviews and/or ratings of various businesses as contributed by the users (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). Thedefamation prevention module410 may enable the registered users to modify the information associated with the unregistered users identifiable through the viewing of the physical properties.

The wiki-socialnetwork conversion module412 of thewiki module110 ofFIG. 1 may transform the wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) to social network profiles when the registered users claim the wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17).

Theclaim module414 may enable the unregistered users to claim the physical properties associated with their residence (e.g., theresidence118 ofFIG. 1). Thedispute resolution module418 may determine a legitimate user among different unregistered users who claim a same physical property. The media manage module420 may allows users (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) to manage and/or review a list any product from product catalog using a fully integrated, simple to use interface.

The media manage module420 may communicate with the user-place wiki module400, user-place wiki module400, user-user wiki module402, the user-neighbor wiki module404 and thereviews module408 through user-business wiki module406. The user-place wiki module400 may communicate with thedispute resolution module418 through theclaim module414. The user-user wiki module402 may communicate with thedata segment module416 through the wiki-socialnetwork conversion module412. The user-neighbor wiki module404 may communicate with thedefamation prevention module410. The user-business wiki module406 may communicate with thereviews module408. The wiki-socialnetwork conversion module412 may communicate with theclaim module414.

For example, thewiki module110 of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) may enable the registered users to create the social network page of themselves, and may edit information associated with the unregistered users identifiable through a viewing of physical properties in which the unregistered users reside when the registered users have knowledge of characteristics associated with the unregistered users. Also, theclaim module414 ofwiki module110 may enable the unregistered users to claim the physical properties associated with their residence.

Furthermore, thedispute resolution module418 of thewiki module110 may determine a legitimate user of different unregistered users who claim a same physical property. Thedefamation prevention module410 of thewiki module110 may enable the registered users to modify the information associated with the unregistered users identifiable through the viewing of the physical properties, and/or to enable registered user voting of an accuracy of the information associated with the unregistered users.

Moreover, the reviews module of thewiki module110 may provide comments, local reviews and/or ratings of various businesses as contributed by the registered users and/or unregistered users of the global network environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). The wiki-socialnetwork conversion module412 of thewiki module110 ofFIG. 1 may transform the wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) to social network profiles when the registered users claim the wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17).

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of thecommerce module112 ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment. ParticularlyFIG. 5 illustrates a resident announcepayment module500, a business display advertisement module502, a geo positionadvertisement ranking module504, acontent syndication module506, atext advertisement module508, acommunity marketplace module510, a click-intracking module512, a click-throughtracking module514, according to one embodiment.

Thecommunity marketplace module510 may containgarage sales516, afree stuff518, ablock party520 and aservices522, according to one embodiment. The geo-positionadvertisement ranking module504 may determine an order of the advertisement in a series of other advertisements provided in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) by other advertisers. The click-throughtracking module514 may determine a number of clicks-throughs from the advertisement to a primary website of the business.

A click-intracking module512 may determine a number of user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) who clicked in to the advertisement simultaneously. Thecommunity marketplace module510 may provide a forum in which the registered users can trade and/or announce messages of trading events with at least each other. Thecontent syndication module506 may enable any data in the commerce module (e.g., thecommerce module112 of FIGS.1,5) to be syndicated to other network based trading platforms.

The business display advertisement module502 may impart advertisements related to business (e.g., the business122 ofFIG. 1), public relations, personal selling, and/or sales promotion to promote commercial goods and services. Thetext advertisement module508 may enable visibility of showing advertisements in the form of text in all dynamically created pages in the directory. The resident announcepayment module500 may take part as component in a broader and complex process, like a purchase, a contract, etc.

Theblock party520 may be a large public celebration in which many members of a single neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1) congregate to observe a positive event of some importance. Thefree stuff518 may be the free services (e.g., advertisement, links etc) available on the net. Thegarage sales516 may be services that may be designed to make the process of advertising and/or may find a garage sale more efficient and effective. Theservices522 may be non-material equivalent of a good designed to provide a list of services that may be available for the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1).

The geo positionadvertisement ranking module504 may communicate with the resident announcepayment module500, the business display advertisement module502, thecontent syndication module506, thetext advertisement module508, thecommunity marketplace module510, the click-intracking module512 and the click-throughtracking module514.

For example, thecommerce module108 of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) may provide an advertisement system to a business which may purchase their location in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) in which the advertisement may be viewable concurrently with a map indicating a location of the business, and/or in which revenue may be attributed to the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) when the registered users and/or the unregistered users click-in on a simultaneously displayed data of the advertisement along with the map indicating a location of the business.

Also, the geo-positionadvertisement ranking module504 of thecommerce module112 to determine an order of the advertisement in a series of other advertisements provided in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) by other advertisers, wherein the advertisement may be a display advertisement, a text advertisement, and/or an employment recruiting portal associated with the business that may be simultaneously displayed with the map indicating the location of the business.

Moreover, the click-throughtracking module514 of thecommerce module112 ofFIG. 1 may determine a number of click throughs from the advertisement to a primary website of the business. In addition, the click intracking module512 of thecommerce module112 may determine the number of users (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) who clicked in to the advertisement simultaneously displayed with the map indicating the location of the business.

Thecommunity marketplace module510 of thecommerce module112 ofFIG. 1 may provide a forum in which the registered users may trade and/or announce messages of trading events with certain registered users in geographic proximity from each other.

Also, thecontent syndication module506 of thecommerce module112 of the FIG. 1 may enable any data in thecommerce module112 to be syndicated to other network based trading platforms.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of amap module114 ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment. ParticularlyFIG. 6 may include asatellite data module600, a simplifiedmap generator module602, a cartoon map converter module604, a profile pointer module606, aparcel module608 andoccupant module610, according to one embodiment. Thesatellite data module600 may help in mass broadcasting (e.g., maps) and/or as telecommunications relays in themap module114 ofFIG. 1.

The simplifiedmap generator module602 may receive the data (e.g., maps) from thesatellite data module600 and/or may convert this complex map into a simplified map with fewer colors. The cartoon map converter module604 may apply a filter to the satellite data (e.g., data generated by thesatellite data module600 ofFIG. 6) into a simplified polygon based representation.

Theparcel module608 may identify some residence, civic, and business locations in the satellite data (e.g., thesatellite data module600 ofFIG. 6). Theoccupant module610 may detect the geographical location of the registered user in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). The profile pointer module606 may detect the profiles of the registered user via the data received from the satellite. The cartoon map converter module604 may communicate with, thesatellite data module600, the simplifiedmap generator module602, the profile pointer module606 and theoccupant module610. Theparcel module608 may communicate with thesatellite data module600.

For example, amap module114 of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) may include a map data associated with a satellite data (e.g., data generated by thesatellite data module600 ofFIG. 6) which serves as a basis of rendering the map in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) and/or which includes a simplified map generator (e.g., the simplifiedmap generator module602 ofFIG. 6) which may transform the map to a fewer color and location complex form using a parcel data which identifies residence, civic, and business locations in the satellite data.

Also, the cartoon map converter module604 in themap module114 may apply a filter to the satellite data (e.g., data generated by thesatellite data module600 ofFIG. 6) to transform the satellite data into a simplified polygon based representation using a Bezier curve algorithm that converts point data of the satellite data to a simplified form.

FIG. 7 is a table view of user address details, according to one embodiment. Particularly the table750 ofFIG. 7 illustrates auser field700, a verified field?702, arange field706, alinks field708, a contributed?field710 and an other field(s)712, according to one embodiment. The table750 may include the information related to the address verification of the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1). Theuser field700 may include information such as the names of the registered users in a global neighborhood environment (e.g., aglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

The verified?field702 may indicate the status whether the data, profiles and/or email address received from various registered user are validated or not. Therange field704 may correspond to the distance of a particular registered user geographical location in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

Theprincipal address field706 may display primary address of the registered user in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). The links field708 may further give more accurate details and/or links of the address of the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1). The contributed?field710 may provide the user with the details of another individual and/or users contribution towards the neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). The other(s)field712 may display the details like the state, city, zip and/or others of the user's location in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

Theuser field700 displays “Joe” in the first row and “Jane” in the second row of theuser field700 column of the table750 illustrated inFIG. 7. The verified field?702 displays “Yes” in the first row and “No” in the second row of the verified?field702 column of the table750 illustrated inFIG. 7. Therange field704 displays “5 miles” in the first row and “Not enabled” in the second row of therange field704 column of the table750 illustrated inFIG. 7. Theprincipal address field706 displays “500 Clifford Cupertino, Calif.” in the first row and “500 Johnson Cupertino, Calif.” in the second row of theprinciple address field706 column of the table750 illustrated inFIG. 7. The links field708 displays “859 Bette, 854 Bette” in the first row and “851Bette 100 Steven's Road” in the second row of thelinks field708 column of the table750 illustrated inFIG. 7.

The contributed?field710 displays “858 Bette Cupertino, Calif., Farallone, Calif.” in the first row and “500 Hamilton, Palo Alto, Calif., 1905 E. University” in the second row of thecontributed field710 column of the table750 illustrated inFIG. 7. The other(s)field712 displays “City, State, Zip, other” in the first row of the other(s)field712 column of the table750 illustrated inFIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a user interface view of thesocial community module106, according to one embodiment. Theuser interface view850 may display the information associated with the social community module (e.g., thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1). Theuser interface850 may display map of the specific geographic location associated with the user profile of the social community module (e.g., thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1). Theuser interface view850 may display the map based geographic location associated with the user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A) only after verifying the address of the registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

In addition, theuser interface850 may provide a building creator (e.g., thebuilding builder1602 ofFIG. 16), in which the registered users of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) may create and/or modify empty wiki profiles (e.g., awiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, awiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, awiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17), building layouts, social network pages, etc. Theuser interface view850 of thesocial community module106 may enable access to the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) to model a condo on any floor (e.g., basement, ground floor, first floor, etc.) selected through the drop down box by the registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). Theuser interface850 of the social community module (e.g., thesocial community module106 ofFIG. 1) may enable the registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) to contribute information about their neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1).

