System and method for managing information flow between members of an online social network
First Claim
1. A method comprising, by one or more processors associated with one or more computing systems:
- receiving, by one or more of the processors, a search query from a first user associated with a social network, the search query requesting profile information for other users associated with the social network;
identifying, by one or more of the processors, one or more second users associated with the social network based on the search query and a degree of separation preference specified by a visibility preference of each second user, the visibility preference for each second user being specified by the second user; and
sending, by one or more of the processors, profile information for the identified one or more second users.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An online social network is provided in which members of the online social network control who may view their personal information and who may communicate with them. The members control who may view their personal information by setting a visibility preference. A member may not view another member'"'"'s full personal profile if the measure of relatedness between the two is greater than the visibility preference of the other member. The members also control who may communicate with them by setting a contactability preference. A member may not communicate with another member if the measure of relatedness between the two is greater than the contactability preference of the other member.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising, by one or more processors associated with one or more computing systems:
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receiving, by one or more of the processors, a search query from a first user associated with a social network, the search query requesting profile information for other users associated with the social network; identifying, by one or more of the processors, one or more second users associated with the social network based on the search query and a degree of separation preference specified by a visibility preference of each second user, the visibility preference for each second user being specified by the second user; and sending, by one or more of the processors, profile information for the identified one or more second users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. One or more machine-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed by one or more processors associated with one or more computer systems to:
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receive a search query from a first user associated with a social network, the search query requesting profile information for other users associated with the social network; identify one or more second users associated with the social network based on the search query and a degree of separation preference specified by a visibility preference of each second user, the visibility preference for each second user being specified by the second user; and send profile information for the identified one or more second users.
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20. A system, comprising:
- a processor; and
a non-transitory machine-readable medium configured with instructions to be executed by the processor to;receive a search query from a first user associated with a social network, the search query requesting profile information for other users associated with the social network; identify one or more second users associated with the social network based on the search query and a degree of separation preference specified by a visibility preference of each second user, the visibility preference for each second user being specified by the second user; and send profile information for the identified one or more second users.
- a processor; and
Specification