Cross social network data aggregation

• US 8,745,134 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Dale, Scott, Brown, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US13/077,440
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/202, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/223, 709/226, 709/204
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

Disclosed in one example is a system for providing social networking data including a data store configured to store a user profile associated with a first user and may include a user identification, a first and second social networking user identifier for a first and second social networking service, a first and second connection between a second and third user on the first and second social networking services respectively. The system includes a response module to respond to a request for information from a social networking application with at least a portion of the profile associated with the first user if it is present in the data store. If the profile is not present in the data store, the response module may create a new profile associated with the first user and add it to the data store. The system also includes a synchronization module that may periodically request updated information from the first or second social networking services for the first user and to use the updated information to update the profile associated with the first user.

Claims

1. A method for providing aggregated social networking information, the method comprising using one or more processors for operations including:

sending a first social networking application, over a computer network, to a user, the first social networking application associated with a first social networking service, the first social networking service provided by a first server;

receiving first authentication information obtained from a session established between the first social networking service and the first social networking application;

receiving a request from the first social networking application for social networking information about the user;

receiving, over a network, second authentication information associated with the user from a second social networking application, the second social networking application associated with, and authenticating with, a second social networking service, the second social networking service provided by a second server, the second social networking application being a different application than the first social networking application;

requesting, over the network, first social networking information about the user from the first social networking service, using the first authentication information;

requesting, over the network, second social networking information about the user from the second social networking service, using the second authentication information; and

sending to the first social networking application, the first and second social networking information about the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first social networking application provides a gaming application to the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second social networking application provides a gaming application with game play that is substantially similar to the game play of the first social networking application.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second social networking application provides a gaming application with game play that is different than the game play of the first social networking application.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

sending the second social networking application, over the network, to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

periodically requesting updated information from at least one of the first social networking service and the second social networking service for the user.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising:

creating a profile for the user based upon the first and second social networking information.

8. A system for providing aggregated social networking information, the system comprising one or more processors configured to include:

an application module configured to;

send a first social networking application, over a computer network, to a user, the first social networking application associated with a first social networking service, the first social networking service provided by a first server;

an authentication module configured to;

receive first authentication information obtained from a session established between the first social networking service and the first social networking application;

receive, over a network, second authentication information associated with the user from a second social networking application, the second social networking application associated with, and authenticating with, a second social networking service, the second social networking service provided by a second server, the second social networking application being a different application than the first social networking application;

a synchronization module configured to;

receive a request from the first social networking application for social networking information about the user;

request, over the network, first social networking information about the user from the first social networking service, using the first authentication information;

request, over the network, second social networking information about the user from the second social networking service, using the second authentication information; and

send to the first social networking application, the first and second social networking information about the user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first social networking application is configured to provide a gaming application to the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second social networking application is configured to provide a gaming application with game play that is substantially similar to the game play of the first social networking application.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the second social networking application is configured to provide a gaming application with game play that is different than the game play of the first social networking application.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the application module is configured to send the second social networking application, over the network, to the user.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the synchronization module is configured to periodically request updated information from at least one of the first social networking service and the second social networking service for the user.

14. The system of claim 8, comprising a social networking service module configured to create a profile for the user based upon the first and second social networking information.

15. A machine readable medium that is not a transitory propagating signal including instructions, which when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the operations comprising:

sending a first social networking application, over a computer network, to a user, the first social networking application associated with a first social networking service, the first social networking service provided by a first server;

receiving first authentication information obtained from a session established between the first social networking service and the first social networking application;

receiving a request from the first social networking application for social networking information about the user;

receiving, over a network, second authentication information associated with the user from a second social networking application, the second social networking application associated with, and authenticating with, a second social networking service, the second social networking service provided by a second server, the second social networking application being a different application than the first social networking application;

requesting, over the network, first social networking information about the user from the first social networking service, using the first authentication information;

requesting, over the network, second social networking information about the user from the second social networking service, using the second authentication information; and

sending to the first social networking application, the first and second social networking information about the user.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first social networking application provides a gaming application to the user.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second social networking application provides a gaming application with game play that is substantially similar to the game play of the first social networking application.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second social networking application provides a gaming application with game play that is different than the game play of the first social networking application.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions comprise instructions, which when performed by the machine cause the machine to perform the operation of:

sending the second social networking application, over the network, to the user.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions comprise instructions, which when performed by the machine cause the machine to perform the operation of:

periodically requesting updated information from at least one of the first social networking service and the second social networking service for the user.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions comprise instructions, which when performed by the machine cause the machine to perform the operation of:

creating a profile for the user based upon the first and second social networking information.