Searching and reference checking within social networks
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- receiving, via a first user interface presented in a first web page, search criteria for a search to be performed, the search to identify members of a social networking system having member profiles that satisfy the search criteria;
using the received search criteria, performing a search of member profiles to identify one or more member profiles that satisfy the search criteria;
causing a second user interface to be presented in a second web page, the second user interface displaying a first set of search results including the one or more member profiles identified as having satisfied the search criteria;
receiving, via the second user interface, user-input representing a selection of a particular member profile presented in the set of search results;
responsive to receiving the user-input, causing a third user interface to be presented in a third web page, the third user interface representing a member profile page for the particular member profile that has been selected from the search results, the third user interface presented in the third web page including a user interface object configured to facilitate an automated search of the social networking system to locate references for the member whose member profile has been selected from the search results and presented via the third web page;
upon detecting selection of the user interface object, automatically performing a second search of the social networking system for individuals within a social network of a searcher that selected the user interface object and whose member profiles indicate employment with an organization at which the member whose member profile has been selected from the search results and presented via the third web page was also employed during a common time period; and
subsequent to performing the second search, causing a fourth user interface to be presented in a fourth web page, the fourth user interface presenting a second set of search results for the second search.
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method for identifying a potential reference is disclosed. In one embodiment, a user interface (UI) object (e.g., a one-click reference search button) is provided, for example, on a web page displayed at a user'"'"'s client device. When selected, the UI object causes a reference search query to be generated. The search query identifies the user performing the search, and a target person for whom the user would like a reference. The search query is communicated to, and processed by, a social networking system (e.g., through an API function call). In turn, the social networking system returns information about potential references to the client.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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receiving, via a first user interface presented in a first web page, search criteria for a search to be performed, the search to identify members of a social networking system having member profiles that satisfy the search criteria; using the received search criteria, performing a search of member profiles to identify one or more member profiles that satisfy the search criteria; causing a second user interface to be presented in a second web page, the second user interface displaying a first set of search results including the one or more member profiles identified as having satisfied the search criteria; receiving, via the second user interface, user-input representing a selection of a particular member profile presented in the set of search results; responsive to receiving the user-input, causing a third user interface to be presented in a third web page, the third user interface representing a member profile page for the particular member profile that has been selected from the search results, the third user interface presented in the third web page including a user interface object configured to facilitate an automated search of the social networking system to locate references for the member whose member profile has been selected from the search results and presented via the third web page; upon detecting selection of the user interface object, automatically performing a second search of the social networking system for individuals within a social network of a searcher that selected the user interface object and whose member profiles indicate employment with an organization at which the member whose member profile has been selected from the search results and presented via the third web page was also employed during a common time period; and subsequent to performing the second search, causing a fourth user interface to be presented in a fourth web page, the fourth user interface presenting a second set of search results for the second search. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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displaying a member profile page for a target user within a social network; receiving, via the member profile page, a request from a requesting user within the social network to search for one or more reference users connected to the requesting user within the social network and having a member profile indicating employment at an organization at which the target member was employed during a common time period; identifying one or more reference users connected to the requesting user and having a member profile indicating employment at an organization at which the target member was employed during a common time period; and presenting a result of the request to the requesting user that includes information associated with the identified one or more reference users and a list of previously and/or currently held employment positions of the target user, wherein selection of an employment position in the list will modify the presentation of the one or more identified references to include only those references whose member profile indicates employment with an organization at which the target user was employed in an employment position identified by the selected employment position, during a common time period. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium whose contents, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a method, the method comprising:
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displaying a member profile page for a target user within a social network; receiving, via the member profile page, a request from a requesting user within the social network to search for one or more reference users connected to the requesting user within the social network and having a member profile indicating employment at an organization at which the target member was employed during a common time period; identifying one or more reference users connected to the requesting user who have a member profile indicating employment at an organization at which the target member was employed during a common time period; and presenting a result of the request to the requesting user that includes information associated with the identified one or more reference users, and a list of previously and/or currently held employment positions of the target user, wherein selection of an employment position in the list will modify the presentation of the one or more identified references to include only those references whose member profile indicates employment with an organization at which the target user was employed in an employment position identified by the selected employment position, during a common time period. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification