BRPI0721260A2 - Web-based social network member location methods and systems - Google Patents

Abstract

Web-Based Social Networking Member Tracking Methods and Systems. Systems and methods are provided for automatically locating Web-based social networking members. According to one embodiment, the contact content including an associated GPS identifier and status for members Web-based social networks located at or near the same location automatically appear on the GPS-enabled device. Another exemplary system includes a GPS-enabled device configured to receive a GPS identifier and status representing a location and current state for a web-based social network member, a processing module that associates the received GPS identifier and the status. received and a communications module that sends the GPS identifier and associated status to a server comprising a web-based social networking database. The contact's content in a web-based social networking database record in the database The web-based social network is updated to include the GPS identifier and associated status for the web-based social network member.

Description

"Web-Based Social Network Member Location Methods and Systems" Descriptive Report Reference to Related Requests

This Application incorporates, by reference:

Serial Patent Application US 11 / 639,655 filed December 14, 2006 for "Systems and Methods for Social Mapping" which in turn claims the benefit and priority of the Provisional Patent Application. Serial Number US 60 / 750,844, filed December 14, 2005, for "Systems and Methods for Social Mapping",

Serial Patent Application US 11 / 646,206, filed December 26, 2006, for "Systems and Methods for Social Mapping", which in turn claims the benefit and priority of Provisional Patent Application No. US 60 / 753,810, filed December 23, 2005, for "Systems and Methods for Social Timeline",

Serial Patent Application US 11 / 493,291, filed July 25, 2006, for "Systems and Methods for Dynamically Generating a Privacy Summary",

Serial Patent Application US 11 / 499,093, filed August 2, 2006, for "Systems and Methods for Dynamically Generating Segmented Community Flyersn,

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Serial Patent Application US 11 / 502,757, filed August 11, 2006, for "Systems and Methods for Dynamically Generating Dynamic Relationship-Based Content Customized Members of a Web-Based Social Networhf,

Serial Patent Application US 11 / 503,093, filed August 11, 2006, for "Systems and Methods for Measuring User Affinity in a Social Network Environmenf,

Serial Patent Application US 11 / 503,037 filed August 11, 2006 for "Systems and Methods for Providing Dynamically Selected Content to a User of at Electronic Device in a Social Network Environmenf,

Serial Patent Application US 11 / 503,222, filed August 11, 2006, for "Systems and Methods for Providing a News Feed About a User of a Social Network,

Serial Patent Application US 11 / 580,210, filed October 11, 2006, for "Systems and Methods for Tagging Digital Media",

Provisional Patent Application Serial No. US 60 / 856,416, filed November 3, 2006, for "Systems and Methods for a Web-Based Social Networking Environment Integrated WIthin One or More Computing and / or Networking Applications",

Provisional Patent Application for US Serial Number, filed February 2, 2007, Attorney No. PA4074PRV, entitled "Systems and Methods for Automatic Giving Gifls and Displying Assets in a Social Network Environmenf,"

Serial Number US Patent Application

Filed on February 2, 2007, Lawyer File No. PA3700US, entitled "Systems and Methods for Digital File Distributors," US_ Serial Patent Application, filed on February 2, 2007, Lawyer File No. PA3702US, entitled "Systems and Methods for Automatic Population of a Contact File with Contact Content and Expression Contenf,

Serial Number US Patent Application

on February 2, 2007, Attorney No. PA4029US, entitled "Systems and Methods for Determining a Trust I took in a Social Network Environmenf, and

Serial Number US Patent Application

filed February 2, 2007, Lawyer PA4032US, entitled 'Systems and Methods for Curtailing Objectionable Behavior in a Web-Based Social NetworK'.

Background of the Invention

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to social networks based on

Web sites, and more particularly systems and methods for automatically locating members of the web-based social network.

