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A method of inducing content uploads in an online network includes the steps of storing content relating to a first member of the network that is submitted by a second member of the network, receiving approval of the content from the first member, and associating the content with the first member. The uploaded content may comprise an image file containing a photo of the first member and a caption associated with the photo image. The second user uploads the content relating to the first member using a GUI. This GUI is made available to the second user through a hyperlink that appears when a profile page of the first member is accessed if the degree of separation between the first member and the second member is less than or equal to a maximum degree of separation set by the first user. On the other hand, the hyperlink to this GUI will not appear when the profile page of the first member is accessed by the second member if the degree of separation between the first member and the...

Inventors: Christopher Lunt, Jonathan Abrams, Samuel Sanchez
Original Assignee: Friendster, Inc.
Primary Examiner: Bharat Barot
Secondary Examiner: Liang-che Alex Wang
Attorney: Patterson & Sheridan, LLP
Current U.S. Classification: 709/218; 705/319; 707/999.003; 707/999.005; 709/204; 709/217; 709/219; 709/227; 709/228

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Claims

1. In a computer system including a server computer and a database of registered users that stores for each registered user, a user ID of the registered user and user IDs of registered users who are directly connected to the registered user, a method of managing content associated with the registered users, the method comprising the steps of:

storing content relating to a first registered user that is submitted by a second registered user;

retrieving a maximum degree of separation, wherein two registered users who are directly connected are deemed to be separated by one degree of separation and two registered users who are connected through no less than one other registered user are deemed to be separated by two degrees of separation and two registered users who are connected through no less than N other registered users are deemed to be separated by N+1 degrees of separation;

calculating a degree of separation between the first registered user and the second registered user;

requesting approval of the content from the first registered user if the calculated degree of separation is greater than the maximum degree of separation;
receiving approval of the content from the first registered user; and
associating the content with the first registered user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises an image file containing an photo image of the first registered user.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the content further comprises a caption associated with the photo image.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to view a profile of the first registered user; and transmitting the content in response to the request.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of associating comprises the step of associating the content to a profile of the first registered user.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the maximum degree of separation is one.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of receiving an input of the maximum degree of separation from the first registered user and storing the maximum degree of separation.

8. In a computer system including a server computer and a database of registered users that stores for each registered user, a user ID of the registered user and user IDs of registered users who are directly connected to the registered user, a method of managing content uploads, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to view a profile of a first registered user from a second registered user;

retrieving a maximum degree of separation, wherein two registered users who are directly connected are deemed to be separated by one degree of separation and two registered users who are connected through no less than one other registered user are deemed to be separated by two degrees of separation and two registered users who are connected through no less than N other registered users are deemed to be separated by N+1 degrees of separation;

calculating a degree of separation between the first registered user and the second registered user; and

if the calculated degree of separation is less than or equal to the maximum degree of separation, transmitting the profile of the first registered user to the second registered user and a hyperlink to a GUI that permits the second registered user to upload content relating to the first registered user on behalf of the first registered user.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the maximum degree of separation is one.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

if the calculated degree of separation is one, storing the content uploaded by the second registered user and associating the uploaded content to the profile of the first registered user; and

if the calculated degree of separation is greater than one, storing the content uploaded by the second registered user and associating the uploaded content to the profile of the first registered user upon receipt of an approval of the uploaded content by the first registered user.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

receiving another request to view the profile of the first registered user; and

transmitting the uploaded content in response to the request.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of receiving an input of the maximum degree of separation from the first registered user and storing the maximum degree of separation.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

storing the content uploaded by the second registered user;

transmitting a request to the first registered user for approval of the uploaded content; and

associating the uploaded content to the profile of the first registered user upon receipt of the approval from the first registered user.

14. A user profile management system, comprising:

a memory device including a database of registered users that stores for each registered user, a user profile, a user ID of the registered user, user IDs of registered users who are directly connected to the registered user, and a maximum degree of separation, wherein two registered users who are directly connected are deemed to be separated by one degree of separation and two registered users who are connected through no less than one other registered user are deemed to be separated by two degrees of separation and two registered users who are connected through no less than N other registered users are deemed to be separated by N+1 degrees of separation; and

a processing unit programmed to calculate the degree of separation between a first registered user and a second registered user and permit upload of content relating to the first registered user from the second registered user if the degree of separation between the first registered user and the second registered user is less than or equal to the maximum degree of separation.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the maximum degree of separation is one.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the processing unit is further programmed to prompt the first registered user to specify the maximum degree of separation.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the processing unit is further programmed to receive and store the uploaded content and to associate the uploaded content to the first registered user.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processing unit is further programmed to receive a request to view a profile of the first registered user and to transmit the uploaded content in response to the request.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the uploaded content comprises an image file containing a photo image of the first registered user.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the uploaded content further comprises a caption associated with the photo image.

Drawings