Social Network Site Including Invitation Functionality

• US 20090070852A1
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Truong, Vu Hao Thi, Aldrich, William Clement, Chijiiwa, Ryo
• Granted Patent: US 9,177,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A social network site with enhanced user interaction functionality. In one implementation, a method includes receiving an invite request from an inviting user, wherein the invite request comprises identifying information associated with an invited user; generating a new account for the invited user; allowing the inviting user to create and customize a proposed personal page for the invited user; transmitting to the invited user an invitation and a link to the proposed personal page; and conditionally receiving a response from the invited user, wherein the response indicates if the invited user has accepted the personal page.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an invite request from an inviting user, wherein the invite request comprises identifying information associated with an invited user;

generating a new account for the invited user;

allowing the inviting user to create and customize a proposed personal page for the invited user;

transmitting to the invited user an invitation and a link to the proposed personal page; and

conditionally receiving a response from the invited user, wherein the response indicates if the invited user has accepted the personal page.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising modifying the proposed personal page in response to requests from users associated with the inviting user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the modifying comprises changing user profile information of the invited user.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the modifying comprises adding modules to the proposed personal page.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising modifying the proposed personal page in response to requests from other users associated with the inviting user, wherein the other users are contacts of the inviting user.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising modifying the proposed personal page in response to requests from other users associated with the inviting user, wherein the other users are trusted contacts of the inviting user.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing users associated with the inviting user to modify the proposed personal page before the invited user claims the personal page.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a revision history that allows the invited user to selectively accept or reject modification of the proposed personal page.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a revision history that allows the invited user to selectively drop changes to the personal page made by various users.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising overriding default permission requirements in order to allow the invited user to view the proposed personal page even if the invited user does not currently have a user account with the social network site.

11. An apparatus comprising

a memory;

one or more processors;

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to cause the one or more processors to;

receive an invite request from an inviting user, wherein the invite request comprises identifying information associated with an invited user;

generate a new account for the invited user;

allow the inviting user to create and customize a proposed personal page for the invited user;

transmit to the invited user an invitation and a link to the proposed personal page; and

conditionally receive a response from the invited user, wherein the response indicates if the invited user has accepted the personal page.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the logic is further operable to cause the one or more processors to modify the proposed personal page in response to requests from users associated with the inviting user.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein modifications comprise changing user profile information of the invited user.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein modifications comprise adding modules to the proposed personal page.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the logic is further operable to cause the one or more processors to modify the proposed personal page in response to requests from other users associated with the inviting user, wherein the other users are contacts of the inviting user.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the logic is further operable to cause the one or more processors to modify the proposed personal page in response to requests from other users associated with the inviting user, wherein the other users are trusted contacts of the inviting user.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the logic is further operable to cause the one or more processors to allow users associated with the inviting user to modify the proposed personal page before the invited user claims the personal page.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the logic is further operable to cause the one or more processors to provide a revision history that allows the invited user to selectively accept or reject modification of the proposed personal page.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the logic is further operable to cause the one or more processors to provide a revision history that allows the invited user to selectively drop changes to the personal page made by various users.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the logic is further operable to cause the one or more processors to override default permission requirements in order to allow the invited user to view the proposed personal page even if the invited user does not currently have a user account with the social network site.