Related Technique Description

Deciding whether to contact a private friend, classmate, or co-worker often depends on where the person is located and what that person is doing. Typically, such a decision has to be made in a limited amount of time with a limited amount of information. In addition, when a person arrives at a particular location, such as a park or mall, they often want to know if someone they know is also in the same location. There is thus a need for systems and methods to automatically locate web-based social network members.

Summary of the Invention

Systems and methods are provided for automatically locating members of the web-based social network. An exemplary method includes receiving a GPS identifier on a device, receiving a status on the device, associating the GPS identifier and status, and storing a copy. associated GPS identifier and status in a contact file on the device, and sending the associated GPS identifier and status to a server, comprising a web-based social networking database. Another exemplary method includes receiving via a network on a server, comprising a web-based social networking database, a GPS identifier and associated statuses for a web-based social networking member, updating the contact's content in a web-based social networking database record in the bank -based social network data with the GPS identifier associated with the status for the web-based social network member and provide the content from the contact to a communication module to send over the network to a device having a contact file configured to automatically store contact content.

An exemplary embodiment system comprises a device with a GPS module configured to receive a GPS identifier, a status entry screen on the device configured to receive a status, a processing module on the device configured to associate the GPS identifier and status, a contact file on the device configured to store a copy of the GPS identifier and associated status, and a communication module on the device configured to send the associated GPS identifier and status to a server comprising a web-based social networking database. Another exemplary system includes a server comprising a web-based social networking database, the server being configured to receive via a network a GPS identifier and associated statuses for a web-based social network member, including the web-based social network database a record of web-based social networking database for the web-based social networking member, the web-based social networking database record being configured to update contact content with the associated GPS identifier and the server is still configured to provide contact content for a communications module to send over the network to a device having a contact file configured to automatically store contact content.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary architecture for

automatically tag members of the web-based social network;

Figure 2 shows a screenshot for an exemplary status screen used to pass a status to a web-based social network member to a web-based social network database;

Figure 3 shows a screenshot for a web-based social network database record;

Figure 4 shows a screenshot of an exemplary contact content screen; and

Figure 5 shows a flowchart for an exemplary method.

to automatically locate a web-based social network member. Detailed Description of the Invention

Systems and methods for automatically locating members of the web-based social network are provided. According to one embodiment, a GPS identifier is received in a GPS-enabled device that is used to query a social network-based database. Contact content including a GPS identifier and associated status for other web-based social network members located at or near the same location automatically appears on the GPS-enabled device. Another exemplary system includes a GPS-enabled device configured to receive a GPS identifier and status representing a location and current state for a web-based social network member, a processing module that associates the GPS identifier. and status received and a communications module that sends the associated GPS identifier and status to a server comprising a web-based social networking database. The contact content in a web-based social networking database record in a Web-based social networking database is updated to include the GPS identifier and associated status for the web-based social networking member.

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary architecture 100 for automatically locating web-based social network members. Architecture 100 comprises a server 105, a network 140, and a GPS-enabled device 145. Server 105 comprises a server location application 110 and a web-based social networking database 135. The server finder application 110 includes a lookup module 115, a privacy settings module 120, a device user settings module 125, and a specification and optimization module The GPS-enabled device 145 comprises a device display 150 and a device tracking application 155. The device tracking application 155 includes a Global Positioning System ("GPS") module 160, a 165, a contact file 170, and a communication module 175.

