EVENT BASED SOCIAL NETWORKING

• US 20130212199A1
• Filed: 02/11/2013
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lane A. Ekberg
• Original Assignee: Lane A. Ekberg
• Inventors: Ekberg, Lane A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,596,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for facilitating networked communication. An event creation module is configured to create an event profile within a social networking service. A check in module is configured to associate a plurality of user profiles of the social networking service with the event profile. A message interface module is configured to provide a message interface in response to determining that a user profile of a first user of the social networking service and a user profile of a second user of the social networking service are associated with the event profile. The message interface is operable by the first user to send a private message to the second user.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating networked communication, the method comprising:

creating an event profile within a social networking service;

associating a plurality of user profiles of the social networking service with the event profile; and

providing a message interface in response to determining that a user profile of a first user of the social networking service and a user profile of a second user of the social networking service are associated with the event profile, the message interface operable by the first user to send a private message to the second user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a plurality of filter categories associated with the event profile to categorize each user profile of the plurality of user profiles, the plurality of filter categories comprising one or more of a business category, a dating category, and a friendship category.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of filter categories further comprises a promotional category definable by an administrator for promoting one or more of a business, a location, a good, and a service associated with the event profile.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying information about the event profile, the displayed information comprising one or more links to one or more user profiles of the plurality of user profiles.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising using a plurality of filter categories associated with the event profile to categorize the one or more links.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein associating a plurality of user profiles with the event profile comprises determining that a location for at least one user profile satisfies one or more location criteria for the event profile.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the private message comprises one or more of an email message, a chat message, a video message, and an audio message.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a storefront interface associated with the event profile.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a classified marketplace interface associated with the event profile.

10. An apparatus for facilitating networked communication, the apparatus comprising:

an event creation module configured to create an event profile within a social networking service;

a check in module configured to associate a plurality of user profiles of the social networking service with the event profile; and

a message interface module configured to provide a message interface in response to determining that a user profile of a first user of the social networking service and a user profile of a second user of the social networking service are associated with the event profile, the message interface operable by the first user to send a private message to the second user;

wherein the event creation module, the check in module, and the message interface module comprise one or more of logic hardware and executable code, the executable code stored on a computer readable storage medium.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a filter category module configured to use a plurality of filter categories associated with the event profile to categorize each user profile of the plurality of user profiles, the plurality of filter categories comprising one or more of a business category, a dating category, and a friendship category.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an event map module configured to display a map comprising a link to the event profile, the link positioned at a location on the map corresponding to a location for the event profile.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the message interface comprises a message filter operable by the second user to block one or more messages from the first user.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a user profile information module configured to display information about one user profile, the information comprising one or more of a link to a viewed user profile and a link to a viewer user profile.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a physical attendee module configured to categorize at least one user profile of the plurality of user profiles as a physical attendee for the event profile, in response to determining that a location for the at least one user profile satisfies one or more location criteria for the event profile.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a related event module configured to display information about the event profile, the displayed information comprising one or more links to one or more related event profiles

17. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an event feedback module configured to display information about the event profile, the displayed information comprising user feedback about the event profile.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an advertisement module configured to display information about the event profile with advertisements.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium storing computer usable program code executable to perform operations for facilitating networked communication, the operations comprising:

creating an event profile within a social networking service;

associating a plurality of user profiles of the social networking service with the event profile; and

providing a message interface in response to determining that a user profile of a first user of the social networking service and a user profile of a second user of the social networking service are associated with the event profile, the message interface operable by the first user to send a private message to the second user.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise using a plurality of filter categories associated with the event profile to categorize each user profile of the plurality of user profiles, the plurality of filter categories comprising one or more of a business category, a dating category, and a friendship category.