Flexible rule-based communication system and method for controlling the flow of and access to information between computer users

Abstract

Flexible rule-based information system allows information originators, administrators, recipients, and requesters (collectively, “users”) to control and influence the flow of and access to information. How much control each user is given depends on the configuration of the system by the administrator and the choice of system-wide rules by the administrator. The originators generate messages or evaluate external content, then optionally specify rules indicating the type of recipients they would like to reach. Recipients specify rules indicating what types of messages and from what types of originators they want to receive. Users provide profile information and have incentive to provide as much information as possible so as to trigger the right rules.

What is claimed is:  
     
         22 . A method for distributing a message from a message provider to one or more computer users, the method comprising: 
 storing, in a database, a plurality of information definitions, the information definition comprising a hierarchical context with at least one branch;    obtaining profile information from the at least one computer user, comprising allowing the at least one computer user to specify values for at least one information definition;    generating, utilizing a second set of information provided by the message provider, a logically conditional, boolean, computer-interpretable message rule referencing one or more information definition branch;    determining, utilizing a interpretation of the context of each referenced branch together and individually, whether a first computer user of the one or more computer users is eligible to receive the message on the basis of the message rule; and    transmitting the message to the one or more computer user if the computer user is eligible to receive the message.    Whereby a message provider will be able select a set of computer users that the message provider would like to receive the message by only referencing branches from information definitions.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the message rule comprises a representation in natural language where the representation does not require specific knowledge of the form of the contextual hierarchical information definitions or require use of a special query or procedural language in the representation or require use of a special structure of the representation.  
     
     
         24 . A method for distributing a message from a message provider to one or more computer users, the method comprising: 
 storing, in a database, a plurality of information definitions the information definition comprising a hierarchical context with at least one branch;    obtaining message information from the message provider, comprising allowing the message provider to specify values for at least one information definition:    generating utilizing a second set of information provided by the at least one computer user, a logically conditional, boolean, computer-interpretable profile rule referencing one or more information definition branch;    determining, utilizing a interpretation of the context of each referenced branch together and individually, whether the message satisfies the profile rule; and    transmitting the message to the first computer user if the message information satisfies the profile rule.    Whereby, a computer user will be able select a set of messages that the computer users would like to receive by only referencing branches from information definitions.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the profile rule comprises a representation in natural language where the representation does not require specific knowledge of the form of the contextual hierarchical information definitions or require use of a special query or procedural language in the representation or require use of a special structure of the representation.  
     
     
         26 . A method for distributing a message from a message providers to one or more computer users, the method comprising: 
 storing, in a database, a plurality of information definition, the information definition comprising a hierarchical context with at least one branch;    obtaining message information from the message provider, comprising allowing the message provider to specify values for at least one information definition;    obtaining profile information from the at least one computer user comprising allowing the at least one computer user to specify values for at least one information definition;    generating, utilizing information provided by a administrator, a logically conditional, boolean, computer-interpretable system rule for matching appropriate messages and appropriate message providers with appropriate computer users and referencing one or more information definition branch;    determining, utilizing a interpretation of the context of each referenced branch together and individually, whether the message satisfies the system rule: and transmitting the message to the first computer user if the message information satisfies the system rule.    Whereby, a administrator will be able select a set of messages that the computer users should or should not receive by only referencing branches from information definitions,    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the system rule comprises a representation in natural language where the representation does not require specific knowledge of the form of the contextual hierarchical information definitions or require use of a special query or procedural language in the representation or require use of a special structure of the representation.