Expanding a social network by the action of a single user
US9495716B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 2014 |
| Grant date | Nov 15, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 3, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L51/52
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques for creating a social network are provided. Private relationships that are established (e.g., in the context of instant messaging) may become public by the action of a single user. Each user determines whether they want to be “social” to (or discoverable by) friends of the user's friends. For example, user A is a friend of (i.e., has established a relationship with) user B and user B is a friend of user C, but user A and user C are not friends of each other (i.e., user A and user C have not established a relationship with each other). If user C unilaterally takes an action, then user A is able to see that user C is a friend of user B. User A may then take further actions to attempt to establish a relationship with user C or otherwise contact user C.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.