Social network system and method

Abstract

A social media system includes one or more participant terminals operable to act as a client on a social network and a computer operable to act as a server on the social network and to communicate with each of the participant terminals over the social network. The computer includes: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions. The set of instructions cause the processor to generate a drop down banner as part of a page of a user. The banner is expandable and retractable by reader commands by invoking a control icon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A social network system comprising:
 one or more participant terminal operable to act as a client on a social network;   a computer operable to act as a server on the social network and to communicate with each of the participant terminals over the social network, the computer comprising:
 a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and 
 a processor configured to execute the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions cause the processor to generate a drop down banner as part of a page a user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drop down banner is expandable by a reader command by invoking a control icon. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drop down banner is retractable by a reader command by invoking a control icon. 
     
     
         4 . The social network system of  claim 1 , wherein the drop down banner displays a plurality of images. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of images includes subject matter pertaining to any of recent posts posted to others in the network by the user's friends, system users offering articles and merchandise for sale through the social network system, and images posted on pages of the social network system by one or more friends of a user. 
     
     
         6 . The social network system of  claim 4 , wherein the page bearing the drop down banner includes icons enabling navigation to other pages and/or subject matter.