FIG. 9 is aprofile view950 of aprofile module900, according to one embodiment. Theprofile view950 ofprofile module900 may offer the registered user to access the profile about the neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1). Theprofile view950 ofprofile module900 may indicate the information associated with the profile of the registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). Theprofile view950 may display the address of the registered user. Theprofile view950 may also display events organized by the neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1), history of the neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1), and/or may also offer the information (e.g., public, private, etc) associated with the family of the neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) located in the locality of the user (e.g., the user(s)116 ofFIG. 1) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

FIG. 10 is a contributeview1050 of aneighborhood network module1000, according to one embodiment. The contributeview1050 of theneighborhood network module1000 may enable the registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) to add information about their neighbors in the neighborhood network. The contributeview1050 of theneighborhood network module1000 may offer registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) to add valuable notes associated with the family, events, private information, etc.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic system view, according to one embodiment.FIG. 11 is adiagrammatic system view1100 of a data processing system in which any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be performed, according to one embodiment. Particularly, thesystem view1100 ofFIG. 11 illustrates aprocessor1102, amain memory1104, astatic memory1106, abus1108, avideo display1110, an alpha-numeric input device1112, acursor control device1114, a drive unit616, asignal generation device1118, a machine readable medium1122,instructions1124, and anetwork1126, according to one embodiment.

Thediagrammatic system view1100 may indicate a personal computer and/or a data processing system in which one or more operations disclosed herein are performed. Theprocessor1102 may be microprocessor, a state machine, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, etc. (e.g., Intel® Pentium® processor). Themain memory1104 may be a dynamic random access memory and/or a primary memory of a computer system.

Thestatic memory1106 may be a hard drive, a flash drive, and/or other memory information associated with the data processing system. Thebus1108 may be an interconnection between various circuits and/or structures of the data processing system. Thevideo display1110 may provide graphical representation of information on the data processing system. The alpha-numeric input device1112 may be a keypad, keyboard and/or any other input device of text (e.g., a special device to aid the physically handicapped). Thecursor control device1114 may be a pointing device such as a mouse.

Thedrive unit1116 may be a hard drive, a storage system, and/or other longer term storage subsystem. Thesignal generation device1118 may be a bios and/or a functional operating system of the data processing system. The machine readable medium1122 may provide instructions on which any of the methods disclosed herein may be performed. Theinstructions1124 may provide source code and/or data code to theprocessor1102 to enable any one/or more operations disclosed herein.

FIG. 12A is a user interface view of mapping a user profile1200 of thegeographic location1204, according to one embodiment. In the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 12A, the user profile1200 may contain the information associated with thegeographic location1204. The user profile1200 may contain the information associated with the registered user. The user profile1200 may contain information such as address user of the specific geographic location, name of the occupant, profession of the occupant, details, phone number, educational qualification, etc.

Themap1202 may indicate the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) of thegeographical location1204, a wiki profile1206 (e.g., thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17), and a delistedprofile1208. Thegeographical location1204 may be associated with the user profile1200. Thewiki profile1206 may be thewiki profile1206 associated with the neighboring property surrounding thegeographic location1204. The delistedprofile1208 illustrated in example embodiment ofFIG. 12A, may be thewiki profile1206 that may be delisted when the registered user claims the physical property. Theblock1210 illustrated in the example embodiment ofFIG. 12A may be associated with hobbies, personal likes, etc. Theblock1216 may be associated with events, requirements, etc. that may be displayed by the members of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

For example, a verified registered user (e.g., a verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, a verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may be associated with a user profile1200. The user profile1200 may be associated with a specific geographic location. A map concurrently displaying the user profile1200 and the specificgeographic location1204 may be generated. Also, thewiki profiles1206 associated with different geographic locations surrounding the specific geographic location associated with the user profile1200 may be simultaneously generated in the map. In addition, a query of the user profile1200 and/or the specific geographic location may be processed.

FIG. 12B is a user interface view of mapping of thewiki profile1206, according to one embodiment. In the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 12B, themap1202 may indicate the geographic locations in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) and/or may also indicate the geographic location of thewiki profile1206. Thewiki profile1206 may display the information associated with the registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). The link claim thisprofile1212 may enable the registered user to claim thewiki profile1206 and/or may also allow the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13) to edit any information in the wiki profiles1206. Theblock1214 may display the information posted by any of the verified registered users (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

For example, a particular wiki profile (e.g., the particular wiki profile may be associated with a neighboring property to the specific property in the neighborhood) of the wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) may be converted to another user profile (e.g., the user profile may be tied to a specific property in a neighborhood) when a different registered user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) claims a particular geographic location to the specific geographic location associated with the particular wiki profile.

In addition, a certain wiki profile of the wiki profiles may be delisted when a private registered user claims a certain geographic location (e.g., thegeographical location1204 ofFIG. 12A) adjacent to the specific geographic location and/or the particular geographic location. Also, the certain wiki profile in themap1202 may be masked when the certain wiki profile is delisted through the request of the private registered user.

Furthermore, a tag data (e.g., thetags1210 ofFIG. 12A) associated with the specific geographic location, the particular geographic location, and the delisted geographic location may be processed. A frequent one of the tag data may be displayed when the specific geographic location and/or the particular geographic location are made active, but not when a geographic location is delisted.

Moreover, the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may be permitted to edit any information in thewiki profiles1206 including theparticular wiki profile1206 and/or the certain wiki profile until the certain wiki profile may be claimed by the different registered user and/or the private registered user. In addition, a claimant of anywiki profile1206 may be enabled to control what information is displayed on their user profile. Also, the claimant may be allowed to segregate certain information on their user profile1200 such that only other registered users directly connected to the claimant are able to view data on their user profile1200.

FIG. 13A is a user interface view of mapping of awiki profile1302 of the commercial user1300, according to one embodiment. In the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 13A, the commercial user1300 may be associated with the customizable business profile1304 located in the commercial geographical location. Thewiki profile1302 may contain the information associated with the commercial user1300. Thewiki profile1302 may contain the information such as address, name, profession, tag, details (e.g., ratings), and educational qualification etc. of the commercial user1300. The verified registered user1310 may be user associated with the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) and may communicate a message to the neighborhood commercial user1300. For example, a payment of the commercial user1300 and the verified registered user1310 may be processed.

FIG. 13B is a user interface view of mapping of customizable business profile1304 of the commercial user1300, according to one embodiment. In the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 13B, the commercial user1300 may be associated with the customizable business profile1304. The customizable business profile1304 may be profile of any business firm (e.g., restaurant, hotels, supermarket, etc.) that may contain information such as address, occupant name, profession of the customizable business. The customizable business profile1304 may also enable the verified registered user1310 to place online order for the products.

For example, the commercial user1300 may be permitted to purchase a customizable business profile1304 associated with a commercial geographic location. Also, the verified registered user1310 may be enabled to communicate a message to the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) based on a selectable distance range away from the specific geographic location. In addition, a payment of the commercial user1300 and/or the verified registered user1310 may be processed.

Atarget advertisement1306 may display the information associated with the offers and/or events of the customizable business. Thedisplay advertisement1308 may display ads of the products of the customizable business that may be displayed to urge the verified registered user1310 to buy the products of the customizable business. The verified registered user1310 may be user associated with the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) that may communicate a message to the commercial user1300 and/or may be interested in buying the products of the customizable business.

FIG. 14 is a user interface view of agroup view1402 associated with particular geographical location, according to one embodiment. ParticularlyFIG. 14 illustrates, amap1400, agroups view1402, according to one embodiment. In the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 14, themap view1400 may display map view of the geographical location of the specific group of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). The groups view1402 may contain the information (e.g., address, occupant, etc.) associated with the particular group of the specific geographical location (e.g., the geographical location displayed in the map1400) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). Themembers1404 may contain the information about the members associated with the group (e.g., the group associated with geographical location displayed in the map) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

FIG. 15 is a user interface view ofclaim view1550, according to one embodiment. Theclaim view1550 may enable the user to claim the geographical location of the registered user. Also, theclaim view1550 may facilitate the user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) to claim the geographical location of property under dispute.

In the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 15, theoperation1502 may allow the registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) to claim the address of the geographic location claimed by the registered user. Theoperation1504 illustrated in example embodiment ofFIG. 15, may enable the user to delist the claim of the geographical location. Theoperation1506 may offer information associated with the document to be submitted by the registered users of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) to claim the geographical location.

FIG. 16 is a user interface view of abuilding builder1602, according to one embodiment. Particularly theFIG. 16 illustrates, amap1600, abuilding builder1602, according to one embodiment. Themap1600 may display the geographical location in which the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B) may create and/or modify empty wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 of FIG.12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17), building layouts, social network pages, and floor levels structures housing residents and businesses in the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1). Thebuilding builder1602 may enable the verified registered users (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) to draw floor level structures, add neighbor's profiles and/or may also enable to select the floor number, wiki type, etc. as illustrated in example embodiment ofFIG. 16.

The verified registered user1310 may be verified registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) interested in creating and/or modifying wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17), building layouts, social network pages, and floor level structure housing residents and businesses in the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1) in thebuilding builder1602.

For example, a social community module (e.g., asocial community module106 ofFIG. 1) of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) may generate a building creator (e.g., thebuilding builder1602 ofFIG. 16) in which the registered users may create and/or modify empty wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17), building layouts, social network pages, and floor levels structures housing residents and/or businesses in the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1).

FIG. 17 is a systematic view of communication of wiki data, according to one embodiment. ParticularlyFIG. 17 illustrates amap1701, verifieduser profile1702,choices1708 and anew wiki page1706, according to one embodiment. Themap1701 may locate the details of the address of the registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). The verifieduser profile1702 may store the profiles of the verified user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1. Thewiki profile1704 may be the profiles of the registered user who may claim them in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

Inoperation1700 the search for the user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A) is been carried whom the registered user may be searching. Thenew wiki page1706 may solicit for the details of a user whom the registered user is searching for in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1). Thechoices1708 may ask whether the requested search is any among the displayed names. Thenew wiki page1706 may request for the details of location such as country, state and/or city. Theoperation1700 may communicate with thechoices1708, and thenew wiki page1706.

For example, a no-match module (e.g., a no-match module312 ofFIG. 3) of the search module (e.g., thesearch module108 ofFIG. 1) to request additional information from the verified registered user about a person, place, and business having no listing in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) when no matches are found in a search query of the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B), and to create anew wiki page1706 based on a response of the verified registereduser1702 about the at least one person, place, and business not previously indexed in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

FIG. 18 is a systematic view of anetwork view1850, according to one embodiment. Particularly it may include aGUI display1802, aGUI display1804,user interface1806, auser interface1808, anetwork1810, arouter1812, aswitch1814, afirewall1816, aload balancer1818, anapplication server#11824, aweb application server1826, aninter-process communication1828, acomputer server1830, animage server1832, amultiple servers1834, aswitch1836, adatabase storage1838,database software1840 and amail server1842, according to one embodiment.