According to one method, a member of a web-based social network having a GPS-enabled device 145 receives a GPS identifier in the GPS module 160. The GPS identifier may represent a current geographic location (e.g., street address). ) for a member of the web-based social network. For example, a GPS identifier may be received on the GPS module 160 of the GPS-enabled device 145, which indicates that 123 Main Street, College Town, CA 90210 is a current geographic location. to the member. Using a keyboard, touchscreen, or similar mechanism on the GPS 145-enabled device, the member can enter a status, which is received by the GPS 145-enabled device. The status represents a current state for the member in, or, near the time the GPS identifier is received on the GSP 160 module. A status may include an arbitrary designation, such as "at home", "at work", "doctor's office", and / or other designation. similar arbitrary. A processing module 165 associates the received GPS identifier with the received status. For example, processing module 165 may associate the GPS identifier received from 123 Main Street, College Town, CA 90210 with the received status of "at home". A copy of the GPS identifier and associated status is stored in contact file 170. A communication module 175 sends the GPS identifier and associated status to server 105, where it is received. Server 105 comprises a web-based social networking database 135. Web-based social networking database 135 comprises a web-based social networking database record 300 (Figure 3) for each network member Web-based social network. Contact content in the Web-based 300 social network database record is updated to include the associated GPS identifier and status. The updated web-based social network database record may be consulted by other members of the web-based social network, subject to privacy settings as described in this document.

In an alternative method, instead of receiving a GPS identifier in the GPS module 160, a web-based social network member can manually enter a street address using a keyboard or touch screen from a GPS enabled device. 145 or a non-GPS enabled device. The street address is received by the GPS 145 enabled device or non-GPS enabled device in a similar way to the way a GPS identifier is received by the GPS 145 enabled device. When a status is received by the GPS GPS-enabled device 145 or non-GPS-enabled device, processing module 165 associates the received street address with the received status. Contact file 170 stores a copy of the associated street address and status, and communication module 175 sends the associated street address and status to server 105.

In another alternative method, the GPS identifier may include information using or originating from one or more of several different types of technologies that provide both full location and partial information, including, without limitation, network based triangulation, as well as hybrid approaches using various GPS networks.

In an exemplary system, processing module 165 is further configured to check contact file 170 for a corresponding status if a GPS identifier is received on GPS module 160 without a corresponding status. If a corresponding status is found, it will be displayed on the display of device 150. If a status corresponding to a received GPS identifier is not found in the contact file 170, communication module 175 sends the received GPS identifier to server 105 without the status. Query module 115 on server 105 queries Web-based social network database 135 for a status associated with the GPS identifier. If a status corresponding to the GPS identifier is found in web-based social network database 135, it is sent from server 105 to GPS-enabled device 145. Processing module 165 associates the received GPS identifier with the status and A copy of the associated GPS identifier and status is stored in the contact file 170.

In another exemplary method, a GPS identifier is sent by communication module 175 to server 105, regardless of whether the received GPS identifier has an associated status in contact file 170 and / or in the social network database based on 135. In response, query module 115 on server 105 queries Web-based social database database 135 for contact content from other members of the Web-based social network having a matching or near-matched GPS identifier. in your web-based social network database records 300. If one or more other members of the web-based social network are determined to have a matching or near-matched GPS identifier included in their web database records. web-based social network 300, contact content for those other members is sent from server 105 to GPS-enabled device 145. As a result, the Social network member who consults gets information about other members of the social network located near him.

In yet another exemplary method, a GPS identifier that does not have an associated status may be sent by communications module 175 to server 105, wherein server 105 or an affiliate module may associate the GPS identifier with a status.

In some embodiments, a privacy settings module 120 forms part of the server location application 110. Based on privacy settings selected by a member of a web-based social network, the privacy settings module 120 is configured to limit the lookup of certain associated GPS identifiers and statuses in the web-based social network database 135. For example, in one embodiment, a member of a web-based social network may select privacy settings to provide their GPS identifier and status associated with only those people designated by the member as "friends" of the member.

