US0085.3881 OB2

(12) Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8,538,810 B2 FOX (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 17, 2013

(54) METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR 6,697.478 B1 2/2004 Meldrum et al. MEMBER-CREATED ADVERTISEMENT INA 6.799,1766,754.322 B1 9/20046/2004 PageBushnell MEMBERNETWORK 6,834,195 B2 12/2004 Brandenberg et al. 6,895.406 B2 5/2005 Fables et al. (75) Inventor: Kevin David Fox, Sunnyvale, CA (US) 6,912,505 B2 6/2005 Linden et al. 7,069,308 B2 6/2006 Abrams (73) Assignee: Google Inc., Mountain View, CA (US) 7,080,1177,092,821 B2 7/20068/2006 MizrahiDe Pinto et et al. al. 7,106,848 B1 9, 2006 Barlow et al. (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 7,113,917 B2 9, 2006 Jacobi et al. patent is extended or adjusted under 35 7,117,254 B2 10/2006 Lunt et al. U.S.C. 154(b) by 1371 days. 7,118,153 B2 10/2006 Lunt 7,139,252 B2 11/2006 Babu et al. 7,234,117 B2 6/2007 Zaner (21) Appl. No.: 11/093.949 7,269,590 B2 9/2007 Hull (22) Filed: Mar. 29, 2005 (Continued) 65 Prior Publication Dat FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (65) O DO CN 1949220 A 4, 2007 US 2006/0224446A1 Oct. 5, 2006 EP 1164767 A2 12/2001 (Continued) (51) Int. Cl. G06O 30/00 (2012.01) OTHER PUBLICATIONS (52) U.S. Cl. PCT International Search Report and Written Opinion, International USPC ...... 705/1449 Patent Application No. PCT/US06/09385, Aug. 23, 2007. (58) Field of Classification Search (Continued) USPC ...... 705/14, 26, 78,27, 14.49; 709/225, 709/224, 223: 370,389, 725/36 Primary Examiner — Matthew L Hamilton See application file for complete search history. (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Patent Law Works LLP (56) References Cited (57) ABSTRACT U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS Methods and systems for members of a member network to 5.796.393. A 8, 1998 MacN t tal. create and target advertisement to other members of the mem 6,041311 A 3, 2000 MNash, al ber network. A member can target advertisement to other 6,073,138 A 6, 2000 de l'Etraz et al. members in the member network by establishing a member 6,092,049 A 7/2000 Chislenko et al. profile that includes associations and/or nexuses with the gigs f g39 WR targeted members. Fees can be charged to members who 6.421,678K-1 4 B2 7/2002 SmigaSO et al. create and disseminate advertisement to other members in the 6,442,567 B1 8/2002 Retallicket al. member network. 6,594,673 B1 7/2003 Smith et al. 6,658.423 B1 12/2003 Pugh et al. 31 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets

Receiving and storing member profile in a social / 310 network

Receiving a request to create an ad from a / 320 member in the

/ 330 Providing options to create the ad / 340 Receiving selection of adoptions and ad content

Providing options to target ad audience in the / 350 social network

/ 360 Receiving selection of targeted ad audience

Creating ad based on selection of adoptions and 370 ad content and presenting the ad to the targeted ad audience US 8,538,810 B2 Page 2

References Cited 2011/0113113 A1* 5/2011 Ryan et al...... TO9,206

(56) 2011/0289574 A1* 11/2011 Hull et al...... 726/7 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 2012/0310747 A1* 12/2012 Calabria ...... TO5, 14.67 7,275,068 9, 2007 Huberman et al. FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 7,343,335 3, 2008 Oliphant JP 11265.369 A 9, 1999 7,366,990 4, 2008 Pitroda JP 2002132604 A 5, 2002 7,454.464 11, 2008 Puthenkulam WO WOO279984 10, 2002 7,478,078 1/2009 Lunt et al...... 707/1 7.555,110 6, 2009 Dolan et al. OTHER PUBLICATIONS 7,610,287 10, 2009 Dean et al. 7,665,107 2, 2010 Goodman et al...... 725/34 Supplementary European Search Report for European Patent Appli 7,742,468 6, 2010 Vagelos 2002/0010626 1, 2002 Agmoni cation No. EP 06738448, Jun. 7, 2010, 7 Pages. 2002fOO36654 3, 2002 Evans et al...... 345,744 Doctorow, C., “Running Notes from Revenge of the User.” Revenge 2002fOO46099 4, 2002 Frengut et al...... TO5/14 of the User: Lessons from Creator/User Battles at the O'Reilly 2002/00591.30 5, 2002 Cheng et al. Emerging Technology Conference, Feb. 11, 2004, 5 pages, online 2002/005920.1 5, 2002 Work Retrieved on Jul. 28, 2004 Retrieved from the

Lance, G.N., et al., “A General Theory of Classificatory Sorting Baird, D., et al., "Neomillennial user design strategies: utilizing Strategies 1. Hierarchical Systems.” The Computer Journal, C.S.I.R. Social networking media to Support "Always on Learning Styles. J. O. Computing Research Section, 1967, pp. 373-380, vol. 9, No. 4. Educational Technology Systems, vol. 34(1) 5-32, 2005-2006. Boyd, D., et al., “Social Network Sites: Definition. History, and Lance, G.N., et al., “Mixed-data classificatory programs. I. Scholarship'. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 13 Agglomerative Systems.” Austral. Comput. J., 1967, pp. 15-20, vol. (2008) 210-230. 1. Churchill, E., et al., “Social Networks and Social Networking”, IEEE Milligan, G., “Ultrametric Hierarchical Clustering Algorithms.” Internet Computing, Published by the IEEE Computer Society, Sep Psychometrika, Sep. 1979, pp. 343-346, vol. 44, No. 3. Oct. 2005, pp. 14-19. Tan, P.N., et al., “Introduction to Data Mining.” Chapter 8 Cluster Cohen, T., et al., “Social Networks for Creative Collaboration', Analysis: Basic Concepts and Algorithms (Section 8.3.3. The C&C'05, Apr. 12-15, 2005, ACM, pp. 252-255. Lance-Williams Formula for Cluster Proximity, pg. 524), 2006, pp. Decker, S. et al., “The Social Semantic Desktop'. DERI Technical 487-568. Report May 5, 2004, May 2004, 7 pages. Eagle, N., et al., “Social Serendipity: Proximity Sensing and Cue Google, Inc., “Google Answers.” Google, 2004. 1 page, online ing', MIT Media Laboratory Technical Note 580, May 2004, 18 retrieved on Jul. 29, 2004 retrieved from the internet

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quòUU9S?)IQApV US 8,538,810 B2 1. 2 METHODS AND SYSTEMIS FOR FIG. 2 depicts a diagram of a member network in accor MEMBER-CREATED ADVERTISEMENT INA dance with an embodiment of the present invention; MEMBERNETWORK FIG. 3 depicts a process flow for members in a member network to create and disseminate advertisements to targeted BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION member(s) within the network in accordance with an embodi ment of the present invention; 1. Field of the Invention FIG. 4 depicts a sample screenshot of a home page of a The present invention relates generally to methods and member profile in a member network in accordance with an systems for advertising. For example, embodiments of the embodiment of the present invention; present invention relate generally to methods and systems for 10 FIG. 5 depicts a sample screenshot of a home page of a members in a member network to create and disseminate member profile in a member network, wherein an advertise advertisement to other members in the network. ment is displayed, in accordance with an embodiment of the 2. Background present invention; and Online advertising and search engines are ubiquitous on FIG. 6 depicts a sample screenshot of communities page of 15 a member profile in a member network, wherein an advertise the Internet and World WideWeb. Online advertising in such ment is displayed, in accordance with an embodiment of the forms as banner advertisement and pop-up advertisement present invention. include links that implore viewers to click on the advertise ment and be directed to a linked website for further informa DETAILED DESCRIPTION tion on the advertised products or services. The relative ease with which online advertising can be done and the large Introduction audience available on Internet have spawned advertisement Embodiments of the present invention provide methods spamming. As consequences, Internet users are turned away and systems for creating and