TheGUI display1802 andGUI display1804 may display particular case of user interface for interacting with a device capable of representing data (e.g., computer, cellular telephones, television sets etc) which employs graphical images and widgets in addition to text to represent the information and actions available to the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1). Theuser interface1806 anduser interface1808 may be any device capable of presenting data (e.g., computer, cellular telephones, television sets etc). Thenetwork1810 may be any collection of networks (e.g., internet, private networks, university social system, private network of a company etc) that may transfer any data to the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) and the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

Therouter1812 may forward packets between networks and/or information packets between the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) and registered user over the network (e.g., internet). Theswitch1814 may act as a gatekeeper to and from the network (e.g., internet) and the device. Thefirewall1816 may provides protection (e.g., permit, deny or proxy data connections) from unauthorized access to the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1. Theload balancer1818 may balance the traffic load across multiple mirrored servers in the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) and may be used to increase the capacity of a server farm beyond that of a single server and/or may allow the service to continue even in the face of server down time due to server failure and/or server maintenance.

user interface

1806 and1808 may communicate with the GUI display(s)1802 and1804, therouter1812 through thenetwork1810 and the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1).

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a database, according to one embodiment. Particularly the block diagram of thedatabase1900 ofFIG. 19 illustrates auser data1902, a location data, azip codes data1906, a profiles data1908, aphotos data1910, atestimonials data1912, asearch parameters data1914, aneighbor data1916, a friends requestsdata1918, a invitesdata1920, abookmarks data1922, amessages data1924 and abulletin board data1926, according to one embodiment.

Thedatabase1900 be may include descriptive data, preference data, relationship data, and/or other data items regarding the registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1.

Theuser data1902 may be a descriptive data referring to information that may describe a user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1). It may include elements in a certain format for example Id may be formatted as integer, Firstname may be in text, Lastname may be in text, Email may be in text, Verify may be in integer, Password may be in text, Gender may be in m/f, Orientation may be in integer, Relationship may be in y/n, Dating may be in y/n, Friends may be in y/n, Activity may be in y/n, Status may be in integer, Dob may be in date, Country may be in text, Zipcode may be in text, Postalcode may be in text, State may be in text, Province may be in text, City may be in text, Occupation may be in text, Location may be in text, Hometown may be in text, Photo may be in integer, Membersince may be in date, Lastlogin may be in date, Lastupdate may be in date, Recruiter may be in integer, Friendcount may be in integer, Testimonials may be in integer, Weeklypdates may be in y/n, Notifications may be in y/n, Photomode may be in integer and/or Type may be in integer.

Thelocations data1904 may clarify the location details in formatted approach. For example Zip code may be formatted as integer, City may be in text and/or State may be in text. Thezip codes data1906 may provide information of a user location in formatted manner. For example Zip code may be formatted as text, Latitude may be in integer and/or Longitude may be in integer. The profile data1908 may clutch personnel descriptive data that may be formatted.

Thephotos data1910 may represent a digital image and/or a photograph of the user formatted in certain approach. For example Id may be formatted as integer, User may be in integer, Fileid may be in integer and/or Moderation may be in integer. Thetestimonials data1912 may allow users to write “testimonials”1912, or comments, about each other and in these testimonials, users may describe their relationship to an individual and their comments about that individual. For example the user might write a testimonial that states “Rohan has been a friend of mine since graduation days. He is smart, intelligent, and a talented person.” The elements oftestimonials data1912 may be formatted as Id may be in integer, User may be in integer, Sender may be integer, Approved may be in y/n, Date may be in date and/or Body may be formatted in text.

Thesearch parameters data1914 may be preference data referring to the data that may describe preferences one user has with respect to another (For example, the user may indicate that he is looking for a female who is seeking a male for a serious relationship). The elements of thesearch parameters data1914 may be formatted asUser1902 may be in integer, Photosonly may be in y/n, Justphotos may be in y/n, Male may be in y/n, Female may be in y/n, Men may be in y/n, Women may be in y/n, Helptohelp may be in y/n, Friends may be in y/n, Dating may be in y/n, Serious may be in y/n, Activity may be in y/n, Minage may be in integer, Maxage may be in integer, Distance may be in integer, Single may be in y/n, Relationship may be in y/n, Married may be in y/n and/or Openmarriage may be in y/n.

The neighbor'sdata1916 may generally refer to relationships among registered users of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) that have been verified and the user has requested another individual to join the system asneighbor1916, and the request may be accepted. The elements of theneighbors data1916 may be formatted as user1 may be in integer and/or user2 may be in integer. The friend requestsdata1918 may tracks requests by users within the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1) to other individuals, which requests have not yet been accepted and may contain elements originator and/or respondent formatted in integer. Theinvites data1920 may describe the status of a request by the user to invite an individual outside the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1) to join the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1) and clarify either the request has been accepted, ignored and/or pending.

The elements of theinvites data1920 may be formatted as Id may be in integer, Key may be in integer, Sender may be in integer, Email may be in text, Date may be in date format, Clicked may be in y/n, Joined may be in y/n and/or Joineduser may be in integer. Thebookmarks data1922 may be provide the data for a process allowed wherein a registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) may indicate an interest in the profile of another registered user. Thebookmark data1922 elements may be formatted as Owner may be in integer, User may be in integer and/or Visible may be in y/n. Themessage data1924 may allow the users to send one another private messages.

Themessage data1924 may be formatted as Id may be in integer, User may be in integer, Sender may be in integer, New may be in y/n, Folder may be in text, Date may be in date format, Subject may be in text and/or Body may be in text format. Thebulletin board data1926 may supports the function of a bulletin board that users may use to conduct online discussions, conversation and/or debate. Thewiki data1928 may share the user profiles (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A) in the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1) and its elements may be formatted as wikisinputed and/or others may be in text format.

FIG. 20 is an exemplary graphical user interface view for data collection, according to one embodiment. ParticularlyFIG. 20 illustrates

exemplary screens

2002,2004 that may be provided to the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) through an interface may be through the network (e.g., Internet), to obtain user descriptive data. Thescreen2002 may collect data allowing the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) to login securely and be identified by the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1). Thisscreen2002 may allow the user to identify the reason he/she is joining the neighborhood. For example, a user may be joining the neighborhood for “neighborhood watch”. Thescreen2004 may show example of how further groups may be joined. For example, the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) may be willing to join a group “Raj for city council”. It may also enclose the data concerning Dob, country, zip/postal code, hometown, occupation and/or interest.

FIG. 21 is an exemplary graphical user interface view of image collection, according to one embodiment. Ascreen2100 may be interface provided to the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) over the network (e.g., internet) may be to obtain digital images from system user. Theinterface2102 may allow the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) to browse files on his/her computer, select them, and then upload them to the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1). The user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) may upload the digital images and/or photo that may be visible to people in the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) network and not the general public. The user may be able to upload a JPG, GIF, PNG and/or BMP file in thescreen2100.

FIG. 22 is an exemplary graphical user interface view of an invitation, according to one embodiment. Anexemplary screen2200 may be provided to a user through auser interface2202 may be over the network (e.g., internet) to allow users to invite neighbor or acquaintances to join the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1). Theuser interface2202 may allow the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) to enter one or a plurality of e-mail addresses for friends they may like to invite to the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1). Theexemplary screen2200 may include the “subject”, “From”, “To”, “Optional personnel message”, and/or “Message body” sections. In the “Subject” section a standard language text may be included for joining the neighborhood (e.g., Invitation to join Fatdoor from John Doe, a neighborhood).

The “From” section may include the senders email id (e.g., user@domain.com). The “To” section may be provided to add the email id of the person to whom the sender may want to join the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1). The message that may be sent to the friends and/or acquaintances may include standard language describing the present neighborhood, the benefits of joining and the steps required to join the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1). The user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) may choose to include a personal message, along with the standard invitation in the “Optional personal message” section. In the “Message body” section the invited friend or acquaintance may initiate the process to join the system by clicking directly on an HTML link included in the e-mail message (e.g., http://www.fatdoor.com/join.jsp? Invite=140807). In one embodiment, the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) may import e-mail addresses from a standard computerized address book. The system may further notify the inviting user when her invitee accepts or declines the invitation to join the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1).

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of inviting the invitee(s) by the registered user, notifying the registered user upon the acceptance of the invitation by the invitee(s) and, processing and storing the input data associated with the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) in the database, according to one embodiment. Inoperation2302, the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) willing to invite the individual enters the email addresses of an individual “invitee”. Inoperation2304, the email address and the related data of the invitee may be stored in the database. Inoperation2306, the invitation content for inviting the invitee may be generated from the data stored in the database. Inoperation2308, the registered user sends invitation to the invitee(s).

Inoperation2310, response from the user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) may be determined. Theoperation2312, if the invitee doesn't respond to invitation sent by the registered user then registered user may resend the invitation for a predefined number of times. Inoperation2314, if the registered user resends the invitation to the same invitee for predefined number of times and if the invitee still doesn't respond to the invitation the process may be terminated automatically.

Inoperation2316, if the invitee accepts the invitation sent by the registered user then system may notify the registered user that the invitee has accepted the invitation. Inoperation2318, the input from the present invitee(s) that may contain the descriptive data about the friend (e.g., registered user) may be processed and stored in the database.

For example, each registered user associated e-mail addresses of individuals who are not registered users may be stored and identified by each registered user as neighbors. An invitation to become a new user (e.g., the user116 ofFIG. 1) may be communicated out to neighbor (e.g., the neighbors neighbor ofFIG. 1) of the particular user. An acceptance of the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) to whom the invitation was sent may be processed.

The neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) may be added to a database and/or storing of the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1), a user ID and a set of user IDs of registered users who are directly connected to the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1), the set of user IDs stored of the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) including at least the user ID of the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16). Furthermore, the verified registered user may be notified that the invitation to the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) has been accepted when an acceptance is processed. Also, inputs from the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) having descriptive data about the friend may be processed and the inputs in the database may be stored.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of adding the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) to the queue, according to one embodiment. Inoperation2402, the system may start with the empty connection list and empty queue. Inoperation2404, the user may be added to the queue. Inoperation2406, it is determined whether the queue is empty. Inoperation2408, if it is determined that the queue is not empty then the next person P may be taken from the queue. Inoperation2410, it may be determined whether the person P from the queue is user B or not. Inoperation2412, if the person P is not user B then it may be determined whether the depth of the geographical location is less than maximum degrees of separation.

If it is determined that depth is more than maximum allowable degrees of separation then it may repeat theoperation2408. Inoperation2414, if may be determined that the depth of the geographical location (e.g., thegeographical location1204 ofFIG. 12A) is less than maximum degrees of separation then the neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) list for person P may be processed. Inoperation2416, it may be determined whether all the neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) in the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-N ofFIG. 1) have been processed or not. If all the friends are processed it may be determined the queue is empty.