The server finder application 110 can understand

a device user settings module 125 to control these functions such as when server 105 communicates with GPS-enabled device 145. For example, device user settings module 125 can be programmed to direct the server 105 to communicate with the GPS-enabled device 145 during standard working hours. User settings module 125 may also be programmed to allow server 105 to communicate with GPS-enabled device 145 in response to certain changes to the web-based social networking database 135. For example, the configuration module Device user settings 125 can be programmed to allow server 105 to communicate with GPS-enabled device 145 when a particular member of the web-based social network updates their associated GPS identifier and status in their bank record Web-based social network data 300. A device specification and optimization module 130 in server location application 110 can be configured to specifications for a wide variety of GPS 145-enabled devices communicating with server 105. The device specification and optimization module 130 recognizes the type of GPS 145 enabled devices being used to communicate with server 105 and formats an associated GPS identifier and status to accommodate particular device specifications 145. For example, device specification and optimization module 130 may automatically recognize that a member of a network Web-based social networking is using a BlackBerry ™ device to communicate with server 105. As a result, device specification and optimization module 130 will format an associated GPS identifier and status sent to the device to accommodate the device display. 150 of the BlackBerry ™ device.

It will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that there are multiple possible and local combinations for the applications and component modules described in this document. For example, a web-based social networking database 135 may also function as part of a server 110 and / or server 105 location application. In addition, a number of commonly known communication mechanisms for a device may be used. GPS-enabled 145 to communicate with server 105 over a network 140. Network 140 may include an Internet network and / or other wireless or wired networks, such as mobile device vehicle networks. In addition, the GPS 145 enabled device may also communicate directly with other devices similar to the GPS 145 enabled device. All such variations remain within the scope of the claimed modalities.

Figure 2 shows a screenshot of an exemplary status screen 200. The exemplary status screen 200 is used to send a status received from a web-based social network member to a server comprising a network database. Web-Based Social Networking 135 (Figure 1). The exemplary status screen 200 includes an input field 205, instructions 210, and status selections 215. The status screen 200 typically appears on device display 150 (Figure 1).

A status for a web-based social network member is received in a status input field 205. According to one embodiment, the status can be received via manual entry by a web-based social network member on a keyboard or screen. touch screen on a GPS 130 enabled device (Figure 1). In another embodiment, a status may be received from another device that is the same or similar to the GPS 145 enabled device.

On the example status screen 200, instructions 210 instruct a web-based social network member to select a status from seven arbitrary status selections 215. These selections include "[and] m home", "[n] the library "," [n] work "," [e] m class "," [e] m party "," sleeping ", and / or" other ". If the web-based social network member selects a status of "other", they may be prompted to enter an arbitrary status to represent their current state. For example, a web-based social network member selecting a status of "other" by subscribing to selection "7" in the status input field 205 is prompted to type "Bar". According to one embodiment, a GPS identifier received on GPS module 160 will be associated by processing module 165 with the received status of "Bar". For example, a GPS identifier received on GPS module 160 may be a street address of "123 Main Street, College Town, CA, 90210". Consequently, processing module 165 will associate "123

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15 Main Street, College Town, CA, 90210 "with" Bar. "A copy of the GPS identifier and associated status (ie," Bar, 123, Main Street, College Town, CA, 90210 ") is stored in the contact 170 and communication module 175 sends the associated GPS identifier and status to server 105.

It will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that other status selections may be included in the exemplary status screen 200 and remain within the scope of the embodiments claimed herein.

Figure 3 shows a screenshot of a web-based social network database record 300. The exemplary social network database record 300 is by John Smith of Harvard University. The social networking database record 300 includes the contact content of John Smith 305. According to various accomplishments, the contact content includes some or all of the information in the web-based social networking database 135. The content Contact information also includes expression content such as audio / video. Audio / video is any form of audio, video, audiovisual, illustrated, photography, image, text file and / or all variations and combinations thereof.

Contact 305 content shown in the social network database record 300 includes the associated John Smith 310 GPS identifier and status. In the social network database record, the John Smith 310 associated GPS identifier and status is "Bar, 123 Main Street, College Town, CA, 90210".

Figure 4 shows a screenshot of an exemplary contact content screen 400. A contact content screen, such as contact content screen 400, is shown on device display 150 (Figure 1) of device GPS enabled 145

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15

20 (Figure 1). A social database database record, such as the social network database record 300 (Figure 3) is a possible source of some or all of the contact content appearing on the contact content screen, such as the example contact content screen 400.

