Patent ID: 9621672
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: G06Q,H04L

Claim:
1. A method of establishing social network connections, the method comprising: receiving a request initiated by a first user in a social network to add at least a second user of the social network as a contact of the first user in the social network; accessing at least one social hierarchy indicating a hierarchical relationship between the first user and the at least second user; accessing a security policy for the at least second user; based on the hierarchical relationship between the first user and the at least second user, via a processor, determining whether the at least second user must approve the request in order for the at least second user to be added as the contact of the first user in the social network; based on the security policy for the at least second user, determining whether the first user is authorized to add the at least second user as the contact of the first user in the social network without the at least second user being prompted to approve the request; responsive to determining that it is not required that the at least second user must approve the request in order for the at least second user to be added as the contact of the first user in the social network, and responsive to determining that the first user is authorized to add the at least second user as the contact of the first user in the social network without prompting the at least second user to approve the request, adding the at least second user as the contact of the first user in the social network without prompting the at least second user to approve the request; and responsive to adding the at least second user as the contact of the first user, based on the security policy for the at least second user or a security policy for the first user, preventing the at least second user from removing the at least second user as the contact of the first user.