Identity management for open overlay for social networks and online services

• US 7,792,903 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Clark, Bryan, Fischer, Donald, Taylor, Owen, Pennington, Havoc, Walters, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim; Krisna
• Application Number:
  US11/443,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20070282987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 715/753, 715/758, 715/759
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for managing the multiple identities used by a user. The user'"'"'s existing contact lists, website accounts, buddy lists, and the like are analyzed to determine the identities used by the user. A graph is then constructed in order to track and integrate the multiple identities of the user in a social network. The social network graph may then be used by a social network overlay so that the user can share information across their different identities with different users that only know some of the user'"'"'s multiple identities.

Claims

1. A method for forming a social network comprising a plurality of groups of users, said method comprising:

determining, by a server, when a user has invited a new user to join the social network;

selecting an existing group from the plurality of groups in the social network to which the inviting user and other existing users of the social network belong; and

distributing information about the new user to the inviting user and the other existing users of the existing group in response to the new user joining the social network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, by the server, when a user has invited the new user comprises:

identifying the new user based on information provided by the user in an invitation form;

assigning the new user a temporary identity in the social network; and

distributing information about the new user'"'"'s temporary identity to the inviting user and the other existing users of the existing group.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a temporary identity for the new user; and

distributing the temporary identity for the new user to the inviting user and the other existing users of the existing group until the user has completed a registration into the social network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the existing group comprises other users in the social network that are interested in having the new user join the social network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the existing group comprises other users in the social network that are friends of the inviting user.