System and method for managing information flow between members of an online social network
First Claim
1. A method comprising, by one or more processors associated with one or more computing devices:
- receiving, at an application server of an online social network from a client device of a first member of the online social network, member profile information and contact information through an interface of the online social network;
receiving, at the application server from the client device, preference settings of the first member through the interface of the online social network, wherein the preference settings determines a flow of member information to other members in the online social network and a flow of information to the first member;
sending, by the application server, a query to a social graph server of the online social network for information identifying one or more second members of the online social network based on the contact information, wherein a relationship database of the social graph server stores a social graph structure comprising a plurality of nodes corresponding to a plurality of members of the online social network and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes, each edge establishing a degree of separation between two nodes;
determining, by the application server, an authorization level of the first member with respect to each second member for establishing a relationship on the online social network, the authorization level being based on the preference settings;
establishing, by the application server, relationship information with one or more of the one or more second members based on the contact information and the authorization level with respect to the second member; and
updating, by the application server, a member database with the member profile information, contact information, and the identified relationship information.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An online social network is provided in which members of the online social network control who may view their personal information and who may communicate with them. The members control who may view their personal information by setting a visibility preference. A member may not view another member'"'"'s full personal profile if the measure of relatedness between the two is greater than the visibility preference of the other member. The members also control who may communicate with them by setting a contactability preference. A member may not communicate with another member if the measure of relatedness between the two is greater than the contactability preference of the other member.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising, by one or more processors associated with one or more computing devices:
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receiving, at an application server of an online social network from a client device of a first member of the online social network, member profile information and contact information through an interface of the online social network; receiving, at the application server from the client device, preference settings of the first member through the interface of the online social network, wherein the preference settings determines a flow of member information to other members in the online social network and a flow of information to the first member; sending, by the application server, a query to a social graph server of the online social network for information identifying one or more second members of the online social network based on the contact information, wherein a relationship database of the social graph server stores a social graph structure comprising a plurality of nodes corresponding to a plurality of members of the online social network and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes, each edge establishing a degree of separation between two nodes; determining, by the application server, an authorization level of the first member with respect to each second member for establishing a relationship on the online social network, the authorization level being based on the preference settings; establishing, by the application server, relationship information with one or more of the one or more second members based on the contact information and the authorization level with respect to the second member; and updating, by the application server, a member database with the member profile information, contact information, and the identified relationship information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. One or more machine-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed by one or more processors associated with one or more computer systems to:
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receive, at an application server of an online social network from a client device of a first member of the online social network, member profile information and contact information through an interface of the online social network; receive, at the application server from the client device, preference settings of the first member through the interface of the online social network, wherein the preference settings determines a flow of member information to other members in the online social network and a flow of information to the first member; send, by the application server, a query to a social graph server of the online social network for information identifying one or more second members of the online social network based on the contact information, wherein a relationship database of the social graph server stores a social graph structure comprising a plurality of nodes corresponding to a plurality of members of the online social network and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes, each edge establishing a degree of separation between two nodes; determine, by the application server, an authorization level of the first member with respect to each second member for establishing a relationship on the online social network, the authorization level being based on the preference settings; establishing, by the application server relationship information with one or more of the one or more second members based on the contact information and the authorization level with respect to the second member; and update, by the application server, a member database with the member profile information, contact information, and the identified relationship information.
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20. A system, comprising:
- a processor; and
a non-transitory machine-readable medium configured with instructions to be executed by the processor to;receive, at an application server of an online social network from a client device of a first member of the online social network, member profile information and contact information through an interface of the online social network; receive, at the application server from the client device, preference settings of the first member through the interface of the online social network, wherein the preference settings determines a flow of member information to other members in the online social network and a flow of information to the first member; send, by the application server, a query to a social graph server of the online social network for information identifying one or more second members of the online social network based on the contact information, wherein a relationship database of the social graph server stores a social graph structure comprising a plurality of nodes corresponding to a plurality of members of the online social network and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes, each edge establishing a degree of separation between two nodes; determine, by the application server, an authorization level of the first member with respect to each second member for establishing a relationship on the online social network, the authorization level being based on the preference settings; establishing, by the application server relationship information with one or more of the one or more second members based on the contact information and the authorization level with respect to the second member; and update, by the application server, a member database with the member profile information, contact information, and the identified relationship information.
- a processor; and
Specification