Patent ID: 8874572
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of operating an Internet-based social networking website for a first social network, comprising: (a) receiving registration information from a plurality of users in order to allow each of said plurality of users to access information stored in a database associated with the website; (b) storing in said database, for each of said plurality of users, a plurality of contacts; (c) designating a plurality of hubs from among said plurality of users, wherein each of said plurality of hubs is assigned a designated page within the website, and wherein said plurality of hubs is a subset of said plurality of users, each hub having a plurality of relationship paths to other users of the first social network and to users of a second, different social network; (d) receiving, from one of said plurality of users, a search string indicative of an individual of interest, wherein said search string comprises at least one of: a first name; a last name; and a city; (e) searching at least said database in order to create a relationship path from said one of said plurality of users via said hub to said individual of interest of one of said first social network and said second, different social network; and (f) displaying said relationship path to said one of said plurality of users; wherein said relationship path includes a link to at least one of said plurality of hubs; and wherein said individual of interest need not be one of said plurality of users of said first social network.