disseminating member-created by the constant bombardment of advertisement, and the advertisements in a member network to better target adver advertisement become less effective in attracting an audience 25 tisement audience within the member network. There are to advertised products and services. multiple embodiments of the present invention. By way of Conventional websites such as those hosted on Orkut'TM, introduction and example, in one exemplary embodiment of FriendsterTM., TribeTM, or other websites, allow users to form the present invention, the method begins with a member net member networks. The member networks on conventional work site receiving a request from one of its members to websites allow members of each member network to commu 30 create and disseminate advertisements to other members in nicate with each other and list announcements associated the member network. In response, the member network site with the member network. Generally, a conventional member provides the requesting member with means to create the network does not have provisions allowing its members to advertisement, including options to choose in creating an create and effectively target advertisement to other network advertisement for a particular category and field entries for members. 35 the requesting member to input advertisement content. The member network site also allows the requesting member to SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION choose the advertisement audience based on the members profile within the member network, particularly, the mem Embodiments of the present invention provide methods ber's association and/or nexus with other members in the and systems for member-created advertisement in a member 40 network as can be gathered from the members profile. The network. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is created advertisement is then presented to the chosen adver provided a method comprising: receiving a request to create tisement audience via advertisement displays within or sepa an advertisement from a first user, wherein the first user is rate from each member profile of the chosen advertisement from a network of associated users; receiving advertisement audience, or via advertisement displays in e-mails to the content for the advertisement; receiving a selection of a cat 45 chosen advertisement audience. egory of one or more users from the network of associated This introduction is given to introduce the reader to the users as a target for the advertisement, wherein the category general Subject matter of the application. By no means is the of one or more users comprises at least a second user; gener invention limited to such subject matter. Exemplary embodi ating the advertisement based on the advertisement content; ments are described below. and providing the advertisement to at least the second user. 50 System Architecture The aforementioned embodiment is mentioned not to limit Various systems in accordance with the present invention or define the invention, but to provide an example of embodi may be constructed. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an ments of the invention to aid understanding thereof. Such exemplary system in which embodiments of the present exemplary embodiment is discussed in the Detailed Descrip invention can operate. The present invention may operate, tion, and further description of the invention is provided there. 55 and be embodied, in other systems as well. Advantages offered by the various embodiments of the Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals present invention may be further understood by examining indicate like elements throughout the several figures, FIG. 1 is this specification. a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system in accor dance with an exemplary embodiment of the present inven BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 60 tion. The system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes multiple client devices 102a-n with users 112a-112m in communication with The embodiments of the present invention are illustrated a member network site 160 over a network 106. The network by way of example in, and not limited to, the following 106 can be a wired or wireless network. Further, it can be a figures: public network, e.g., the Internet, or a private data network, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary envi 65 e.g., a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network ronment in which embodiments of the present invention may (WAN). Moreover, methods according to the present inven operate; tion may operate within a single computer. US 8,538,810 B2 3 4 Each of the client devices 102a-n includes a memory 108, Member networks can comprise any of a variety of suitable which can be a computer-readable medium (CRM), such as a arrangements. An entity or member of a member network can random access memory (RAM), coupled to a processor 110. have a profile and that profile can represent the member in the The processor 110 executes computer-executable program member network. The member network can facilitate inter instructions stored in the client device, such as memory 108, action between member profiles and allow associations or as program code. Such processor may include a microproces relationships between member profiles. Associations Sor, an ASIC, and state machines. Such processors include, or between member profiles can be one or more of a variety of may be in communication with, media, for example com types, such as friend, co-worker, family member, business puter-readable media, which stores instructions that, when associate, common-interest association, and common-geog executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the 10 raphy association. Associations can also include intermediary methods described herein. Moreover, the processor 110 can relationships, such as friend of a friend, and degree of sepa be any of a number of computer processors. Such as proces ration relationships, such as three degrees away. sors from Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. and Associations between member profiles can be reciprocal Motorola Corporation of Schaumburg, Ill. associations. For example, a first member can invite another Embodiments of computer-readable media include, but are 15 member to become associated with the first member and the not limited to, an electronic, optical, magnetic, or other Stor other member can accept or reject the invitation. A member age or transmission device capable of providing a processor, can also categorize or weigh the association with other mem such as the processor 110 of client 102a, with computer ber profiles, such as, for example, by assigning a level to the readable instructions. Other examples of suitable media association. For example, for a friendship-type association, include, but are not limited to, a floppy disk, CD-ROM, DVD, the member can assign a level. Such as acquaintance, friend, magnetic disk, memory chip, ROM, RAM, an ASIC, a con good friend, and best friend, to the associations between the figured processor, all optical media, all magnetic tape or other member's profile and other member profiles. In one embodi magnetic media, or any other medium from which a computer ment, the member network engine 168 can determine the type processor can read instructions. Also, various other forms of of association between member profiles, including, in some computer-readable media may transmit or carry instructions 25 embodiments, the degree of separation of the association and to a computer, including a router, Switch, private or public the corresponding weight or level of the association. network, or other transmission device or channel, both wired Similar to the client devices 102a-n, the server device 162 and wireless. The