SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system, comprisinga server system that provides functionality for users to register with a service, and to selectively establish contact relationships with other registered users of the service such that each registered user can have one or more contacts, the server system additionally providing functionality for the registered users to supply and update personal data for viewing by their respective contacts;
- a computer data repository maintained by the server system, said computer data repository storing said personal data supplied by the registered users, and storing relationship data that specifies said contact relationships established between the registered users; and
an application program that executes on the server system, said application program operative to cause the server system to use the relationship data to generate, for a first registered user, a list of contacts of the first registered user, and to make said list available to the first registered user such that the first registered user can select a contact from said list to view at least some of the personal data of the selected contact.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A networked computer system provides various services for assisting users in locating, and establishing contact relationships with, other users. For example, in one embodiment, users can identify other users based on their affiliations with particular schools or other organizations. The system also provides a mechanism for a user to selectively establish contact relationships or connections with other users, and to grant permissions for such other users to view personal information of the user. The system may also include features for enabling users to identify contacts of their respective contacts. In addition, the system may automatically notify users of personal information updates made by their respective contacts.
40 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A system, comprising
a server system that provides functionality for users to register with a service, and to selectively establish contact relationships with other registered users of the service such that each registered user can have one or more contacts, the server system additionally providing functionality for the registered users to supply and update personal data for viewing by their respective contacts; -
a computer data repository maintained by the server system, said computer data repository storing said personal data supplied by the registered users, and storing relationship data that specifies said contact relationships established between the registered users; and an application program that executes on the server system, said application program operative to cause the server system to use the relationship data to generate, for a first registered user, a list of contacts of the first registered user, and to make said list available to the first registered user such that the first registered user can select a contact from said list to view at least some of the personal data of the selected contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification