System And Method For Directing Content To Users Of A Social Networking Engine

Abstract

A system and method for providing a third generation social network. The system provides processes that allow e physical objects to be represented as social objects in the social network. A user may then interact with the social objects. These interactions allow the system to collect the content of the interactions of a particular user. Die content of the interactions may then be analyzed and used to direct specific content to specific users that may have an interest in the specific content as indicated by the content of the interactions of those users. Furthermore, the system provides a method for associating data with a shape in an image to allow a user and/or groups of users to interact with the image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A product for associating text with a shape in a digital image comprising:
 instructions for directing a processing unit to:
 receive an image, 
 determine a shape in said image; 
 store data describing said shape in a record for said image stored in an image database, 
 receive an input of text associated with said shape, 
 store an indicator of said text and said shape in said record, 
 embed said indicator of said association in said image proximate said location of said shape in said image, and 
 embed a link to said image database in said image; and 
   a media readable by said processing unit to store said instructions.   
     
     
         2 . The product of  claim 1  wherein said instructions to determine said shape comprise:
 instructions for directing said processing unit to:
 receive an input of a portion of an image, 
 determine an object in said portion of said image, and 
 determine an outline of said object that defines said shape. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The product of  claim 2  wherein said instructions to determine said shape comprise:
 instructions for directing said processing unit to:
 receive inputs modifying said shape. 
 
 
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 1  wherein said text is an address of web site. 
     
     
         5 . The product of  claim 1  wherein said text is a description of an object identified by said shape. 
     
     
         6 . The product of  claim 1  wherein said instructions to receive an input of text comprise:
 instructions for directing said processing unit to:
 receive an input of an identifier of an object, 
 search a database for a record storing information for said object based on said identifier, 
 display said information from said record, 
 receive an input or a modification of said information from said user, and 
 store said modification of said information in said record. 
 
 
     
     
         7 . The product of  claim 6  wherein said instructions to receive said text comprises:
 instructions for directing said processing unit to:
 create a new record for said object in said database responsive to no record being found in said database during said search, 
 receive an input of information about said object, and 
 store said information in said record. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 1  wherein said instructions comprise:
 instructions for directing said processing unit to:
 receive a selection of said link to database, 
 display said image associated with said link, 
 receive an input indicating a selection of said indicator from said displayed image in said image, 
 read said text associated with said link from said record in said image database, and 
 display said text with said displayed image. 
 
 
     
     
         9 . A method performed by a processing system for associating text with a shape in a digital image stored by social network comprising:
 receiving an image input by user;   determining a shape in said image;   storing data describing said shape in a record for said image stored in an image database;   receiving an input of text associated with said shape;   storing an indicator of said text and said shape in said record,   embedding said indicator of said association in said image proximate said location of said shape in said image; and   embedding a link to said image database in said image.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said step of determining said shape comprises:
 receiving an input of a portion of an image; 
 determining an object in said portion of said image; and 
 determining an outline of said object that defines-said shape. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said step of determining said shape comprises:
 receiving inputs modifying said shape. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said text is an address of web site. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said text is a description of an object identified by said shape. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said step of receiving said input of text comprise:
 instructions for directing said processing unit to:
 receive an input of an identifier of an object, 
 search a database for a record storing information for said object based on said identifier, 
 display said information from said record, 
 receive an input or a modification of said information from said user, and 
 store said modification of said information in said record. 
 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said to receiving said input of said text comprises:
 creating a new record for said object in said database responsive to no record being found in said database during said search; 
 receiving an input of information about said object; and 
 storing said information in said record. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 receiving a selection of said link to database; 
 display said image associated with said link; 
 receiving an input indicating a selection of said indicator from said displayed image in said image; 
 reading said text associated with said link from said record in said image database; and 
 displaying said text with said displayed image. 
 
