Prior art

Quest for Precedence: Unearthing the Most Relevant Prior Art for a Foundational Business Method Patent

Washington D.C. - A deep dive into the archives of innovation has identified key prior art that could be considered relevant to U.S. Patent No. 8,069,073 B2, a patent that outlines a system and method for facilitating introductions between business and social network users. The identified references, spanning both issued patents and published patent applications, touch upon similar concepts of connecting individuals within a network based on shared interests and professional goals. Understanding this prior art is crucial for navigating the landscape of business method patents and the specific domain of online networking.

U.S. Patent No. 8,069,073 B2, titled "Systems and methods for providing network-based business/social introductions," describes a computerized method for identifying a "most likely" introduction between two users of a business or social network. The core of the invention lies in a system that calculates a "likelihood of introduction" score based on the relationship between an introducer and the two individuals they could potentially connect. This score is determined by analyzing the frequency and nature of their interactions within the network.

An analysis of the patent landscape has revealed several key pieces of prior art that potentially anticipate one or more of the claims in the '073 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 102, which pertains to novelty.

Key Prior Art References:

Here are some of the most relevant prior art references identified:

1. U.S. Patent No. 7,788,272 B2 ("the '272 patent")

• Full Citation: US Patent 7,788,272 B2, "Method and system for introductions"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: August 31, 2010; Filing Date: June 30, 2003.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method and system for facilitating introductions between members of a social network. It discloses a system that identifies potential introductions based on the existing relationships within the network and allows users to request and manage these introductions. The system considers the "strength" of relationships between members to suggest potential introducers.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): The '272 patent appears to anticipate the core concepts of several independent claims of the '073 patent, particularly those related to a system for identifying and facilitating introductions within a network. The '272 patent's disclosure of using relationship "strength" to suggest introducers could be interpreted as anticipating the "likelihood of introduction" score in the '073 patent, albeit with different terminology. Specifically, claims detailing a computerized method for identifying a potential introduction between a first user and a second user through an intermediary user, based on the relationships between them, may be impacted.

2. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0220967 A1 ("the '967 application")

• Full Citation: US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0220967 A1, "Social network-based targeted advertising system and method"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: November 4, 2004; Filing Date: April 30, 2003.
• Brief Description: While focused on targeted advertising, this patent application describes a system that analyzes the relationships and connections within a social network to identify influential individuals. It details methods for traversing the social network graph to find paths of connection between users, a concept that is foundational to identifying potential introducers.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): The '967 application could be seen as anticipating the underlying process of mapping and analyzing relationships within a network to find intermediaries, a key element of the '073 patent's claims. While the ultimate purpose is different (advertising versus introductions), the method of navigating the network to connect individuals shares significant overlap. Claims that describe the system's ability to analyze network paths and identify intermediary users could be challenged by this prior art.

3. "The Six Degrees of Separation" and Small-World Network Research

• Full Citation: Various academic papers and publications on network theory, including Stanley Milgram's 1967 experiments and later work by Duncan Watts and Steven Strogatz.
• Publication/Filing Date: Predates the '073 patent's priority date.
• Brief Description: The concept that individuals are connected through a short chain of acquaintances is a well-established principle in social network theory. This body of research provides a theoretical framework for the interconnectedness of individuals in a network and has been computationally modeled long before the filing of the '073 patent.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): While not a specific patent, this body of non-patent literature establishes the fundamental concepts of social network analysis, including the identification of intermediaries and paths between individuals. This could be used to argue that the core idea of leveraging an intermediary to connect two people in a network was already part of the public domain and therefore lacks the novelty required for a patent. The broadest claims of the '073 patent, which describe the general concept of facilitating introductions through a network, may be vulnerable to a challenge based on this well-established scientific and sociological knowledge.

The identification of this prior art provides a more complete picture of the technological landscape at the time the '073 patent was filed. A thorough analysis of these and other potential references is essential for any party interested in the validity and scope of U.S. Patent No. 8,069,073 B2.