Inoperation2418, if all the neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) for person P are not processed then next neighbor N may be taken from the list. Inoperation2420, it may be determined whether the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) N has encountered before or not. Inoperation2422, if the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) has not been encountered before then the neighbor may be added to the queue. Inoperation2424, if the neighbor N has been encountered before it may be further determined whether the geographical location (e.g., thegeographical location1204 ofFIG. 12A) from where the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) has encountered previously is the same place or closer to that place.

If it is determined that the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) has encountered at the same or closer place then the friend may be added to the queue. If it may be determined that friend is not encountered at the same place or closer to that place then it may be again checked that all the friends have processed. Inoperation2426, if it is determined that the person P is user B than the connection may be added to the connection list and after adding the connection to connection list it follows theoperation2412. Inoperation2428, if it may be determined that queue is empty then the operation may return the connections list.

For example, a first user ID with the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) and a second user ID may be applied to the different registered user. The verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) with the different registered user may be connected with each other through at least one of a geo-positioning data associated with the first user ID and the second user ID. In addition, a maximum degree of separation (Nmax) of at least two that is allowed for connecting any two registered users, (e.g., the two registered users who may be directly connected may be deemed to be separated by one degree of separation and two registered users who may be connected through no less than one other registered user may be deemed to be separated by two degrees of separation and two registered users who may be connected through not less than N other registered users may be deemed to be separated by N+1 degrees of separation).

In addition, the connection path between the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) and the different registered user may be communicated to the verified registered user to display. A hyperlink in the connection path of each of the at least one registered users may be embedded through whom the connection path between the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) and the different registered user is made.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of communicating brief profiles of the registered users, processing a hyperlink selection from the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) and calculating and ensuring the Nmax degree of separation of the registered users away from verified registered users (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16), according to one embodiment. Inoperation2502, the data of the registered users may be collected from the database. Inoperation2504, the relational path between the first user and the second user may be calculated (e.g., the Nmax degree of separation between verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) and the registered user).

For example, the brief profiles of registered users, including a brief profile of the different registered user, to the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) for display, each of the brief profiles including a hyperlink to a corresponding full profile may be communicated.

FIG. 27 is a user interface view showing a map, according to one embodiment. ParticularlyFIG. 27 illustrates a satellite photo of a physical world. The registered user of the global neighborhood environment (e.g., theglobal neighborhood environment100 ofFIG. 1) may use this for exploring the geographical location (e.g., thegeographical location1204 ofFIG. 12A) of the neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1). The registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may navigate, zoom, explore and quickly find particular desired geographical locations of the desired neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1). This may help the registered user to read the map an/or plot the route of the neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) on the world map.

FIG. 28A is a process flow of searching map based community and neighborhood contribution, according to one embodiment. Inoperation2802, a verified registered user (e.g., a verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-13B, a verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may be associated with a user profile (e.g., a user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A). Inoperation2804, the user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A) may be associated with a specific geographic location (e.g., ageographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A).

Inoperation2806, a map (e.g., amap1202 ofFIG. 12A-12B, amap1400 ofFIG. 14, amap1600 ofFIG. 16, amap1701 ofFIG. 17) may be generated concurrently displaying the user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A) and the specific geographic location (e.g., thegeographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A). In operation,2808, in the map, wiki profiles (e.g., awiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-B, awiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, awiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) associated with different geographic locations may be simultaneously generated surrounding the specific geographic location (e.g., thegeographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A) associated with the user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A).

Inoperation2810, a query of at least one of the user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A) and the specific geographic location (e.g., thegeographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A) may be processed. Inoperation2812, a particular wiki profile of the wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) may be converted to another user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A) when a different registered user claims a particular geographic location to the specific geographic location (e.g., thegeographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A) associated with the particular wiki profile (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17), wherein the user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A) may be tied to a specific property in a neighborhood (e.g., aneighborhood102A-102N ofFIG. 1), and wherein the particular wiki profile (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) may be associated with a neighboring property to the specific property in the neighborhood (e.g., the neighborhood120A-120N ofFIG. 1).

Inoperation2814, a certain wiki profile (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-12B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) of the wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) may be delisted when a private registered user claims a certain geographic location (e.g., thegeographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A) adjacent to at least one of the specific geographic location and the particular geographic location (e.g., thegeographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A).

Inoperation2816, the certain wiki profile (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) in the map (e.g., themap1202 ofFIG. 12A-B, themap1400 ofFIG. 14, themap1600 ofFIG. 16, themap1701 ofFIG. 17) when the certain wiki profile may be delisted and/or be masked through the request of the private registered user.

FIG. 28B is a continuation of process flow ofFIG. 28A showing additional processes, according to one embodiment. Inoperation2818, a tag data associated with at least one of the specific geographic location, the particular geographic location (e.g., thegeographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A), and the delisted geographic location may be processed. Inoperation2820, a frequent one of the tag data may be displayed when at least one of the specific geographic location and the particular geographic location (e.g., thegeographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A) may be made active, but not when the geographic location (e.g., thegeographic location1204 ofFIG. 12A) may be delisted.

Inoperation2822, a commercial user (e.g., a commercial user1300 ofFIG. 13A-B) may be permitted to purchase a customizable business profile (e.g., a customizable business profile1304 ofFIG. 13B) associated with a commercial geographic location. Inoperation2824, the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) to communicate a message to the neighborhood (e.g., theneighborhood102A-102N ofFIG. 1) may be enabled based on a selectable distance range away from the specific geographic location.

Inoperation2826, a payment of the commercial user (e.g., the commercial user1300 ofFIG. 13A-B) and the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may be processed. Inoperation2828, the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may be permitted to edit any information in the wiki profiles (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) including the particular wiki profile and the certain wiki profile until the certain wiki profile may be claimed by at least one of the different registered user and the private registered user.

Inoperation2830, a claimant of any wiki profile (e.g., thewiki profile1206 ofFIG. 12A-B, thewiki profile1302 ofFIG. 13A, thewiki profile1704 ofFIG. 17) may be enabled to control what information is displayed on their user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A). Inoperation2832, the claimant to segregate certain information on their user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A) may be allowed such that only other registered users directly connected to the claimant are able to view data on their user profile (e.g., the user profile1200 ofFIG. 12A).

FIG. 28C is a continuation of process flow ofFIG. 28B showing additional processes, according to one embodiment. Inoperation2834, a first user ID with the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) and a second user ID to the different registered user may be applied. Inoperation2836, the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) with the different registered user with each other may be connected through at least one of associated with the first user ID and the second user ID.

Inoperation2838, a maximum degree of separation (Nmax) of at least two may be set that is allowed for connecting any two registered users, wherein two registered users who are directly connected may be deemed to be separated by one degree of separation and two registered users who are connected through no less than one other registered user may be deemed to be separated by two degrees of separation and two registered users who may be connected through no less than N other registered users are deemed to be separated by N+1 degrees of separation. Inoperation2840, the user ID of the different registered user may be searched in a set of user IDs that are stored of registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16), and not in the sets of user IDs that are stored for registered users who may be greater than or equal to Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16), until the user ID of the different registered user may be found in one of the searched sets.

Inoperation2842, the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may be connected to the different registered user if the user ID of the different registered user may be found in one of the searched sets, wherein the method limits the searching of the different registered user in the sets of user IDs that may be stored of registered users who may be less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16), such that the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) and the different registered user who may be separated by more than Nmax degrees of separation are not found and connected. Inoperation2844, initially in the sets of user IDs that are stored of registered users who may be directly connected to the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may be initially searched.

FIG. 28D is a continuation of process flow ofFIG. 28C showing additional processes, according to one embodiment. Inoperation2846, a profile of the different registered user to the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) to display may be communicated through a marker associating the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) with the different registered user.

Inoperation2848, a connection path between the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) and the different registered user, the connection path indicating at least one other registered user may be stored through whom the connection path between the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) and the different registered user may be made.

Inoperation2850, the connection path between the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) and the different registered user to the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may be communicated to display.

Inoperation2852, a hyperlink in the connection path of each of the at least one registered users may be embedded through whom the connection path between the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) and the different registered user may be made. Inoperation2854, each registered user associated e-mail addresses of individuals who are not registered users may be stored and identified by each registered user as neighbors (e.g., aneighbor120 ofFIG. 1).

Inoperation2856, an invitation may be communicated to become a new user (e.g., a user116 ofFIG. 1) to neighbors (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) of the particular user. Inoperation2858, an acceptance of the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) to whom the invitation was sent may be processed. Inoperation2860, the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) to a database and storing of the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1), a user ID and the set of user IDs of registered users may be added who are directly connected to the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1), the set of user IDs stored of the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) including at least the user ID of the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16).

FIG. 28E is a continuation of process flow ofFIG. 28D showing additional processes, according to one embodiment. Inoperation2862, the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) that the invitation to the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) has been accepted may be notified when the acceptance is processed.

Inoperation2864, inputs from the neighbor (e.g., theneighbor120 ofFIG. 1) having descriptive data about the friend and storing the inputs in the database may be processed. Inoperation2866, brief profiles of registered users, including a brief profile of the different registered user may be communicated, to the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) for display, each of the brief profiles including the hyperlink to a corresponding full profile.

Inoperation2868, the hyperlink selection from the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may be processed, wherein, upon processing the hyperlink selection of the full profile of the different registered user, the full profile of the different registered user is communicated to the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) for display.

Inoperation2870, brief profiles of those registered users who may be more than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may not communicated to the verified registered user (e.g., the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 13A-B, the verified registered user1310 ofFIG. 16) may be ensured for display.

People in suburbia and urban cities now may not even know who their neighbors are. Communities have become more insular. There may be a few active people in each neighborhood who know about their neighborhood and are willing to share what they know with others. They should be able to share this information with others through the Internet. Many people want to know who their neighbors are and express themselves and their families through the internet. People want to also know about recommendations and what kind of civic and cultural things are in the neighborhood. What is contemplated includes: A social network for people who want to get to know their neighbors and/or neighborhoods. Particularly, one in which a set of maps of neighborhoods (e.g., such as those on Zillow.com or provided through Google® or Microsoft®) are used as a basis on which a user can identify themselves with a particular address. This address may be verified through one or more of the modules onFIG. 1. Particularly, this address may be the current address of the user is living, a previous address where the user used to live, etc.

The address may be verified through a credit check of the user, or a copy of the user's drivers license. Once the user is approved in a particular home/location, the user can leave their comments about their home. They can mark their home information proprietary, so that no one else can contribute to their info without their permission. They can have separate private and public sections, in which the private section is shared with only verified addresses of neighbors, and the public section is shared with anybody viewing their profile. The user can then create separate social networking pages for homes, churches, locations, etc. surrounding his verified address. As such, the user can express him/herself through their profile, and contribute information about what they're neighborhood is like and who lives there. Only verified individuals or entities might be able to view information in that neighborhood.

