System and method for confirming an association in a web-based social network

• US 20080235353A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Putnam, Chris, Cheever, Charlie, Agarwal, Aditya, Trahan, Bob, Callahan, Ezra
• Granted Patent: US 7,827,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

A method for confirming a request for an association with an organization by a user of a web-based social network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the request includes an e-mail address not controlled by the organization. The request may also be part of an application for membership with the web-based social network. A determination is made whether the request is accepted based at least partially on a specified number of prior requests for association with the organization or being identified as a member of the organization by another user already a member of the organization. The organization may be a high school, a college, a university, a business, a non-profit company, or any other group of people who may desire to associate with each other.

Claims

1. A method for confirming an association with an organization in a social network comprising:

receiving a request for the association, the request providing an e-mail address not associated with the organization;

determining whether to grant the request based at least in part on a grant request condition being met; and

sending a communication indicating the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the grant request condition is that the request is part of a first specific number of requests.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the organization is a high school.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the grant request condition is that positive identification that the requester is a member of the organization is received from a user of the social network who is already associated with the organization.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending a communication to the user prior to determining whether to grant the request, the communication requesting feedback as to whether or not the requestor is a member of the organization.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determination is further based on whether a response is received from the user within a specified time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the grant request condition is that the requestor has received an invitation from a user of the social network associated with the organization to join the organization.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the grant condition is whether the organization has controlled e-mail addresses.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the request is denied if the organization does have a controlled e-mail address.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the grant condition is whether the request is received from a pre-confirmed device which is controlled by the organization.

11. A method for confirming an association with an organization in a social network comprising:

receiving a request for the association;

determining whether to grant the request based at least in part on receiving positive identification that the requester is a member of the organization from a user of the social network already associated with the organization; and

sending a communication indicating the determination.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the request contains an e-mail address that is not a controlled e-mail address of the organization.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the organization is a high school.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending a communication to the user prior to determining whether to grant the request, the communication requesting feedback as to whether or not the requester is a member of the organization.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the determination is further based on whether a response is received from the user within a specified time.

16. A system for confirming an association with an organization in a social network comprising:

an organization database configured to store information about organizations and e-mail addresses controlled by the organizations;

a social network database configured to store information about a user and a user'"'"'s association with an organization;

an association module configured to determine whether to grant a requestor'"'"'s request for the association, where granting the request is based at least in part on receiving positive identification that the requestor is a member of the organization from the user who is already associated with the organization; and

a communication module configured to receive the request for the association with the organization and to send a communication indicating the determination.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a community module configured to permit the user associated with the organization to confirm that the requester is a member of an organization, and to approve or to deny requests for association.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication module is further configured to send a communication to the user prior to determining whether to grant the request, the communication requesting feedback as to whether or not the requestor is a member of the organization.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication module is further configured to receive feedback from the user associated with the organization as to whether or not the requestor is a member of the organization.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the determination is further based on whether positive identification is received from the user within a specified time.