Patent ID: 9497156
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: G06F,H04L

Claim Text:
1. A computer implemented method executed in conjunction with a social networking service, the method comprising: determine a previous target member of the social networking service, the previous target member being a past communication target of a sending member of the social networking service, the sending member and the previous target member being further than a predetermined social network distance from each other on the social networking service; determine first and second profile similarity scores for first and second members of the social networking service, the first and second members being further than the predetermined social network distance from the sending member on the social networking service, the first profile similarity score quantifying a determined similarity between a value of an attribute in a member profile of the first member and a value of an attribute in a member profile of the previous target member, the second profile similarity score quantifying a determined similarity between a value of an attribute in a member profile of the second member and a value of an attribute in the member profile of the previous target member; determine a recommended out of network communication recipient based upon a comparison of the first and second profile similarity scores, the recommended out of network communication recipient being either the first or second member; present the recommended out-of-network communication recipient to the sending member in a graphical user interface of the social networking service; receive an input from the sending member indicating that the sending member would like to send a communication to the recommended out-of-network communication recipient; and send an electronic communication to the recommended out-of-network communication recipient.