Metadata for searching within first degree contacts

• US 20080147722A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dolin, Robert M., Torres, Michael I., Singhal, Nikhil, Seidman, Eytan
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/103R
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

Searches can be performed within a social network by attaching social contact metadata to data. A webpage or other data that is indexed may have metadata that includes an owner'"'"'s first degree contacts. Searches can then be executed within the first degree contacts to return data within a social network, and the searches may be performed by generalized search engines. The metadata may include contact identifiers that are unique across one or more social networks, and may include contacts for individual people as well as groups or other affiliations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

defining a plurality of users, each of said plurality of users having a unique user identification;

associating content with each of said users;

defining relationships between said users, said relationships comprising first degree relationships; and

presenting said content with metadata, said metadata comprising said unique user identification associated with said users defined by said first degree relationships.

2. The method of claim 1, said relationships further comprising second degree relationships and said metadata further comprising said unique user identification associated with said users defined by said second degree relationships.

3. The method of claim 1, said relationships comprising a two-way relationship.

4. The method of claim 1, said relationships comprising a one-way relationship.

5. The method of claim 1, said relationships comprising a membership in a group.

6. The method of claim 1, said content comprising text.

7. The method of claim 1, said content comprising weblog entries.

8. The method of claim 1, said content being presented using HTTP.

9. The method of claim 1, said relationships being defined in a database.

10. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions adapted to perform the method of claim 1.

11. A system comprising:

a database comprising relationships between users, each of said users having a unique user identification, said relationships comprising at least first degree relationships between said users; and

a content delivery system adapted to present content having metadata, said content being associated with a first user, said metadata comprising said unique user identification for those users with which said first user has said first degree relationships.

12. The system of claim 11, said relationships further comprising second degree relationships and said metadata further comprising said unique user identification associated with said users defined by said second degree relationships.

13. The system of claim 11, said relationships comprising a two-way relationship.

14. The system of claim 11, said relationships comprising a one-way relationship.

15. The system of claim 11, said relationships comprising a membership in a group.

16. The system of claim 11, said content comprising text.

17. The system of claim 11, said content comprising weblog entries.

18. The system of claim 11, said content being presented using HTTP.

19. A method comprising:

presenting content on a network, said content having an owner and being presented using HTTP;

determining a relationship between said owner and at least one contact, said relationship comprising a first degree relationship; and

presenting metadata with said content, said metadata comprising a unique identification for each of said at least one contact.

20. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions adapted to perform the method of claim 19.