Systems and Methods for Utilizing and Searching Social Network Information

Abstract

Methods and systems for indexing, storing, recalling and displaying social network user profiles, event calendar postings and user feed postings are described. A single, discrete set of keywords, can be utilized and assigned to both user profiles and postings and can operate as a method of indexing. The assignment of these keywords may allow users to control the display of calendar and feed content by matching assigned posting keywords to assigned profile keywords via a matching algorithm. Matched event-related postings may also be automatically displayed in a user's calendar. Searches of profiles and postings may also be performed by constructing queries using the same set of discrete keywords attached to profiles and postings. Users may have the ability to control the display of specific profile information and postings via privacy settings, which utilize unique methods of tracking relationship segmentation and social distance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of displaying social network information to a user of a social network, comprising:
 tagging a user profile of the user with one or more profile keyword descriptors that are associated with the user, wherein the one or more profile keyword descriptors are from a central keyword database;   tagging a plurality of postings within the social network with posting keyword descriptors, wherein each of the plurality of postings has been created by a posting user having a social connection with the user, and wherein the posting keyword descriptors are from the central keyword database;   using a computer processor, applying one or more matching criteria to find a match between (i) the one or more profile keyword descriptors of the user profile and (ii) the posting keyword descriptors of the postings, wherein the match is associated with one or more matching postings among the plurality of postings, and wherein the matching criteria provides the user with postings customized to interests of the user; and   displaying, on a user interface of the user, the one or more matching postings.