Social networking permissions

Abstract

Enabling access to user-specific content includes maintaining data indicating a social network that indicates a first user and a second user that are connected by one or more relationships through zero or more intermediary users. At least one of the relationships that connect the first and second users is categorized. A request for access to content maintained by the second user is received from the first user. One or more of the relationships that connect the first user to the second user are identified using the data indicating the social network. A category of at least one of the identified relationships is identified. A type of access to the content to be provided to the first user is identified based on the identified to category. The first user is enabled to access the content in accordance with the identified type of access.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 identifying, using at least one processor, a plurality of first relationships between a first user and a second user of the social network, based on social networking information, the first relationships comprising direct relationships through zero intermediary users;   identifying, using the at least one processor, categories associated with the first relationships based on the social networking information;   generating, using the at least one processor, a composite category representative of the identified categories;   determining, using the at least one processor, a portion of a contact list of the second user that is accessible to the first user based on a composite access type associated with the generated composite category; and   generating an instruction to transmit information associated with the portion of the contact list to the device of the first user based on the search criteria entered, the information instructing the device to:
 (i) present the contact list portion to the first user and (ii) enable the first user to at least read or modify the presented contact list portion in accordance with the composite access type. 
   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the identified relationship comprises a direct relationship between the first and second users through zero intermediary users; and   the method further comprises:
 identifying a category associated with the direct relationship; and 
 determining the accessible portion of the contact list of the second user based on the identified relationship and the identified category. 
   
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising identifying a plurality of direct relationships through zero intermediary users. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 identifying categories associated with the direct relationships based on the social networking information;   generating a composite category representative of the identified categories; and   determining the accessible portion of the contact list of the second user based on the composite category.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , wherein the identified relationship comprises an indirect relationship between the first and second users through one or more intermediary users. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 computing, for the indirect relationship, a degree of separation between the first and second users; and   determining the accessible portion of the contact list of the second user based on at least the degree of separation.   
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first user, a request to access the contact list of the second user, the request identifying the first user; and   identifying at least one characteristic of the first user based on the received request.   
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29 , further comprising determining the accessible portion of the contact list of the second user based on the first user characteristic. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 determining a type of access associated with the accessible portion of the contact list of the second user; and   enabling the first user to access the determined portion of the contact list of the second user in accordance with the access type.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 determining, based on the social networking information, that no relationship exists between the first and second users; and   assigning a default type of access to the contact list of the second user, based on the determination that no relationship between the first and second users,   enabling the first user to access the determined portion of the contact list in accordance with the default access type.   
     
     
         33 . A system, comprising:
 a storage device that stores a set of instructions; and   at least one processor coupled to the storage device and operative with the set of instructions to:
 identifying, using at least one processor, a plurality of first relationships between a first user and a second user of the social network, based on social networking information, the first relationships comprising direct relationships through zero intermediary users; 
 identifying, using the at least one processor, categories associated with the first relationships based on the social networking information; 
 generating, using the at least one processor, a composite category representative of the identified categories; 
 determining, using the at least one processor, a portion of a contact list of the second user that is accessible to the first user based on a composite access type associated with the generated composite category; and 
 generating an instruction to transmit information associated with the portion of the contact list to the device of the first user based on the search criteria entered, the information instructing the device to:
 (i) present the contact list portion to the first user and (ii) enable the first user to at least read or modify the presented contact list portion in accordance with the composite access type. 
 
   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the identified relationship comprises a direct relationship between the first and second users through zero intermediary users; and   the method further comprises:
 identifying a category associated with the direct relationship; and 
 determining the accessible portion of the contact list of the second user based on the identified relationship and the identified category. 
   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising identifying a plurality of direct relationships through zero intermediary users. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 identifying categories associated with the direct relationships based on the social networking information;   generating a composite category representative of the identified categories; and   determining the accessible portion of the contact list of the second user based on the composite category.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the identified relationship comprises an indirect relationship between the first and second users through one or more intermediary users. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 computing, for the indirect relationship, a degree of separation between the first and second users; and   determining the accessible portion of the contact list of the second user based on at least the degree of separation.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first user, a request to access the contact list of the second user, the request identifying the first user; and   identifying at least one characteristic of the first user based on the received request.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , further comprising determining the accessible portion of the contact list of the second user based on the first user characteristic. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 determining a type of access associated with the accessible portion of the contact list of the second user; and   enabling the first user to access the determined portion of the contact list of the second user in accordance with the access type.   
     
     
         42 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:
 identifying, using at least one processor, a plurality of first relationships between a first user and a second user of the social network, based on social networking information, the first relationships comprising direct relationships through zero intermediary users;   identifying, using the at least one processor, categories associated with the first relationships based on the social networking information;   generating, using the at least one processor, a composite category representative of the identified categories;   determining, using the at least one processor, a portion of a contact list of the second user that is accessible to the first user based on a composite access type associated with the generated composite category; and   generating an instruction to transmit information associated with the portion of the contact list to the device of the first user based on the search criteria entered, the information instructing the device to:   (i) present the contact list portion to the first user and (ii) enable the first user to at least read or modify the presented contact list portion in accordance with the composite access type.