Methods, systems, and products for searching social networks

• US 7,818,336 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qurio Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Qurio Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Amidon, Christopher M., Walsh, Richard J., Evans, James
• Primary Examiner(s): EHICHIOYA, IRETE FRED
• Application Number:
  US11/512,540
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 707/609, 707/705, 707/769, 707/802
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for searching social networks. A device is encountered that sends a query. The query comprises a search packet. A content search is performed according to a query parameter described by the search packet. The content search is then repeatedly performed according to a duration parameter described by the search packet.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method of operation of a first device, comprising:

encountering a second device;

establishing a communication session with the second device;

receiving, at the first device, a query from the second device comprising a search packet;

receiving a maximum number of distributions for the query;

searching, at the first device, for content according to a query parameter described by the search packet;

ending the established communication session;

incrementing a count of query distributions;

if the count of query distributions is less than the maximum number of distributions, then incrementing the count of query distributions;

distributing the query to a third device; and

repeatedly performing, at the first device, the search according to a duration parameter described by the search packet after the established communication session has ended.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of reporting a query result to a central server.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of terminating the search when the duration parameter expires.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising incrementing a count of query results until a maximum number of query results is obtained.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of terminating the search when a maximum number of query results is obtained.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising

i) distributing a preliminary query to a fourth device, the preliminary query comprising a limited search packet;

ii) receiving a response to the preliminary query; and

iii) if the response is acceptable, then distributing the query to the fourth device, the query comprising the search packet.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

i) encountering a device having a device identifier;

ii) mapping the device identifier to a list of known users; and

iii) if the device identifier is associated with a known user, then distributing the query to the device having the device identifier.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

i) receiving a distribution level describing a number of levels to distribute the query within a social network;

ii) distributing the query to another device of a same user and maintaining a current value of the distribution level; and

ii) distributing the query to a different user'"'"'s device and decrementing the distribution level.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a calendar event and searching for content that was created within the calendar event.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

i) receiving a modified query comprising a modified search packet;

ii) suspending searching for content based on the search packet; and

iii) resuming searching for content based on the modified search packet.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

i) receiving a location and a radius; and

ii) searching for content that was created within the radius of the location.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a notification when a query result is positive.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

i) sending a historical list of GPS coordinates;

ii) retrieving a list of identified locations, wherein an identified location corresponds to a set of GPS coordinates; and

iii) including the identified location in the search packet.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a query result to an address associated with the second device initiating the query, the query result comprising information describing a propagation path for the query and information describing each user along the propagation path.

15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of delaying searching for the content until an execution time is specified in the search packet.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of checking a flag to determine if a file is accessible when searching for the content.

17. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of querying a list of approved users to determine if a user may query for content.

18. A system, comprising:

an agent application stored in memory; and

a processor communicating with the memory and executing the agent application,

the system encountering a device, establishing a communication session with the device, receiving a query comprising a search packet from the device, receiving a maximum number of distributions for the query, the system searching for content according to a query parameter described by the search packet, the system ending the established communication session, incrementing a count of query distributions, if the count of query distributions is less than the maximum number of distributions, then incrementing the count of query distributions, distributing the query to a third device, and the system repeatedly performing the search according to a duration parameter described by the search packet after the established communication session has ended.

19. A computer program product storing processor-executable instructions for operating a first device, the instructions for:

encountering a second device;

establishing a communication session with the second device;

receiving, at the first device, a query from the second device comprising a search packet;

receiving a maximum number of distributions for the query;

searching, at the first device, for content according to a query parameter described by the search packet;

ending the established communication session;

incrementing a count of query distributions;

if the count of query distributions is less than the maximum number of distributions, then incrementing the count of query distributions;

distributing the query to a third device; and

repeatedly performing, at the first device, the search according to a duration parameter described by the search packet after the established communication session has ended.

20. A device, comprising:

an agent application stored in memory; and

a processor communicating with the memory and executing the agent application,

the device adapted to;

encounter a second device;

establish a communication session with the second device;

receive a query comprising a search packet from the second device;

search for content according to a query parameter described by the search packet;

end the established communication session with the second device;

repeatedly perform the search according to a duration parameter described by the search packet after the established communication session with the second device has ended;

receive a distribution level describing a number of levels to distribute the query within a social network;

distribute the query to another device of a same user and maintain a current value of the distribution level;

distribute the query to a different user'"'"'s device and decrement the distribution level; and

send results from the search to a central server for retrieval.

21. A processor-implemented method of operation of a first device, comprising:

encountering a second device;

establishing a communication session with the second device;

receiving, at the first device, a query from the second device comprising a search packet;

searching, at the first device, for content according to a query parameter described by the search packet;

ending the established communication session;

repeatedly performing, at the first device, the search according to a duration parameter described by the search packet after the established communication session has ended;

distributing a preliminary query to a third device, the preliminary query comprising a limited search packet;

receiving a response to the preliminary query; and

if the response is acceptable, then distributing the query to the third device, the query comprising the search packet.