The more information the user contributes, the higher his or her status will be in the neighborhood through a marker (e.g., a number of stars), or through additional services offered to the neighbor, such as the ability to search a profiles of neighbors in a larger distance range from a verified address of the user. For example, initially, the user may only be able to search profiles within 1 mile on their principal, current home after being verified as living in there. When they create a profiles for themselves and/or contribute profiles of other people, they may widen their net of private profiles they may be allowed to search (e.g., because they become a trusted party in the neighborhood by offering civic information). Neighbors can leave feedback for each other, and arrange private block parties, etc. through their private profile. All these features may possible through one or more of the embodiments and/or modules illustrated inFIGS. 1-28. Through their public profile, neighbors can know if there is a doctor living down the street, or an attorney around the corner. TheFIGS. 1-28 illustrate various embodiments that may be realized. While a description is given here, a self-evident description can be derived for the software and various methods, software, and hardware directly from the attached Figures.

A neighborhood expression and user contribution system is disclosed. In one aspect, the technology allows users to see the value of millions of homes across the United States and/or the world, not just those that the user themselves own or live in, because they can share information about their neighbors. People living in apartments or condos can use the apartment/condo modeler wizard (e.g., as illustrated inFIG. 1) to create models (e.g. 2 or 3d) of their building and share information about their apartment/home and of their neighbors with others. The technology has an integrated targeted advertising system for enabling advertisers to make money through thesocial community module100 by delivering targeted and non-targeted advertisements.

Aside from giving user generated content of information of homes, the system may also provide value estimates of homes it may also offers several unique features including value changes of each home in a given time frame (e.g. 1, 5, or 10 years) and aerial views of homes as well as the price of the surrounding homes in the area. It may also provides basic data of a given home such as square footage and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Users may can also obtain current estimates of homes if there was a significant change made such as recently modeled kitchen.

In the example systems and methods illustrated inFIGS. 1-28, neighbors may get to know each other and their surrounding businesses more easily through the Internet. The user interface view of the social community module may include a searchable map interface and/or a social networking page on the right when one clicks a particular home/location. The map interface may/may not include information about prices of a home, or information about the number of bedrooms of a home, etc. In essence, certain critical input information may be divided as follows:

Residential location: (1) name of the persons/family living in that residence (2) Their profession if any 3) Their educational background if any (4) Their recreational interests (5) About their family description box (6) Anything else people want to post about that person including their interests, hobbies, etc. (7) An ability for users to leave endorsements.

Business location or civic location (e.g., park, govt. building, church, etc.): (1) name of the business/location (2) email of the manager of the business/location (3) phone number of the business/location if known (4) anything else people want to say about the business (good or bad), for example, contributable through a wiki.

These two will be the primary types. Various features differentiate example embodiments of the social community module from other social networks. These differentiators include (1) interface driven by address (2) maps that can be viewed, zoomed in on, tied to a parcel #, etc. (3) Anyone can populate anyone's social network page. (4) Anybody can post in one of the boxes. They can post anonymously or publicly (5) If someone wants to override information that already has been established, they will need to have an identity (e.g., user name), to override published posting information.

However, according to one embodiment, if an owner of an entity location wishes to mark their location private, and uneditable by the public without their permission, they will need to pay (e.g., a monthly fixed fee) through the social community module. Alternatively, the owner of the entity location may not need to pay to mark the location as private and uneditable by the public without the owner's permission. Example embodiments of the social community module may feature info about businesses. They may also feature info about people that live in the homes, and may/may not display information on prices, number of bedrooms, etc.

The social community module (e.g., as described inFIG. 1) may be a search engine (e.g., Google®, Yahoo®, etc.) that uses maps (e.g., satellite map views) instead of text displays to show information, user profiles, reviews, promotions, ads, directions, events, etc. relevant to user searches.

The example systems and methods illustrated inFIGS. 1-28 may facilitate a social network membership that spreads virally by users inviting their friends. For example, every person that registers has their own profile, but registration may not be required to contribute content. However, registration may be required to “own” content on your own home, and have override permission to delete things that you don't like about yourself listed about you by others. In one embodiment, the social community module may need to confirm the user's identity and address (e.g., using digital signature tools, drivers license verification, etc.), and/or the user may need to pay a monthly fixed fee (e.g., through a credit card) to control their identity.

For example, they can get a rebate, and not have to pay the monthly fee for a particular month, if they invite at least 15 people that month AND contribute information about at least 10 of their neighbors, friends, civic, or business locations in their neighborhood. People can post pics of their family, their business, their home, etc. on their profile once they ‘own’ their home and register. In another embodiment, endorsements for neighbors by others will be published automatically. People can search for other people by descriptors (e.g., name, profession, distance away from me, etc.)

Profiles of users may be created and/or generated on the fly, e.g., when one clicks on a home.

People may be able to visually see directions to their neighborhood businesses, rather than reading directions through text in a first phase. After time, directions (e.g., routes) can be offered as well. Users can leave their opinions on businesses, but the social community module also enables users to leave opinions on neighbors, occupants or any entity having a profile on the map display. The social community module may not attempt to restrict freedom of speech by the users, but may voluntarily delete slanderous, libelous information on the request of an owner manually at any time.

In one embodiment, the methods and systems illustrated inFIGS. 1-28 enable people to search for things they want e.g. nearby pizzas etc. (e.g., by distance away). Advertisers can ‘own’ their listing by placing a display ad on nextdoor.com. Instead of click-through revenues when someone leaves the site, revenues will be realized when the link is clicked and someone views a preview html on the right of the visual map. Targeted advertisements may also be placed when someone searches a particular street, name, city, etc.

In another example embodiment, the social community module may enable users of the social network to populate profiles for apartments, buildings, condos, etc. People can create floors, layout, etc. of their building, and add social network pages on the fly when they click on a location that has multiple residents, tenants, or lessees.

A user interface associated with thesocial community module100 may be clean, simple, and uncluttered (e.g., Simple message of “get to know your neighbors”). For example, the map interface shows neighbors. Methods and systems associated with the features described may focus on user experience, e.g., ensuring a compelling message to invite friends and/or others to join. A seed phase for implementation of the methods and systems illustrated inFIGS. 1-28 may be identified for building a membership associated with the social community module.

For example, a user having extensive networks in a certain area (e.g., a city) may seed those communities as well. The social network may encourage user expression, user content creation, ease of use on site to get maximum users/distribution as quickly as possible. In another embodiment, the social community module may ensure that infrastructure associated with operation of the social community module (e.g., servers) are able to handle load (e.g., data traffic) and keep up with expected growth.

For example, the user interface view illustrated in the various figures shows an example embodiment of the social community module ofFIG. 1. The user interface view may include a publicly editable profile wall section allowing public postings that owners of the profile can edit. For example, any user may be able to post on an empty profile wall, but a user must claim the location to own the profile (e.g., may minimize barriers to users posting comments on profile walls).

Names featured on the profile wall may be links to the user profiles on the map (e.g., giving an immediate sense for the location of admirers (or detractors) relative to user location). In one embodiment, an action (e.g., mouse-over) on a comment would highlight the comment user's house on the map and names linking to user profiles. The user interface view may also utilize the mapping interface to link comments to locations.

For example, the various embodiments illustrate a comment announcing a garage sale, that is tied to a mappable location on the mapping interface. (e.g., allows people to browse references directly from people's profiles). In the various figures, an example display of the mapping interface is illustrated. In this example display, houses are shown in green, a church is shown in white, the red house shows the selected location and/or the profile owner's house, question marks indicate locations without profile owners, blue buildings are commercial locations, and the pink building represents an apartment complex.

Houses with stars indicate people associated with (e.g., “friends”) of the current user. In one embodiment, a user action (e.g., mouse-over) on a commercial property displayed in the mapping interface may pull up a star (e.g., “***) rating based on user reviews, and/or a link to the profile for the property. A mouse-over action on the apartment complex may pull up a building schematic for the complex with floor plans, on which the user can see friends/profiles for various floors or rooms. Question marks indicated in the display may prompt users to own that profile or post comments on the wall for that space. A user action on any house displayed in the mapping interface may pull up a profile link, summary info such as status, profession, interests, etc. associated with the profile owner, a link to add the person as a friend, and/or a link to send a message to the user (e.g., the profile owner).

In another embodiment, a default profile view shown is that of the current user (e.g., logged in), and if the user clicks on any other profile, it may show their profile in that space instead (with few text changes to indicate different person). The events in your area view of the profile display in may have a default radius for notification of events (e.g., by street, by block, by neighborhood, county, etc.) Events are associated with user profiles and may link to locations displayed on the mapping interfaces. The hot picks section may be an ad/promotional zone, with default settings for radius of alerts also configurable.

For example, the “Find a Friend” section may permit users to search by name, address, interests, status, profession, favorite movies/music/food etc. Users are also able to search within a given radius of their location. In one embodiment, the user interface view may include a link for the user to invite other people to join the network (e.g., may encourage users who see a question-mark on a house or a location on the mapping interface that corresponds to a real location associated with someone they know to contact that person and encourage them to join and own that profile through the social community module).

Some of the reasons we believe these embodiments are unique include:

Search engine that provides a visual map (e.g., rather than text) display of information relevant to user queries.

Users can search on the map for other people having certain professional, educational, personal, extracurricular, cultural, political and/or family etc. profiles or interests, within any location range.

Users can search for information on the map, that is accessible directly through profile displays. For example, the user may search for information about a certain subject and be directed to a profile of another user having information about the subject. Alternatively, the user may view the search subject itself as a visible item (e.g., if applicable to the search query) having a profile on the map display, along with additional information associated with the item (e.g., contributed by other users).

Allows users to search, browse and view information posted by other users about an entity location such as a home, a business property, a condo, an apartment complex, etc. directly on a map display

Allows users to browse, form and join groups and communities based on location, preferences, interests, friend requests, etc.

Users can send messages to other people through their profiles within the map display

Users can find friends, business associates, vendors, romantic partners, etc. on the map within any location range (e.g., in their neighborhood, street, subdivision, etc.) by browsing the map display or searching for people with certain profile characteristics and/or similar interests.

Users can view, browse and post comments/information/reviews about entity locations and/or people associated with those locations (e.g., occupants of a house, families, apartment residents, businesses, non-governmental entities, etc.), even for locations that do not have a profile owner. For example, all entity locations visible on the map display may link to a profiles on which any user can post comments. To own the profile and edit the information posted about an entity location or the occupant(s), the occupant(s) would have to join the network associated with the social community module and become the owner of the profile. The profile owner would then become visible in the map display (e.g., entity locations without profile owners may only be visible as questions marks on the map, having blank profiles but public comment sections).

