U.S. Patent 7,987,173 Covers Spider Detection and Alerts to People When They Are "Googled"
NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2011 — Vizibility Inc. (http://www.vizibility.com) today announces that it has been awarded patent 7,987,173 by the United States Patent & Trademark Office. The patent, entitled "Systems and Methods for Handling Internet Spiders," covers the company's spider detection technology called SpiderTrap™ as well as alerts to people when their Vizibility SearchMe™ button, link or QR code is clicked or scanned.
The Vizibility service enables users to easily curate and share their online identities in one click to make a killer first impression. In addition to creating custom Google search results, Vizibility users can also curate their other online profiles and bio pages. Users can then share their curated online identities by putting their Vizibility SearchMe button, link, and QR code on online profiles, in email signatures, on business cards and resumes, and anywhere else they need to be visible. When these links, buttons, and QR codes are scanned, Vizibility users are notified by text message or email that they've been searched.
"After launching the service last year, we learned quickly that people only want to be notified when another person clicks their SearchMe button or scans their QR code, not a spider," said James Alexander, founder and CEO of Vizibility (http://vizibility.com/james). "Spiders, bots, and web crawlers are very useful for improving the search engine optimization for our users, but their relentless crawling of SearchMe links, buttons and now QR codes demanded a fresh approach. In fact, as much as 80% of clicks on SearchMe buttons, links and QR codes are from spiders, bots and web crawlers. Distinguishing between human and machine generated requests is a serious problem that any company seeking to offer similar functionality will have to address. SpiderTrap gave us a powerful solution and now it's patented."
Vizibility's innovative, one-click link to peoples' online identities renders traditional methods of spider detection ineffective. By leveraging thousands – and eventually millions – of SearchMe buttons, links, and QR codes on the Internet, SpiderTrap is able to identify request patterns across them which are indicative of machine-generated requests. While Vizibility always serves the request, it only notifies users when the request is made by a person.
Individuals can get Vizibility for free on the company's web site or through its growing network of dozens of partners, including 6FigureJobs, AccountingJobsToday, BlueSteps, BragFolio, Career Rocketeer, MyLegal, William Arruda's Reach360, RealMatch, RegisteredResume, Sales Gravy, Search Entrepreneurs, YouTern, videoBIO, and many other professional networking and career service websites. In some cases, Vizibility's premium services are included for no additional charge in the paid offerings of partners. All partners and their users have access to Vizibility's innovative technology and intellectual property.
This is the company's second patent in its growing portfolio of intellectual property which is focused in the area of online identity and reputation management. Novak Druce + Quigg LLP serves as Vizibility's strategic IP counsel.
About Vizibility Inc.
Vizibility Inc. (http://www.vizibility.com) was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Manhattan, NY. Vizibility® delivers the world's first SearchMe™ button for Google, which instantly returns the right results in one click. Vizibility pioneered PreSearch™, a proactive strategy where businesses and individuals pre-select the information they want displayed in search results. The company's SearchMe buttons, links and QR codes can be shared easily and placed anywhere. The popular service is being integrated into professional and personal social networking sites where it adds innovative functionality and creates new revenue streams. Vizibility, Vizibility Meter, PreSearch, SearchMe and SpiderTrap are trademarks of Vizibility Inc. U.S. Patents 7,831,609 and 7,987,173. Other patents pending. Find us in Google at http://vizibility.com/news.
Media Contact:
Adrian Maynard
Vizibility Inc.
(212) 380-3400 x120
Email
Find me in Google at http://vizibility.com/adrian
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