Classification and status of users of networking and social activity systems

Abstract

Classification and status can be assigned to entities and devices associated with a network (e.g., users of a social activity or networking system) based on media, application, network and/or other information (e.g., purchasable product information). A status or classification can pertain to a subject matter that is, for example, associated with media and/or application in a broad sense or in a specific context (e.g., category, genre, item). As such, a status or a classification can, for example, provide valuable information regarding a user to other users of a social activity system. Among other things, a status or classification can be used to manage a social activity system, as well as managing information provided by the social activity system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assigning a status to a user of a social activity system, comprising:
 monitoring user attribute information for a plurality of users of the social activity system; and   evaluating the user attribute information to assign a user status to one or more of the users.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , where the method further comprises:
 arranging information provided by the social activity system in accordance with the user status of the one or more users.   
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the user status is associated with a subject area. 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the evaluating assigns at least one of a plurality of user statuses to the one or more users, each of the user statuses being associated with a different subject area. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the subject area pertains to a genre of digital media assets. 
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the subject area pertains to an artist or author of digital media assets. 
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the user attribute information includes one or more of the following:
 media information including at least one of media collection information and media usage information; and   network information including at least one of social network information, social information, individual user information, aggregate user information, user profile, and product information pertaining to one or more products associated with one or more users; and   application information pertaining to one or more applications.   
     
     
         8 . A method of assigning a classification to an entity that can be connected to a network for communication with one or more other entities, the method comprising:
 obtaining at least one of (i) first media information associated with at least a first entity that can be connected to the network, and (ii) first network information associated with at least the first entity; and   assigning one or more classifications to at least the first entity at least partially based on at least one of the first media information and the first network information, wherein the one or more classifications are reflective of a media classification of the first entity.   
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , where the method further comprises:
 obtaining first application information associated with at least the first entity; and   assigning the one or more classifications to at least the first entity at least partially based on the first application information, wherein the one or more classifications are reflective of an application classification of the first entity.   
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 8 ,
 wherein the media information includes at least one of media collection information, and media usage information; and   wherein the network information includes at least one of social network information, social information, individual information, aggregate information, personal profile, and information pertaining to a person.   
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 10 ,
 wherein the media collection information includes at least of media content and metadata,   wherein the media is or includes one or more of the following: an audio file, a video file, an audio visual file, a song, an album, a movie, a book, a playlist, a media library, and   wherein the metadata includes one or more of the following: information about the media content, album art, title, textual data, rating, purchase, time of purchase, or place of purchase.   
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the media usage information includes one or more of the following: time media used, place media used, number of times media used, and duration of usage of media. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the network information includes information pertaining to one or more of the following: participation, writing reviews, positive feedbacks, and useful reviews. 
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 using the one or more classifications assigned to the at least first entity for communication or interaction between the first entity connected to the network and one or more other entities also connected to the network.   
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 affecting or filtering the communications between the first entity and one or more other entities at least partly based on the one or more classifications assigned to the at least first entity.   
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising one or more of the following:
 determining an action to be taken with respect to communications associated with the first entity at least partly based on the one or more classifications assigned to the at least first entity;   determining an action to be taken with respect to the first entity at least partly based on the one or more classifications assigned to the at least first entity; and   determining one or more events based on the one or more classifications assigned to the at least first entity.   
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the action taken with respect to the first entity includes one or more of the following:
 assigning a form of a reward, gift, or complementary value to the first entity;   storing the one or more classifications for the at least first entity;   sending the first entity or one or more other entities a communication, a notice, or an offer;   displaying one or more classifications assigned to the at least first entity to one or more other entities in the network;   identifying or recommending the first entity to one or more other entities in the network; and   recommending to one or more other entities in the network to follow or not follow the first entity or the activities of the first entity.   
     
     
         18 . A method of assigning classifications to a user of a social networking system, the method comprising:
 obtaining information associated with media and one or more applications associated with a user of the social networking system; and   assigning one or more classifications pertaining to subject matters associated with at least one of the media and applications to the user of the social networking system at least partially based on the information.   
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein each of the subject matters are specific to media or one or more applications. 
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the one or more classifications are one or more of the following:
 a media status as a media ranking of the first entity;   a media ranking indicative of knowledge, level of usage and/or ranking of the first entity with respect to media;   an application status as a media ranking of the first entity; and   a media ranking indicative of knowledge, level usage and/or ranking of the first entity with respect to the one or more media, a media category or genre, or a media asset or item.   
     
     
         21 . A method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the one or more status effectively ranks or positions the first entity with respect to a specific type of category of at least one of the media and the one or more applications. 
     
     
         22 . A method of assigning a classification to a user of a social networking system, the method comprising:
 obtaining media information pertaining at least in part to media associated with the user of the social networking system; and   determining and assigning one or more classifications to the user at least partially based on the media information.   
     
     
         23 . A method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 obtaining network information, and   assigning the one or more classifications to the user at least partially based on the network media information.   
     
     
         24 . A method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 affecting or filtering the communications between the user and one or more other users at least partly based on at least one of: the one or more classifications assigned to the user, and one or more other classifications assigned to the one or more other users.   
     
     
         25 . A computing system including one or more processors or processing cores configured to:
 monitor user attribute information for a plurality of users of a social networking system; and   evaluate the user attribute information; and   assign a user status to one or more of the users at least partly based on the evaluation.   
     
     
         26 . A computing system as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the one or more processors or processing core are further configured to:
 arrange information provided by the social networking system in accordance with the user status of the one or more users.   
     
     
         27 . A computing system as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the user status is associated with a subject area. 
     
     
         28 . A computing system as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the evaluating assigns a plurality of user statuses, each of the users statuses being associated with a different subject area. 
     
     
         29 . A computer readable medium including at least computer program code tangibly stored thereon for assigning a status to a user of a social networking system, the computer readable medium comprising:
 computer program code for monitoring user attribute information for a plurality of users of a social networking system;   computer program code for evaluating the user attribute information; and   computer program code for assigning a user status to one or more of the users at least partly based on the evaluation.   
     
     
         30 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising:
 computer program code for arranging information provided by the social networking system in accordance with the user status of the one or more users.   
     
     
         31 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the user attribute information includes one or more of the following:
 media information including at least one of media collection information and media usage information;   network information including at least one of: social network information, social information, individual information, aggregate information, personal profile, and information pertaining to a person; and   application information pertaining to one or more applications.