The contact content screen 400 shown in Figure 4 is by John Smith of Harvard University. The contact content screen 400 includes some or all of John Smith 305 contact content, which includes an associated GPS identifier and status 310 for John Smith.

In some embodiments, some or all of the contact content on the contact content screen 400 automatically populates a contact file 170 (Figure 1) on the GPS 145 enabled device, as described in Patent Application number by grade

US_, filed February 2, 2007,

Attorney No. PA3702US, entitled "Systems and Methods for Automatic Population of a Contact File with Contact Content and Expression Conflict" and incorporated herein by reference.

According to other embodiments, after a GPS identifier is received on the GPS module 160 of the GPS enabled device 145, the communication module 175 sends the GPS identifier to server 105 (Figure 1) to query in the web-based social network database 135 the corresponding contact content. If one or more other members of the web-based social network are determined to have a matching or near-matched GPS identifier included in their web-based social network database 300 records, the contact content as seen on screen of exemplary contact content 400 corresponding to those other members is sent from server 105 to the GPS enabled device 145. As a result, the querying social network member learns about the other social network members located near him.

Figure 5 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method 500 for automatically locating members of a web-based social network.

At step 505, the GPS 145 enabled device (Figure 1) receives a GPS identifier in GPS module 160 (Figure 1). In exemplary embodiments, a GPS identifier represents a street address for a web-based social network member.

In another embodiment, a GPS identifier may be enrolled by a web-based social network member using a keyboard or touchscreen on a GPS 145-enabled device or a keyboard or touchscreen on a non-enabled device. for GPS.

In step 510, the GPS 145-enabled device sends the

GPS identifier for server 105 (Figure 1). According to various embodiments, the communication module 170 (Figure 1) on the GPS enabled device 145 sends the GPS identifier to server 105.

At step 515, server 105 receives the GPS identifier

through network 140 (Figure 1) of GPS-enabled device 145. In some embodiments, network 140 may include an Internet network and / or other wireless or wired networks, such as mobile device vehicle networks.

In step 520, query module 115 (Figure 1) in the

query 105 queries the Web-based social network database 135 (Figure 1) the contact content (including a GPS identifier and associated status) of other web-based social network members having a GPS identifier that is equal to or closely related to the received GPS identifier.

In step 525, server 105 checks a privacy settings module 120 (Figure 1). According to one embodiment, the privacy settings module 120 is configured to limit contact content (including a GPS identifier and associated status) sent from a server 105 to the GPS enabled device 145. In an alternative embodiment, a module Privacy Settings 120 is configured to limit web-based social network database query 135.

In step 530, server 105 checks a device user settings module 125 (Figure 1). In some embodiments, the user settings module of device 125 controls these functions as when server 105 communicates with the GPS-enabled device 145. In another embodiment, the user settings module of device 145 is configured to direct server 105 to communicate updated contact content (including an associated GPS identifier and status) to the GPS-enabled device 145 in response to certain changes to the web-based social network database 135.

In step 535, server 105 checks a device specification and optimization module 130 (Figure 1). According to one embodiment, device specification and optimization module 130 is configured with specifications for a wide variety of GPS 145 enabled devices communicating with server 105. Device specification and optimization module 130 recognizes the type of device. GPS-enabled device being used to communicate with server 105 and contact content formats to match the specifications of the GPS-enabled device 145. In step 540, the contact content (including a GPS identifier and associated status) of other members of the web-based social network having the same or closely related GPS identifier is sent from server 105 to GPS-enabled device 145. In some embodiments, a number of commonly known communication mechanisms are used by the server 105 to communicate over network 140 with GPS-enabled device 145.

In step 545, the GPS-enabled device 145 receives contact content (including an associated GPS identifier and status) from server 105.

