Systems and methods for spreading messages online

• US 7,783,710 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Venkat Ramaswamy
• Original Assignee: Venkat Ramaswamy
• Inventors: Ramaswamy, Venkat
• Primary Examiner(s): Strange; Aaron
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDWARDS, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US11/419,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,556 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

This invention consists of a restricted online social network system that does not expose one member'"'"'s friends to other members and a method of spreading a message in the system by members asking the system to show the message to their friends, recursively. The system records each member'"'"'s actions on a message and reports the message'"'"'s overall reach, acceptance and effectiveness through various metrics. Further, when a viewer submits a form embedded in the message, the system can fulfill an online transaction or send an online communication. Also, the system integrates with internet search engines and online advertisement vendors to promote the message on the internet.

Claims

1. A method for spreading an online message comprising:

(i) receiving an original message from a member of an online system and assigning a unique identifier to the message;

(ii) receiving a request from the member to display the original message on one or more pages of the online system, each page associated with a registered friend of the member;

(iii) displaying the original message on one of the pages while maintaining the same identifier for the displayed message;

(iv) receiving a request from a registered friend of the member (“

member'"'"'s friend”

), associated with the page where the message was displayed, to display the original message on one or more additional pages of the online system, each additional page associated with a registered friend of the member'"'"'s friend; and

(v) displaying the original message on one of the additional pages while maintaining the same identifier for the displayed message.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising recording actions taken by each member and registered friend related to the displayed message.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said message comprises a title, summary and description.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said message consists of content selected from one or more of embedded hyperlinks, web forms, audio files, video files, downloadable documents, hidden frames, JavaScript, Java applets and ActiveX controls.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said message is formatted in a format selected from one of plain text, HTML, DHTML, XML, XHTML, and PDF.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising recording keywords in the original message.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising categorizing the original message.

8. The method as in claim 1 further comprising displaying similar messages to said original message using categories and keywords on the page or and/or additional page.

9. The method as in claim 1 further comprising finding other messages that may be of interest to a member using collaborative filtering.

10. The method as in claim 1 further comprising receiving a message from the registered friend endorsing or rejecting the original message.

11. The method as in claim 1 further comprising displaying the original message on one or more pages of certain friends of the member without receiving a request from the member.

12. The method as in claim 1 further comprising displaying cumulative metrics on actions of members selected from the group consisting of viewing, endorsing, rejecting and displaying the original message.

13. The method as in claim 1 further comprising displaying cumulative metrics on actions of members on each link that is embedded in the original message.

14. The method as in claim 1 further comprising displaying cumulative metrics on web form values for each embedded web form in the original message.

15. The method as in claim 1 further comprising displaying cumulative metrics on actions of members on each downloadable document in the original message.

16. The method as in claim 1 further comprising displaying cumulative metrics on the amount of time members played each audio or video file embedded in the original message.

17. The method as in claim 1 further comprising displaying a message to a member as a promotion for the original message.

18. The method as in claim 1 further comprising generating a message for inclusion in internet search engines.

19. The method as in claim 1 further comprising placing advertisements for a message in external websites.

20. The method as in claim 1 further comprising fulfilling an online transaction when a message viewer submits a web form in a message.

21. The method as in claim 1 further comprising sending an online communication when a message viewer submits a web form in a message.

22. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

(vi) receiving a further request to further display the original message on a page of another member of the online system, and

(vii) further displaying the original message on the page associated with the other member,

wherein each further request is received from a registered member whose associated page displays the original message.

23. The method as in claim 1 further comprising receiving a message from the registered friend explaining the endorsement or rejection.

24. The method as in claim 1 wherein displaying the original message in steps (iii), (iv) and (v) comprises displaying a same, original message.

25. A system comprising one or more server computers for spreading an online message, wherein each server computer comprises:

(i) a reception section for receiving an original message from another member of the system and assigning a unique identifier to the message, and receiving a request from the member to display the original message as one or more pages of the system, each page associated with a registered friend of the member;

(ii) a control section for controlling the display of the original message on one of the pages while maintaining the same identifier for the displayed message;

(iii) the reception section further receiving a request from a registered friend of the member (“

member'"'"'s friend”

), associated with the page where the message was displayed, to display the original message on one or more additional pages of the system, each additional page associated with a registered friend of the member'"'"'s friend; and

(iv) the control section further controlling the display of the original message on one of the additional pages while maintaining the same identifier for the displayed message.

26. The system as set forth in claim 25 wherein the control section further controls the display of the original message on one or more pages of certain friends of the member without receiving a request from the member.

27. The system as set forth in claim 25, wherein each server computer further comprises a computation section for computing cumulative metrics on actions of members selected from the group consisting of including viewing, endorsing, rejecting and displaying the original message.

28. The system as set forth in claim 25, wherein each server computer further comprises a computation section for computing cumulative metrics on actions of members on each link that is embedded in the original message.

29. The system as set forth in claim 25, wherein each server computer further comprises a computation section for computing cumulative metrics on web form values for each embedded web form in the original message.

30. The system as set forth in claim 25, wherein each server computer further comprises a computation section for computing cumulative metrics on actions of members on each downloadable document in the original message.

31. The system as set forth in claim 25, wherein each server computer further comprises a computation section for computing cumulative metrics on the amount of time members played each audio or video file embedded in the original message.

32. The system as in claim 25 wherein the control sections in parts (ii) and (iv) further control the display of a same, original message.