DETERMINING AND MANAGING SOCIAL INTERACTION OPTIONS IN SOCIAL NETWORKING ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20130311900A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ifwe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tagged Incorporated
• Inventors: Schleier-Smith, Johann, Tseng, Greg, Kim, Jared
• Granted Patent: US 11,190,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for determining and managing social interaction options for social connections such as, for example, friendships in a social networking environment. In one embodiment, users of a social network are provided with more granularity in controlling the social interactions associated with individual social connections. The social connections can be a connection between two of more users of a social networking environment.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processing unit;

an interface configured to communicate with a first user via a first client device and a second user via a second client device;

a memory unit having stored thereon instructions that when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to, in response to receiving a request identifying a social connection, determine a first set of social interaction options for the social connection based on one or more pre-set social configuration settings, wherein each social interaction option enables or disables a social interaction associated with the social connection.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is further configured to send the first set of social interaction options to the second client device for electronic presentation to the second user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is further configured to receive a response from the second user indicating which social interaction options, if any, the second user has selected for the social connection with the first user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a new social connection request initiated by the first user.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the new social connection request includes a requested status level to be associated with the social connection.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the new social connection request includes one or more requested social interaction options to be associated with the new social connection.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a request to modify social interaction options associated with an existing social connection.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the processing unit to automatically accept the request on behalf of the second user if configured to do so by the one or more pre-set social configuration settings.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the interface is further configured to:

send a first notification of acceptance to the first client device for electronic presentation to the first user; and

send a second notification of the new social connection to the second client device for electronic presentation to the second user.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the processing unit to determine a plurality of social connection status levels, wherein each status level includes one or more of the first set of social interaction options for the social connection.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the interface is further configured to:

send the status levels to the second client device for electronic presentation to the user; and

receive a response from the second user indicating which status level, if any, the second user has selected for the social connection with the first user.

12. A method comprising:

receiving, by a host server, a request identifying a social connection between a first user and a second user of a plurality of users of a web-based social networking environment;

processing, by the host server, the request to identify the first user and the second user; and

determining, by the host server, a first set of social interaction options for the social connection based on one or more pre-set social configuration settings, wherein each social interaction option enables or disables a social interaction associated with the social connection.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the request comprises a new social connection request initiated by the first user.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sending, by the host server, the first set of social interaction options to a second client device for electronic presentation to the second user; and

receiving, by the host server, a response from the second user indicating which social interaction options, if any, the second user has selected for the social connection with the first user.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the new social connection request includes a requested status level to be associated with the social connection.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the new social connection request includes one or more requested social interaction options to be associated with the new social connection.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

automatically accepting, by the host server, the request on behalf of the second user if configured to do so by the one or more pre-set social configuration settings.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

sending a first notification of acceptance to a first client device for electronic presentation to the first user; and

sending a second notification of the new connection to a second client device for electronic presentation to the second user.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the request comprises a request to modify social interaction options associated with an existing social connection.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating, by the host server, a plurality of social connection status levels, wherein each status level includes one or more of the first set of social interaction options for the social connection;

sending, by the host server, the status levels to the second client device for electronic presentation to the user; and

receiving, by the host server, a response from the second user indicating which status level, if any, the second user has selected for the social connection with the first user.

21. A method comprising:

receiving, at a host server, a new social connection request initiated by a first user, the request indicating the intent of the first user to become socially connected with a second user;

determining, by the host server, a first set of social interaction options for the social connection based on one or more pre-set social configuration settings, wherein each social interaction option enables or disables a social interaction associated with the social connection;

sending, by the host server, the first set of social interaction options to a second client device for electronic presentation to the second user; and

receiving, by the host server, a selection indicating which social interaction options, if any, the second user has selected for the social connection with the first user.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the selection indicates that the second user would like to block all social interactions with the first user.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the new social connection request includes a requested status level to be associated with the social connection.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the new social connection request includes one or more requested social interaction options to be associated with the new social connection.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

automatically accepting, by the host server, the request on behalf of the second user if configured to do so by the one or more pre-set social configuration settings.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

sending a first notification of acceptance to the first client device for electronic presentation to the first user; and

sending a second notification of the new connection to the second client device for electronic presentation to the second user.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the request comprises a request to modify social interaction options associated with an existing social connection.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

generating, by the host server, a plurality of social connection status levels, wherein each status level includes one or more of the first set of social interaction options for the social connection;

sending, by the host server, the status levels to the second client device for electronic presentation to the user; and

receiving, by the host server, a response from the second user indicating which status level, if any, the second user has selected for the social connection with the first user.

29. A system comprising:

means for receiving a request identifying a social connection between a first user and a second user of a plurality of users of a web-based social networking environment;

means for processing the request to identify the first user and the second user; and

means for determining a first set of social interaction options for the social connection based on one or more pre-set social configuration settings, wherein each social interaction option enables or disables an associated social interaction associated with the social connection.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

means for sending the first set of social interaction options to a second client device for electronic presentation to the second user; and

means for receiving a selection indicating which social interaction options, if any, the second user has selected for the social connection with the first user.