Patent ID: 8209374
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: responsive to receipt of a search query and accompanying search criteria at a server of a social networking system, said server having a processor and a memory coupled thereto, searching a social network of a user of the social networking system for matches to said search query, said matches including potential targets satisfying the search query and one or more of the search criteria defined for the search; for each respective one of the potential targets, determining whether profile access control criteria established by the respective potential targets are met; and for those respective ones of the potential targets whose profile access control criteria are met, reporting said respective potential targets to the user as matches for the search query, said reporting comprising returning a list of said potential targets to a client communicatively coupled to said server, wherein the social network of the user comprises persons in one or more chains of person-to-person relationships connecting the searcher and the potential targets, and the profile access control criteria define attributes of personal profiles of said persons and said persons' contacts that may be shared with others.