Collections of linked databases

Abstract

Methods and or systems relating to inferential networks. This invention is further directed to methods and systems for making and using inferential networks. Still further, this invention is generally directed to making one or more inferential networks by using data generated from directed searches of collections of linked databases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for conducting a search of a network, said system comprising:
 at least one processor programmed to:
 establish a network of linked nodes, each of the nodes connected to another one of the nodes by a link, the link specified by a member of the network; 
 receive historical data for previous searches of the network, the data for each of the previous searches describing a relationship between first and second nodes of the network, the relationship observed from behavior of the initiator of the previous search; 
 establish an inferential network of linked nodes from the historical data, the inferential network describing the observed relationships; 
 receive a search term or phrase from a search initiator; and 
 search the network for data relevant to the search term or phrase, wherein results of the search and/or the order of the results are based at least in part on the inferential network. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first node corresponds to a member of the network, and wherein the member selected the second node as being:
 i) most likely to possess information on a topic of the previous search; or   ii) most likely to be directly linked to another node possessing information on the topic of the previous search.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second node is a first-degree contact of the first node. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nodes of the network correspond to people, websites, publications, databases, or members of the network. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the results of the search and/or the order of the results are based on strengths of links of the inferential network. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the strengths of the links of the inferential network increase with matching observed relationships. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the results of the search and/or the order of the results are based on subject matter based qualifications of links of the inferential network. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor programmed is further programmed to:
 identify nodes of the inferential network that correspond to the results; and   order and/or filter the results based upon meta data associated with the identified nodes.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , where a link of the inferential network includes a subject matter based qualification, the subject matter based qualification based on the historical data for which the link was created. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the subject matter based qualification is a search term or a search topic. 
     
     
         11 . A method for conducting a search of a network, said method comprising:
 establishing a network of linked nodes, each of the nodes connected to another one of the nodes by a link, the link specified by a member of the network;   receiving historical data for previous searches of the network, the data for each of the previous searches describing a relationship between first and second nodes of the network, the relationship observed from behavior of the initiator of the previous search;   establishing an inferential network of linked nodes from the historical data, the inferential network describing the observed relationships;   receiving a search term or phrase from a search initiator; and   searching the network for data relevant to the search term, wherein results of the search and/or the order of the results are based at least in part on the inferential network.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first node corresponds to a member of the network, and wherein the member selected the second node as being:
 iii) most likely to possess information on a topic of the previous search; or   iv) most likely to be directly linked to another node possessing information on the topic of the previous search.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second node is a first-degree contact of the first node. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nodes correspond to people, websites, publications, databases, or members of the network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the results of the search and/or the order of the results are based on strengths of links of the inferential network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the results of the search and/or the order of the results are based on subject matter based qualifications of links of the inferential network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further including:
 identifying nodes of the inferential network that correspond to the results; and   ordering and/or filtering the results based upon meta data associated with the identified nodes.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , where a link of the inferential network includes a subject matter based qualification, the subject matter based qualification based on the historical data upon which the link is based. 
     
     
         19 . A processor programmed to perform the method according to  claim 11 . 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying software which controls a processor to perform the method according to  claim 11 .