instructions may include code from any shown includes a processor 164 coupled to a CRM 166. The Suitable computer-programming language, including, for server device 162 is in communication with a member net example, C, C++, C#, Visual Basic, Java, Python, Perl, and 30 work database 170. Server device 162, depicted as a single JavaScript. computer system, may be implemented as a network of com Client devices 102a-n can also include a number of exter puter processors. Examples of the server device 162 are serv nal or internal devices such as a mouse, a CD-ROM drive, a ers, mainframe computers, networked computers, a proces DVD drive, a keyboard, a display, or other input or output sor-based device, and similar types of systems and devices. devices. Examples of client devices 102a-n are personal com 35 The server processor 164 can be any of a number of suitable puters, digital assistants, personal digital assistants (PDAs), computer processors, such as processors from Intel Corpora cellular phones, mobile phones, Smartphones, pagers, digital tion of Santa Clara, Calif. and Motorola Corporation of tablets, laptop computers, Internet appliances, and other pro Schaumburg, Ill. cessor-based devices. In general, the client devices 102a-n Memory 166 in the server device 162 contains a member can be any type of processor-based platform that operates on 40 network engine application program, also known as a mem any operating system capable of Supporting one or more ber network engine 168. A member network can include client application programs. Client devices 102a-n may oper profiles that can be associated with other profiles. Each profile ate on any operating system capable of Supporting a browser may represent a member and a member can be, for example, or browser-enabled application, such as Microsoft(R) Win a person, an organization, a business, a corporation, a com dows(R or Linux. The client devices 102a-n shown include, 45 munity, a fictitious person, or other entity. Each profile can for example, personal computers executing a browser appli contain entries, and each entry can include information asso cation program Such as Microsoft Corporation’s Internet ciated with a profile. Examples of entries for a person profile ExplorerTM, Netscape Communication Corporations can include information regarding relationship status, birth Netscape NavigatorTM. and Apple Computer, Inc.’s SafariTM. date, age, children, ethnicity, religion, political view, sense of Through the client devices 102a-n, users 112a-n can com 50 humor, sexual orientation, fashion preferences, Smoking hab municate over the network 106 with each other and with other its, drinking habits, pets, hometown location, passions, sites, systems and devices coupled to the network 106. As sports, activities, favorite books, music, television, or movie shown in FIG. 1, a member network site 160 is also coupled preferences, favorite cuisines, email addresses, location to the network 106. information, IM name, phone number, address, skills, career, The member network site 160 shown includes a member 55 or any other information describing, identifying, or otherwise network database 170 and a server device 162 executing a associated with a profile. Entries for a business profile can member network engine application program, also known as include market sector, customer base, location, Supplier infor a member network engine 168. The member network engine mation, net profits, net worth, number of employees, stock 168 allows users, such as user 112a, to interact with and performance, or other types of information associated with participate in a member network. A member network can 60 the business profile. refer to a network connecting entities, such as people or Additionally, entries within a profile can include associa organizations, by a set of relationships, such as Social rela tions with other profiles. Associations between profiles tionships like friendship, co-working, or information within a member network can include, for example, friend exchange. Of course, a member network can refer to a com ships, business relationships, acquaintances, community or puter application or data connecting Such entities by Such 65 group associations, activity partner associations, common Social relationships. Examples of member networks include interest associations, common characteristic associations, or Orkut.com and Friendster.com. any other Suitable type of relationship connection (e.g., Social US 8,538,810 B2 5 6 relationship connection). Members can set up new associa It should be noted that the present invention may include tions or join existing associations in the member network as systems having different architecture than that which is desired. For example, a member can set up a "Computer shown in FIG. 1. For example, in Some systems according to Science community’ for those members who are interested or the present invention, server device 162 may include a single work in the computer Science field. Likewise, a member can 5 physical or logical server. The system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is join an existing “Baseball community’ if the member is inter merely exemplary, and is used to help explain the member ested in baseball and/or sport in general. Associations networks and methods illustrated in Subsequent figures. between profiles can also have various levels. For example, friendship levels can include, for example, a “haven’t met” Exemplary Member Network level, an “acquaintance' level, a “friend' level, a “good 10 friend' level, a “best friend' level, and other suitable levels. FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a member network 200 accord A degree of separation based on associations between pro ing to one embodiment of the present invention. According to files can also be determined. For example, a degree of sepa the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the member network ration can be determined based on the fewest number of 200 is illustrated with a graph comprising vertices 202, 204, 15 206, 208, 210, 212, and 214 and edges 218, 220, 222, 224, associations between two profiles. Thus, if profile A is a 226, 228, 230, 232, and 234. The vertices 202, 204, 206, 208, friend of profile B, and profile B is a friend of profile C, there 210, 212, and 214 comprise profiles A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, can be a degree of separation of two (2) between profiles A respectively. Each profile can represent a member profile of a and C. A degree of separation can be type-specific or type member of the member network 200. The exemplary network neutral. Type specific degrees of separation only count rela 200 shown in FIG. 2 has seven associated users or members. tionships of a certain type. Thus, for example, in the case Considerably more members can be part of the member net above where A is a friend of B, and B is a friend of C, there is work 200. A member can be an entity such as, for example, a a friendship degree separation of two, even if A is directly person, an organization, a business, a corporation, a commu associated with C by a business association, which would nity, a fictitious person, or other Suitable entity. otherwise produce a degree of type-neutral separation of one 25 Each member profile can contain entries, and each entry (1). can comprise information associated with a profile. For Member 166 also contains an advertisement-creation example, a person’s member profile can contain: personal application program, also known as an advertisement-cre information, Such as relationship status, birth date, age, chil ation engine 169, that allows members of the member net dren, ethnicity, religion, political view, sense of humor, work to create and disseminate advertisements to other mem 30 sexual orientation, fashion preferences, Smoking