Interactive networking systems with user classes
First Claim
1. An enhanced networking system comprising:
- one or more processors; and
at least one memory in communication with the one or more processors and storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the system to;
provide a plurality of user accounts, the plurality of user accounts including a first user account associated with a first user;
associate a first credit account with the first user account;
responsive to detecting that a balance of the first credit account is at or below a predetermined threshold, automatically apply a sponsored status to the first user account;
provide a plurality of featured user accounts; and
responsive to receiving a request for the first user to participate in an activity with one or more of the featured user accounts, automatically debit a second credit account associated with a second user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A networking system may comprise a web site incorporating a combination of one or more of the following: a crediting system, a chat bidding system, a performance bidding system, a telephony switching system, a media interaction system, a display system, a photo management system, and a messaging system. The networking system may categorize each user of the web site into classes, including a featured class, a common class, a sponsored class, and a sponsoring class. The networking system may facilitate user interactions, some of which may be partially dependent on user classes. A featured user may opt to temporarily appear as a common user, thus activating an alternative user profile and hiding his featured status. A sponsored user may participate in interactions on the web site if a sponsoring user offers his credits to pay for the sponsored member'"'"'s participation. Other aspects of the networking system are also disclosed herein.
76 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An enhanced networking system comprising:
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one or more processors; and at least one memory in communication with the one or more processors and storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the system to; provide a plurality of user accounts, the plurality of user accounts including a first user account associated with a first user; associate a first credit account with the first user account; responsive to detecting that a balance of the first credit account is at or below a predetermined threshold, automatically apply a sponsored status to the first user account; provide a plurality of featured user accounts; and responsive to receiving a request for the first user to participate in an activity with one or more of the featured user accounts, automatically debit a second credit account associated with a second user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-enabled method comprising:
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providing a plurality of user accounts, each of the plurality of user accounts associated with a user and a credit account; receiving, from a first user associated with a first user account, (i) an indication of a preference to be a sponsor and (ii) first user sponsorship criteria; receiving, from a second user associated with a second user account, and indication of a preference to be sponsored; and responsive to (i) receiving a request for a second user to participate in an activity with a featured user account, and (ii) determining that the second user and the activity with the featured user account meet the first user sponsorship criteria, automatically debiting a first credit account associated with the first user account to pay for the second user to participate in the activity with the featured user account. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A computer-enabled method comprising:
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providing a plurality of user accounts, each of the plurality of user accounts associated with a user and a credit account; receiving, from a first user associated with a first user account, an indication of a preference to be a sponsor; receiving, from a second user associated with a second user account, and indication of a preference to be sponsored; receiving, from the first user, a sponsorship offer to sponsor the second user; responsive to receiving, from the second user, (i) an indication of an acceptance of the sponsorship offer and (ii) a request for the second user to participate in an activity with a featured user account, automatically debiting a credit account associated with the first user account.
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Specification