Relationship networks having link quality metrics with inference and concomitant digital value exchange

Abstract

In a digital social relationship network, a social network server computer stores a digital social network representation corresponding to a graph having nodes representing individuals or groups and links representing actual social relationships between the individuals or groups. The server computer obtains relationship-dependent information corresponding to a plurality of links of the graph, and embeds the relationship-dependent information in the digital social network representation stored in the social network server computer. The server computer interactively presents to a user of a client computer connected to the social network server computer a social network of the individuals or groups and the social relationships between the individuals or groups. The social network server computer receives input from the user of the client computer selecting at least one of the social relationships between individuals or groups other than the user, and presents to the user of the client computer a social relationship prattle comprising the relationship-dependent information corresponding to the social relationship selected by the user of the client computer. The server computer facilitates exchange of digital value to the user of the client computer, or a group to which the user of the client computer belongs, based on the relationship-dependent information embedded in the digital social network representation stored in the social network server computer.

1 . A method of operating a digital social relationship network, comprising the steps of:
 storing a social network server computer a digital social network representation corresponding to a graph having nodes representing individuals or groups and links representing actual social relationships between the individuals or groups;   obtaining relationship-dependent information corresponding to a plurality of links of the graph;   embedding the relationship-dependent information in the digital social network representation stored in the social network computer server;   interactively presenting to a user of a client computer connected to the social network server computer a social network of the individuals or groups and the social relationships between the individuals or groups;   receiving, at the social network server computer, input from the user of the client computer selecting at least one of the social relationships between individuals or groups other than the user; and   presenting to the user of the client computer a social relationship profile comprising the relationship-dependent information corresponding to the social relationship selected by the user of the client computer.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the links of the graph include links representing social relationships between the user of the client computer, or a group to which the user of the client computer belongs, and other individuals of groups, the method further comprising the social network server computer facilitating exchange of digital value to the user of the client computer, or a group to which the user of the client computer belongs, based on the relationship-dependent information embedded in the digital social network representation stored in the social network server computer. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the relationship-dependent information upon which the exchange of digital value is based is social relationship strength information. 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the relationship-dependent information upon which the exchange of digital value is based is information concerning one or more introductions made by the user of the client computer, or a group to which the user the client computer belongs, within the social network. 
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the relationship-dependent information upon which the exchange of digital value is based is information identifying shared interests. 
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the digital value is content protectable by digital rights management. 
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 6  further comprising enabling the content protectable by digital rights management to be shared between the user of the client computer and the other individuals or groups with whom the user of the client computer has the social relationships. 
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the step of obtaining relationship-dependent information is implemented by performing automated inference of the relationship-dependent information. 
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the automated inference of the relationship-dependent information for the plurality of links is based on analysis of respective neighborhoods of the graph near the links. 
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the analysis of neighborhoods of the graph near the links comprises analysis of degree of interconnectivity within the neighborhoods. 
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  8  further comprising determining privacy access settings based on the automated inference of the relationship-dependent information. 
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the automated inference of the relationship-dependent information is based on location dependence in visual media between individuals or groups in a relationship with each other. 
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the automated inference of the relationship-dependent information is based on correlation of routes of travel shared between individuals or groups in a relationship with each other. 
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising assessing overall quality of interconnections of a subset of the graph. 
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the subset of the graph comprises a node representing the user of the client computer, or a group to which the user of the client computer belongs, the method further comprising the social network server computer facilitating exchange of digital value to the user of the client computer, or the group to which the user of the client computer belongs, based on the assessment of the overall quality of interconnections of the subset of the graph. 
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising determining privacy access settings based on assessment of the overall quality of interconnections of the subset of the graph. 
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising assessing quality of interconnections between the individuals or groups based on the embedded relationship-dependent information. 
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising identifying a subset of the graph having high-quality interconnections based on the step of assessing quality of interconnections between the individuals or groups. 
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the relationship-dependent information is social relationship strength information. 
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 19  wherein the social relationship strength information is obtained by receiving like/dislike/rating information for social relationships represented by the plurality of links, the like/dislike/rating information being a like/dislike/rating of the social relationships themselves.