Abstract: Improving data retrieval by a computer, the data stored exclusively in the computer as a structure comprising a plurality of nodes connected by edges, wherein the edges indicate relationships among the plurality of nodes, and wherein the structure further comprise properties which store information that relate to the plurality of nodes. Metadata is stored as part of the structure, the metadata defining rules for updating the relationships among the plurality of nodes. A command is received to update at least one of the nodes, the edges, or the properties. The at least one of the nodes, the edges, or the properties, are updated according to the rules defined by the metadata.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for influencing a potential customer to purchase an item. The item for targeted marketing is identified. The potential customer in a social network for the item is identified. An influencer that has an influence on the potential customer with respect to the item is identified using a hypergraph comprising objects representing people in the social network; edges connecting the object nodes for the people based on relationships between the people; and influence edges representing opinion influences on opinions about items, wherein the influence edges connect the edges to identify opinion influences between the people. An incentive directed to the influencer to influence the potential customer to purchase the item is generated. A display of the incentive in an application running on the client device for the influencer is initiated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing a graph database having nodes and relationships describing an organization. An interface in a computer system receives a request from a client to access information about the organization. Further, the interface in the computer system retrieves the information from the graph database having nodes and relationships describing the organization. Still further, the interface in the computer system sends a portion of the information to the client based on how much of the information is displayable by the client.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing reviews. A request for information about an item is received from a client device. A group of the reviews for the item in the request from the reviews for items is identified. A user requesting the information about the item is identified. A set of the reviews in the group of the reviews made by a set of people having an influence on the user is identified using a hypergraph. A visibility of the set of the reviews is increased. The group of the reviews with an increased visibility for the set of the reviews is sent in a response to the request, enabling displaying the group of the reviews on a display system for the client device such that the set of the reviews is more visible than other reviews in the group of the reviews.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adding information to a graph database. A computer system receives initial records from a legacy database. The computer system converts the initial records from a source format for the legacy database into nodes and relationships for the graph database. The computer system also stores the nodes and the relationships in the graph database. The graph database stores the information about employees in an organization. Further, the computer system receives a group of records after the initial records have been converted into the nodes and the relationships for the graph database. Still further, the computer system changes at least one of a group of nodes or a group of relationships in the graph database based on the group of records. A synchronization between the legacy database and the graph database occurs.

Abstract: Improving data retrieval by a computer, the data stored exclusively in the computer as a structure comprising a plurality of nodes connected by edges, wherein the edges indicate relationships among the plurality of nodes, and wherein the structure further comprise properties which store information that relate to the plurality of nodes. Metadata is stored as part of the structure, the metadata defining rules for updating the relationships among the plurality of nodes. A command is received to update at least one of the nodes, the edges, or the properties. The at least one of the nodes, the edges, or the properties, are updated according to the rules defined by the metadata.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing a graph database having nodes and relationships describing an organization. An interface in a computer system receives a request from a client to access information about the organization. Further, the interface in the computer system retrieves the information from the graph database having nodes and relationships describing the organization. Still further, the interface in the computer system sends a portion of the information to the client based on how much of the information is displayable by the client.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing reviews. A request for information about an item is received from a client device. A group of the reviews for the item in the request from the reviews for items is identified. A user requesting the information about the item is identified. A set of the reviews in the group of the reviews made by a set of people having an influence on the user is identified using a hypergraph. A visibility of the set of the reviews is increased. The group of the reviews with an increased visibility for the set of the reviews is sent in a response to the request, enabling displaying the group of the reviews on a display system for the client device such that the set of the reviews is more visible than other reviews in the group of the reviews.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for influencing a potential customer to purchase an item. The item for targeted marketing is identified. The potential customer in a social network for the item is identified. An influencer that has an influence on the potential customer with respect to the item is identified using a hypergraph comprising objects representing people in the social network; edges connecting the object nodes for the people based on relationships between the people; and influence edges representing opinion influences on opinions about items, wherein the influence edges connect the edges to identify opinion influences between the people. An incentive directed to the influencer to influence the potential customer to purchase the item is generated. A display of the incentive in an application running on the client device for the influencer is initiated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying skills in an organization. An information management system comprises a hypergraph and a skill analyzer. The hypergraph comprising influence objects; edges, wherein a first portion the edges connect influence objects to objects for people in the organization and a second portion of the edges connect the influence objects to the objects for the skills for the people; and a group of influence edges connecting the first portion of the edges to the second portion of the edges to each other in which the group of influence edges are for a group of influences on the skills present in an organization. The skill analyzer identifies the group of influences on a skill in the skills in the organization using on a group of influence objects in the hypergraph, enabling performing an operation for the organization based on the influences on the skills identified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing a graph database having nodes and relationships describing an organization. An interface in a computer system receives a request from a client to access information about the organization. Further, the interface in the computer system retrieves the information from the graph database having nodes and relationships describing the organization. Still further, the interface in the computer system sends a portion of the information to the client based on how much of the information is displayable by the client.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing a graph database having nodes and relationships describing an organization. An interface in a computer system receives a request from a client to access information about the organization. Further, the interface in the computer system retrieves the information from the graph database having nodes and relationships describing the organization. Still further, the interface in the computer system sends a portion of the information to the client based on how much of the information is displayable by the client.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adding information to a graph database. A computer system receives initial records from a legacy database. The computer system converts the initial records from a source format for the legacy database into nodes and relationships for the graph database. The computer system also stores the nodes and the relationships in the graph database. The graph database stores the information about employees in an organization. Further, the computer system receives a group of records after the initial records have been converted into the nodes and the relationships for the graph database. Still further, the computer system changes at least one of a group of nodes or a group of relationships in the graph database based on the group of records. A synchronization between the legacy database and the graph database occurs.