User validation in a social network

• US 9,069,945 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2011
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Puneet Singh
• Original Assignee: Puneet Singh
• Inventors: Singh, Puneet
• Primary Examiner(s): OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/040,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20120226701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 705 11-912
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/40 by quorum, i.e. whereby two or more security principals are required
• 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 67/10 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

Abstract

A computer implemented method and system is provided for validating a user associated with one or more social networks. A validation platform associated with the social networks is provided. The validation platform identifies a user for the validation from the social networks. The validation platform retrieves social information of the identified user from the social networks. The social information comprises relationship information of and between the identified user and social contacts of the identified user on the social networks. The validation platform acquires feedback on the identified user from one or more of the social contacts. The validation platform generates one or more validation scores, for example, an evaluation score, a feedback authentication score, a user authentication score, a composite score, etc., for the identified user based on the retrieved social information and/or the acquired feedback. The generated validation scores enable validation of the user associated with the social networks.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for generating at least a score for validating a user associated with one or more social networks, comprising:

providing, by a processor, a validation platform associated with said one or more social networks, said validation platform implemented on a computer system comprising one or more processors;

receiving a query from a requesting party by said validation platform through an interface for validating said user, wherein said query comprises a search criteria for identifying said user and a request for one validation score of said user, and wherein said requested validation score comprises at least one of an evaluation score, a feedback authentication score, a user authentication score, and a composite score, by a query processing module;

receiving differential weights from said requesting party by said validation platform for generating said composite score, wherein said received differential weights comprise differential weights for one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score, and wherein sum of one or more of said differential weights equals 100%, by said query processing module;

searching and identifying said user for said validation from said one or more social networks by said validation platform based on said criteria, by a user identification module;

retrieving social information of said identified user from said one or more social networks by said validation platform, wherein said social information comprises relationship information of and between said identified user and social contacts of said identified user on said one or more social networks, wherein said social contacts are associated with said one or more social networks, by an information retrieval module;

receiving feedback on said identified user from one or more of said social contacts by said validation platform, by a feedback acquisition module;

generating one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score for said identified user by said validation platform based on one or more of said retrieved social information and said received feedback, by a score generation module; and

generating a composite score for said identified user by said validation platform, by said score generation module,

wherein said composite score is a weighted sum of said evaluation score said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score, whereby said generated validation score enables said validation of said user associated with said one or more social networks.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein said generation of said validation score further comprises:

generating said evaluation score for said identified user based on said received feedback, wherein said evaluation score quantifies said received feedback based on an evaluation of a plurality of attributes of said identified user by each of said one or more of said social contacts, by said score generation module;

generating said feedback authentication score for said received feedback, wherein said feedback authentication score quantifies authenticity of said received feedback based on feedback authentication criteria, by said score generation module; and

generating said user authentication score for said identified user, wherein said user authentication score quantifies authenticity of said identified user based on user authentication criteria, by said score generation module.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein said feedback authentication criteria comprises one or more of degrees of separation between said identified user and said one or more social contacts, said validation score of said one or more social contacts, strength of relationship between said identified user and said one or more social contacts, number of mutual social contacts between said identified user and said one or more social contacts, duration of time that said identified user has been in a social relationship with said one or more social contacts, number of feedback assessments completed by said one or more social contacts, number of feedback assessments received by said one or more social contacts, and a ratio of positive feedback assessments to negative feedback assessments provided by said one or more social contacts.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein said user authentication criteria comprises one or more of duration of time that said identified user is associated with said one or more social networks, level of activity of said identified user within said one or more social networks, number of said social contacts of said identified user, and said validation score of said social contacts of said identified user.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising processing said query about said user from a requesting party by said validation platform comprising:

determining said generated validation score of said user and whether said generated validation score satisfies said search criteria;

obtaining consent from said user to transmit said validation score to said requesting party; and

