System, method, and computer program product for providing an association between a first participant and a second participant in a social network

• US 8,606,722 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2013
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Your Net Works Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Your Net Works Incorporated
• Inventors: Sarbaev, Miro, Beregovaya, Olga, Lerner, Alex, Nikulina, Anya
• Primary Examiner(s): OBEID, FAHD A
• Application Number:
  US13/917,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20130282823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 180 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/319
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• 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 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for associating a first participant and a second participant in a social network. In one embodiment, payment is received from a first participant. Additionally, an association between the first participant and a second participant in a social network is provided, in exchange for the payment.

Claims

1. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for storing information associated with participants of a social network that are associated with a person of the social network, the computer program product being operable such that a plurality of groups of participants are capable of being defined by the person and each group is capable of including participants of a different level of closeness to the person;

computer code for receiving input in association with content;

computer code for receiving an attribute for the content from the person, the attribute causing only participants of a selected at least one of the groups of participants being allowed access to the content;

computer code for allowing access to the content by the participants of the selected at least one of the groups of participants, the computer program product being operable such that each group is capable of being associated with different content, such that for each group, participants included in each group are capable of being allowed access to different content than participants included in another group;

computer code for displaying to the person a first one of a plurality of web pages associated with an account of the person of the social network, the first web page graphically representing at least some of the groups of participants of the different level of closeness to the person utilizing a plurality of circles displayed on the first web page, each displayed circle representing a different one of the groups of the participants;

computer code for receiving a selection from the person of one of the displayed circles via the first web page;

computer code for displaying to the person the participants included in the group represented by the selected circle; and

computer code for presenting at least one option to the person for modifying at least one setting associated with the selected circle;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that access to at least one of the groups is capable of being determined by the person to include at least one of a plurality of access types comprising;

an invitation only access such that access is provided only by an invitation initiated by the person, an invitation by request access such that the access is provided by the person in response to an invitation request from at least one of the participants, and another access such that the access is provided in response to a request from at least one of the participants.

2. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the at least one group includes a following group.

3. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that access to at least one of the groups represented by one of the circles is capable of being provided by the person in response to an invitation request from at least one of the participants.

4. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the groups are capable of including a family group, a friend group, and a following group.

5. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that, in response to a selection of at least of the participants of one of the groups represented by one of the circles, the at least one participant is capable of being added to a different group represented by a different circle.

6. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising computer code for receiving a selection of an explore option, and in response to the selection:

displaying communities of participants;

displaying additional content provided via the social network; and

allowing a search for other content and other participants.

7. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising computer code for displaying, with each circle, a number of the participants in an associated group.

8. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising computer code for displaying a header specific to the person that remains constant while the person navigates the web pages associated with the account of the person of the social network.

9. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising computer code for displaying a header specific to the person that remains constant while the person navigates the web pages associated with the account of the person of the social network, the header including access to a main web page, access to a profile of the person, access to a gallery of content, access to a log, and access to detailed information associated with one or more of the participants.

10. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that at least one language preference of the person is identified including a first language and a second language, and content is displayed to the person in the first language or the second language, based on availability.

11. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:

computer code for determining whether certain content is available in a first language preferred by the person;

computer code for, if it is determined that the certain content is available in the first language, displaying the certain content to the person in the first language;

computer code for, if it is determined that the certain content is not available in the first language, it is determined whether the certain content is available in a second language preferred by the person; and

computer code for, if it is determined that the certain content is available in the second language, displaying the certain content to the person in the second language.

12. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:

computer code for determining whether certain content is available in a first language preferred by the person;

computer code for, if it is determined that the certain content is available in the first language, displaying the certain content to the person in the first language;

computer code for, if it is determined that the certain content is not available in the first language, it is determined whether the certain content is available in a second language preferred by the person;

computer code for, if it is determined that the certain content is available in the second language, displaying the certain content to the person in the second language; and

computer code for, if it is determined that the certain content is not available in the second language, displaying the certain content to the person in another language.

13. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:

computer code for creating an event with one or more of the circles associated therewith.