habits, bers in the member network. In operation, the member drinking habits, pets, hometown location, passions, sports, network engine 162 receives a request to create an advertise activities, favorite books or music, television, or movie pref ment from a user, Such as user 112a, as entered to a corre erences, and favorite cuisines; contact information, Such as sponding client device, such as client device 102a. The email addresses, location information, instant messenger request is sent to the advertisement-creation engine 169, 35 name, telephone numbers, and address; professional informa which then requests advertisement content from the user tion, Such as job title, employer, and skills; educational infor 112a in order to create the advertisement. The advertisement mation, such as Schools attended and degrees obtained, and creation engine 169 also interacts with the member network any other Suitable information describing, identifying, or oth engine 168 to retrieve the user's 112a member profile from a erwise associated with a person. A business member profile member network database 170 (which is further described 40 can, for example, contain a description of the business, and below), present user 112a with associations and/or nexuses information about its market sector, customer base, location, between the user 112a and other members in the member Suppliers, net profits, networth, number of employees, Stock network based on the member profile for selection of adver performance, contact information, and other types of suitable tisement audience, and receive the selected advertisement information associated with the business. audience from the user 112a. The member network engine 45 A member profile can also contain rating information asso 169 can then create the advertisement based on advertisement ciated with the member. For example, the member can be content input by the user 112a and provide the advertisement rated or scored by other members of the member network 200 to the selected advertisement audience also based on an audi in specific categories, such as humor, intelligence, fashion, ence selection by the user 112a. trustworthiness, sexiness, and coolness. A members cat Server device 162 also provides access to storage elements, 50 egory ratings can be contained in the members profile. In one Such as a member network storage element, in the example embodiment of the member network, a member can have shown in FIG. 1, a member network database 170. The mem fans. Fans can be other members who have indicated that they ber network database 170 can be used to store profiles of are “fans' of the member. Rating information can also include members in a member network and to store communities the number of fans of a member and identifiers of the fans. within the member network as created by the member-net 55 Rating information can also include the rate at which a mem work engine 168. Data storage elements may include any one ber accumulated ratings or fans and how recently the member or combination of methods for storing data, including without has been rated or acquired fans. limitation, arrays, hash tables, lists, and pairs. Other similar A member profile can also contain membership informa types of data storage devices can be accessed by the server tion associated with the member. Membership information device 162. The member network engine 168 can receive data 60 can include information about a member's login patterns to comprising the profiles and created associations from the the member network, such as the frequency that the member member-network database 170 and can also send data com logs into the member network and the members most recent prising created associations and profiles to the member net login to the member network. Membership information can work database 170 for storage. The member-network data also include information about the rate and frequency that a base 170 may be physically attached or otherwise in 65 member profile gains associations to other member profiles. communication with the member-network engine 168 by way In a member network that comprises advertising or sponsor of a network or other connection. ship, a member profile may contain consumer information. US 8,538,810 B2 7 8 Consumer information may include: the frequency, patterns, munity associations, and common characteristic associa types, or number of purchases the member makes; informa tions. Common characteristic associations may include, for tion about which advertisers or sponsors the member has example, associations based on Some characteristic, such as accessed, patronized, or used; and/or information about a attending the same high School or being from the same home members behavior, e.g., areas of the member network and/or 5 town, and can indicate a lower level of significance than other articles that the member previously accessed and another type of association, Such as a friendship association. viewed. Referring to FIG. 2, edge 220 and edge 222 each comprise A member profile may comprise data stored in memory. an association between profile A at vertex 202 and profile Dat The profile, in addition to comprising data about the member, can also comprise data relating to others. For example, a 10 vertex 208. The edge 220 represents a business association, member profile can contain an identification of associations and the edge 222 represents a friendship association. Profile A or virtual links with other member profiles. In one embodi is also associated with profile E by a common characteristic ment, a member profile includes an identification of associa association comprising edge 218. The association between tion(s) to which the member belongs. For example, a member profile A and profile E may be more attenuated than the profile can indicate that the member belongs to the Computer 15 association between profile A and D, but the association can Science community. Moreover, membership information can still be represented by the member network depicted in FIG. include a classification of the member based on the members 2. various associations. For example, the member can be clas Each member represented by the profiles A, B, C, D, E, F, sified as a “sports fan because the member belongs to the and G comprising the vertices 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, Baseball community. In another embodiment, a member pro- 20 and 214, respectively, for purposes of illustration, comprises file may comprise a hyperlink associated with another mem a person. Other types of members can be in member network ber's profile. In one such association, the other members 200. For example, communities, special interest groups, orga profile may contain a reciprocal hyperlinkassociated with the nizations, political parties, universities, and legal persons, first member's profile. A member's profile may also contain Such as corporations and business partnerships may be mem information excerpted from another associated members 25 bers of the member network 200. The associations 218, 220, profile, such as a thumbnail image of the associated member, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, and 234 illustrated in FIG. 2 his or her age, marital status, and location, as well as an comprise bi-directional associations. An association between indication of the number of members with which the associ two profiles may comprise a bi-directional association when ated member is associated. In one embodiment, a members both parties to the association are associated with each other. profile may comprise a list of other members profiles with 30 For example, in FIG. 2, profile A is associated with profile D, which the member wishes to be associated. and profile D is also associated with profile A. In one embodi An association may be designated manually or automati ment, profiles A and D will not be bi-directionally associated cally. For example, a member may designate associated mem with each other until both profiles consent to Such an asso bers manually by selecting other profiles and indicating an ciation. For example, profile A may invite profile D to be association that can be recorded in the member's profile. 