Users can share their comments and opinions about locations, preferences and/or interests on their profiles that are visible and searchable on the map display

Automatically notifies users of events and promotions in an area (e.g., scope of area can be selected by the user), and highlights venues and user profiles on the map.

Users can post reviews about entity locations (e.g., businesses) such that ratings for entity locations are visible on the map. Other users can trace the location of the users that posted the comments on the map.

Users who post comments on other profiles can be traced directly on the map through their comments. Alternatively, users can choose to submit anonymous postings or comments on other user/entity profiles, and/or may choose not to be traceable on the map through their comments.

For entity locations having more than one residency unit (e.g., apartment complexes), people can create and post on profiles for any room/floor of the location (e.g., by entering information on a schematic view of the location that is visible on the map).

Users can visually determine routes/directions/orientation to locations that they can browse within the map display. Additionally, users can generate written driving, walking or public transit directions between points of interest (e.g., from the user's house to a friend's house) within the map display.

Users can communicate (e.g., through live chat) directly with other users in the area based on an association determined through their profiles

Business entity locations can generate targeted ads and promotions within locations on the map display (e.g., virtual billboards).

The social community module can realize revenue based on ad clickthroughs by users, without the users being directed away from the interface. For example, when a user clicks on any targeted ad/promotion displayed on the map, the profile of the entity associated with the ad/promotion may be generated alongside the map display.

Neighborhood or neighborhood (see spelling differences) is a geographically localized community located within a larger city or suburb. The residents of a given neighborhood are called neighbors (or neighbors), although this term may also be used across much larger distances in rural areas.

Traditionally, a neighborhood is small enough that the neighbors are all able to know each other. However in practice, neighbors may not know one another very well at all. Villages aren't divided into neighborhoods, because they are already small enough that the villagers can all know each other.

The system however may work in any country and any geography of the world. In Canada and the United States, neighborhoods are often given official or semi-official status through neighborhood associations, neighborhood watches, or block watches. These may regulate such matters as lawn care and fence height, and they may provide such services as block parties, neighborhood parks, and community security. In some other places the equivalent organization is the parish, though a parish may have several neighborhoods within it depending on the area.

In localities where neighborhoods do not have an official status, questions can arise as to where one neighborhood begins and another ends, such as in the city of Philadelphia, Pa. Many cities may use districts and wards as official divisions of the city, rather than traditional neighborhood boundaries.

