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.

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.