U.S. patent application number 11/977542 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-01 for profile display in virtual social networks.
This patent application is currently assigned to Xystar Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Terrance Michael Craig.
Application Number | 20080104495 11/977542 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39324057 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080104495 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Craig; Terrance Michael |
May 1, 2008 |
Profile display in virtual social networks
Abstract
Systems and methods for profile display in virtual social
networks are provided. Users of a virtual social network can share
information with other users of the virtual social network through
user profiles. Some users may have multiple user profiles,
including user profiles from sources external to the virtual social
network. For example, a user may have separate profiles in multiple
communities in the virtual social network and in multiple virtual
social networks. Systems and methods of the present invention allow
the user easy access to all profiles associated with the user,
including profiles from sources external to the virtual social
network. The information in a profile display may filtered based on
various criteria associated with the profile, including community
rules.
Inventors: |
Craig; Terrance Michael;
(Mississauga, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARR & FERRELL LLP
2200 GENG ROAD
PALO ALTO
CA
94303
US
|
Assignee: |
Xystar Technologies, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
39324057 |
Appl. No.: |
11/977542 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60855011 |
Oct 27, 2006 |
|
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|
60854990 |
Oct 27, 2006 |
|
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60855133 |
Oct 27, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/205 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/306 20130101;
H04L 67/38 20130101; G06Q 50/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/205 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/21 20060101
G06F017/21 |
Claims
1. A method for displaying user profiles in a virtual social
network, the method comprising: associating a plurality of profiles
with a user of the virtual social network; generating a display of
a plurality of hyperlinks, each of the plurality of hyperlinks
being associated with criteria designated by the user; receiving a
selection of a hyperlink from the plurality of hyperlinks; and
generating a display of profile information associated with the
user, the profile information being filtered based on criteria
associated with the selected hyperlink.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display of the plurality of
hyperlinks is associated with a profile from the plurality of
profiles associated with the user.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising importing profile
information from an external source.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile is associated with a
community.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the community is in the virtual
social network.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the community is external to the
virtual social network.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the display includes one or more
information fields specific to the community.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the display of the
plurality of hyperlinks occurs at a first location in the virtual
social network and wherein generating the display of profile
information occurs at a second location in the virtual social
network.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the display of profile
information includes general profile information designated by the
user.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the display of profile
information includes community-specific profile information.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a
selection of a hyperlink from the plurality of hyperlinks from a
second user; authenticating the second user; and determining
whether the second user is authorized to access the requested
profile.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the second
user is authorized to access the requested profile is based on at
least authentication information.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the second
user is authorized to access the requested profile is based on
whether the second user is a member of a community.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the profile
from the plurality of profiles.
15. A system for displaying user profiles in a virtual social
network, the system comprising: a profile database configured to
store a plurality of profiles associated with a user of the virtual
social network; an input module configured to receive a selection
of a hyperlink associated with criteria designated by the user; and
a display generation module configured to generate a display of
profile information associated with the user, the profile
information being filtered based on criteria associated with the
selected hyperlink.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the input module is further
configured to receive updated profile information and to update the
profile database based on the updated profile information.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the input module is further
configured to receive profile information from a source designated
by the user.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein the input module is further
configured to receive profile information from a source in the
virtual social network.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the input module is further
configured to receive profile information from a source external to
the virtual social network.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the display generation module
is further configured to generate a display of a plurality of
hyperlinks, the display of the plurality of hyperlinks being
associated with a profile from the plurality of profiles associated
with the user.
21. The system of claim 15, wherein the display generation module
is further configured to generate the display of the plurality of
hyperlinks at a first location in the virtual social network and to
generate the display of profile information at a second location in
the virtual social network.
22. The system of claim 15, wherein the display of profile
information includes general profile information designated by the
user.
23. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereupon
executable computing instructions for performing a method
comprising: associating a plurality of profiles with a user of the
virtual social network; generating a display of a plurality of
hyperlinks, each of the plurality of hyperlinks being associated
with criteria designated by a user; receiving a selection of a
hyperlink from the plurality of hyperlinks; and generating a
display of profile information associated with the user, the
profile information being filtered based on criteria associated
with the selected hyperlink.
24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the
executable instructions further provide for importing profile
information into the profile from an external source designated by
the user.
