Community-modified user data with accountability

• US 8,065,312 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2010
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aaron T. Emigh
• Inventors: Emigh, Aaron T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene; John E
• Assistant Examiner(s): MYINT, DENNIS Y
• Application Number:
  US12/833,982
• Time in Patent Office: 499 Days
• Field of Search: 707/156, 707/756, 707/784
• US Class Current: 707/756
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

In some embodiments, techniques for modifying a profile may include receiving a first profile data associated with a first user, associating the first profile data with a profile associated with the first user, receiving a second profile data from a second user that is a result of a modification of the profile data, associating the second profile data with the profile, and providing the profile to a third user, wherein the profile includes the second profile data and an indication that the profile has been modified, which includes an indication that the second user is responsible for the modification.

Claims

1. A method for modifying a profile, comprising:

receiving a first profile data from a first user, wherein the first profile data is associated with the first user;

associating the first profile data with a profile of the first user;

receiving a second profile data from a second user, wherein the second user is different from the first user and wherein the second profile data is a result of a modification of the first profile data;

associating the second profile data with the profile of the first user; and

providing the profile of the first user to a third user, wherein the profile of the first user includes the second profile data and wherein the profile of the first user includes an indication that the profile of the first user has been modified, wherein the indication that the profile of the first user has been modified includes an indication that the second user modified the profile of the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for the profile of the first user, and providing data relating to the second profile data.

3. The method of claim 1, performed at a social networking service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile data is associated with audio.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile data is associated with video.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile data is associated with text.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile data is associated with a physical description.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile data is associated with an interest.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile data is associated with a top friends list.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile data is associated with an image.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user includes receiving a permission from the first user, wherein the permission specifies that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user includes determining that a social connection exists between the first user and the second user.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein determining that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user includes determining that a karma level exceeds a threshold, wherein the karma level is associated with the second user.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication that the profile of the first user was modified includes an indication that the second profile data was modified.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication that the second user modified the profile of the first user includes a link to a second profile, wherein the second profile is associated with the second user.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the profile of the first user to the second user, wherein the profile of the first user includes the first profile data;

and providing a user interface to the second user, wherein the user interface enables modification of the first profile data.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the second profile data to the first user, and receiving from the first user an approval of the second profile data.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein providing the second profile data to the first user includes providing a second user interface to the first user, wherein the second user interface permits reviewing of the second profile data, and accepting or rejecting the second profile data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein providing the second profile data to the first user includes providing an indication that the second profile data includes a modification by the second user.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein providing the second profile data to the first user includes indicating a difference between the first profile data and the second profile data.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the difference between the first profile data and the second profile data is indicated by color coding.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the second profile data includes inappropriate content, and rejecting the second profile data when it is determined that the second profile data includes inappropriate content.

24. A system for modifying a profile, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a first profile data from a first user, wherein the first profile data is associated with the first user;

associate the first profile data with a profile of the first user;

receive a second profile data from a second user, wherein the second user is different from the first user and wherein the second profile data is a result of a modification of the first profile data;

associate the second profile data with the profile of the first user; and

provide the profile of the first user to a third user, wherein the profile of the first user includes the second profile data and wherein the profile of the first user includes an indication that the profile of the first user has been modified, wherein the indication that the profile of the first user has been modified includes an indication that the second user modified the profile of the first user; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory provides instructions to the processor.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the second profile data is associated with video.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the second profile data is associated with text.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the second profile data is associated with an interest.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the second profile data is associated with an image.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein determining that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user includes receiving a permission from the first user, wherein the permission specifies that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein determining that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user includes determining that a social connection exists between the first user and the second user.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to provide the profile of the first user to the second user, wherein the profile of the first user includes the first profile data;

and providing a user interface to the second user, wherein the user interface enables modification of the first profile data.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to provide the second profile data to the first user, and receive from the first user an approval of the second profile data.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein providing the second profile data to the first user includes providing an indication that the second profile data includes a modification by the second user.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein providing the second profile data to the first user includes indicating a difference between the first profile data and the second profile data.

37. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the second profile data includes inappropriate content, and reject the second profile data when it is determined that the second profile data includes inappropriate content.

25. A computer program product for modifying a profile, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a first profile data from a first user, wherein the first profile data is associated with the first user;

associating the first profile data with a profile of the first user;

receiving a second profile data from a second user, wherein the second user is different from the first user and wherein the second profile data is a result of a modification of the first profile data;

associating the second profile data with the profile of the first user; and

providing the profile of the first user to a third user, wherein the profile of the first user includes the second profile data and wherein the profile of the first user includes an indication that the profile of the first user has been modified, wherein the indication that the profile of the first user has been modified includes an indication that the second user modified the profile of the first user.

38. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the second profile data is associated with video.

39. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the second profile data is associated with text.

40. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the second profile data is associated with an interest.

41. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the second profile data is associated with an image.

42. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer instructions for determining that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein determining that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user includes receiving a permission from the first user, wherein the permission specifies that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user.

44. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein determining that the second user is permitted to modify the profile of the first user includes determining that a social connection exists between the first user and the second user.

45. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer instructions for providing the profile of the first user to the second user, wherein the profile of the first user includes the first profile data;

and

providing a user interface to the second user, wherein the user interface enables modification of the first profile data.

46. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer instructions for providing the second profile data to the first user, and receiving from the first user an approval of the second profile data.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein providing the second profile data to the first user includes providing an indication that the second profile data includes a modification by the second user.

48. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein providing the second profile data to the first user includes indicating a difference between the first profile data and the second profile data.

49. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer instructions for determining whether the second profile data includes inappropriate content, and rejecting the second profile data when it is determined that the second profile data includes inappropriate content.