Methods and systems for providing a document

• US 8,280,821 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2011
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Adam Douglas, Zoufonoun, Amin
• Primary Examiner(s): OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/246,735
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/319
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a document are described. In one described method, a document comprising a portion selected by a first member of a social network is hosted for the first member. The portion is dynamically updated with content. An audience criterion for the portion and a type of relationship between the first member and a second member of the social network are identified. If the type of relationship between the first member and the second member satisfies the audience criterion, the second member is provided access to at least the portion.

Claims

1. A method performed on a computer comprising:

hosting a document for a first member of a social network, the document comprising a portion selected by the first member that is dynamically updated with content;

identifying, by the computer, an audience criterion for the portion;

identifying a type of relationship between the first member and a second member of the social network;

determining, by the computer, a popularity level of the portion; and

determining to provide the second member with access to the portion based at least in part on the type of relationship between the first member and the second member satisfying the audience criterion and the popularity level of the portion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the second member with access to at least the portion further comprises providing at least the portion to the second member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the audience criterion for the portion further comprises receiving from the first member a relationship criterion.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the relationship criterion comprises at least one of the group of friend association, co-worker association, family member association, business association, common-interest association, common-geography association, member category association, and intermediary relationship.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the relationship criterion comprises a relationship weight.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the relationship weight comprises a level of relationship designated by the first member.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of relationship has been agreed upon by the first member and the second member.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of relationship has been offered by the first member and accepted by the second member.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

accessing profile data associated with at least one of the first member and the second member; and

wherein identifying the type of relationship further comprises identifying the type of relationship based at least in part on the profile data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion is dynamically updated with third-party content.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the third-party content comprises content provided by a first entity independent of a second entity hosting the document and independent of the first member.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the third-party content comprises at least one of sports information, weather information, and news information.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a request for access to the document from the second member.

14. A method performed by a computer comprising:

hosting a document for a first member of a social network, the document comprising a portion selected by the first member, wherein the portion is dynamically updated with content provided by a first entity independent of a second entity hosting the document and independent of the first member;

receiving from the first member a relationship criterion for the portion, the relationship criterion comprising a level of relationship designated by the first member;

accessing profile data associated with at least one of the first member and a second member of the social network;

identifying, by the computer, the level of relationship between the first member and the second member based at least in part on the profile data;

determining, by the computer, a popularity level of the portion; and

determining to provide the second member with access to the portion based at least in part on the level of relationship between the first member and the second member satisfying the relationship criterion and the popularity level of the portion.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code to be used on a computer wherein the program code instructs one or more computer processors to:

host a document for a first member of a social network, the document comprising a portion selected by the first member that is dynamically updated with content;

identify an audience criterion for the portion;

identify a type of relationship between the first member and a second member of the social network;

determine a popularity level of the portion; and

determine to provide the second member with access to the portion based at least in part on the type of relationship between the first member and the second member and the popularity level of the portion.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the program code for providing the second member with access to at least the portion further comprises program code for providing at least the portion to the second member.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the program code for identifying the audience criterion for the portion further comprises program code for receiving from the first member a relationship criterion.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the relationship criterion comprises at least one of the group of friend association, co-worker association, family member association, business association, common-interest association, common-geography association, member category association, and intermediary relationship.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the relationship criterion comprises a relationship weight.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the relationship weight comprises a level of relationship designated by the first member.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the type of relationship has been agreed upon by the first member and the second member.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the type of relationship has been offered by the first member and accepted by the second member.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

program code that instructs the one or more computer processors to access profile data associated with at least one of the first member and the second member; and

wherein the program code for identifying the type of relationship further comprises program code for identifying the type of relationship based at least in part on the profile data.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the portion is dynamically updated with third-party content.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the third-party content comprises content provided by a first entity independent of a second entity hosting the document and independent of the first member.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the third-party content comprises at least one of sports information, weather information, and news information.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising program code for identifying a request for access to the document from the second member.