At step 550, the contact content is automatically stored in the contact file 170 (Figure 1). According to one embodiment, a contact file 170 is a component of device location application 155 (Figure 1) in the GPS 145 enabled device.

At step 555, the contact content is displayed on the device 150 display (Figure 1) of the GPS 145 enabled device.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented as an example only and not as a limitation. For example, any of the elements associated with automatically locating web-based social network members may employ any desired functionality shown in this document above. Thus, the scope and scope of the preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the exemplary embodiments described above.

Claims (20)

"Web-Based Social Network Member Location Methods and Systems" Claims 1. Web-based Social Network Member Tracking Method, comprising: receiving a GPS identifier on a device; receive a status on the device; associate the GPS identifier with the status; store a copy of the associated GPS identifier and status in a contact file on the device; and sending the GPS identifier and associated status to a server comprising a web-based social networking database. 2. Web-based Social Network Member Tracking Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the device is GPS enabled. 3. Web-based Social Network Member Location Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the status is a current state of the web-based social network member. Web-based Social Network Member Location Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the web-based social network database further comprises a web-based social network database record for each member of the web-based social network. Web-based Social Network Member Tracking Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the GPS identifier is a street address. 6. Web-based Social Network Member Location Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the street address is manually entered by the web-based social network member. 7. Web-based Social Network Member Tracking Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the device is not GPS enabled. 8. A Web Based Social Network Member Tracking System, comprising: a device with a GPS module configured to receive a GPS identifier; a status entry screen on the device configured to receive a status; a processing module in the device configured to associate the GPS identifier and status; a contact file on the device configured to store a copy of the associated GPS identifier and status; and a communication module in the device configured to send the associated GPS identifier and status to a server comprising a web-based social networking database. 9. Web-based Social Network Member Location System according to Claim 8, characterized in that the status is a current state of the Web-based social network member. Web-based Social Network Member Location System according to Claim 8, characterized in that the web-based social network database further comprises a web-based social network database registry for each member of the web-based social network. Web-based Social Network Member Location System according to Claim 8, characterized in that the GPS identifier is a street address. 12. A web-based social network member location system, comprising: a server comprising a web-based social network database, the server being configured to receive via a network a GPS identifier and status. members for a web-based social network member; including the web-based social networking database a web-based social networking database record for the web-based social networking member, and the web-based social networking database registry is configured to update the contact content with the associated GPS identifier and status for the web-based social network member; and the server is further configured to provide contact content for a communications module to send over the network to the device having a contact file configured to automatically store contact content. Web-based Social Network Member Tracking System according to Claim 12, characterized in that the push to the device is directed by a device user settings module. Web-based Social Network Member Location System according to Claim 12, characterized in that the contact's content is limited by a privacy settings module before sending to the device. 15. A Web Based Social Member Member Location System according to Claim 12, wherein the contact content includes updated contact content. 16. A Web-based Social Network Member Location Method, comprising: receiving, via the network on a server comprising a web-based social network database, an associated GPS identifier and status for a member. Web-based social networking; update contact content in a web-based social networking database record in the web-based social networking database with the associated GPS identifier and status for the web-based social member; and providing contact content to a communication module for sending over the network to a device having a contact file configured to automatically store contact content. 17. A Web Based Social Network Member Tracking Method according to Claim 16 further comprising displaying the associated GPS identifier and status for one or more other members of the Web Based Social Network. Web. 18. A Web Based Social Network Member Tracking Method according to Claim 16, further comprising checking a privacy settings module before displaying the GPS identifier and status associated with a or more members of the web-based social network. 19. A web-based social member location method according to claim 16, further comprising querying in the web-based social network database a status corresponding to a GPS identifier. received by a device. 20. A method of locating a web-based social network member as claimed in claim 16, further comprising consulting the web-based social network database for contact content for another web-based member. Web-based social network corresponding to a GPS identifier received by the device.