System and method for social network access

• US 9,519,937 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• 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): BAROT, BHARAT
• Application Number:
  US13/950,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 709203-207, 709217-219, 709223-228
• 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. Each user entity is able to take the role of provider or participant in applications where the provider provides an item or service to the participant.

Claims

1. A social network system, comprising:

at least one host computer; and

at least one database communicatively coupled to the at least one host computer, the social network system causing the at least one host computer to;

send, over a data network, at least one request associated with a first user of the social network system to at least one other user of the social network system to add a friend, an accepted request to add a friend to result in a second user to be included in a first user'"'"'s social network as a friend of the first user;

store, in data records of the at least one database, information indicating that the second user is a friend of the first user;

provide the first user searchable access to at least part of the data records stored in the at least one database; and

permit items and services to be shared between friends of the social network system.

2. The social network system of claim 1, wherein services to be shared between friends of the social network system comprise location-based services.

3. The social network system of claim 2, wherein the location-based services further causing the at least one host computer to determine the location of another user of the social network system via a Global Positioning System (GPS).

4. The social network system of claim 1, wherein the items to be shared between friends of the social network system comprise one of photographs, art work, literature, music, or any other content to be shared between friends of the social network system.

5. The social network system of claim 1, wherein the second user having at least one friend, the at least one friend of the second user having accepted at least one request associated with the second user to add a friend, the accepted request associated with the second user resulting in a third user to be included in a second user'"'"'s social network as a friend of the second user, wherein the third user is a friend of a friend to the first user.

6. The social network system of claim 5, wherein the third user having at least one friend in a third user'"'"'s social network, the social networks of the first, second, and third users collectively forming a plurality of social networks on the social network system, inter-connected by mutually connected contacts, wherein the second and third users are equivalent to a first user in their own social networks.

7. The social network system of claim 6, the social network system further causing the at least one host computer to provide the first user with at least partial control of privacy of their own social network with respect to another user seeking access to the data records pertaining to their own social network.

8. The social network system of claim 1, further causing the at least one host computer to store, in data records of the at least one database, information indicating identifying characteristics of the second user, wherein identifying characteristics of the second user comprise a name of the second user and a means of contacting the second user.

9. A method performed by a social network system, comprising:

sending, over a data network, at least one request associated with a first user of the social network system to at least one other user of the social network system to add a friend, an accepted request to add a friend to result in a second user to be included in a first user'"'"'s social network as a friend of the first user;

storing, in data records of the first user of at least one database, information indicating that the second user is a friend of the first user;

providing the first user searchable access to at least part of the data records of the first user stored in the at least one database; and

permitting items and services to be shared between friends of the social network system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein services to be shared between friends of the social network system comprise location-based services.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the location-based services used for determining the location of another user of the social network system via a Global Positioning System (GPS).

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the items to be shared between friends of the social network system comprise one of photographs, art work, literature, music, or any other content to be shared between friends of the social network system.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing, in the data records of the first user of the at least one database, information indicating identifying characteristics of the second user, wherein identifying characteristics of the second user comprise a name of the second user and a means of contacting the second user.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the second user having at least one friend, the at least one friend of the second user having accepted at least one request associated with the second user to add a friend, the accepted request associated with the second user resulting in a third user to be included in a second user'"'"'s social network as a friend of the second user, wherein the third user is a friend of a friend to the first user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the third user having at least one friend in a third user'"'"'s social network, the social networks of the first, second, and third users collectively forming a plurality of social networks on the social network system, inter-connected by mutually connected contacts, wherein the second and third users are equivalent to a first user in their own social networks.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing the first user with at least partial control of privacy of their own social network with respect to another user seeking access to the data records pertaining to their own social network.