SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN A FIRST PARTICIPANT AND A SECOND PARTICIPANT IN A SOCIAL NETWORK

• US 20090254456A1
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Your Net Works Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Your Net Works Incorporated
• Inventors: Sarbaev, Miro, Beregovaya, Olga, Lerner, Alex, Nikulina, Anna
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for associating a first participant and a second participant in a social network. In one embodiment, payment is received from a first participant. Additionally, an association between the first participant and a second participant in a social network is provided, in exchange for the payment.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving payment from a first participant; and

providing an association between the first participant and a second participant in a social network, in exchange for the payment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the association between the first participant and the second participant includes adding the first participant to a circle of followers associated with the second participant.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the circle of followers includes a set of access rights to content, the content provided by the second participant via the social network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the content includes video.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the content includes music.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the circle of followers is associated with a first level and the set of access rights included in the circle of followers associated with the first level is different from another set of access rights included in another circle of followers associated with the second participant and associated with a second level.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first level is lower than the second level such that the set of access rights included the circle of followers associated with the first level includes fewer access rights than the other set of access rights included in the other circle of followers associated with the second level.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the circle of followers includes a set of opportunities provided to participants in the circle of followers.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the set of opportunities include at least one of promotions, interaction with the second participant, and tools.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the set of opportunities include promotions, interaction with the second person, and tools.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the circle of followers is associated with a first level and the set of opportunities included in the circle of followers associated with the first level is different from another set of opportunities included in another circle of followers associated with the second participant and associated with a second level.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first level is lower than the second level such that the set of opportunities included the circle of followers associated with the first level includes fewer opportunities than the other set of opportunities included in the other circle of followers associated with the second level.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment includes a transfer of money.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment is received utilizing a website representative of the social network.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment is received by a provider of the social network.

16. A method, comprising:

adding a follower;

determining whether a threshold has been reached, based on the addition of the follower; and

presenting additional network use options to a content provider, based on the determination.

17. A method, comprising:

based on an initiative of a participant, joining the participant to a lowest circle of followers associated with a content provider;

allowing the participant to indicate a desire to join a higher circle of followers associated with the content provider;

determining whether an invite has been sent from the content provider to the participant;

determining whether the invite has been accepted by the participant, if the invite has been sent from the content provider to the participant; and

elevating the participant to the higher circle of followers associated with the content provider, if the invite has been accepted by the participant.

18. A social networking system, comprising:

a processor for graphically representing a social hierarchy utilizing a plurality of concentric circles, each concentric circle including followers of a participant.

19. The social networking system of claim 18, wherein the processor is coupled to memory via a bus.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving a request to display content over a network from a participant;

identifying a language preference of the participant;

determining whether the content is available in a first language associated with the language preference of the participant;

if it is determined that the content is available in the first language, displaying the content to the participant in the first language;

if it is determined that the content is not available in the first language, determining whether the content is available in a second language associated with the participant;

if it is determined that the content is available in the second language, displaying the content to the participant in the second language;

if it is determined that the content is not available in the second language, displaying the content to the participant in a default language.