Determining measures of influence of users of a social network

Abstract

A method and system for evaluating the reputation of a member of a social networking system is disclosed. Consistent with an embodiment of the invention, one or more attributes associated with a social networking profile of a member of a social network are analyzed. Based on the analysis, a ranking, rating or score is assigned to a particular category of reputation. When requested, the ranking, rating or score is displayed to a user of the social network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:
 receiving, from a first member of a social network, a query that includes one or more search criteria;   in response to receiving the query:
 identifying, based on the one or more search criteria, a target profile that is associated with a second member of the social network, and 
 identifying one or more endorsers of the second member; 
   identifying one or more endorser profile elements of an endorser profile of one of the one or more endorsers;   comparing the one or more endorser profile elements with one or more searcher profile elements of a searcher profile of the first member;   determining that a particular endorser profile element of the one or more endorser profile elements matches a particular searcher profile element of the one or more searcher profile elements;   in response to determining that the particular endorser profile element matches the particular searcher profile element, causing an affinity indicator to be displayed to the first member.   
     
     
         2 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more endorser profile elements correspond to one or more of a school attended, a degree received, a former or current employer, an industry worked in, a group membership, a personal interest, or a professional interest. 
     
     
         3 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more search criteria do not correspond to the one or more endorser profile elements. 
     
     
         4 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the affinity indicator is a selectable graphical element, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 receiving input that indicates user selection of the affinity indicator,   wherein causing the affinity indicator to be displayed comprises causing the affinity indicator to be displayed in response to receiving the input.   
     
     
         5 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 calculating, based on the particular endorser profile element matching the particular searcher profile element, a score for a particular endorser member that is associated with one of the one or more endorser profiles.   
     
     
         6 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 5 , wherein calculating the score is also based on a number of connections, in a social graph of the social network, between the first member and the particular endorser member. 
     
     
         7 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 5 , wherein calculating the score is also based on a value that reflects a strength of one or more connections, in a social graph of the social network, between the first member and the particular endorser member. 
     
     
         8 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 generating a plurality of reputation indicators (1) that are associated with an endorser member that is associated with the particular endorser profile element and (2) that includes the affinity indicator and one or more of a network indicator, an access indicator, an activity indicator, or a verification indicator;   causing the plurality of reputation indicators to be displayed to the first member.   
     
     
         9 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 while causing the affinity indicator to be displayed, causing, to be displayed to the first member, a graphical element that, when selected, allows the first member to send a message to an endorser member that is associated with the particular endorser profile element.   
     
     
         10 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:
 receiving, from a first member of a social network provider, a query that includes one or more search criteria;   in response to receiving the query:
 identifying, based on the one or more search criteria, one or more target profiles, each of which is associated with a different member of the social network provider, 
 after identifying the one or more target profiles, identifying one or more target profile elements of the one or more target profiles, 
 comparing the one or more target profile elements with one or more searcher profile elements of a searcher profile of the first member, and 
 determining that a particular target profile element of the one or more target profile elements matches a particular searcher profile element of the one or more searcher profile elements; 
   based on determining that the particular target profile element matches the particular searcher profile element, causing an affinity indicator to be displayed to the first member.   
     
     
         11 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more target profile elements correspond to one or more of a school attended, a degree received, a former or current employer, an industry worked in, a group membership, a personal interest, or a professional interest. 
     
     
         12 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more search criteria do not correspond to the one or more target profile elements. 
     
     
         13 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the affinity indicator is a selectable graphical element, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause.
 receiving input that indicates user selection of the affinity indicator,   wherein causing the affinity indicator to be displayed comprises causing the affinity indicator to be displayed in response to receiving the input.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein causing the affinity indicator to be displayed to the first member comprises causing the affinity indicator to be displayed to the first member in response to receiving the query. 
     
     
         15 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 calculating, based on the particular target profile element matching the particular searcher profile element, a score for a particular target member associated with one of the one or more target profiles.   
     
     
         16 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein calculating the score is also based on a number of connections, in a social graph maintained by the social network provider, between the first member and the particular target member. 
     
     
         17 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein calculating the score is also based on a value that reflects a strength of one or more connections, in a social graph maintained by the social network provider, between the first member and the particular target member. 
     
     
         18 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 generating a plurality of reputation indicators that includes the affinity indicator and one or more of a network indicator, an endorsement indicator, an access indicator, an activity indicator, or a verification indicator;   wherein causing the affinity indicator to be displayed comprises causing the plurality of reputation indicators to be displayed.   
     
     
         19 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 prior to receiving the query, storing endorsement data;   in response to receiving the query, identifying a portion, of the endorsement data, that includes information about one or more endorsers of a target member that is associated with the particular target profile element to be displayed;   causing the portion of the endorsement data to be displayed to the first member.   
     
     
         20 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 while causing the affinity indicator to be displayed, causing, to be displayed to the first member, a graphical element that, when selected, allows the first member to send a message to a target member that is associated with the particular target profile element.   
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a first member of a social network provider, a query that includes one or more search criteria;   in response to receiving the query:
 identifying, based on the one or more search criteria, one or more target profiles, each of which is associated with a different member of the social network provider, 
 after identifying the one or more target profiles, identifying one or more target profile elements of the one or more target profiles, 
 comparing the one or more target profile elements with one or more searcher profile elements of a searcher profile of the first member, and 
 determining that a particular target profile element of the one or more target profile elements matches a particular searcher profile element of the one or more searcher profile elements; 
   based on determining that the particular target profile element matches the particular searcher profile element, causing an affinity indicator to be displayed to the first member;   wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more target profile elements correspond to one or more of a school attended, a degree received, a former or current employer, an industry worked in, a group membership, a personal interest, or a professional interest. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more search criteria do not correspond to the one or more target profile elements. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the affinity indicator is a selectable graphical element, the method further comprising:
 receiving input that indicates user selection of the affinity indicator,   wherein causing the affinity indicator to be displayed comprises causing the affinity indicator to be displayed in response to receiving the input.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein causing the affinity indicator to be displayed to the first member comprises causing the affinity indicator to be displayed to the first member in response to receiving the query. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 calculating, based on the particular target profile element matching the particular searcher profile element, a score for a particular target member associated with one of the one or more target profiles.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein calculating the score is also based on a number of connections, in a social graph maintained by the social network provider, between the first member and the particular target member. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein calculating the score is also based on a value that reflects a strength of one or more connections, in a social graph maintained by the social network provider, between the first member and the particular target member. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 generating a plurality of reputation indicators that includes the affinity indicator and one or more of a network indicator, an endorsement indicator, an access indicator, an activity indicator, or a verification indicator;   wherein causing the affinity indicator to be displayed comprises causing the plurality of reputation indicators to be displayed.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 prior to receiving the query, storing endorsement data;   in response to receiving the query, identifying a portion, of the endorsement data, that includes information about one or more endorsers of a target member that is associated with the particular target profile element to be displayed;   causing the portion of the endorsement data to be displayed to the first member.