SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING CONNECTIONS IN AN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORK
First Claim
1. A computer system for managing connection between registered users of an online social network, comprising:
- a server computer; and
a database of registered users that stores for each registered user, a user ID of the registered user and a set of user IDs of registered users who are directly connected to the registered user, wherein the server computer has a programmable setting for a maximum degree of separation (Nmax) of at least two, wherein two registered users who are directly connected are deemed to be separated by one degree of separation, and two registered users who are connected through N, but no less than N, other registered users are deemed to be separated by N 1 degrees of separation, and wherein the server computer is programmed to search for a connection between a first registered user and a second registered user through one or more other registered users by searching for the user ID of the second registered user in the sets of user IDs that are stored for registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the first registered user, and not in the sets of user IDs that are stored for registered users who are greater than or equal to Nmax degrees of separation away from the first registered user, such that the connection between the first registered user and the second registered user who are separated by more than Nmax degrees of separation cannot not be found.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An online social network collects descriptive data about various individuals and allows those individuals to indicate other individuals with whom they have a personal relationship. The descriptive data and the relationship data are integrated and processed to reveal the series of social relationships connecting any two individuals within a social network. A maximum degree of separation setting is provided and set to at least two. The maximum degree of separation setting limits the amount of searching that is carried out when searching for a connection between two individuals in the social network.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A computer system for managing connection between registered users of an online social network, comprising:
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a server computer; and
a database of registered users that stores for each registered user, a user ID of the registered user and a set of user IDs of registered users who are directly connected to the registered user, wherein the server computer has a programmable setting for a maximum degree of separation (Nmax) of at least two, wherein two registered users who are directly connected are deemed to be separated by one degree of separation, and two registered users who are connected through N, but no less than N, other registered users are deemed to be separated by N 1 degrees of separation, and wherein the server computer is programmed to search for a connection between a first registered user and a second registered user through one or more other registered users by searching for the user ID of the second registered user in the sets of user IDs that are stored for registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the first registered user, and not in the sets of user IDs that are stored for registered users who are greater than or equal to Nmax degrees of separation away from the first registered user, such that the connection between the first registered user and the second registered user who are separated by more than Nmax degrees of separation cannot not be found.
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2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the server computer is programmed to retrieve and transmit a profile of the second registered user to the first registered user for display.
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3. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the server computer is programmed to store a connection path between the first registered user and the second registered user who is found, the connection path indicating the one or more other registered users through whom the connection between the first registered user and the second registered user is made, and to transmit the connection path between the first registered user and the second registered user to the first registered user for display.
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4. The computer system according to claim 3, wherein the connection path transmitted for display includes a hyperlink for each of the one or more other registered users through whom the connection between the first registered user and the second registered user is made.
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5. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the maximum degree of separation is four.
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6. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the database further stores for each registered user, e-mail addresses of individuals who are not registered users and identified by the registered user as friends.
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7. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the server computer is programmed to:
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send out an invitation to become a registered user to friends of a registered user;
receive an acceptance from a friend to whom said invitation was sent; and
add said friend to the database and store for said friend, a user ID and a set of user IDs of registered users who are directly connected to said friend, the set of user IDs stored for said friend including at least the user ID of said registered user.
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8. The computer system according to claim 7, wherein the server computer is programmed to send out said invitation by electronic mail.
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9. The computer system according to claim 7, wherein the server computer is programmed to resend said invitation a number of times until said acceptance is received.
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10. The computer system according to claim 7, wherein the server computer is programmed to notify said registered user that said invitation to said friend has been accepted when said acceptance is received.
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11. The computer system according to claim 7, wherein the server computer is programmed to receive inputs from said friend and store said inputs in the database, wherein said inputs include descriptive data about said friend.
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12. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the server computer is programmed to:
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transmit brief profiles of registered users, including a brief profile of the second registered user, to the first registered user for display, each of the brief profiles including a hyperlink to a corresponding full profile; and
transmit the full profile of the second registered user to the first registered user for display upon receiving the hyperlink selection for the full profile of the second registered user.
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13. The computer system according to claim 12, wherein brief profiles of those registered users who are more than Nmax degrees of separation away from the first registered user are not transmitted to the first registered user for display.
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14. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the server computer is programmed to permit upload of content relating to the second registered user by the first registered user based on the degree of separation between the first registered user and the second registered user.
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15. The computer system according to claim 14, wherein the server computer is programmed to permit said upload of content if the degree of separation between the first registered user and the second registered user is less than or equal to a degree of separation parameter set by the second registered user.
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16. In a computer system including a server computer and a database of registered users that stores for each registered user, a user ID of the registered user and a set of user IDs of registered users who are directly connected to the registered user, a method for connecting a first registered user to a second registered user through one or more other registered users, the method comprising the steps of:
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setting a maximum degree of separation (Nmax) of at least two that is allowed for connecting any two registered users, wherein two registered users who are directly connected are deemed to be separated by one degree of separation, and two registered users who are connected through N, but no less than N, other registered users are deemed to be separated by N 1 degrees of separation;
searching for the user ID of the second registered user in the sets of user IDs that are stored for registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the first registered user, and not in the sets of user IDs that are stored for registered users who are greater than or equal to Nmax degrees of separation away from the first registered user, until the user ID of the second registered user is found in one of the searched sets; and
connecting the first registered user to the second registered user if the user ID of the second registered user is found in one of the searched sets, wherein the method limits the searching of the second registered user in the sets of user IDs that are stored for registered users who are less than Nmax degrees of separation away from the first registered user, such that the first registered user and the second registered user who are separated by more than Nmax degrees of separation are not found and connected.
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17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of searching is first carried out in the sets of user IDs that are stored for registered users who are directly connected to the first registered user.
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18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of transmitting a profile of the second registered user to the first registered user for display.
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19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:
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storing a connection path between the first registered user and the second registered user, the connection path indicating the one or more other registered users through whom the connection between the first registered user and the second registered user is made; and
transmitting the connection path between the first registered user and the second registered user to the first registered user for display.
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20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the connection path transmitted for display includes a hyperlink for each of the one or more other registered users through whom the connection between the first registered user and the second registered user is made.
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21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the maximum degree of separation is set by an operator of the computer system.
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22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the maximum degree of separation is set as four.
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23. The method according to claim 16, wherein the database further stores for each registered user, e-mail addresses of individuals who are not registered users and identified by the registered user as friends.
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24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of:
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sending out an invitation to become a registered user to friends of a registered user;
receiving an acceptance from a friend to whom said invitation was sent; and
adding said friend to the database and storing for said friend, a user ID and a set of user IDs of registered users who are directly connected to said friend, the set of user IDs stored for said friend including at least the user ID of said registered user.
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25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said invitation is sent out by electronic mail.
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26. The method according to claim 24, wherein said invitation is resent a number of times prior to the step of receiving.
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27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of notifying said registered user that said invitation to said friend has been accepted when said acceptance is received.
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28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of receiving inputs from said friend and storing said inputs in the database, wherein said inputs include descriptive data about said friend.
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29. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:
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prior to the step of connecting, transmitting brief profiles of registered users, including a brief profile of the second registered user, to the first registered user for display, each of the brief profiles including a hyperlink to a corresponding full profile; and
receiving a hyperlink selection from the first registered user, wherein, upon receiving the hyperlink selection for the full profile of the second registered user, the full profile of the second registered user is transmitted to the first registered user for display.
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30. The method according to claim 29, wherein brief profiles of those registered users who are more than Nmax degrees of separation away from the first registered user are not transmitted to the first registered user for display.
Specification