METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING A NETWORKING DATABASE AND SYSTEM PROACTIVELY

• US 20120023563A1
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten USA, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Buy.com, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morgenstern, Jared, LIM, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method for creating networking database containing a plurality of records for different individuals in which individuals are connected to one another in the database by mutual recognition of a relationship. This mutual recognition of a relationship is inferred by the possession of the Guest Key of one member by the other member. This paradigm for network expansion allows users to proactively grow their networks both using the site features and using tools they may be more familiar with, such as email, messaging, talking, etc.

Claims

1. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon executable by the machine, the instructions comprising:

using a computer to record a guest key created by a content originator on a social network;

storing originated content with the social network, the originated content including content that is provided by the content owner;

receiving the guest key from a social network user who is not the content originator;

allowing the social network user to access the originated content provided that one or more permissioning criteria are met, the permissioning criteria including;

that the guest key entered is the correct guest key for access to the originated content;

or

the social network user has a preexisting relationship established in the social network with the content owner;

wherein,

the content owner disseminates the guest key to at least one social network user independent of the social network;

when each social network user inputs the correct guest key to access the content originator'"'"'s originated content, a relationship between each social network user and the content owner is established with the social network;

the originated content may be accessed by each social network user who inputs the correct guest key; and

wherein the guest key is independent of a password required for the content originator to login to the content originator'"'"'s account with the social network.

2. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon executable by the machine, the instructions comprising:

using a computer to record a guest key created by a content owner on a social network;

storing permissioned content with the social network, the permissioned content including content that is provided by the content owner;

receiving the guest key from a social network user who is not the content owner;

allowing the social network user to access the permissioned content provided that one or more permissioning criteria are met, the permissioning criteria including;

that the guest key entered is the correct guest key for access to the permissioned content;

or

the social network user has a preexisting relationship established in the social network with the content owner;

wherein,

the content owner disseminates the guest key to at least one social network user independent of the social network;

when each social network user inputs the correct guest key to access the content owner'"'"'s permissioned content, a relationship between each social network user and the content owner is established with the social network;

the permissioned content may be accessed by each social network user who inputs the correct guest key; and

wherein the guest key is independent of a password required for the content owner to login to the content owner'"'"'s account with the social network.

3. A method of constructing an affinity network database proactively comprising:

recording a guest key created by a user;

providing a viewer with the guest key by a sharing action performed by the user;

receiving a request from the viewer to access to the user'"'"'s content, wherein the user is a member of the affinity network;

determining whether the viewer is permitted access to content associated with the user by determining if the viewer is a member of an authorized affinity group associated with the user, or alternatively determining if the viewer has provided the guest key if the viewer is not a member of the affinity network; and

providing the viewer with access to content input by the user if a determination is made that the viewer is permitted access to the content.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the recording the user-selected guest key includes providing a new-user sign-up form to the user upon registration in the affinity network, the form including an option for the user to specify a guest key.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein recording the user-selected guest key includes providing a guest key form in which the user enters a new user-specific guest key, the guest key form usable for changing the guest key from a first user-specific guest key to a new user-specific guest key.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising assigning the viewer to a group.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising establishing a relationship between the viewer and the user.

8. A method of constructing an affinity network database comprising:

registering a first user via a registration process;

providing a guest key selection form by which the first user can specify a user-specific and user-specified guest key during the registration process, wherein the guest key is usable by other persons to access content of the first user;

receiving a request from a viewer to access content associated with the first user;

determining that the viewer is not a member of an authorized group associated with the first user and determining whether the viewer has provided the user-specific guest key; and

displaying the content associated with the first user if it is determined that the viewer has provided the user-specific guest key.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising establishing an affinity relationship between the first user and the viewer.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising assigning the viewer to a group associated with the first user.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising creating an affinity network of friends of the first user based on the guest key.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring the network of friends.

13. A system of constructing an affinity network database proactively comprising:

a registering module that registers a first user via a registration process;

a selecting module that provides an option to the first user to designate or input a guest key associated with the first user during the registration process, wherein the guest key is used by other persons to access content of the first user;

a receiving module that receives a request from the second user to access to the first user'"'"'s content;

an access determining module that determines whether the second user is permitted access to the first user'"'"'s content; and

a data module that stores the first user'"'"'s content, access to the data module being provided to the second user if a determination is made that the second user is permitted access to the content.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an enabling module that enables the second user to preview the first user'"'"'s content.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising an establishing module that establishes an affinity relationship between the first user and the second user.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising a group determining module that determines if the second user is a member of a group permitted access to the first user'"'"'s content.