Cross social network data aggregation

• US 9,210,201 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2014
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Dale, Scott, Brown, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Liangche A
• Application Number:
  US14/272,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20140244761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/202, 709/204, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/223, 709/226
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

Disclosed in some examples is a method of aggregating social networking data by receiving first authentication information for a first social networking service, the first authentication information being associated with a user and being received from a first social networking application, receiving second authentication information for a second social networking service, the second authentication information being associated with the user and being received from a second social networking application, requesting first information regarding the user from the first social networking service using the first authentication information, receiving the first information regarding the user from the first social networking service and storing the received first information, requesting second information regarding the user from the second social networking service using the second authentication information; and receiving the second information regarding the user from the second social networking service and storing the received second information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in an automated operation using one or more computer processors and performed in response to user selection of a first social networking application presented via a user device associated with a user in a graphical user interface of a first social networking service, communicating a request for the first social networking application to an application server over a computer network;

receiving the first social networking application; and

executing the first social networking application, causing the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising;

sending a request for social networking related data about the user over the computer network to the application server, the request including an authentication token received in response to a successful authentication between the first social networking application and the first social networking service;

receiving a response including the social networking related data, the social networking related data including information from a profile of the user from the first social networking service and information from a profile of the user from a second social networking service, the information from the profile of the user from the second social networking service supplied to the application server based upon information provided by a second social networking application associated with the second social networking service, the second social networking application performing different instructions than the first social networking application; and

causing display of the social networking related data on the user device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the response further includes information from a profile of the user from a third social networking service supplied to the application server based upon information provided by a third social networking application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first social networking application forms at least part of a computer-implemented game.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the displaying of social networking related data to the user occurs as part of the gameplay within the computer-implemented game.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the social networking related data includes at least a user connection list.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing of the first social networking application further comprises periodically sending further requests for social networking related data to the application server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing of the first social networking application further comprises requesting from the application server social networking related data about a second user, the second user being connected to the first user'"'"'s profile on the first social networking service.

8. A system comprising:

a user terminal, including one or more computer processors configured to;

in automated operation in response to user selection of a first social networking application presented via a user device associated with a user in a graphical user interface of a first social networking service, communicate a request for the first social networking application to an application server over a computer network;

receive the first social networking application; and

execute the first social networking application, the first social networking application configuring the one or more computer processors to include;

a communication module configured to;

send a request for social networking related data about the user over the computer network to the application server, the request including an authentication token received in response to a successful authentication between the first social networking application and the first social networking service;

receive a response including the social networking related data, the social networking related data including information from a profile of the user from the first social networking service and information from a profile of the user from a second social networking service, the information from the profile of the user from the second social networking service supplied to the application server based upon information provided by a second social networking application associated with the second social networking service, the second social networking application performing different instructions than the first social networking application; and

an input and output module configured to cause display of the social networking related data on the user device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the response further includes information of the profile from a third social networking service supplied to the application server based upon information provided by a third social networking application.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first social networking application forms at least part of a computer-implemented game.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the displaying of the social networking related data to the user occurs as part of the gameplay within the computer-implemented game.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the social networking related data includes at least a user connection list.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication module is configured to periodically send further requests for social networking data to the application server.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication module is further configured to request from the application server social networking related data about a second user, the second user being connected to the first user'"'"'s profile on the first social networking service.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores instructions which when performed by a machine, causes the machine to perform operations comprising:

in an automated operation using one or more computer processors and performed in response to user selection of a first social networking application presented via a user device associated with a user in a graphical user interface of a first social networking service, communicating a request for the first social networking application to an application server over a computer network;

receiving the first social networking application; and

executing the first social networking application, causing the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising;

sending a request for social networking related data about the user over the computer network to the application server, the request including an authentication token received in response to a successful authentication between the first social networking application and the first social networking service;

receiving a response including the social networking related data, the social networking related data including information from a profile of the user from the first social networking service and information from a profile of the user from a second social networking service, the information from the profile of the user from the second social networking service supplied to the application server based upon information provided by a second social networking application associated with the second social networking service, the second social networking application performing different instructions than the first social networking application; and

causing display of the social networking related data on the user device.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the response further includes information from a profile of the user from a third social networking service supplied to the application server based upon information provided by a third social networking application.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first social networking application forms at least part of a computer-implemented game.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the operations for displaying of social networking related data to the user occurs as part of the gameplay within the computer-implemented game.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the social networking related data includes at least a user connection list.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise periodically sending further requests for social networking related data to the application server.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise requesting from the application server social networking related data about a second user, the second user being connected to the first user'"'"'s profile on the first social networking service.