     
     
         17 . A system for associating text with a shape in a digital image comprising:
 circuitry configured to receive an image;   circuitry configured to determine a shape in said image;   circuitry configured to store data describing said shape in a record for said image stored in an image database;   circuitry configured to receive an input of text associated with said shape;   circuitry configured to store an indicator of said text and said shape in said record;   circuitry configured to embed said indicator of said association in said image proximate said location of said shape in said image; and   circuitry configured to embed a link to said image database in said image.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said circuitry configured to determine said shape comprises:
 circuitry configured to receive an input of a portion of an image; 
 circuitry configured to determine an object in said portion of said image; and 
 circuitry configured to determine an outline of said object that defines said shape. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said circuitry configured to determine said shape comprises:
 circuitry configured to receive inputs modifying said shape. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said text is an address of web site. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said text is a description of an object identified by said shape. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said circuitry configured to receive an input of text comprises:
 circuitry configured to receive an input of an identifier of an object; 
 circuitry configured to search a database for a record storing information for said object based on said identifier; 
 circuitry configured to display said information from said record; 
 circuitry configured to receive an input or a modification of said information from said user; and 
 circuitry configured to store said modification of said information in said record. 
 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said circuitry configured to receive said text comprises:
 circuitry configured to create a new record for said object in said database responsive to no record being found in said database during said search; 
 circuitry configured to receive an input of information about said object, and 
 circuitry configured to store said information in said record. 
 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said circuitry configured to receive said text comprises:
 circuitry configured to receive a selection of said link to database; 
 circuitry configured to display said image associated with said link; 
 circuitry configured to receive an input indicating a selection of said indicator from said displayed image in said image; 
 circuitry configured to read said text associated with said link from said record in said image database; and 
 circuitry configured to display said text with said displayed image. 
 
     
     
         25 . A product for providing a social network engine comprising:
 instructions for directing a processing unit to:
 allow a user to interact with social objects wherein a social object is representation of a physical object on said social network; and 
   a media readable by said processing unit for storing said instructions.   
     
     
         26 . The product of  claim 25  wherein said instructions further comprise:
 instructions for directing said processing unit to:
 determine a social weight of a user based upon interactions in said social network; and 
 use said social weight of said user to direct specific content to a specific user. 
 
 
     
     
         27 . The product of  claim 25  wherein said instructions further comprise:
 instructions directing said processing unit to:
 search content provided by a user for key words relating to specific content; and 
 direct said specific content to said user responsive to said content having a number of occurrences of said key words that is greater than a threshold. 
 
 
     
     
         28 . The product of  claim 25  wherein said instructions further comprise:
 instructions for directing said processing unit to:
 determine whether location information for a user is proximate location data for a particular social object; and 
 direct specific content to said user in response to said location information of said user showing said user is in proximity of said social object. 
 
 
     
     
         29 . A method for providing a social network comprising:
 maintaining a plurality of social objects in said network; and   allowing a user to interact with social objects wherein a social object is representation of a physical object on said social network.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising:
 determining a social weight of a user based upon interactions in said social network; and 
 using said social weight of said user to direct specific content to a specific user. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising:
 searching content provided by a user for key words relating to specific content; and 
 directing said specific content to said user responsive to said content having a number of occurrences of said key words that is greater than a threshold. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising:
 determining whether location information for a user is proximate location data for a particular social object; and 
 directing specific content to said user in response to said location information of said user showing said user is in proximity of said social object. 
 
     
     
         33 . A system for providing a social network engine comprising:
 circuitry configured to allow a user to interact with social objects wherein a social object is representation of a physical object on said social network.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33  further comprising:
 circuitry configured to determine a social weight of a user based upon interactions in said social network; and 
 circuitry configured to use said social weight of said user to direct specific content to a specific user. 
 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33  further comprising:
 circuitry configured to search content provided by a user for key words relating to specific content; and 
 circuitry configured to direct said specific content to said user responsive to said content having a number of occurrences of said key words that is greater than a threshold. 
 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33  further comprising:
 circuitry configured to determine whether location information for a user is proximate location data for a particular social object; and 
 circuitry configured to direct specific content to said user in response to said location information of said user showing said user is in proximity of said social object.