14. The computer program product as set forth in claim 13, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the event includes a project, and is associated with a place.

15. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:

computer code for displaying a second web page for creating an event;

computer code for receiving an event name from the person for being associated with the event;

computer code for receiving a selection of an event type from the person for being associated with the event;

computer code for receiving a selection of event-related content from the person for being associated with the event; and

computer code for allowing the person to permit participants associated with the event to provide additional event-related content for being associated with the event.

16. The computer program product as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that:

the information includes at least one of a username, a password, an age, a geographical location, or additional information;

the defining includes at least one of inviting, providing a new name, providing criteria, or indicating access rights,

the participants include followers;

the different level of closeness includes a hierarchical relationship;

the selection of content includes at least one of posting or uploading content;

the circles include concentric circles; and

the input in association with the content includes a selection of the content.

17. A method, comprising:

storing information associated with participants of a social network that are associated with a person of the social network, where a plurality of groups of participants are capable of being defined by the person and each group is capable of including participants of a different level of closeness to the person, utilizing at least one server;

receiving input in association with content, utilizing the at least one server;

receiving an attribute for the content, the attribute resulting in only participants of a selected at least one of the groups of participants being allowed access to the content, utilizing the at least one server;

allowing access to the content by the participants of the selected at least one of the groups of participants, where each group is capable of being associated with different content, such that for each group, participants included in each group are capable of being allowed access to different content than participants included in another group, utilizing the at least one server;

displaying to the person a first one of a plurality of web pages associated with an account of the person of the social network, the first web page graphically representing at least some of the groups of participants of the different level of closeness to the person utilizing a plurality of circles displayed on the first web page, each displayed circle representing a different one of the groups of the participants, utilizing the at least one server;

receiving a selection from the person of one of the displayed circles via the first web page, utilizing the at least one server;

displaying to the person the participants included in the group represented by the selected circle, utilizing the at least one server; and

presenting at least one option to the person for modifying at least one setting associated with the selected circle, utilizing the at least one server;

wherein, in response to a selection of at least of the participants of one of the groups represented by one of the circles, the at least one participant is capable of being added to a different group represented by a different circle;

wherein access to at least one of the groups is capable of being determined by the person to include at least one of a plurality of access types comprising;

an invitation only access such that access is provided only by an invitation initiated by the person, an invitation by request access such that the access is provided by the person in response to an invitation request from at least one of the participants, and another access such that the access is provided in response to a request from at least one of the participants.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein access to at least one of the groups represented by one of the circles is capable of being provided by the person in response to an invitation request from at least one of the participants.

19. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the groups are capable of including a family group, a friend group, and a following group.

20. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein access to at least one of the groups is capable of being determined by the person to include at least one of the plurality of access types comprising the another access such that the access is provided in response to a request from at least one of the participants.

21. The method as set forth in claim 17, and further comprising receiving a selection of an explore option, and in response to the selection:

displaying communities of participants;

displaying additional content provided via the social network; and

allowing a search for other content and other participants.

22. The method as set forth in claim 17, and further comprising displaying, with each circle, a number of the participants in an associated group.

23. The method as set forth in claim 17, and further comprising displaying a header specific to the person that remains constant while the person navigates the web pages associated with the account of the person of the social network.

24. The method as set forth in claim 17, and further comprising displaying a header specific to the person that remains constant while the person navigates the web pages associated with the account of the person of the social network, the header including access to a main web page, access to a profile of the person, access to a gallery of content, access to a log, and access to detailed information associated with one or more of the participants.

25. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein at least one language preference of the person is identified including a first language and a second language, and content is displayed to the person in the first language or the second language, based on availability.

26. The method as set forth in claim 17, and further comprising:

determining whether certain content is available in a first language preferred by the person;

if it is determined that the certain content is available in the first language, displaying the certain content to the person in the first language;

if it is determined that the certain content is not available in the first language, it is determined whether the certain content is available in a second language preferred by the person; and

if it is determined that the certain content is available in the second language, displaying the certain content to the person in the second language.

27. The method as set forth in claim 17, and further comprising creating an event with one or more of the circles associated therewith.