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System and method for managing information flow between members of an online social network

  • US 9,760,639 B2
  • Filed: 01/14/2014
  • Issued: 09/12/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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.

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