METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PRIVATE MESSAGING IN A FAMILY NETWORKING COMPUTING PLATFORM

• US 20170324699A1
• Filed: 02/22/2017
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lyk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Saptarshi Das
• Inventors: CHAKRABORTY, ADRIS, DAS, SAPTARSHI, DE, PIYAS
• Granted Patent: US 10,187,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

In one aspect, a method of a managing an online social network includes the step of providing an online social network. The online social network includes a set of nodes, wherein each node represents a user and a set of relationships between each node. The method includes the step of identifying a set of users that are members of the same family. The method includes the step of identifying each node of the set of users that are members of the same family. When a member of the set of users interacts with another member of the set of users determine an interaction; determine a family-relationship status between the member and the other member; and score the interaction. The method includes the step of generating a family bonding index based on the family relationship status of the member and the other member and the score the interaction. The method includes the step of updating the set of relationships of the online social network based on the family bonding index. The method includes the step of providing an online social-networking messenger service. The online social-networking messenger service enables the member and the other member to interact via a chat protocol. The chat protocol comprises private chat messages between the member and the other member that are not visible to any other user of the online social-networking messenger service.

Claims

1. A method of a managing an online social network comprising:

providing an online social network, wherein the online social network comprises a set of nodes, wherein each node represents a user and a set of relationships between each node;

identifying a set of users that are members of the same family;

identifying each node of the set of users that are members of the same family;

when a member of the set of users interacts with another member of the set of users;

determine an interaction;

determine a family-relationship status between the member and the other member; and

score the interaction;

generating a family bonding index based on the family relationship status of the member and the other member and the score the interaction;

updating the set of relationships of the online social network based on the family bonding index;

providing an online social-networking messenger service, wherein the online social-networking messenger service enables the member and the other member to interact via a chat protocol, wherein the chat protocol comprises private chat messages between the member and the other member that are not visible to any other user of the online social-networking messenger service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chat protocol comprises a private reply option, wherein the private reply is shown only to a user included in the private reply.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein another private reply in response to the private reply is hidden from any other participant of the group chat, and

wherein the private reply is shown only to users that are connected in the online social network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the chat protocol comprises a private online social networking status post that is visible only to a specified subset of the set of users that are members of the same family.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the chat protocol comprises the private online social networking status post that is visible only other users selected by the user that posted the private online social networking status post.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the chat protocol generates a spinoff chats from a group chat, and wherein the spinoff chat generates the private replies, and wherein the spinoff chat comprises a virtual reference button that return the user to a main group chat.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the chat protocol provides an option for a user to post a private comment in between public posts and a set of group chat messages.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the family relationship status of the member and the other member comprises a parent and child relationship.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the family relationship status of the member and the other member comprises a spousal relationship.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the family relationship status of the member and the other member comprises a grandparent and grandchild relationship.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

aggregating the interaction scores for all the members of the family for a specified period.

12. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

generating an aggregated family bonding index from the aggregated interaction scores for all the members of the family for a specified period.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

updating the set of relationships of the online social network based on the aggregated family bonding index.

15. The mobile-device system of claim 13, wherein the family relationship status of the member and the other member comprises a parent and child relationship.

16. The mobile-device system of claim 13, wherein the family relationship status of the member and the other member comprises a close member that is not a direct family member.

17. The mobile-device system of claim 16, wherein the chat protocol comprises a private reply option, wherein the private reply is shown only to a user included in the private reply.

18. The mobile-device system of claim 17, wherein another private reply in response to the private reply is hidden from any other participant of the group chat.

19. The mobile-device system of claim 18, wherein the chat protocol comprises a private online social networking status post that is visible only to a specified subset of the set of users that are members of the same family, wherein the chat protocol provides an option for a user to post a private comment in between public posts and a set of group chat messages, and wherein the user can set a time-based lifespan of a private comment such that the private comment is no longer visible after the time-based lifespan has elapsed.

20. The mobile-device system of claim 19, wherein a subset of the set of relationships of the online social network based on the family bonding index are designated as an invisible connection, wherein the user identifies the subset of invisible connections, and wherein the subset of invisible connections is not visible to with other users of the online social network.

14. A mobile-device system for managing an online social network comprising:

a processor;

a memory containing instructions when executed on the processor, causes the processor to perform operations that;

provide an online social network, wherein the online social network comprises a set of nodes, wherein each node represents a user and a set of relationships between each node;

identify a set of users that are members of the same family;

identify each node of the set of users that are members of the same family;

when a member of the set of users interacts with another member of the set of users;

determine an interaction;

determine a family-relationship status between the member and the other member; and

score the interaction;

generate a family bonding index based on the family relationship status of the member and the other member and the score the interaction;

update the set of relationships of the online social network based on the family bonding index; and

provide an online social-networking messenger service, wherein the online social-networking messenger service enables the member and the other member to interact via a chat protocol, wherein the chat protocol comprises private chat messages between the member and the other member that are not visible to any other user of the online social-networking messenger service.