35 associated therewith, and the bi-directional association Also, an association between two profiles may comprise an occurs upon profile D's acceptance of Such invitation. The association automatically generated in response to a prede invitation, for example, may include sending an email or termined number of common entries, aspects, or elements in other message to profile D indicating that profile A has the two members profiles. In one embodiment, a member requested an association with profile D. profile may be associated with all of the other member pro- 40 Other embodiments of the present invention may comprise files comprising a predetermined number or percentage of directed associations or other types of associations. Directed common entries, such as interests, hobbies, likes, dislikes, associations can associate a first profile with a second profile employers and/or habits. while not requiring the second profile to be associated with Associations between profiles within a member network the first profile. For example, profile A can be associated by a can be of a single type or can be multiple types and can 45 friendship association with profile B, and profile B can be include, for example, friendship associations, business asso unassociated with profile A, or profile B can be associated ciations, family associations, community associations, with profile A through a different type of association, Such as School associations, or any other Suitable type of link between a business association. Thus a display of profile A's friends profiles. Associations can further be weighted to represent the would include profile B, but a display of profile B’s friends strength of the association. For example, a friendship asso- 50 would not include profile A. ciation can be weighted more than a School association. Each Within a member network, a degree of separation can be type of association can have various levels with different determined for associated profiles. In one embodiment, a weights associated with each level. For example, a friendship degree of separation between two profiles can be determined association can be classified according to which of a plurality by the fewest number of edges of a certain type separating the of friendship association levels it belongs to. In one embodi- 55 associated profiles. In another embodiment, a type-specific ment, a friendship association may be assigned a level by the degree of separation may be determined. A type-specific member from a list of levels comprising: a best friend, a good degree of separation comprises a degree of separation deter friend, a regular friend, an acquaintance, and a friend the mined based on one particular type of association. For member has not met. example, a profile A has a friend association degree of sepa In FIG. 2, the edges 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228,230, 232, 60 ration of two from profile E. The fewest number of friendship and 234 shown comprise associations between profiles of associations between profile A and profile E is two—the members. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the friendship association comprising edge 222 between profiles member network 200 comprises a plurality of differing types A and D and the friendship association comprising edge 234 of associations represented by edges 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, between profiles D and E. Thus, for the associated profiles A 228, 230, 232, and 234. The types of associations shown in 65 and E, the degree of friendship separation, determined FIG. 2 for illustration purposes are business associations, according to one aspect of one embodiment of the present activity partner associations, friendship associations, com invention, is two. US 8,538,810 B2 9 10 Another type-specific degree of separation can also be various systems. The method in FIG. 3 is described below as determined for profiles A and E. For example, a common carried out by the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 by way of characteristic degree of separation can be determined by example, and various elements of the system 100 are refer determining the fewest number of common characteristic enced in explaining the example method of FIG. 3. associations separating profile A and profile E. According to Referring to the method depicted in FIG. 3, with further the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, there is one common reference to the sample screenshot shown in FIG. 4, wherein characteristic association, comprising edge 218, separating a member in a member network can create and disseminate profiles A and E. Thus, the common characteristic association advertisements to other members in the same member net degree of separation, according to the embodiment depicted work. The method begins at 310 with a user, such as user in FIG. 2, is one. The common characteristic in this example, 10 112a, joining a member network, Such as the member net can be that profile A attended the same high school as profile work 200 (e.g., Orkut'TM), by creating a user or member pro E. A common characteristic association may be selected by file, as described earlier. The created member profile is profiles A and E to represent that they are associated in some received and stored in the member network database 170 (or fashion, but to not create a close association Such as with a any other Suitable storage device). friendship association. 15 At 320, as a member of the member network, the user 112a According to other aspects of certain embodiments of the can access his or her member profile, a home page 400 of present invention, the degree of separation may be deter which is shown in FIG. 4 as an example, and create adver mined by use of a weighting factor assigned to each associa tisements for dissemination to other members in the member tion. For example, close friendships can be weighted higher network. In one embodiment, the user 112a has an option to than more distant friendships. According to certain aspects of create one or more advertisements, whereby Such option can embodiments using a weighting factor, a higher weighting be presented to the user 112a on the home page 400 (not factor for an association can reduce the degree of separation shown) or anywhere within the user's 112a member profile between profiles and lower weighting factors can increase the for selection. degree of separation. This can be accomplished, for example, At 330, once the user 112a selects to create one or more by establishing an inverse relationship between each associa 25 advertisements, the user 112a is presented with further tions and a corresponding weighting factor prior to Summing options to create each advertisement and input advertisement the associations. Thus, highly weighted associations would content. In one embodiment, one of the options is a category contribute less to the resulting Sumthan lower weighted asso selection for each advertisement. Examples of advertisement ciations. categories include, but are not limited to: help-wanted adver Process 30 tisements, job-seeking advertisements, personal advertise Various methods or processes in accordance with the ments, product advertisements, and service advertisements. present invention may be constructed. For example, in one The advertisement categories are predetermined as desired embodiment, the method begins with a member network site by, e.g., the administrator of the member network or any receiving a request to create an advertisement from one of the entity authorized to do so. In one embodiment, the user 112a members (hereinafter, “first member') of a member network. 