SYSTEM FOR, AND METHOD OF, MANAGING A SOCIAL NETWORK
First Claim
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1. A method of managing multiple communications between a plurality of users in a social network, comprising the steps of:
- receiving from a first user a request to initiate a communication exchange with a second user in the social network;
tallying a total number of pending unanswered requests by the first user;
verifying the total number of pending unanswered requests is less than a predetermined number; and
displaying to the second user the request to initiate the communication exchange only if the total number of pending unanswered requests by the first user is less than the predetermined number.
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Abstract
A system for, and method of, managing multiple communications between a plurality of users in a social network wherein a first user sends a request to initiate a communication exchange with a second user. The system restricts the maximum number of pending unanswered requests by a user. The system encourages selectivity in solicitation.
129 Citations
77 Claims
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1. A method of managing multiple communications between a plurality of users in a social network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving from a first user a request to initiate a communication exchange with a second user in the social network; tallying a total number of pending unanswered requests by the first user; verifying the total number of pending unanswered requests is less than a predetermined number; and displaying to the second user the request to initiate the communication exchange only if the total number of pending unanswered requests by the first user is less than the predetermined number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of managing multiple communications between a plurality of users in a social network, comprising the steps of:
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storing characteristic data and contact information for each of the plurality of users in the social network, wherein the contact data includes a true physical address, and wherein a portion of the characteristic data or contact information may be selectively hidden from a selected subset of all users in the social network, wherein the selected subset of all users includes at least one other user; receiving criteria data from the first user; and presenting to the first user non-hidden characteristic data for each user in a subset of the plurality of users, wherein the subset of the plurality of users is determined by the criteria data received from the first user, and wherein the second user is selected from the subset of the plurality of users. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A computerized system for managing communications between a plurality of users in a social network, comprising:
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a database that stores at least a unique identifier for each of the plurality of users; and a server computer, wherein the server is programmed to receive from the first user a request to initiate a communication exchange with the second user, and wherein the server is programmed to forward the request to the second user, and wherein the server has a programmable setting for restricting a maximum number of pending unanswered requests by a user, and wherein the server has a programmable setting for canceling the request if the second user does not reply within a predetermined time. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method of generating revenue from a plurality of users in an online social network the improvement comprising the steps of:
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establishing a communication exchange between a first and a second user when the second user accepts a request to initiate the communication exchange by the first user, and charging the first and second user a first fee for each communication exchange. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method of managing multiple communications between a plurality of users in a social network, comprising the steps of:
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a first user selecting a first membership level, wherein a first communication fee is associated with the first membership level; a second user selecting a second membership level, wherein a second communication fee is associated with the second membership level; receiving from the first user a request to initiate a communication exchange with the second user in the social network; and selecting a selected fee, wherein the selected fee is the highest of the first and second communication fees, and wherein the selected fee is set as the cost of a completed communication exchange. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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Specification