In the mainland of the People's Republic of China, the term is generally used for the urban administrative unit usually found immediately below the district level, although an intermediate, sub-district level exists in some cities. They are also called streets (administrative terminology may vary from city to city). Neighborhoods encompass2,000 to10,000 families. Within neighborhoods, families are grouped into smaller residential units or quarters of 100 to 600 families and supervised by a residents' committee; these are subdivided into residents' small groups of fifteen to forty families. In most urban areas of China, neighborhood, community, residential community, residential unit, residential quarter have the same meaning:
or
or
and is the direct sublevel of a subdistrict
which is the direct sublevel of a district
which is the direct sublevel of a city
(See Political divisions of China.
The system and methods may be distributed through neighborhood associations. A neighborhood or neighborhood (see spelling differences) is a geographically localized community located within a larger city or suburb. The residents of a given neighborhood are called neighbors (or neighbors), although this term may also be used across much larger distances in rural areas.
Traditionally, a neighborhood is small enough that the neighbors are all able to know each other. However in practice, neighbors may not know one another very well at all. Villages aren't divided into neighborhoods, because they are already small enough that the villagers can all know each other. Each of the technologies and concepts disclosed herein may be embodied in software and/or hardware through one or more of the modules/embodiments discussed inFIGS. 1-28.
A block party is a large public celebration in which many members of a single neighborhood congregate to observe a positive event of some importance. Many times, there will be celebration in the form of playing music and dance. Block parties gained popularity in the United States during the 1970s. Block Parties were often held outdoors and power for the DJ's sound system was taken illegally from street lights. This was famously referenced in the song “South Bronx” by KRS-One with the line:
“Power from a street light made the place dark. But yo, they didn't care, they turned it out.” It is also interesting to note that many inner city block parties were actually held illegally, as they might be described as loitering. However, police turned a blind eye to them, reasoning that if everyone from the neighborhood was gathered in one place there was less chance of crime being committed elsewhere.
In the suburbs, block parties are commonly held on holidays such as Fourth of July or Labor Day. Sometimes the occasion may be a theme such a “Welcome to the Neighborhood” for a new family or a recent popular movie. Often block parties involve barbecuing, lawn games such as Simon Says and group dancing such as the Electric Slide, the Macarena or line dancing.
In other usage, a block party has come to mean any informal public celebration. For example, a block party can be conducted via television even though there is no real block in the observance. The same is true for the Internet. The block party is closely related to the beach party. The British equivalent is the street party.
The systems and methods illustrated inFIGS. 1-28 may have software to emulate a block party or a neighborhood watch. A neighborhood watch (also called a crime watch or neighborhood crime watch) is a citizens' organization devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood. It is not a vigilante organization, since members are expected not to directly intervene in possible criminal activity. Instead, neighborhood watch members are to stay alert to unusual activity and contact the authorities. It builds on the concept of a town watch from Colonial America.
The current American system of neighborhood watches began developing in the late 1960s as a response to the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens, N.Y. People became outraged that three dozen witnesses did nothing to save Genovese or to apprehend her killer. Some locals formed groups to watch over their neighborhoods and to look out for any suspicious activity in their areas. Shortly thereafter, the National Sheriffs' Association began a concerted effort in 1972 to revitalize the “watch group” effort nationwide.
A neighborhood watch (also called a crime watch or neighborhood crime watch) is a citizens' organization devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood. It is not a vigilante organization, since members are expected not to directly intervene in possible criminal activity. Instead, neighborhood watch members are to stay alert to unusual activity and contact the authorities. It builds on the concept of a town watch from Colonial America.
The current American system of neighborhood watches began developing in the late 1960s as a response to the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens, N.Y. People became outraged that three dozen witnesses did nothing to save Genovese or to apprehend her killer. Some locals formed groups to watch over their neighborhoods and to look out for any suspicious activity in their areas. Shortly thereafter, the National Sheriffs' Association began a concerted effort in 1972 to revitalize the “watch group” effort nationwide.
The various methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein and illustrated and described using the attachedFIGS. 1-28 can be applied to creating online community organizations of neighborhoods of any form. During human growth and maturation, people encounter sets of other individuals and experiences. Infants encounter first, their immediate family, then extended family, and then local community (such as school and work). They thus develop individual and group identity through associations that connect them to life-long community experiences.
As people grow, they learn about and form perceptions of social structures. During this progression, they form personal and cultural values, a world view and attitudes toward the larger society. Gaining an understanding of group dynamics and how to “fit in” is part of socialization. Individuals develop interpersonal relationships and begin to make choices about whom to associate with and under what circumstances.
During adolescence and adulthood, the individual tends to develop a more sophisticated identity, often taking on a role as a leader or follower in groups. If associated individuals develop the intent to give of themselves, and commit to the collective well-being of the group, they begin to acquire a sense of community.
Socialization: The process of learning to adopt the behavior patterns of the community is called socialization. The most fertile time of socialization is usually the early stages of life, during which individuals develop the skills and knowledge and learn the roles necessary to function within their culture and social environment. For some psychologists, especially those in the psychodynamic tradition, the most important period of socialization is between the ages of 1 and 10. But socialization also includes adults moving into a significantly different environment, where they must learn a new set of behaviors.
Socialization is influenced primarily by the family, through which children first learn community norms. Other important influences include school, peer groups, mass media, the workplace and government. The degree to which the norms of a particular society or community are adopted determines one's willingness to engage with others. The norms of tolerance, reciprocity and trust are important “habits of the heart,” as de Tocqueville put it, in an individual's involvement in community.
Continuity of the connections between leaders, between leaders and followers, and among followers is vital to the strength of a community. Members individually hold the collective personality of the whole. With sustained connections and continued conversations, participants in communities develop emotional bonds, intellectual pathways, enhanced linguistic abilities, and even a higher capacity for critical thinking and problem-solving. It could be argued that successive and sustained contact with other people might help to remove some of the tension of isolation, due to alienation, thus opening creative avenues that would have otherwise remained impassable.
Conversely, sustained involvement in tight communities may tend to increase tension in some people. However, in many cases, it is easy enough to distance oneself from the “hive” temporarily to ease this stress. Psychological maturity and effective communication skills are thought to be a function of this ability. In nearly every context, individual and collective behaviors are required to find a balance between inclusion and exclusion; for the individual, a matter of choice; for the group, a matter of charter. The sum of the creative energy (often referred to as “synergy”) and the strength of the mechanisms that maintain this balance is manifest as an observable and resilient sense of community.
McMillan and Chavis (1986) identify four elements of “sense of community”: 1) membership, 2) influence, 3) integration and fulfillment of needs, and 4) shared emotional connection. They give the following example of the interplay between these factors: Someone puts an announcement on the dormitory bulletin board about the formation of an intramural dormitory basketball team. People attend the organizational meeting as strangers out of their individual needs (integration and fulfillment of needs). The team is bound by place of residence (membership boundaries are set) and spends time together in practice (the contact hypothesis). They play a game and win (successful shared valent event). While playing, members exert energy on behalf of the team (personal investment in the group). As the team continues to win, team members become recognized and congratulated (gaining honor and status for being members). Someone suggests that they all buy matching shirts and shoes (common symbols) and they do so (influence).
A Sense of Community Index (SCI) has been developed by Chavis and his colleagues (1986). Although originally designed to assess sense of community in neighborhoods, the index has been adapted for use in schools, the workplace and a variety of types of communities.
Communitarianism as a group of related but distinct philosophies (or ideologies) began in the late 20th century, opposing classical liberalism, capitalism and socialism while advocating phenomena such as civil society. Not necessarily hostile to social liberalism, communitarianism rather has a different emphasis, shifting the focus of interest toward communities and societies and away from the individual. The question of priority, whether for the individual or community, must be determined in dealing with pressing ethical questions about a variety of social issues, such as health care, abortion, multiculturalism, and hate speech.
Effective communication practices in group and organizational settings are important to the formation and maintenance of communities. How ideas and values are communicated within communities are important to the induction of new members, the formulation of agendas, the selection of leaders and many other aspects. Organizational communication is the study of how people communicate within an organizational context and the influences and interactions within organizational structures. Group members depend on the flow of communication to establish their own identity within these structures and learn to function in the group setting. Although organizational communication, as a field of study, is usually geared toward companies and business groups, these may also be seen as communities. The principles can also be applied to other types of communities.
If the sense of community exists, both freedom and security exist as well. The community then takes on a life of its own, as people become free enough to share and secure enough to get along. The sense of connectedness and formation of social networks comprise what has become known as social capital.
Azadi Tower is a town square in modern Iran. Social capital is defined by Robert D. Putnam as “the collective value of all social networks (who people know) and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other (norms of reciprocity).” Social capital in action can be seen in groups of varying formality, including neighbors keeping an eye on each others' homes. However, as Putnam notes in Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (2000), social capital has been falling in the United States. Putnam found that over the past 25 years, attendance at club meetings has fallen 58 percent, family dinners are down 33 percent, and having friends visit has fallen 45 percent.
Western cultures are thus said to be losing the spirit of community that once were found in institutions including churches and community centers. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg states in The Great Good Place that people need three places: 1) The home, 2) the workplace, and, 3) the community hangout or gathering place.
With this philosophy in mind, many grassroots efforts such as The Project for Public Spaces are being started to create this “Third Place” in communities. They are taking form in independent bookstores, coffeehouses, local pubs and through many innovative means to create the social capital needed to foster the sense and spirit of community.
Community development is often formally conducted by universities or government agencies to improve the social well-being of local, regional and, sometimes, national communities. Less formal efforts, called community building or community organizing, seek to empower individuals and groups of people by providing them with the skills they need to effect change in their own communities. These skills often assist in building political power through the formation of large social groups working for a common agenda. Community development practitioners must understand both how to work with individuals and how to affect communities' positions within the context of larger social institutions.
Formal programs conducted by universities are often used to build a knowledge base to drive curricula in sociology and community studies. The General Social Survey from the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago and the Saguaro Seminar at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University are examples of national community development in the United States. In The United Kingdom, Oxford University has led in providing extensive research in the field through its Community Development Journal, used worldwide by sociologists and community development practitioners.
At the intersection between community development and community building are a number of programs and organizations with community development tools. One example of this is the program of the Asset Based Community Development Institute of Northwestern University. The institute makes available downloadable tools to assess community assets and make connections between non-profit groups and other organizations that can help in community building. The Institute focuses on helping communities develop by “mobilizing neighborhood assets”—building from the inside out rather than the outside in.
Community building and organizing: M. Scott Peck is of the view that the almost accidental sense of community which exists at times of crisis, for example in New York City after the attacks of Sep. 11, 2001, can be consciously built. Peck believes that the process of “conscious community building” is a process of building a shared story, and consensual decision making, built upon respect for all individuals and inclusivity of difference. He is of the belief that this process goes through four stages:
Pseudo-community: Where participants are “nice with each other”, playing-safe, and presenting what they feel is the most favorable sides of their personalities. Chaos: When people move beyond the inauthenticity of pseudo-community and feel safe enough to present their “shadow” selves. This stage places great demands upon the facilitator for greater leadership and organization, but Peck believes that “organizations are not communities”, and this pressure should be resisted.
Emptying: This stage moves beyond the attempts to fix, heal and convert of the chaos stage, when all people become capable of acknowledging their own woundedness and brokenness, common to us all as human beings. Out of this emptying comes
Authentic community: the process of deep respect and true listening for the needs of the other people in this community. This stage Peck believes can only be described as “glory” and reflects a deep yearning in every human soul for compassionate understanding from one's fellows.
More recently Scott Peck has remarked that building a sense of community is easy. It is maintaining this sense of community that is difficult in the modern world. The Ithaca Hour is an example of community-based currency. Community building can use a wide variety of practices, ranging from simple events such as potlucks and small book clubs to larger-scale efforts such as mass festivals and construction projects that involve local participants rather than outside contractors. Some communities have developed their own “Local Exchange Trading Systems” (LETS) and local currencies, such as the Ithaca Hours system, to encourage economic growth and an enhanced sense of community.
Community building that is geared toward activism is usually termed “community organizing.” In these cases, organized community groups seek accountability from elected officials and increased direct representation within decision-making bodies. Where good-faith negotiations fail, these constituency-led organizations seek to pressure the decision-makers through a variety of means, including picketing, boycotting, sit-ins, petitioning, and electoral politics. The ARISE Detroit! coalition and the Toronto Public Space Committee are examples of activist networks committed to shielding local communities from government and corporate domination and inordinate influence.
Community organizing is sometimes focused on more than just resolving specific issues. Organizing often means building a widely accessible power structure, often with the end goal of distributing power equally throughout the community. Community organizers generally seek to build groups that are open and democratic in governance. Such groups facilitate and encourage consensus decision-making with a focus on the general health of the community rather than a specific interest group.
The three basic types of community organizing are grassroots organizing, coalition building, and faith-based community organizing (also called “institution-based community organizing,” “broad-based community organizing” or “congregation-based community organizing”).
Community service is usually performed in connection with a nonprofit organization, but it may also be undertaken under the auspices of government, one or more businesses, or by individuals. It is typically unpaid and voluntary. However, it can be part of alternative sentencing approaches in a justice system and it can be required by educational institutions.
The most common usage of the word “community” indicates a large group living in close proximity. Examples of local community include: A municipality is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a town or village. Although large cities are also municipalities, they are often thought of as a collection of communities, due to their diversity.
A neighborhood is a geographically localized community, often within a larger city or suburb. A planned community is one that was designed from scratch and grew up more or less following the plan. Several of the world's capital cities are planned cities, notably Washington, D.C., in the United States, Canberra in Australia, and Brasilia in Brazil. It was also common during the European colonization of the Americas to build according to a plan either on fresh ground or on the ruins of earlier Amerindian cities. Identity: In some contexts, “community” indicates a group of people with a common identity other than location. Members often interact regularly. Common examples in everyday usage include: A “professional community” is a group of people with the same or related occupations. Some of those members may join a professional society, making a more defined and formalized group.
These are also sometimes known as communities of practice. A virtual community is a group of people primarily or initially communicating or interacting with each other by means of information technologies, typically over the Internet, rather than in person. These may be either communities of interest, practice or communion. (See below.) Research interest is evolving in the motivations for contributing to online communities.
Some communities share both location and other attributes. Members choose to live near each other because of one or more common interests. A retirement community is designated and at least usually designed for retirees and seniors—often restricted to those over a certain age, such as 55. It differs from a retirement home, which is a single building or small complex, by having a number of autonomous households.
An intentional community is a deliberate residential community with a much higher degree of social interaction than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political or spiritual vision and share responsibilities and resources. Intentional communities include Amish villages, ashrams, cohousing, communes, ecovillages, housing cooperatives, kibbutzim, and land trusts.
Special nature of human community Music in Central Park, a public space. Definitions of community as “organisms inhabiting a common environment and interacting with one another,” while scientifically accurate, do not convey the richness, diversity and complexity of human communities. Their classification, likewise is almost never precise. Untidy as it may be, community is vital for humans. M. Scott Peck expresses this in the following way: “There can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community without vulnerability; there can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community.” This conveys some of the distinctiveness of human community.
Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. For example, the various devices, modules, analyzers, generators, etc. described herein may be enabled and operated using hardware circuitry (e.g., CMOS based logic circuitry), firmware, software and/or any combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software (e.g., embodied in a machine readable medium). For example, the various electrical structure and methods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and electrical circuits (e.g., application specific integrated ASIC circuitry and/or in Digital Signal; Processor DSP circuitry).
For example, the social community module106, the search module108, the wiki module110, the commerce module112, the map module114, the building builder module200, the N^thdegree module, the tagging module204, the verify module206, the groups generator module208, the pushpin module210, the profile module212, the announce module214, the friend finder module222, the neighbor-neighbor help module224, the business search module302, the communicate module306, the directory assistance module308, the embedding module310, the no-match module312, the range selector module314, the user-place wiki module, the user-user wiki module402, the user-neighbor wiki module404, the user-business wiki module406, the reviews module408, the defamation prevention module410, the wiki social network conversion module412, the claim module414, the data segment module416, the dispute resolution module418, the resident announce payment module500, the business display advertisement module502, the geo-position advertisement ranking module504, the content syndication module506, the text advertisement module508, the community market place module510, the click-in tracking module512, the satellite data module600, the cartoon map converter module604, the profile pointer module606, the parcel module608 and the occupant module610 ofFIGS. 1-28 may be embodied through the social community circuit, the search circuit, the wiki circuit, the commerce circuit, the map circuit, the building builder circuit, the N^thdegree circuit, the tagging circuit, the verify circuit, the groups circuit, the pushpin circuit, the profile circuit, the announce circuit, the friends finder circuit, the neighbor-neighbor help circuit, the business search circuit, the communicate circuit, the embedding circuit, the no-match circuit, the range selector circuit, the user-place wiki circuit, the user-user wiki circuit, the user-neighbor wiki circuit, the user-business circuit, the reviews circuit, the defamation prevention circuit, the wiki social network conversion circuit, the claim circuit, the data segment circuit, the dispute resolution circuit, the resident announce payment circuit, the business display advertisement circuit, the geo-position advertisement ranking circuit, the content syndication circuit, the text advertisement circuit, the community market place circuit, the click-in tracking circuit, the satellite data circuit, the cartoon map converter circuit, the profile pointer circuit, the parcel circuit, the occupant circuit using one or more of the technologies described herein.
In addition, it will be appreciated that the various operations, processes, and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in a machine-readable medium and/or a machine accessible medium compatible with a data processing system (e.g., a computer system), and may be performed in any order. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

associating a verified registered user with a user profile;

associating the user profile with a specific geographic location;

generating a map concurrently displaying the user profile and the specific geographic location; and

simultaneously generating, in the map, wiki profiles associated with different geographic locations surrounding the specific geographic location associated with the user profile.

2. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising:

processing a query of at least one of the user profile and the specific geographic location; and

converting a particular wiki profile of the wiki profiles to another user profile when a different registered user claims a particular geographic location to the specific geographic location associated with the particular wiki profile, wherein the user profile is tied to a specific property in a neighborhood, and wherein the particular wiki profile is associated with a neighboring property to the specific property in the neighborhood.

3. The method ofclaim 2 further comprising:

delisting a certain wiki profile of the wiki profiles when a private registered user claims a certain geographic location adjacent to at least one of the specific geographic location and the particular geographic location; and

masking the certain wiki profile in the map when the certain wiki profile is delisted through the request of the private registered user.

4. The method ofclaim 3 further comprising:

processing a tag data associated with at least one of the specific geographic location, a particular geographic location, and the delisted geographic location;

displaying a frequent one of the tag data when at least one of the specific geographic location and the particular geographic location is made active, but not when a geographic location is delisted;

permitting a commercial user to purchase a customizable business profile associated with a commercial geographic location;

enabling the verified registered user to communicate a message to the neighborhood based on a selectible distance range away from the specific geographic location; and

processing a payment of the commercial user and the verified registered user.

5. The method ofclaim 3 further comprising:

permitting the verified registered user to edit any information in the wiki profiles including the particular wiki profile and the certain wiki profile until the certain wiki profile is claimed by at least one of the different registered user and the private registered user;

enabling a claimant of any wiki profile to control what information is displayed on their user profile; and

allowing the claimant to segregate certain information on their user profile such that only other registered users directly connected to the claimant are able to view data on their user profile.

6. The method ofclaim 3 further comprising:

applying a first user ID with the verified registered user and a second user ID to the different registered user;

connecting the verified registered user with the different registered user with each other through at least one of a geo-positioning data associated with the first user ID and the second user ID;

setting a maximum degree of separation (Nmax) of at least two that is allowed for connecting any two registered users, wherein two registered users who are directly connected are deemed to be separated by one degree of separation and two registered users who are connected through no less than one other registered user are deemed to be separated by two degrees of separation and two registered users who are connected through no less than N other registered users are deemed to be separated by N+1 degrees of separation;

searching the user ID of the different registered user in a set of user IDs that are stored of registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user, and not in the sets of user IDs that are stored for registered users who are greater than or equal to Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user, until the user ID of the different registered user is found in one of the searched sets; and

connecting the verified registered user to the different registered user if the user ID of the different registered user is found in one of the searched sets, wherein the method limits the searching of the different registered user in the sets of user IDs that are stored of registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user, such that the verified registered user and the different registered user who are separated by more than Nmax degrees of separation are not found and connected.

7. The method ofclaim 6 further comprising:

searching initially in the sets of user IDs that are stored of registered users who are directly connected to the verified registered user;

communicating a profile of the different registered user to the verified registered user to display through a marker associating the verified registered user with the different registered user;

storing a connection path between the verified registered user and the different registered user, the connection path indicating at least one other registered user through whom the connection path between the verified registered user and the different registered user is made;

communicating the connection path between the verified registered user and the different registered user to the verified registered user to display; and

embedding a hyperlink in the connection path of each of the at least one registered users through whom the connection path between the verified registered user and the different registered user is made.

8. The method ofclaim 7 further comprising:

storing of each registered user associated e-mail addresses of individuals who are not registered users and identified by each registered user as neighbors.

communicating out an invitation to become a new user to neighbors of the particular user;

processing an acceptance of a neighbor to whom the invitation was sent;

adding the neighbor to a database and storing of the neighbor, a user ID and a set of user IDs of registered users who are directly connected to the neighbor, the set of user IDs stored of the neighbor including at least the user ID of the verified registered user;

notifying the verified registered user that the invitation to the neighbor has been accepted when an acceptance is processed; and

processing inputs from the neighbor having descriptive data about the friend and storing the inputs in the database.

9. The method ofclaim 7 further comprising:

communicating brief profiles of registered users, including a brief profile of the different registered user, to the verified registered user for display, each of the brief profiles including a hyperlink to a corresponding full profile;

processing a hyperlink selection from the verified registered user, wherein, upon processing the hyperlink selection of the full profile of the different registered user, the full profile of the different registered user is communicated to the verified registered user for display; and

ensuring that brief profiles of those registered users who are more than Nmax degrees of separation away from the verified registered user are not communicated to the verified registered user for display.

10. The methodclaim 1 in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform the method ofclaim 1.

11. A system comprising:

a plurality of neighborhoods having registered users and unregistered users of a global neighborhood environment;

a social community module of the global neighborhood environment to generate a building creator in which the registered users may create and modify empty wiki profiles, building layouts, social network pages, and floor levels structures housing residents and businesses in the neighborhood;

a wiki module of the global neighborhood environment to enable the registered users to create a social network page of themselves, and to edit information associated with the unregistered users identifiable through a viewing of physical properties in which the unregistered users reside when the registered users have knowledge of characteristics associated with the unregistered users;

a search module of the global neighborhood environment to enable a people search, a business search, and a category search of any data in the social community module and to enable embedding of any content in the global neighborhood environment in other search engines, blogs, social networks, professional networks and static websites;

a commerce module of the global neighborhood environment to provide an advertisement system to a business who purchase their location in the global neighborhood environment in which the advertisement is viewable concurrently with a map indicating a location of the business, and in which revenue is attributed to the global neighborhood environment when the registered users and the unregistered users click-in on a simultaneously displayed data of the advertisement along with the map indicating a location of the business; and

a map module of the global neighborhood environment to include a map data associated with a satellite data which serves as a basis of rendering the map in the global neighborhood environment and which includes a simplified map generator which may transform the map to a fewer color and location complex form using a parcel data which identifies at least some residence, civic, and business locations in the satellite data.

12. The system ofclaim 11 further comprising:

a verify module of the social community module to authenticate an email address of a registered user prior to enabling the registered user to edit information associated with the unregistered users through at least one of an email response and a digital signature technique;

a group generator module of the social community module to enable the registered users to form groups with each other surrounding at least one of a common neighborhood political, cultural, educational, professional and social interest;

a tagging module of the social community module to enable the registered users and the unregistered users to leave brief comments on each of the wiki profiles and social network pages in the global neighborhood environment, in which the brief comments are simultaneously displayed when a pointing device rolls over a pushpin indicating a physical property associated with any of the registered users and the unregistered users;

a pushpin module of the social community module to generate customized indicators of different types of users, locations, and interests directly in the map;

an announce module of the social community module to distribute a message in a specified range of distance away from the registered users when a registered user purchases a message to communicate to certain ones of the registered users surrounding a geographic vicinity adjacent to the particular registered user originating the message, wherein the particular registered user purchases the message through a governmental currency and a number of tokens collected by the particular user through a creation of content in the global neighborhood environment;

an nth degree module of the social community module to enable the particular registered user to communicate with an unknown registered user through a common registered user known by the particular registered user and the unknown registered user that is an nth degree of separation away from the particular registered user and the unknown registered user; and

a profile module of the social community module to create a set of profiles of each one of the registered users and to enable each one of the registered users to submit media content of themselves, other registered users, and unregistered users identifiable through the map.

13. The system ofclaim 11 further comprising:

a claim module of wiki module to enable the unregistered users to claim at least one of the physical properties associated with their residence;

a dispute resolution module of the wiki module to determine a legitimate user of different unregistered users who claim a same physical property;

a defamation prevention module of the wiki module to enable the registered users to modify the information associated with the unregistered users identifiable through the viewing of the physical properties, and to enable registered user voting of an accuracy of the information associated with the unregistered users;

a reviews module of the wiki module to provide comments, local reviews and ratings of various businesses as contributed by the registered users and unregistered users of the global network environment; and

a wiki-social network conversion module of the wiki module to transform the wiki profiles to social network profiles when the registered users claim the wiki profiles.

14. The system ofclaim 11 further comprising:

a communication module of the search module to enable voice over internet, live chat, and group announcement functionality in the global neighborhood environment among different members of the global neighborhood environment;

a directory assistance module of the search module to provide voice response assistance to users assessable through a web and telephony interface of any category, business, community, and residence search queries of users of any search engine embedding content of the global neighborhood environment;

an embed module of the search module to automatically extract address and contact info from other social networks, search engines, and content providers, and to enable automatic extraction of group lists from contact databases of instant messaging platforms; and

a no-match module of the search module to request additional information from the verified registered user about a person, place, and business having no listing in the global neighborhood environment when no matches are found in a search query of the verified registered user, and to create a new wiki page based on a response of the verified registered user about the at least one person, place, and business not previously indexed in the global neighborhood environment.

15. The system ofclaim 11 further comprising:

a geo-position advertisement ranking module of the commerce module to determine an order of the advertisement in a series of other advertisements provided in the global neighborhood environment by other advertisers, wherein the advertisement is at least one a display advertisement, a text advertisement, and an employment recruiting portal associated with the business that is simultaneously displayed with the map indicating the location of the business;

a click through tracking module of the commerce module to determine a number of click throughs from the advertisement to a primary website of the business;

a click in tracking module of the commerce module to determine a number of users who clicked in to the advertisement simultaneously displayed with the map indicating the location of the business;

a community marketplace module of the commerce module to provide a forum in which the registered users can trade and announce messages of trading events with at least certain registered users in geographic proximity from each other; and

a content syndication module of the commerce module to enable any data in the commerce module to be syndicated to other network based trading platforms.

16. The system ofclaim 11 further comprising:

a cartoon map converter module in the map module to apply a filter to the satellite data to transform the satellite data into a simplified polygon based representation using a Bezier curve algorithm that converts point data of the satellite data to a simplified form.

17. A global neighborhood environment, comprising:

a first instruction set to enable a social network to reside above a map data, in which the social network is associated with specific geographical locations identifiable in the map data;

a second instruction set integrated with the first instruction set to enable users of the social network to create profiles of other people through a forum which provides a free form of expression of the users sharing information about any entities and people residing in any geographical location identifiable in the satellite map data, and to provide a technique of each of the users to claim a geographic location to control content in their respective claimed geographic locations; and

a third instruction set integrated with the first instruction set and the second instruction set to enable searching of people in the global neighborhood environment by indexing each of the data shared by the users of any of the people and entities residing in any geographic location.

18. The global neighborhood environment ofclaim 17 further comprising:

a fourth instruction set to provide a moderation of content about each other posted of the users through trusted users of the global neighborhood environment who have an ability to ban specific users and delete any offensive and libelous content in the global neighborhood environment.

19. The global neighborhood environment ofclaim 18 further comprising:

a fifth instruction set to enable an insertion of any content generated in the global neighborhood environment in other search engines through a syndication and advertising relationship between the global neighborhood environment and other internet commerce and search portals.

20. The global neighborhood environment ofclaim 19 further comprising:

a sixth instruction set to grow the social network through neighborhood groups, local politicians, block watch communities, issue activism groups, and neighbors who invite other known parties and members to share profiles of themselves and learn characteristics and information about other supporters and residents in a geographic area of interest through the global neighborhood environment.

21. The global neighborhood environment ofclaim 20 further comprising:

a seventh instruction set to determine quantify an effect on at least one of a desirability of a location, a popularity of a location, and a market value of a location based on an algorithm that considers a number of demographic and social characteristics of a region surrounding the location through a reviews module.