35 can create new categories. Next, the member network site also receives advertisement Once the user 112a selects a category for his/her advertise content for the advertisement to be created. The received ment, the user 112a is presented with one or more fields of advertisement content can include advertisement content that entry specific to the selected advertisement category for is specific to a category selection for the advertisement. The input, wherein the user 112a can enter the desired content for advertisement content can be received as input from a prede 40 his/her advertisement. For example, a help-wanted advertise termined field of entry, wherein text and/or graphic content ment can include, among other fields: a position field for the can be entered or imported. user 112a to input the position of employment available, Such The first member further provides the member network site as a clerk, a chef, an IT professional; a location field for the with a targeted member or members (hereinafter, “second user 112a to input a location, such as a store, an address, or a member(s)) in the member network to whom the advertise 45 locality, where the input position is available; a work experi ment is intended. Consequently, the member network site ence field for the user 112a to input the desired or required generates the advertisement, based on the advertisement con experience for the available position. Alternatively, upon , and provides the advertisement to the second member(s). selection of a category, the user 112a can be presented with a The advertisement can be displayed within or separate from a blank page wherein the user 112a can input advertising text profile of the second member(s); for the later, a link to the 50 and/or graphics for the advertisement content. The user 112a advertisement can be provided from within the second mem can input such advertisement content directly or import them ber(s) profile. The advertisement can also be sent via e-mail from other files and/or databases. Still alternatively, upon to the second member(s). Further, the advertisement can be selection of a category, the user 112a can be presented with provided to the second member(s) based on a category selec one or more fields of entry and blank areas where the user tion for viewing by the second member(s), a selection of an 55 112a can input additional text and/or graphics for the adver association between the first member and the second mem tisement content. ber(s), or in generala profile of the first user as maintained by At 340, the advertisement-creation engine 169 receives the the network. The member network engine can also charge a selected advertisement options and advertisement content fee to the first user for enabling the first user to create and provided by the user 112a. At 350, the advertisement-creation disseminate the advertisement to the second member(s). 60 engine 169 provides the user 11a with options to target a FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method that enable mem particular audience, i.e., one or more other members in the bers in a member network to create and disseminate adver member network 200. In one embodiment, the advertise tisements to targeted member(s) within the network. The ment-creation engine 169 can interact with the member net exemplary method is provided by way of example, as there work engine 168 to retrieve the user's 112a member profile are a variety of ways to carry out methods according to the 65 from the member network database 170, generate a list of all present invention. The method shown in FIG. 3 can be associations and/or nexuses between the user's 112a and executed or otherwise performed by one or a combination of other members in the member network 200, and provide such US 8,538,810 B2 11 12 list to the user 112a so that the user 112a can target individual ment tab 512 or an Advertisement link 522 or both can be member(s) and/or group(s) of individual members that are used. In a further embodiment, an advertisement area outside associated with or have a nexus with the user 112a. For of or separate from a member profile, such as an advertise example, the user 112a may be provided with a pull-down ment bulletin board or web site, can be set up within the menu for selecting the targeted audience, wherein the menu member network 200 to display advertisements posted by includes the aforementioned list. Examples of possible selec members of the member network 200. The targeted member tions in the list include: then can be provided with a link to such area from a tab 510 A particular level of association; for example, all best or a link 520 in the member profile, whereby the targeted friends of the user 112a, all good friends of the user member can be directed to, for example, a web page of adver 112a, all acquaintances of the user 112a, all best busi 10 tisements specifically targeted to Such member. In yet another ness associates of the user 112a, all good business asso embodiment, the advertisement can be displayed in an e-mail ciates of the user 112a, or one or more of the aforemen and sent to the targeted member. tioned groups. No matter where or to whom the advertisements are dis A particular degree of association; for example, one degree played, each member in the member network 200 has options of friendship association with the user 112a, three-de 15 to filter incoming advertisements for viewing based on grees of business associations with the user 112a, two desired categories and criteria for each category, just as an degrees of community association with the user 112a, or advertisement creator is able to create an advertisement for a one or more of the aforementioned groups. particular category with particular criteria as described ear Particular community, communities, association, or asso lier. In one embodiment, a member can filter advertisements ciations available within the member network, wherein based on any associations possible within the member net the user 112a may or may not belong to such commu work or information entered in the member profile, such as: a nity, communities, association, or associations; for particular level of association; a particular degree of associa example, the user 112a can send computer-sale adver tion; particular community, communities, association, or tisements to every member in the “Computer Science associations available within the member network; and par community.” to which the user 112a belongs or with 25 ticular entries in the member profile. For example, the user which the user 112a is affiliated, or to every member that 112a, as a member of the member network 200, can also has a friendship association with the user 112a (regard receive advertisements from other network members, less of the level or degree of such friendship associa wherein the user 112a can be provided with a pull-down tion). menu (or other known means for selection) to filter incoming Particular entries in the user's 112a member profile; for 30 advertisements so as to view only those advertisements from example, personal information, business information, a particular association (e.g., a friendship or business asso contact information, hobby information, and educa ciation); from a particular level or degree of a particular tional information. association (e.g., a best-friend association or a two-degree of At 360, once the user 112a has targeted an advertisement to business association); from a “baseball community” to which a particular audience, e.g., individual member(s) and/or 35 the user 112a belongs, in which the user 112a is interested, or group(s) of members in the member