Social network system and method of operation

• US 9,305,318 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2011
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoom Video Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Ryan, Grant James, Franklin, Gary Lee, Cone, Julian Malcolm, Stalker, William Ferguson, Robinson, Derick Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B
• Application Number:
  US13/009,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/223, 709/227, 709/230, 709/217, 709/225, 707/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/554 Data synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/557 Portable profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons

Abstract

A method of forming unique, private, personal, virtual social networks on a social network system that includes a database storing data relating to corresponding user entities. The method includes: a first user entity sending an invitation to a second user entity, recording in the database the second user entity as a direct contact of the first user entity and determining that third user entities, directly connected to the second user entity, are indirect contacts. A unique, personal, social network formed from direct and indirect contacts is thereby created for each user entity. Each user entity is able to control privacy of its data with respect to other user entities depending on the connection factor to that other entity and/or that other entity'"'"'s attributes.

Claims

1. At least one server computer system capable of accessing database information to be provided, at least in part, via at least one network, the at least one server computer system comprising:

at least one server computer;

a database to store the database information;

the database information to include;

attribute data associated with user entities, the at least one server computer system permitting the attribute data to include;

respective user entity name information;

respective user entity contact information;

respective user entity password information;

respective user employment information;

respective user relationship status information;

respective user entity interrelationship information indicative of degree of connectedness, if any, between the user entities, the degree of connectedness, if any, indicating one of;

friend relationship; and

friend of friend relationship;

the at least one server computer system being capable of;

permitting searching, at least in part, of the database information, based at least in part upon search criteria, the searching being to identify at least one user entity associated, at least in part, with the attribute data satisfying, at least in part, the search criteria;

receiving a request to invite the at least one user entity to become a friend of at least one other user entity;

permitting access, at least in part, to the attribute data for visual display;

restricting access, at least in part, to and the searching of the attribute data by the at least one other user entity based upon one or more privacy settings to be provided by the at least one user entity; and

permitting the at least one user entity to choose not to accept the invitation.

2. The at least one server computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the respective user entity contact information includes at least one of;

telephone number; and

email address.

3. The at least one server computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the relationship status information is to indicate one of;

single;

married;

divorced; and

separated.

4. The at least one server computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the attribute data is to be provided, at least in part, via computer devices, the computer devices comprising one or more of the following;

at least one laptop;

at least one mobile phone; and

at least one personal computer.

5. The at least one server computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one network comprises at least one of;

a wireless network;

public telephone network; and

Internet network.

6. The at least one server computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one server computer system also is capable of permitting the attribute data to comprise at least one photo.

7. The at least one server computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the attribute data is to be provided, at least in part, via computer devices; and

the at least one server computer system is capable of providing data for display at at least one of the computer devices that numerically indicates a number of friends of the at least one user entity.

8. The at least one server computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the attribute data is to be provided, at least in part, via computer devices; and

the at least one server computer system is capable of automatically synching, at least in part, updated attribute data to the computer devices.

9. The at least one server computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one server computer system is capable of providing location based services based upon at least one of;

GPS, mobile cell site location, and manually entered location information.

10. The at least one server computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one server computer system is capable of restricting viewing, at least in part, of the attribute data based upon whether the at least one user entity and the at least one other user entity are in a friend relationship or friend of friend relationship.