Social media system with multiple profiles

• US 8,549,061 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IP Holdings Incorporated (IP Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: IP Holdings Incorporated (IP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Rao, Sunil K., Rao, Raman K.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAYARD, DJENANE M
• Application Number:
  US13/559,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20120290660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A social media and social networking system accessible on the Internet, mobile devices, smartphones, cell phones, and tablet computers. Users in the social media and social networking system may be enabled to have one, two, or multiple customized profiles, thereby allowing for multiple identities on the Internet and the system. The social media and social networking system may be configured to display full, partial, or customized profile information based on the individual or groups viewing the social data. The social media system may provide access to multiple groups or sub social networks based on match between profile data such as an email address domain name and an access control list. The social media and social networking system may personalize websites and search result content based on a user'"'"'s profile.

Claims

1. A method for a social network service on a server, wherein the server is configured to accept a request for a user to join the social network based on an email address, the method comprising:

storing a profile for a first user in a memory accessible to the server, wherein the profile contains a list of profile fields and responses thereto, the responses being descriptive of characteristics requested by the profile fields;

storing a permission setting associated with a specific profile field in the memory;

creating a first profile for the first user viewable by a first set of users;

creating a second profile for the first user viewable by a second set of users; and

matching the first user to a second user of the social network service based at least in part on the characteristics described in the responses to the profile fields;

wherein the social network comprises plural groups together with plural different sub-groups, each sub-group being grouped hierarchically under a corresponding one of the plural different groups, with each group and each sub-group comprising one or more users;

wherein a user is authenticated to one or more groups on the social network based on the email address provided to the server; and

wherein the server is configured to create a new sub-group based on a prefix and a postfix of the email address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first profile is defined as a public profile for the first user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile is defined as a private profile for the second user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user has a set of profiles associated with an account of the first user stored in the memory.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a third profile for the first user is dynamically created based on a request by the first user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a third profile for the first user is dynamically created based on counterpart profile fields and responses thereto of the second user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user can create multiple profiles based on the first user'"'"'s responses.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein responsive to the match the permission setting for the specific field of the first user is set for access by the second user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second profiles of the first user is dynamically selected based on a request of the second user to view the first user'"'"'s profile.

10. A social network system, comprising:

a server configured to accept a request for a user to join the social network based on an email address;

a memory storing a first profile for a first user wherein the profile contains a list of profile fields and responses thereto, the responses being descriptive of characteristics requested by the profile fields;

a permission setting associated with a specific profile field in the memory;

a first profile for the first user viewable by a first set of users;

a second profile for the first user viewable by a second set of users; and

a matching component configured to match the first user to a second user of the social network based at least in part on the characteristics described in the responses to the profile fields;

wherein the social network comprises plural groups together with plural different sub-groups, each sub-group being grouped hierarchically under a corresponding one of the plural different groups, with each group and each sub-group comprising one or more users;

wherein a user is authenticated to one or more groups on the social network based on the email address provided to the server; and

wherein the server is configured to create a new sub-group based on a prefix and a postfix of the email address.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the email address is an address ending in a.EDU and wherein the server matches a.EDU postfix to approve access to a network for an educational group of the social network.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the server assigns a new email address for the user and wherein the new email address masks the identity of the original email address.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the server personalizes information for a first user based on a profile characteristic of a first user.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the server personalizes information for a second user based on a profile characteristic of a first user and wherein the first user and second user are connected in the social network.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the first profile and second profile are each a subset of a larger complete profile for a user.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the server receives profile information for a first user from user entry on a communication device.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein responsive to a match the permission setting for the specific field of the first user is set for access by the second user.