System, method and apparatus for connecting users in an online computer system based on their relationships within social networks

• US 20050021750A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Friendster Incorporated (Mol.com Bhd.)
• Inventors: Abrams, Jonathan H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

A method and apparatus for calculating, displaying and acting upon relationships in a social network is described. A computer system collects descriptive data about various individuals and allows those individuals to indicate other individuals with whom they have a personal relationship. The descriptive data and the relationship data are integrated and processed to reveal the series of social relationships connecting any two individuals within a social network. The pathways connecting any two individuals can be displayed. Further, the social network itself can be displayed to any number of degrees of separation. A user of the system can determine the optimal relationship path (i.e., contact pathway) to reach desired individuals. A communications tool allows individuals in the system to be introduced (or introduce themselves) and initiate direct communication.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a first user to a second user in an online system, the method comprising:

collecting relational data from every user in the online system, said relational data including whether a user has a personal relationship with another user; and

calculating at least one relational path between the first user and the second user using said relational data, said one relational path including a series of at least one intermediary user, each having a contiguous personal relationship.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said calculating further comprises:

searching for a first group of users within the system each having a personal relationship with the first user;

exploring each subsequent relational path of said first group of users up to a maximum number of subsequent relational paths between the first user and the second user;

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying said at least one relational path between the first user and the second user.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying said at least one relational path between the first user and the second user up to a maximum number of subsequent relational path between the first user and the second user.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inviting a new user outside the system to join the system; and

collecting relational data of said new user.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

introducing the second user to the first user.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

facilitating the introduction among said intermediary users within said at least one relational path between the first user and the second user.

8. An apparatus for connecting a first user to a second user in a system, the method comprising:

a database storing relational data of every users within the system, said relational data including whether a user has a personal relationship with another user; and

a server coupled to said database, said server collecting said relational data from every user in the system and calculating at least one relational path between the first user and the second user using said relational data, said one relational path including a series of at least one intermediary user, each having a contiguous personal relationship.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a mail server coupled to said database and said server, said mail server communicating with the first user and the second user;

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said server further comprises:

a web application server communicating over a network, said web application server soliciting said relational data from said users and inviting other users outside the system to join the system.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said database further comprises descriptive data, preference data, and relationship data.

12. A system for connecting a first user to a second user, the system comprising:

a first user device;

a second user device;

a network coupled to said first user device and said second user device;

an apparatus coupled to said network, said apparatus having;

a database storing relational data of every user signed up with said apparatus, said relational data including whether a user has a personal relationship with another user; and

a server coupled to said database, said server collecting said relational data from every user signed up with said apparatus and calculating at least one relational path between the first user and the second user using said relational data, said one relational path including a series of at least one intermediary user, each having a contiguous personal relationship.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said apparatus further comprises:

a mail server coupled to said database and said server, said mail server communicating with the first user and the second user via said network.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said server further comprises:

a web application server communicating with said network, said web application server soliciting said relational data from said users and inviting other users outside the system to join the system.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said database further comprises descriptive data, preference data, and relationship data.

16. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions readable by the machine to perform a method for connecting a first user to a second user in a system, the method comprising:

collecting relational data from every user in the system, said relational data including whether a user has a personal relationship with another user; and

calculating at least one relational path between the first user and the second user using said relational data, said one relational path including a series of at least one intermediary user, each having a contiguous personal relationship.

17. An apparatus for connecting a first user to a second user in a system, the method comprising:

means for collecting relational data from every user in the system, said relational data including whether a user has a personal relationship with another user; and

means for calculating at least one relational path between the first user and the second user using said relational data, said one relational path including a series of at least one intermediary user, each having a contiguous personal relationship.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said means for calculating further comprises:

means for searching for a first group of users within the system each having a personal relationship with the first user;

means for exploring each subsequent relational path of said first group of users up to a maximum number of subsequent relational paths between the first user and the second user;

19. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

means for communicating said at least one relational path between the first user and the second user to said first user.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

means for communicating said at least one relational path between the first user and the second user up to a maximum number of subsequent relational paths between the first user and the second user to said first user.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

means for inviting a new user outside the system to join the system; and

means for collecting relational data of said new user.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

means for introducing the second user to the first user.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

means for facilitating the introduction among said intermediary users within said at least one relational path between the first user and the second user.

24. A method for connecting users in a system, comprising:

soliciting identifier and characteristic data of said users;

aggregating and displaying said data, wherein profiles describing said users are created, said users providing lists of individuals with whom they have personal relationships;

inviting said individuals to join the system, wherein said individuals become themselves users;

storing said identifier and characteristic data, and said lists;

calculating a series of intermediary personal relationships that connect any two of said users, thereby determining a path connecting said two users;

repeating said process for a plurality of said users, wherein a map is created showing a plurality of paths linking any one of said users to all other said users for which a path exists;

displaying said map or said profile; and

facilitating introductions and interaction among said users for whom said path exists.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said soliciting identifier and characteristic data further includes communicating over a network.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said inviting said individuals to join said system includes communicating over a network.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one of the characteristic data elements of said user is selected from the group consisting of age, religion, ethnicity, marital status, parental status, body type, education level, interests, height, weight, hair color, eye color, school affiliation, work affiliation, prior places of employment, location, military affiliation, and occupation.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said characteristic data includes comments or opinions of any said user regarding any other said user.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said characteristic data includes professional or career information, such as profession, employment status, employment history, salary history, desired salary, career goals, and academic achievements.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein said characteristic data includes affiliation information.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said affiliation information further comprises schools attended, religion, favorite sports teams, league membership, club membership, philanthropies, and political affiliations.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein said characteristic data includes commercial data.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said commercial data further comprises commercial prices of goods and services, commissions on goods and services, availability of goods and services, and availability of space.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein said characteristic data includes comments of any of said user with respect to the nature of their relationship with any other of said users.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein said characteristic data of said user includes a picture or other visual representation of said user.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein said characteristic data of said user includes recorded audio or video of said user.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein said profile may be displayed or hidden at the discretion of said user.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein a portion of said profile may be displayed or hidden at the discretion of said user.

39. The method of claim 24, wherein said profile is presented with said map.

40. The method of claim 24, wherein said profile is presented independently of said map.

41. The method of claim 24, wherein said inviting includes sending an e-mail to said individual.

42. The method of claim 24, wherein said inviting includes leaving a notification within said system.

43. The method of claim 24, wherein said map may be displayed or hidden at the discretion of said user.

44. The method of claim 24, wherein said map is presented with said profile.

45. The method of claim 24, wherein said map is presented independently from said profile.

46. The method of claim 24, wherein only a portion of said map is presented.

47. The method of claim 24, wherein said communication system is selected from the group consisting of e-mail, instant messaging, telephone, wireless telephone, internet voice communications, or video communications.

48. The method of claim 24, wherein said communication system does not reveal said users e-mail addresses.

49. The method of claim 24, wherein said communication system is based on the protocol commonly known as “

instant messaging”

.