network 200, the adver with which the user 112a is affiliated in some way (e.g., one tisement-creation engine 169 receives the advertisement of the user's 112a listed hobby in his/her member profile is audience selection from the user 112a. At 370, the advertise baseball). ment-creation engine 169 creates the advertisement based on Also, no matter where or to whom the advertisements are the selected advertisement options and advertisement content 40 displayed, each advertisement, such as the advertisement 550 received at 340 and presents the advertisement to the targeted in FIG.5 or advertisement 650 in FIG. 6, can include a picture audience. In one embodiment, the advertisement can be dis or any other form of identification identifying the sender of played on the home page or landing page of each targeted the advertisement. Each advertisement can also include a link member. FIG. 5 depicts a home page 500 with a displayed to the sender's member profile, sender's e-mail address, or advertisement 550. Thus, every time a targeted member logs 45 any other senders information. Each advertisement can also into the member network 200 or accesses his/her member include a link to the senders web site or a more detailed profile in the member network 200, such targeted member is advertisement page to further elaborate on the advertisement. initially presented with the home page 500 having the dis The identification of the advertisement sender can help pre played advertisement 550. vent advertisement spamming. For example, a member that As also depicted in FIG. 4, the targeted member can access 50 receives an advertisement can identify the sender to deter other pages of his/her profiles using various available tabs mine whether the member knows the sender. If the member 410. Likewise, the targeted member can access other pages believes that the he/she has been spammed with an advertise for personal settings at links 420. Thus, in another embodi ment, the member can report the advertisement spamming to ment of the present invention, the advertisement can be dis the administrator of the member network 200 and/or sever the played on another available page or on all available pages, 55 underlying relationship or association with the advertisement Such as those pages available through tabs 410 and/or links sender that allows such advertisement to be sent. For 420, of the targeted member profile. For example, FIG. 6 example, if the member has a friendship connection with the shows an advertisement 650 that can be displayed in the advertisement sender, the member can sever Such friendship communities page 600 of the targeted member as accessible connection, by directly removing the sender's name from the from the communities tab at 510 in FIG. 5. 60 friendship list in the member profile in the case of one-degree In still another embodiment, an “Advertisement” tab 512 of friendship or asking another friend to remove the senders can be in the menu bar, oran “Advertisement” link 522 can be name from the friends friendship list in the case of two or included with other navigational links, to organize in one more degrees of friendship (alternatively, severing the friend place within the member profile all advertisements that are ship association with the another friend). sent and displayed to the targeted member. While FIG. 5 65 According to one embodiment of the present invention, illustrates both an Advertisement tab 512 and an Advertise member-created advertisements can provide financial oppor ment link 522, it will be understood that either an Advertise tunities to member network sites that provide for such adver US 8,538,810 B2 13 14 tisements. For example, a member network site can charge an 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving, from the advertisement sender on a click-through basis (e.g., a flat fee first user, advertisement content that is specific to the selec for each click-through of a displayed advertisement), a cur tion of the category comprises: rent-use basis (e.g., a flat fee based on the number of members receiving, from the first user, the specific advertisement to which an advertisement is sent), or any other basis known 5 content from an input to at least one predetermined field or will be known in the art. of entry. Accordingly, member-created advertisement of the present 5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, by the one or invention enable members of a member network to create and more processors, the target audience from the first user for the effectively target advertisement to other network members user-created advertisement, the target audience comprising and enhance the display of Such advertisement in a more 10 one or more users from the member network comprises obvious manner to attract the viewing of such advertisement receiving, from the first user, a selection of the target audience by targeted members. from a predetermined group of users from the member net General work of associated users, wherein the predetermined group of Although the invention has been described with reference users have a predetermined type of relationship with the first to these embodiments, other embodiments could be made by 15 USC. those in the art to achieve the same or similar results. Varia 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one second tions and modifications of the present invention will be appar page includes an advertisement tab or an advertisement link. ent to one skilled in the art based on the present disclosure, 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: and the present invention encompasses all such modifications providing a link to the user-created advertisement within and equivalents. the at least one second page of the at least one user of the member network from the target audience. The invention claimed is: 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an 1. A method comprising: e-mail including the user-created advertisement to at least one receiving, by one or more processors, a request to generate user of the member network from the target audience. a user-created advertisement from a first user, wherein 25 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-created adver the first user is a member of a member network of asso tisement further includes at least one of a picture and an ciated users and the first user is associated with a first identification of the first user. page in the member network; 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors, advertisement receiving, from the first user, a selection of at least one of content for the user-created advertisement that is asso 30 the particular degree of association and the particular ciated with the request from the first user, the advertise level of association of the first user to the target audi ment content comprising at least one of the first user's ence; and composed text and the first user's imported graphics; providing the information including the user-created receiving, by the one or more processors, a target audience advertisement for display within the at least one second from the first user for the user-created advertisement, the 35 page of the at least one user from the target audience target audience comprising one or more users from the based on the selection of the at least one of the particular network that have a relationship with the first user in the degree of association and the particular level of associa member network, the relationship comprising at least tion. one of a particular degree of association with the first 11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, by the one or user in the member network and a particular level of 40 more processors, the target audience for the user-created association with the first user in the member network; advertisement further comprises