System, method, and computer program product for providing an association between a first participant and a second participant in a social network

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for associating a first participant and a second participant in a social network. In one embodiment, payment is received from a first participant. Additionally, an association between the first participant and a second participant in a social network is provided, in exchange for the payment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A social networking system, comprising:
 memory for storing information associated with followers of one of a plurality of participants of a social network, the participants including at least one of a person, a group of persons, and a project; and   a processor for:
 displaying to the participant a first one of a plurality of web pages associated with an account of the participant with the social network, the first web page graphically representing a social hierarchy utilizing a plurality of circles, each circle including followers of a different level of closeness to the participant, wherein each of the circles is associated with a different set of content provided to the followers, such that for each circle, followers included in the circle are provided a different net of content than followers included in the other circles; 
 receiving a selection from the participant of one of the circles via the first web page, and in response to the selection:
 displaying to the participant the followers included in the selected circle; and 
 presenting at least one option to the participant for configuring at least one setting associated with the circle. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The social networking system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is coupled to the memory via a bus. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the followers is included in at least one of the circles based on an invitation from the participant. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one option for configuring the at least one setting includes an option for configuring a name of the circle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the circles is defined by the participant utilizing the account of the participant with the social network. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the circles is defined by the participant providing a name for the at least one of the circles. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the circles is defined by the participant indicating content accessible to the followers included in the at least one of the circles. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the web pages associated with the account of the participant with the social network includes an invite option for use by the participant to invite new participants to the social network. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the web pages associated with the account of the participant displays a total number of participants who are followers of the participant. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further in response to the selection, displaying a number indicator of a total number of followers included in the selected circle. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further in response to the selection, providing an option selectable by the participant to remove at least one of the followers included in the selected circle. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 storing in memory information associated with followers of one of a plurality of participants of a social network, the participants including at least one of a person, a group of persons, and a project;   displaying to the participant, utilizing a processor, a first one of a plurality of web pages associated with an account of the participant with the social network, the first web page graphically representing a social hierarchy utilizing a plurality of circles, each circle including followers of a different level of closeness to the participant, wherein each of the circles is associated with a different set of content provided to the followers, such that for each circle, followers included in the circle are provided a different set of content than followers included in the other circles;   receiving a selection from the participant of one of the circles via the first web page, and in response to the selection:
 displaying to the participant the followers included in the selected circle; and 
 presenting at least one option to the participant for configuring at least one setting associated with the circle. 
   
     
     
         13 . A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:
 computer code for storing information associated with followers of one of a plurality of participants of a social network, the participants including at least one of a person, a group of persons, and a project;   computer code for displaying to the participant a first one of a plurality of web pages associated with an account of the participant with the social network, the first web page graphically representing a social hierarchy utilizing a plurality of circles, each circle including followers of a different level of closeness to the participant, wherein the computer program product is operable such that each of the circles is associated with a different set of content provided to the followers, such that for each circle, followers included in the circle are provided a different set of content than followers included in the other circles;   computer code for receiving a selection from the participant of one of the circles via the first web page, and in response to the selection:
 displaying to the participant the followers included in the selected circle; and 
 presenting at least one option to the participant for configuring at least one setting associated with the circle. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the followers is included in at least one of the circles based on an invitation from the participant. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one option for configuring the at least one setting includes an option for configuring a name of the circle. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the circles is defined by the participant utilizing the account of the participant with the social network. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the circles is defined by the participant providing a name for the at least one of the circles. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the circles is defined by the participant indicating content accessible to the followers included in the at least one of the circles. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the web pages associated with the account of the participant with the social network includes an invite option for use by the participant to invite new participants to the social network. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the web pages associated with the account of the participant displays a total number of participants who are followers of the participant.