transmitting a response to said query to said requesting party based on said determination and said consent.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein said search criteria comprises a threshold validation score for said user, wherein said threshold validation score represents a minimum score acceptable to said requesting party, and wherein said search criteria further comprises said differential weights for said one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score combinable for generating said composite score.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 5, further comprising generating a list of users associated with said one or more social networks who satisfy said search criteria of said requesting party by said validation platform.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein alternatively said differential weights and receiving from one of said user, said one or more social contacts, and default settings inside said validation platform.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein said validation platform selectively maintains anonymity of said received feedback from said one or more social contacts.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein said retrieval of said social information of said identified user comprises querying and compiling said social information of said identified user from a plurality of said social networks by said validation platform, wherein said validation platform generates said validation score for each of said social networks.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising generating an aggregated social network profile for said identified user by aggregating said social information of said identified user from a plurality of social network profiles of said identified user across said plurality of said social networks, wherein said aggregated social network profile is accessible through one of an interface on said validation platform and through one or more of said social networks.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising aggregating said validation score generated for each of said plurality of said social networks of said identified user for generating one or more aggregate validation score for said identified user for a holistic validation of said identified user.

13. A computer implemented system for validating a user associated with one or more social networks, comprising:

a validation platform associated with said one or more social networks, wherein said validation platform comprises;

a query processing module configured for processing a query about said user, wherein said query is received from a requesting party through an interface of said validation platform, wherein said query comprises a search criteria for identifying said user and a request for validation score of said user, wherein said requested validation score comprises at least one of an evaluation score, a feedback authentication score, a user authentication score, and a composite score;

said query processing module further configured to receive differential weights from said requesting party for generating said composite score, wherein said received differential weights comprise differential weights for one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score, and wherein sum of one or more of said received differential weights equals 100%;

a search engine configured for searching said user for said validation from said one or more social networks based on said search criteria;

a user identification module that identifies said user for said validation from said one or more social networks;

an information retrieval module that retrieves social information of said identified user from said one or more social networks, wherein said social information comprises relationship information of and between said identified user and social contacts of said identified user on said one or more social networks, wherein said social contacts arc associated with said one or more social networks;

a feedback acquisition module that receives feedback on said identified user from one or more of said social contacts;

a score generation module that generates one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score for said identified user based on one or more of said retrieved social information and said received feedback; and

said score generation module that further generates a composite score for said identified user, wherein said composite score is a weighted sum of said evaluation score said feedback authentication score and said user authentication score whereby said generated validation score enables said validation of said user associated with said one or more social networks.

14. The computer implemented system of claim 13, wherein said score generation module generates said validation score by performing one or more of:

generating an evaluation score for said identified user based on said acquired feedback, wherein said evaluation score quantifies said acquired feedback based on an evaluation of a plurality of attributes of said identified user by each of said one or more social contacts;

generating a feedback authentication score for said acquired feedback, wherein said feedback authentication score quantifies authenticity of said acquired feedback based on feedback authentication criteria;

generating a user authentication score liar said identified user, wherein said user authentication score quantifies authenticity of said identified user based on user authentication criteria; and

generating a composite score for said identified user based on a weighted combination of one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score.

15. The computer implemented system of claim 13, wherein said query processing module further performs:

determining said generated validation score of said user and whether said generated validation score satisfies said search criteria;

obtaining a consent from said user to transmit said validation score to said requesting party; and

transmitting a response to said query to said requesting party based on said determination and said consent.

16. The computer implemented system of claim 15, wherein said query processing module generates a list of users associated with said one or more social networks who satisfy said search criteria of said requesting party.

17. The computer implemented system of claim 13, wherein said validation platform further comprises:

an aggregation module that aggregates said social information of said identified user from a plurality of social network profiles of said identified user across a plurality of said social networks; and

a profile generation module that generates an aggregated social network profile for said identified user based on said aggregated social information, wherein said aggregated social network profile is accessible through one of an interface on said validation platform and through said one or More of said social networks.

