Method and system for providing incentives to members of a social network

摘要

A social network server computer forms a social network including a primary member linked to a plurality of secondary members, each of whom provides a member profile. A network profile is generated based on an analysis of the member profiles. A social network server computer then determines a relative value of the social network with respect to a merchant by analyzing the associated network profile, and offers a merchant incentive to the primary member of the network as a function of the determined relative value. In a second embodiment, a merchant computer associated with a merchant determines a relative value of the social network with respect to a merchant by analyzing the network profile, and offers a merchant incentive to the primary member of the network as a function of the determined relative value. The merchant incentives may be also offered to the secondary members of the associated social network.

主权项

1. A method of operating a social network comprising
a social network server computer forming a social network comprising a plurality of members comprising a primary member linked to a plurality of secondary members, each of said members registering with said social network server computer and providing a member profile, each of said member profiles comprising information associated with said member; the social network server computer generating a network profile associated with the primary member, based on an analysis of the member profiles; the social network server computer receiving permission from each of the plurality of members for the social network server computer to provide the network profile to a third party; only after receiving the permission from each of the plurality of members, then the social network server computer providing the network profile to a third party; the social network server computer receiving revenue from the third party in exchange for use of the network profile; and the social network server computer paying at least a portion of the revenue received from the third party to the primary member of the social network in exchange for use of the network profile.