receiving a selection of a generating, by the one or more processors, the user-created particular community associated with the first user in the advertisement based on the advertisement content member network. received from the first user; 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, from at least one user of the member network 45 charging a fee to the first user for the providing information from the target audience, a category selection that including the user-created advertisement for display describes the advertisement content of the user-created within the at least one second page of the at least one user advertisement; and from the target audience. providing, by the one or more processors, information 13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including the user-created advertisement for display 50 on which is encoded executable program code, the executable within at least one second page of the at least one user of program code when executed causing a computer to perform the member network from the target audience in the steps comprising: response to receiving the category selection from the at receiving a request to generate a user-created advertise least one of the member network from the target audi ment from a first user, wherein the first user is a member ence and receiving the target audience from the first user 55 of a member network of associated users and the first that has a relation with the target audience. user is associated with a first page in the member net 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one second work; page includes a home page or a communities page associated receiving advertisement content for the user-created adver with one of the target audience. tisement that is associated with the request from the first 3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, by the one or 60 user, the advertisement content comprising at least one more processors, advertisement content for the user-created of the first user's composed text and the first user's advertisement that is associated with the request from the first imported graphics; user comprises: receiving a target audience from the first user for the user receiving, from the first user, a selection of a category for created advertisement, the target audience comprising the user-created advertisement; and 65 one or more users from the member network that have a receiving, from the first user, advertisement content that is relationship with the first user in the member network, specific to the selection of the category. the relationship comprising at least one of a particular US 8,538,810 B2 15 16 degree of association with the first user in the member providing an e-mail including the user-created advertise network and a particular level of association with the ment to the at least one user of the member network from first user in the member network; the target audience. generating the user-created advertisement based on the 21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of advertisement content received from the first user; 5 claim 13, wherein the user-created advertisement further receiving, from at least one user of the member network includes at least one of a picture and an identification of the from the target audience, a category selection that first user. describes the advertisement content of the user-created 22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of advertisement; and claim 13, wherein the program code is further configured to providing information including the user-created adver 10 perform the steps of: tisement for display within at least one second page of receiving, from the first user, a selection of at least one of the at least one user of the member network from the the particular degree of association and the particular target audience in response to receiving the category level of an association of the first user to the target selection from the at least one user of the member net audience; and work from the target audience and receiving the target 15 audience from the first user that has a relationship with providing the information including the user-created the target audience. advertisement for display within the at least one second 14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of page of the at least one user from the target audience claim 13, wherein the at least one second page includes a based on the selection of the at least one of the particular home page or a communities page associated with one of the degree of association and the particular level of associa target audience. tion. 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein 23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of the program code is further configured to perform the steps of claim 13, wherein receiving the target audience for the user receiving, from the first user, a selection of a category for the created advertisement further comprises receiving a selection user-created advertisement; and 25 of a particular community associated with the first user in the receiving, from the first user, advertisement content that is member network. specific to the selection of the category. 24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of 16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the program code is further configured to claim 15, wherein receiving, from the first user, advertise perform the step of: ment content that is specific to the selection of the category 30 charging a fee to the first user for generating the user further comprises program code for receiving, from the first created advertisement. user, the advertisement that is specific content from an input 25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of to at least one predetermined field of entry. claim 13, wherein the program code is further configured to 17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of perform the step of: claim 13, wherein receiving the target from the first user for 35 charging a fee to the first user for providing the information the user-created advertisement, the target audience compris including the user-created advertisement for display ing one or more users from the member network comprises receiving, from the first user, a selection of the target audience within the at least one second page of the at least one user from a predetermined group of users from the member net from the target audience. work of associated users, wherein the predetermined group of 40 26. The method of claim 1, wherein the degree of associa users have a predetermined type of relationship with the first tion is a type-specific degree of association. USC. 27. The method of claim 1, wherein the degree of associa 18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of tion is a level-specific degree of association. claim 13, wherein the at least one second page includes an 28. The method of claim 1, wherein the relationship com advertisement tab or an advertisement link. 45 prises a friendship relationship. 19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of 29. The method of claim 1, wherein the relationship com claim 13, wherein the program code is further configured to prises a business relationship. perform the step of: 30. The method of claim 1, wherein the relationship com providing a link to the user-created advertisement within prises a family relationship. the at least one second page of at the least one user of the 50 member network from the target audience. 31. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user and the 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of one or more users from the target audience are bi-direction claim 13, wherein the program code is further configured to ally associated with each other in the member network. perform the step of: k k k k k