Patent ID: 9117196
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for business networking using a computer-implemented online social networking system, the method comprising: receiving and storing in a database structure a plurality of individual member profile records, each individual member profile record including personal information and experience data input by that individual member; receiving, at the online social networking system, a society creation request associated with one of the individual members as a creator, and storing a society record defining the society; receiving and storing in the society record, at the online social networking system, from the creator, required entry criteria associated with the society, wherein said required entry criteria specify characteristics required for membership in the society, and wherein the required entry criteria are selected from personal information and experience data fields defined in the online social networking system; receiving a request for membership in said society at the online social networking system, the request being associated with a requesting individual member associated with one of the individual member profile records, and, in response, determining whether said one of the individual member profile records contains personal information and experience data that meets the required entry criteria associated with the society and, wherein each individual member profile record has an associated individual points record, and wherein the individual points record is credited with one or more points when the associated individual member participates in a meeting with another individual member and participation data is received by the online social networking system, and wherein receiving said participation data comprises receiving data regarding participation from said individual member and receiving verification data confirming participation from another participant in the meeting.