25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the
display of the plurality of hyperlinks is associated with a profile
from the plurality of profiles associated with the user.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/855,011 filed Oct. 27,
2006 and entitled "Systems and Methods for Managing Privacy and
Tracking of Community Members," U.S. provisional patent application
Ser. No. 60/854,990 filed Oct. 27, 2006 and entitled
"Cross-Population of Vertical Communities and Graphical User
Interface for Navigating Between Vertical Communities," and U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/855,133 filed Oct. 27,
2006 and entitled "Systems and Method for Providing Content to
Vertical Communities," the disclosures of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of
virtual social networks. More specifically, the present invention
relates to profile display in virtual social networks.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Various virtual social networks allow a user to interact
with various other individuals. Each user of a virtual social
network may choose to interact with certain other users of the
virtual social network and form various types of connections with
those users. Forming a connection with an individual may consist
simply of designating the individual as a friend, a contact, a
colleague, or some other designation. In some virtual social
networks, the designation can be reciprocated. For example, two
users may designate each other as a friend. The virtual social
network allows for each user to form, organize, and manage such
connections.
[0006] One way for users to meet and otherwise interact is through
a community in the virtual social network. Created by an
administrator, an individual user, or the like, a community
represents an aggregation of users within the virtual social
network who typically share something in common. A community is,
therefore, generally directed toward a particular subject matter.
Users with an interest in the subject matter may join the community
and interact with other users with a similar interest. The subject
matter may be, for example, social, hobby-related, fan-related, or
business-related. A user may choose to create or join various
communities corresponding with any of that user's interests.
[0007] A user may choose to share information about himself or
herself to other users and communities of users in the virtual
social network. One way to provide such information is through a
user profile. Presently available virtual social network systems
allow for a user to create a user profile containing information
such as name, age, gender, location, occupations, interests, etc.
Such information may indicate similarities, common interests, etc.
with other users of the virtual social network. Further, user
profiles allow for users with common interests to identify each
other easily. For example, a user interested in racing cars may
browse the user profiles of other users to determine who has a
similar interest in racing cars. Further, a user who is interested
in a specific type of racing car may search user profiles for
indications of interest in the specific racing car. Similarly, a
user interested in a particular sports team may search user
profiles for indications of interests in that sports team.
Interests may be described very broadly (e.g., movies) or very
narrowly (e.g., Princess Leia's hairstyles in Star Wars). The user
may create and customize a user profile to include a personalized
set of information. The identification of other users of virtual
social network with similar interests paves the way for a user to
participate in discussions, exchange news, take a poll, or some
other type of interaction with those other users concerning the
interests in common.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Exemplary systems and methods of the present invention allow
for profile display in a virtual social network. Users of a virtual
social network can share information with other users of the
virtual social network through a personal profile. Some users may
have multiple personal profiles, including personal profiles from
sources external to the virtual social network. For example, a user
may have different profiles in multiple communities in the virtual
social network and in multiple virtual social networks. Systems and
methods of the present invention allow for the user to navigate
between displays of the multiple profiles associated with the
user.
[0009] Various embodiments of the present invention include methods
for profile display in a virtual social network. The method may
include steps for receiving profile information from a user
concerning one or more profiles associated with the user,
displaying hyperlinks associated with a profile, receiving user
selection of a hyperlink, and providing a display of profile
information associated with the user-selected hyperlink. The
display includes profile information that has been filtered and/or
organized based on various criteria associated with the hyperlink.
Further, choosing a profile hyperlink from a particular community
may result in a profile display that has also been filtered based
on rules of the community. In some embodiments of the present
invention, the hyperlink may transport the user to a second
community. Further, information from the first community-specific
user profile may be available from the second community and may be
used in a user profile specific to the second community.
[0010] Other embodiments of the present invention also include
systems for profile display in virtual social networks. Some
embodiments of the present invention may include an input module,
an authentication module, a profile database, a display generation
module and processing logic. The identity of a user may be
authenticated using the authentication module. Input module may
receive authentication information, profile information concerning
one or more profiles associated with a user, and selection
information concerning a hyperlink associated with a user profile.
Profile information, including information concerning associations
with hyperlinks, may be stored in the profile database. The display
generation module generates a display associated with the selected
hyperlink. The display includes profile information that has been
filtered and/or organized based on criteria associated with the
hyperlink. If the profile hyperlink is accessed from a community,
the display may be further filtered based on community rules.
[0011] Some embodiments of the present invention include computer
storage media and instructions for profile display in a virtual
social network. Some embodiments of the present invention may
further include instructions for importing profile information from
sources external to the virtual social network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a web-based
environment within which the present invention operates.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a set of user profiles
associated with a user in a virtual social network, according to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a profile display system for a
virtual social network, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for profile
display in a virtual social network, according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 5A is an illustration of a user profile display for a
virtual social network, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 5B is an illustration of another user profile display
for a virtual social network, according to an exemplary
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The present invention includes systems and methods for
profile display in a virtual social network. A user may enter or
designate information concerning one or more user profiles from
various sources. These sources may include various communities in
the virtual social network, various virtual social networks (i.e.,
MySpace.RTM., Facebook.RTM., Friendster.RTM.) and the like. The
user may, therefore, have multiple user profiles, each associated
with a different community, different virtual social network, etc.
Each user profile is associated with at least one hyperlink, and
when the user selects a hyperlink, a display of the associated
profile information is generated. The display includes profile
information that has been filtered and/or organized based on
various criteria associated with the hyperlink. Such filtered
profile information may include information concerning certain
communities, members, blogs, photos, videos, etc. Systems and
methods of the present invention allow for the user to access
information from each of the various user profiles associated with
the user from a single display of multiple hyperlinks. The user
profiles may be associated with multiple communities in the virtual
social network. Further, some of the hyperlinks may allow for the
user to move from one community to another community.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a web-based
environment within which the present invention operates. Virtual
social network 110 may be a server capable of generating a
graphical user interface accessible exemplary users 130A, 130B, and
130C through a network 120, such as the Internet or an intranet.
Users 130A-C may access virtual social network 110 using their
respective computing devices. Each user may maintain one or more
user profiles in virtual social network 110, as well as in various
external sources, such as external sources 140A and 140B. User
profiles may also be community-specific, so a user may have
multiple user profiles associated with multiple communities in the
virtual social network 110. The user may also be a member of
multiple other virtual social networks (i.e., external sources 140A
and 140B) with a different user profile in each.
[0020] Virtual social network 110 is configured to allow a user to
create, manage, and maintain that user's collection of
relationships with other individuals in a virtual environment.
Further, some embodiments of virtual social network 110 allow the
user to share personal information with other users of virtual
social network 110. A user profile may reflect a particular set of
information concerning the user. Different user profiles may be
shared with different groups, communities, and other virtual social
networks.
[0021] A user, such as user 130A, may have multiple profiles,
including a general virtual social network profile, as well as
various community-specific profiles. User 130A may be a member of
various communities in the virtual social network 110 and may have
a separate profile for each of those communities. For example, user
130A may have a car enthusiast profile with car-related
information, a sports fan profile with sports-related information,
etc. User 130A may also have a profile from sources external to
virtual social network 110. For example, a user may have a profile
on external source 140A (e.g., a user profile on MySpace.RTM.) and
a profile on external source 140B (e.g., a user profile on
Facebook.RTM.). Profile information from external sources 140A and
140B may be displayed to the user 130A along with the user profiles
from the virtual social network 110. Thus, subject to various
access settings and rules, virtual social network 110 may be used
to generate displays of each of the user profiles associated with
the user from various sources of profile information. The user is,
therefore, able to access each and every profile easily and without
having to separately consult each source of user profile
information, log into each source, and/or search each profile
manually for certain information.
[0022] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a set of user profiles 200
associated with a user in a virtual social network, according to an
exemplary embodiment. The information from all the user profiles
associated with the user may be stored and managed through user
profiles set 200. In the example of FIG. 2, user profiles 200 may
include a plurality of user profiles, such as user profile 210A,
user profile 210B, user profile 210C, and user profile 210D. User
profiles 210A-D may be profiles generated and/or used within the
virtual social network 110, profiles generated and/or used within
communities within virtual social network 110, or profiles
generated and/or used elsewhere, such as external sources 140A and
140B.
[0023] Interaction with other individuals in virtual social network
110 can occur when other users of virtual social network 110 learn
and respond to the profile information provided by the user. The
user may wish to interact with different groups of users, such as
family members, professional contacts, fellow car enthusiasts,
fellow sports fans, fellow community members, etc. The user may
choose, therefore, to create separate profiles including
information specific to each group. For example, the user's
sports-related profile (e.g., user profile 210A) may include
information concerning favorite sports, favorite teams, favorite
athletes, etc. Similarly, the user's car-related profile (e.g.,
user profile 210B) may include information concerning favorite
cars, cars owned, cars driven, etc.
[0024] Some users may be members of various networks external to
virtual social network 110. These users may wish to share user
profiles from these other networks with other users of virtual
social network 110 that may also be members of the same external
networks. Therefore, user profile 210C and 210D may be user
profiles that have been generated and used outside of virtual
social network 110. Being able to easily access multiple user
profiles allows user 130A to efficiently organize and update
his/her profile information. Further, being able to view multiple
user profiles allows other users of virtual social network 110 to
interact with user 130A concerning various common interests, each
of which may be detailed by the user in separate user profiles.
[0025] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a profile display system for a
virtual social network, according to an exemplary embodiment.
Profile display system 300 may include input module 310,
authentication module 320, profile database 330, display generation
module 340, access control module 350, and processing logic 360. A
module (or application), as referenced herein, should be generally
understood to be a collection of routines that perform various
system-level functions and may be dynamically loaded and unloaded
by hardware and device drivers as required. The modular software
components described herein may also be incorporated as part of a
larger software platform or integrated as part of an application
specific component.
[0026] Input/output module 310 is configured to allow for
communication between profile display module 300, various users,
other components of virtual social network 110, and various
external sources (e.g., external sources 140A and 140B of FIG. 1).
Input/output module 310 may be configured to receive information
via a communication network 120, such as the Internet or an
intranet. In some embodiments of the present invention,
input/output module 310 may be located elsewhere in virtual social
network 110 and/or may be external to profile display module
300.
[0027] Authentication module 320 is configured to verify an
individual's identity in virtual social network 110. Identifying an
individual as a particular user of virtual social network 110
(e.g., user 130A) allows that individual to perform certain
operations available to user 130A, such as entering user profile
information, accessing certain profiles, accessing certain content
in user profiles, etc. Authentication may occur, for example,
through verification of a user name and password supplied by the
individual. The user name and password may be compared to user
names and passwords stored in an authentication database, which may
be independent of or incorporated into authentication module 320.
Authentication module 320 may further be configured to authenticate
a user as a member of one or more communities in the virtual social
network. A single user log-in, for example, may provide the
authentication information required to authenticate an individual
as a certain user in the virtual social network and as a member of
various communities in the virtual social network. In some
embodiments of the present invention, authentication module 320 may
be located elsewhere in virtual social network 110 and/or may be
external to profile display module 300.
[0028] Profile database 330 is configured to store user profile
information associated with each of the users of virtual social
network 110. Each user may have one or more personal profiles,
including profiles that have been tailored in order to convey
different information to different individuals or groups. Each user
may create a public user profile, a user profile for family
members, a user profile for work colleagues, and various other user
profiles, all stored in profile database 330. Community-specific
user profiles may also be tailored for each community of which the
user is a member. A user who has joined a car enthusiast community,
for example, may wish to create one or more personal profiles
specifically for use in that community, designating information
concerning the user's cars, trucks, and various other car-related
interests. Because user profiles associated with a particular
community are subject to the rules of that community, information
in a profile display may be further filtered according to the rules
of that community. Determined and set by a community moderator or
the like, community rules controls access to community-specific
profile information by the general public, by members of the
virtual social network only, by members of communities in the
virtual social network only, by members of a particular community
only, etc.
[0029] The user may also wish to view user profiles that have been
generated and used outside of the context of the virtual social
network 110, such as profiles on external sources 140A and 140B
(from FIG. 1). Using input module 310, the user may enter or
otherwise designate that such external sources may host profile
information associated with the user. The information from a
profile on external source 140A, for example, may be copied and
saved in profile database 330 as a user profile (e.g., user profile
210A of user profiles set 200 in FIG. 2). In some embodiments of
the present invention, profile information from external sources
may be updated periodically, automatically, or upon request.
Further, each user profile is associated with a hyperlink. The
hyperlink information associated with each user profile is also
saved in profile database 330.
[0030] Display generation module 340 provides for displays of the
various user profiles associated with a user. Operating in
conjunction with profile database 330, display generation module
340 presents the user with a menu display of the hyperlinks
associated with one of the user's profiles through a graphical user
interface. The menu display may be generated automatically upon
log-in, upon opening a particular web page, upon entering a
community, upon user request, or the like. A community-specific
profile, such as a user profile in a car community, may be
associated with a menu of hyperlinks such as "Cars," "Trucks," "Car
Shows," and other community-specific hyperlinks. A user may also
have a general, or primary, profile with basic information such as
name, age, location, etc. Some embodiments of the present invention
allow for general profile information and/or community-specific
profile information to be imported into various community-specific
profiles, making it easier for the user to share such information
with various communities.
[0031] Once the user selects a hyperlink from the menu of
hyperlinks provided, display generation module 340 further
generates a display of profile information associated with the
selected hyperlink. Display generation module 340 may be further
configured to generate displays of information that have been
filtered based on community information. A community-specific
profile display, for example, may list community-specific
information, including categories and hyperlinks to more detailed
information. Selection of the "Cars" hyperlink from the above
example prompts the display generation module 340 to generate a
display of car-related information posted in the car community,
including car-related blogs, photos, videos, etc. Likewise,
selecting the "Trucks" hyperlink results in a display of
truck-related information posted in the car community. In some
embodiments, the display of the user profile information may appear
in the same window, in a new window, such as pop-up window or
expanded window, or the like.
[0032] Being posted in a community, community-specific profile
displays may also be filtered based on the rules of the community.
Access control module 350 manages and enforces various rules
concerning access to a user's profiles. Such rules may include user
preferences, community rules, and the like. An individual who is
not the user may wish to access a user profile and may submit a
request for access to that user profile. The request is received by
access control module 350, which determines whether or not to grant
access to the requesting individual. If the user preference allows
for public access, the requesting individual is automatically
granted access to the user profile. If the user preference is set
to private (e.g., accessible only to the user), the requesting
individual is automatically denied access. In some embodiments,
denial of access may include notification of blocked access, hiding
the content from the requesting individual without notification of
the content, or the like. If the user preference restricts access
to specific individuals or groups, access control module 350
determines whether the requesting individual is one of the
individuals authorized to access the user profile. In various
embodiments of the present invention, the requesting individual
must be authenticated by authentication module 320 as a user of
virtual social network 110, a member of a community, or other type
of individual authorized by the user to access the user profile.
Some embodiments of the present invention include an access control
module 350 that may be located elsewhere in virtual social network
110 and/or may be external to profile display module 300.
[0033] Access control module 350 may also enforce community rules.
Determined and set by a community moderator or the like, community
rules may allow content (including profiles) posted in the
community to be accessed by the general public, by members of the
virtual social network only, by members of communities in the
virtual social network only, by members of a particular community
only, etc. For example, a user profile (e.g., user profile 210A
illustrated in FIG. 2) posted in a particular community (e.g.,
community A) may only be accessed by members of that particular
community and may not be accessed by anyone outside the community.
That user profile is exclusive to that particular community.
Therefore, an individual browsing a community B may be able to view
user profile 210B (FIG. 2) associated with community B, but may not
be able to view user profile 210A.
[0034] Alternatively, community rules may allow for a user profile
posted in the particular community to be accessible by members of
related communities. For instance, the community rules of community
B may allow for user profiles in community B to be accessed by
members of community A. Such access by related communities may or
may not be reciprocated by the related communities. Using the above
example, access to user profiles of community A members may still
be denied to members of community B who are not also members of
community A. Profile access between two communities, therefore, may
be reciprocal (two-way access), nonreciprocal (one-way access), or
exclusive (no access).
[0035] Processing logic 360 is configured to execute a variety of
operations required by the various components of profile display
module 300. In various embodiments, processing logic 360 may be
implemented through use of microprocessors, memory, firmware,
and/or software.
[0036] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for profile
display in a virtual social network, according to an exemplary
embodiment. In various embodiments, the method allows for the
display of various user profiles that are associated with a user,
including user profiles from sources external to the virtual social
network 110. The method is not necessarily limited to the discrete
steps or the order of the steps as described herein with respect to
FIG. 4.
[0037] In step 410, profile information is received from a user,
for example, through input module 310. The profile information may
be designated by the user into a previously existing user profile
on virtual social network 110, into a new user profile created in
virtual social network 110, or the user may indicate a user profile
from a source external to virtual social network 110, or any
combination of the foregoing. The user profile information from
external sources may be copied, downloaded, or otherwise stored to
profile database 330 (FIG. 3). Some embodiments may require that
the user enter authentication information associated with each
external source; such authentication information may also be saved
to profile database 330. Some embodiments may allow for profile
database 330 to receive updates for the user profiles from the
external sources, either automatically, periodically, or upon
request.
