Method of Recording Usage of an Online Social Network

Abstract

A method comprises receiving a logon request from a user of an online social network; processing the logon request to log the user in to the online social network; and recording usage of the online social network by the user.

1 . A method of recording a user's usage of an online social network, the method comprising:
 receiving a logon request from a user of an online social network;   processing the logon request to log the user in to the online social network; and   recording usage of the online social network by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded usage comprises time of login. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded usage comprises total time of a usage session. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded usage comprises a page accessed by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded usage comprises a number of times the user has logged in to the online social network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded usage comprises a length of time the user views a page. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded usage comprises a response by the user to a specific advertisement displayed to the user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the response indicates that the user did not respond to the specific advertisement and further comprising the step of removing the advertisement from a list of possible advertisements to be subsequently displayed to the user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of updating a usage history record stored in a database with the recorded usage. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the online social network is offered as a free service to the user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded usage comprises a type of content accessed by the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded usage comprises a location of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded usage comprises business transactions involving the user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a reward for the user based on the recorded usage. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the reward comprises a number of points, the number of points being dependent on the recorded usage. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting an advertisement based on the recorded usage; and   transmitting the selected advertisement to a display used by the user.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded usage comprises interest categories selected by the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the online social network is web-based.