SOCIAL NETWORK SEARCH

• US 20110191371A1
• Filed: 02/01/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Elliott, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,748,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Social network search techniques are described. In an implementation, one or more search criteria are stored that are usable to search for users of a social network service. Responsive to a new user joining the social network service, a search of data associated with the new user is performed using the stored one or more search criteria to determine whether the one or more search criteria are met by the new user.

Claims

1. A method implemented by at least one computing device, the method comprising:

storing one or more search criteria usable to search for users of a social network service; and

responsive to a new user joining the social network service, performing a search of data associated with the new user using the stored one or more search criteria to determine whether the one or more search criteria are met by the new user.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising searching for the users of the social network service that meet the one or more search criteria responsive to receipt of the one or more search criteria entered through interaction with a user interface, the search performed using data that corresponds to users that have joined the social network service before the receipt of the one or more search criteria.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the searching is performed using data that is associated with users that have joined the social network service before the receipt of the one or more search criteria.

4. A method of claim 2, wherein the searching is performed responsive to receipt of the one or more search criteria entered through interaction with a user interface.

5. A method of claim 2, wherein the user interface is provided via a browser.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising responsive to a determination that the one or more search criteria are met by the new user, providing an option to notify a user that provided the one or more search criteria of the determination.

7. A method of claim 6, further comprising responsive to receipt of a selection of the option to notify the user, forming a communication to be communicated to the user that provided the one or more search criteria that describes the determination.

8. A method of claim 7, wherein the communication includes an option to add the new user as a friend.

9. A method of claim 6, wherein the option includes profile information of the user that provided the one or more search criteria.

10. A method of claim 9, wherein the profile information includes at least one item of data that is not generally accessible by other users of the social network service that have not been specified as friends of the user.

11. A method implemented by at least one computing device, the method comprising:

determining that one or more search criteria that are provided by a first user are met by a second user of a social network service; and

responsive to the determination that the one or more search criteria are met by the second user, providing an option to the second user to notify the first user of the determination.

12. A method of claim 11, wherein the option includes profile information of the user that provided the one or more search criteria.

13. A method of claim 12, wherein the profile information includes at least one item of data that is not generally accessible by other users of the social network service that have not been specified as friends of the first user.

14. A method of claim 11, further comprising responsive to selection of the option to notify the first user of the determination, forming a communication to be communicated to the first user.

15. A method of claim 14, wherein the communication includes a confirmation to add the second user as a friend of the first user.

16. One or more computer-readable media comprising instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution on a computing device, causes the computing device to:

cause a first search to be performed for one or more users of a social network service that correspond to one or more search criteria;

cause the one or more search criteria to be stored; and

cause a second search to be performed;

using the stored one or more search criteria;

subsequent to the first search; and

automatically and without user invention in response to at least one other user being added to the social network service.

17. One or more computer-readable media of claim 16, wherein the first search is performed using data that was entered by the one or more users to describe themselves.

18. One or more computer-readable media of claim 16, wherein the first search is performed using profile data that was entered by the one or more users.

19. One or more computer-readable media of claim 16, responsive to a determination that the one or more search criteria are met by a second user in the second search, providing an option to the second user to notify the first user of the determination.

20. One or more computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein:

the option includes profile information of the user that provided the one or more search criteria; and

the profile information includes at least one item of data that is not generally accessible by other users of the social network service that have not been specified as friends of the first user.