[0038] In step 420, a menu of hyperlinks is displayed. The
displayed hyperlink menu is associated with a profile from the user
profiles set 200. In some embodiments of the present invention, the
hyperlink may use text, images, or a combination of the foregoing
to indicate to the user the associated user profile. For example, a
hyperlink to a user's MySpace.RTM. profile may appear as
"MySpace.RTM.," the MySpace.RTM. logo, or other text or images
associated with MySpace.RTM.. Some embodiments of the present
invention allow for a particular user (e.g., user 130A of FIG. 1)
to view the user profiles of another user (e.g., user 130B of FIG.
1). For example, user 130A may be presented a display of hyperlinks
associated with user profiles for user 130B. The display may be
constrained by various access rules, including user preferences and
community rules.
[0039] In step 430, a user selection concerning a hyperlink from
the display of hyperlinks is received by input module 310. The user
may select the hyperlink by clicking on the hyperlink with a mouse,
checking a box by the hyperlink, or some other indication of the
user selection.
[0040] In step 440, a display is generated including filtered
and/or organized profile information associated with the user. The
displayed information may appear in an expanded window or in a new
window, for example. The display may be filtered and organized
based on various criteria associated with the hyperlink. For
example, choosing a hyperlink relating to a user (e.g., "diet") may
result in a display of information concerning dieting, such as
diet-related communities, other users sharing that interest,
diet-related articles, diet-related blogs, diet-related news, etc.
The user may further be interested in gardening. If a hyperlink for
the user interest "gardening" is selected from within a diet
community, the generated display may include information concerning
gardening communities and various other gardening-related
information, etc. In some embodiments, the hyperlink may transport
the user to a gardening community. Such information may include
further hyperlinks to more specific information and/or be organized
similarly to the diet-related display.
[0041] Where one user 130A attempts to view a user profile of
another user 130B, access to the display of the user 130B profiles
may be further controlled by access control module 350 (FIG. 3)
enforcing user preferences, community rules; and the like. For
example, user 130A may be presented with limited information from a
profile associated with user 130B based on a user preference for
privacy concerning certain information.
[0042] FIG. 5A is an illustration of a user profile display in a
virtual social network, according to an exemplary embodiment.
Displayed in the Racer Active community, the user profile display
illustrated in FIG. 5A includes general profile information and
hyperlinks to some community-specific user profiles: a Racer Active
Enthusiast profile, a Car and Driver profile, and a Friendster.RTM.
profile. Of the three profiles, the Racer Active general profile is
currently displayed. Among the information displayed in the Racer
Active general profile are the user's community memberships,
nickname, gender, location, relationship status, occupation,
purpose, interests, etc. The community-specific profile display may
include hyperlinks to more detailed information concerning the user
and the community. For example, there may be hyperlinks to the
community's main page, hyperlinks to specific community-specific
interests, groups in the community to which the user belongs,
hyperlinks to debates in the community that the user viewed or
participated in, etc. The hyperlink to the interest titled "car
shows" would connect the user to more detailed information
concerning car shows, such as other members interested in car
shows, posted notices concerning car shows, photos from car shows,
etc. posted in the community. Further, the hyperlinks to
communities are listed in the "community" line in the profile
shown. Clicking on one of those hyperlinks (e.g., "Car and Driver")
in the user's profile may transport the user or another user to
another community (e.g., the Car and Driver community).
[0043] FIG. 5B is an illustration of another user profile display
in a virtual social network, according to an exemplary embodiment.
The user with the user profile illustrated in FIG. 5A has another
user profile. The particular user profile currently displayed is a
Car and Driver profile, specifically a Car and Driver Enthusiast
profile. The information displayed in the Car and Driver Enthusiast
profile includes kind of driver, vehicle year/make, vehicle model,
automotive interests, own/lease status, and work experience in the
automotive industry. Similar to the Racer Active profile (FIG. 5A),
the Car and Driver profile includes hyperlinks to more specific
information.
[0044] While the present invention has been described in the
context of a series of exemplary embodiments, these descriptions
are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the
particular forms set forth herein. To the contrary, the present
descriptions are intended to cover such alternatives,
modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and
otherwise appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
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