METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SOCIAL NETWORK-ENHANCED ENDORSEMENT SERVICES

摘要

A system and method that makes information available to participants of electronically mediated social networks that is provided by other parties is provided. The social network receives information about an entity, concept, vendor, service or good. A credentialed and authorized user of the associated account is enabled to both (a.) post this information and (b.) select rules that permit or deny access by other parties to the posted information according two or more alternative access permissions or permission profiles. The system enables informational posts to be made accessible to other social network accounts of that have been generally authorized a selected level of information access permission, such as a friend account status or a linked account status. A scope of search might be extended to a second or additional separation levels, such as friends of friends, or two or more degrees of linked connectivity.

主权项

1. A method of conducting selectively providing access to referral information, comprising:
performing, by a processor executing code stored in memory, the following:
participating in an online community via a first account of the online community, wherein the online community maintains a plurality of user accounts;populating at least one referral record, the at least one referral record including a vendor identifier and an attribute associated with the vendor identifier, wherein the vendor identifier identifies a vendor;associating the at least one referral record with the first account; andestablishing a privileged relationship between the first account and at least one other account (“friend account”) of the online community, wherein the friend account is enabled to access the at least one referral record.