System and method for managing information flow between members of an online social network
First Claim
1. A method, by one or more processors associated with one or more computing devices, comprising:
- receiving, by one or more of the processors, a query associated with a first user of an online social network, the query comprising search limitations specifying one or more profile criteria, wherein the first user is connected to each of one or more other users of the online social network by one or more degrees of separation;
determining, by one or more of the processors, a result set of users based on the query, the result set comprising one or more second users of the online social network having a user profile meeting the specified profile criteria;
limiting, by one or more of the processors, the result set of users based on a degree of separation preference specified by a searchability setting associated with each second user in the result set of users; and
sending, by one or more of the processors, information to display a result for the query based on the limited result set of users.
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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.
37 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, by one or more processors associated with one or more computing devices, comprising:
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receiving, by one or more of the processors, a query associated with a first user of an online social network, the query comprising search limitations specifying one or more profile criteria, wherein the first user is connected to each of one or more other users of the online social network by one or more degrees of separation; determining, by one or more of the processors, a result set of users based on the query, the result set comprising one or more second users of the online social network having a user profile meeting the specified profile criteria; limiting, by one or more of the processors, the result set of users based on a degree of separation preference specified by a searchability setting associated with each second user in the result set of users; and sending, by one or more of the processors, information to display a result for the query based on the limited result set of users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system, comprising:
- a processor; and
a non-transitory machine-readable medium configured with instructions to be executed by the processor to;receive a query associated with a first user of an online social network, the query comprising search limitations specifying one or more profile criteria, wherein the first user is connected to each of one or more other users of the online social network by one or more degrees of separation; determine a result set of users based on the query, the result set comprising one or more second users of the online social network having a user profile meeting the specified profile criteria; limit the result set of users based on a degree of separation preference specified by a searchability setting associated with each second user in the result set of users; and send information to display a result for the query based on the limited result set of users.
- a processor; and
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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 query associated with a first user of an online social network, the query comprising search limitations specifying one or more profile criteria, wherein the first user is connected to each of one or more other users of the online social network by one or more degrees of separation; determine a result set of users based on the query, the result set comprising one or more second users of the online social network having a user profile meeting the specified profile criteria; limit the result set of users based on a degree of separation preference specified by a searchability setting associated with each second user in the result set of users; and send information to display a result for the query based on the limited result set of users.
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Specification