System and method for facilitating online social networking

Abstract

A method for operating a website for an online social networking includes the steps of receiving a group picture containing a plurality of individuals, receiving identification information regarding the individuals in the group picture, displaying the group picture, and selectively displaying labels for the individuals after the individuals confirm that they have been correctly identified. According to a preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of individuals who are not registered users of the website are automatically invited to become a registered user of the website. According to another preferred embodiment, the plurality of individuals are automatically registered as register users of the website when the group picture is submitted by one of the individuals.

1 . A method for operating a website for an online social networking comprising the steps of:
 receiving a group picture containing a plurality of individuals;   receiving identification information regarding the individuals in the group picture; and   displaying the group picture;   selectively displaying labels for the individuals after the individuals confirm that they have been correctly identified.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the labels include box tags about heads of the individuals. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying a profile when a label is selected. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically cropping the head of an individual from the group picture and using the cropped head as a profile picture for the user. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying the group picture with labels identifying less than all of the individuals in the group picture. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically inviting each of the plurality of individuals who are not registered users of the website to become a registered user of the website. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically registering the plurality of individuals as register users of the website. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing an operation button which displays the labels when pressed. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising the step of providing the operation button with left and right portions to step between the labels of the individuals in the group picture. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising the step of providing the operation button with next and previous portions to step between a plurality of group pictures. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of selectively displaying at least one speech bubble on the group picture. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of receiving a request for the speech bubble from a registered user and displaying the speech bubble only after the individual in the group picture associated with the speech bubble approves display of the speech bubble. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing an activation button to selectively display and hide the speech bubble. 
   
   
       14 . A method for operating a website for an online social networking comprising the steps of:
 receiving a picture containing at least one individual;   selectively displaying at least one speech bubble on the picture.   
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of receiving a request for the speech bubble from a registered user and displaying the speech bubble only after the individual in the picture associated with the speech bubble approves display of the speech bubble. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of providing an activation button to selectively display and hide the speech bubble. 
   
   
       17 . A method for operating a website for an online social networking comprising the steps of:
 displaying user profile pages including a plurality of fields;   displaying a search box when a field is selected; and   enabling a search to be performed contextually relevant to the field selected.   
   
   
       18 . A method for operating a website for an online social networking comprising the steps of:
 displaying user profile pages; and   enabling visiting users to customize display of portlets for the profile pages.   
   
   
       19 . A method for operating a website for an online social networking comprising the steps of:
 displaying a mini-profile when a user moves a curser over one of a user name and a user picture; and   displaying a profile when a user selects one of a user name and a user picture.   
   
   
       20 . A method for operating a website for an online social networking comprising the steps of:
 displaying user profile pages; and   enabling a visiting user to make the profile pages tabs on a home page of the visiting user.