18. The computer implemented system of claim 13, wherein said validation platform further comprises an aggregate score generation module that generates aggregate validation score for said identified user by aggregating said validation score generated for each of said plurality of said social networks of said identified user for a holistic validation of said identified user.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform operations, comprising:

receiving a query from a requesting party by a validation platform through an interface for validating a user associated with one or more social networks, wherein said query comprises a search criteria for identifying said user and a request for validation score of said user, and wherein said requested validation score comprises at least one of an evaluation score, a feedback authentication score, a user authentication score, and a composite score;

receiving differential weights from said requesting party by said validation platform for generating said composite score, wherein said received differential weights comprise differential weights for one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score, and wherein sum of one or more of said differential weights equals 100%;

searching and identifying said user for validation from said one or more social networks based on said search criteria;

retrieving social information of said identified user from said one or more social networks, wherein said social information comprises relationship information of and between said identified user and social contacts of said identified user on said one or more social networks, wherein said social contacts are associated with said one or more social networks;

receiving feedback on said identified user from one or more of said social contacts;

generating one or more of said evaluation score said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score for said identified user by said validation platform based on one or more of said retrieved social information and said received feedback; and

generating a composite score for said identified user by said validation platform, wherein said composite score is a weighted sum of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score and said user authentication score, whereby said generated validation score enables said validation of said user associated with said one or more social networks.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 19, further performing operations, comprising:

generating said evaluation score for said identified user based on said received feedback, wherein said evaluation score quantifies said received feedback based on an evaluation of a plurality of attributes of said identified user by one or more social contacts;

generating said feedback authentication score for said received feedback, wherein said feedback authentication score quantifies authenticity of said received feedback based on feedback authentication criteria;

generating said user authentication score for said identified user, wherein said user authentication score quantifies authenticity of said identified user based on user authentication criteria; and

determining said generated validation score of said user and whether said generated validation score satisfies said search criteria;

obtaining a consent from said user to transmit said validation score to said requesting party; and

transmitting a response to said query to said requesting party based on said determination and said consent.

21. A computer implemented method for validating one or more users associated with one or more social networks, comprising:

providing, by a processor, a validation platform associated with said one or more social networks, said validation platform implemented on a computer system comprising one or more processors;

receiving a query from a requesting party by said validation platform through an interface for validating said user, wherein said query comprises a search criteria for identifying said user and a request for validation score of said user, and wherein said requested validation score comprises at least one of an evaluation score, a feedback authentication score, a user authentication score, and a composite score;

searching and identifying said one or more users for said validation from said one or more social networks by said validation platform based on said search criteria;

retrieving social information of said identified user from said one or more social networks by said validation platform wherein said social information comprises relationship information of and between said identified one or more users and social contacts of said identified one or more users on said one or more social networks, wherein said social contacts are associated with said one or more social networks;

receiving feedback on said identified user from one or more of said social contacts by said validation platform, wherein said validation platform selectively maintains anonymity of said received feedback from said one or more social contacts; and

generating said one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score for said identified user by said validation platform based on one or more of said retrieved social information and said received feedback by said validation platform;

whereby said generated validation score enables said validation of said one or more users associated with said one or more social networks.

22. A computer implemented method for validating one or more users associated with one or more social networks, comprising:

providing, by a processor, a validation platform associated with said one or more social networks, said validation platform implemented on a computer system comprising one or more processors;

receiving a query from a requesting party by said validation platform through an interface for validating said user, wherein said query comprises a search criteria for identifying said user and a request for validation score of said user, and wherein said requested validation score comprises at least one of an evaluation score, a feedback authentication score, a user authentication score;

searching and identifying said one or more users for said validation from said one or more social networks by said validation platform based on said search criteria;

retrieving social information of said identified user from said one or more social networks by said validation platform wherein said social information comprises relationship information of and between said identified one or more users and social contacts of said identified one or more users on said one or more social networks, wherein said social contacts are associated with said one or more social networks;

receiving feedback on said identified user from one or more of said social contacts by said validation platform; and

generating said one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score for said identified user by said validation platform based on one or more of said retrieved social information and said received feedback;

whereby said generated validation score enables said validation of said user associated with said one or more social networks.

23. A method for generating a score for a validating a user associated with at least a social network, said method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, at least a query from at least a requesting party for validating a user;

identifying at least a user for said validation;

retrieving at least social information of said identified user from said social network;

acquiring at least feedback from at least a social contact associated with said social network;

aggregating at least social information of said identified user from at least a social network profile of said identified user;

generating at least a profile for said identified user based On at least one of said retrieved social information, said acquired feedback, and said generated validation score;

generating an evaluation score by,

producing at least a score for quantifying at least acquired feedback based on evaluation of a plurality of attributes of said identified user by one or more social contacts of said user;

generating a feedback authentication score by,

producing at least a score for quantifying at least authenticity of said acquired feedback based on at least feedback authentication criteria, wherein said feedback authentication criteria is determined using at least data related to authenticity of relationship between said identified user and said social contacts who provide said feedback;

generating a user authentication score by,

producing at least a score for quantifying at least authenticity of said identified user based on at least user authentication criteria, wherein said user authentication criteria is determined using at least data related to at least one of a duration of time that, said identified user is associated with said social network, a level of activity of said identified user in said social network, a number of social contacts of said identified user, a validation score of said social contact of said identified user;

generating at least an aggregate validation score for said identified user by defining at least an instruction for aggregating at least one of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score and said user authentication score, wherein at least a weighted combination of each of said scores is utilized in generating said composite score for said identified user; and

determining, using said aggregate validation score, a validity of said identified user based at least a threshold validation score by said requesting party.

25. The method as claimed in claim 23, said method further comprising:

receiving, from said requesting party, at least one of a search criterion and a query for retrieving at least a plurality of users of said social network;

assessing at least an aspect of said user, said aspect stored in a profile of said social network of said user; and

providing at least a unique identifier of said user matching at least one of said search criterion and said query from said requesting party.

24. A system for generating a score for a validating a user associated with at least a social network, said system comprising:

at least a processor; and

at least a storage medium comprising instructions, wherein said instructions cause said hardware processor to;

receive at least a query from at least a requesting party for validating a user, by a query processing module;

identify at least a user for said validation, by a user identification module;

retrieve at least social information of said identified user from said social network, by an information retrieval module;

acquire at least feedback from at least a social contact associated with said social network, by a feedback acquisition module;

aggregate at least social information of said identified user from at least a social network profile of said identified user, by an aggregation module;

generate at least a profile for said identified user based on at least one of said retrieved social information, said acquired feedback, and said generated validation score, by a profile generation module;

generate an evaluation score by a score generation module, wherein said score generation module is configured to produce at least an evaluation score for quantifying at least acquired feedback based on evaluation of a plurality of attributes of said identified user by one or more social contacts of said user,

generate a feedback authentication score by said score generation module, wherein said score generation module is configured to produce at least a feedback authentication score for quantifying at least authenticity of said acquired feedback based on at least feedback authentication criteria, wherein said feedback authentication criteria is determined using at least data related to authenticity of relationship between said identified user and said social contacts who provide said feedback;

generate a user authentication score by said score generation module, wherein said score generation module is configured to produce at least a user authentication score for quantifying at least authenticity of said identified user based on at least .user authentication criteria. wherein said user authentication criteria is determined using at least data related to at least one of a duration of time that said identified user is associated with said social network, a level of activity of said identified user in said social network, a number of social contacts of said identified user, a validation score of said social contact of said identified user;

generate at least an aggregate validation score for said identified user by defining at least an instruction for aggregating at least one of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score and said user authentication score, wherein at least a weighted combination of each of said scores is utilized in generating said composite score for said identified user, by an aggregate score generation module; and

determine, using said aggregate validation score, a validity of said identified user based at least a threshold validation score by said requesting party, by said aggregate score generation module.

26. The system as claimed in claim 24, said system further configured to:

receive, from said requesting party, at least one of a search criterion and a query for retrieving at least a plurality of users of said social network;

assess at least an aspect of said user, said aspect stored in a profile of said social network of said user; and

provide at least a unique identifier of said user matching at least one of said search criterion and said query from said requesting party.