Abstract:
An electronic platform system for a targeted social network that is coupled to a data mining engine, comprises a store platform that displays selected electronic stores from a plurality of electronic stores, wherein the selected electronic stores is selected by the data mining engine according to the user and a user group of the user, and a payment platform that enables the user to purchase goods directly from the store platform.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The instant application claims priority to Singapore Patent Application No. 10201403329P, filed Jun. 17, 2014, the entire specification of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to electronic platform system and method thereof. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Social networking websites have become something of a global phenomenon that almost every one that is connected to internet may have used a social networking website or is using a particular social networking website. The social networking websites provide an online avenue for their members (also called users of the social networking website) to communicate with other users (e.g., their friends). In addition to that, the social networking websites have also grown to allow its members to participate in multi-player games, or collect interesting information such as news related to a specific topic and display it to the member periodically, etc. 
         [0004]    In recent times, social networking websites have added features that allow one to sell products, to advertise products and to survey a market for a respective product. The reason for social networking websites having become a choice among the seller/advertiser/marketers is the convenience of selling a product through online and perhaps a large number of potential buyers that are already available on these websites. For example, a seller wishing to sell a product through a social networking website may just upload a picture of the product and subsequently post to sell the product. 
         [0005]    However, each social networking website is relatively general, i.e., it does not target any specific group or interest. For example, a social networking website may discuss sports, computer gadgets and other interests all in one place. A seller/advertiser/marketer may find it difficult whether to target such social networking websites for their respective product. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, the social networking websites are open for any user within the world to join and promote. It prevents localization and in some ways hinders the growth of local industry player. 
         [0007]    It is within this context that the embodiments described herein arise. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Embodiment described herein includes an electronic platform system for a targeted social network and methods to operate the electronic platform system. It should be appreciated that the embodiments can be implemented in numerous ways, such as a process, an apparatus, a system, a device, or a method. Several embodiments are described below. 
         [0009]    One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments described herein are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing the preferred embodiments from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation and many of its advantages would be readily understood and appreciated. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an illustrative user device coupled to a network system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows an illustrative interaction that happens between a network server and a user device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  show illustrative webpages that are displayed on a user device when a user selects a particular button in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows an illustrative flowchart of a method of navigating social networking system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows another illustrative flowchart for a method of navigating social networking system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows an illustrative e-commerce business model that is available through the social networking system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The following embodiments describe an electronic platform system for a targeted social network and methods to operate the electronic platform system. It will be obvious, to one skilled in the art, that the present exemplary embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present embodiments. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1 , meant to be illustrative and not limiting, illustrates a user device coupled to a network system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. User device  160  may be coupled to social networking system  100  that includes network server  150 , master social network  110  and network clouds  120 ,  130  and  140 . A user using user device  160  may enter master social network  110  through network server  150 . Once hopping onto master social network  110 , the user may navigate through the corresponding network clouds  120 ,  130  and  140  that are interlinked with master social network  110 . 
         [0019]    Referring still to  FIG. 1 , social networking system  100  is a platform whereby users may interact with objects and other users. Generally, social networking system  100  utilizes a web-based interface comprising a series of inter-connected webpages enabling the user to interact with objects within social networking system  100 . For example, social networking system  100  may display a webpage for each user comprising objects and information entered by or related to the social networking system user (e.g., the user&#39;s “profile”). In one embodiment, social networking system  100  may further contain pages containing pictures or videos, dedicated to concepts, dedicated to users with similar interests (“groups”), or containing communications or social networking system activity to, from or by other users. Social networking system  100  may further include additional capabilities such as search, real-time communication, content-item uploading, purchasing, advertising, and any other web-based technology or ability. 
         [0020]    It should be appreciated that social networking system  100  may provide an interface based on a web browser or a non-web browser application depending on user device  160 . In one embodiment, social networking system  100  provides an interface page, for example, a web page, an application interface or display, a widget displayed over a web page or application, a box or other graphical interface, an overlay window on another page (whether within or outside the context of a social networking system), or a web page external to the social networking system with a social networking system plug in or integration capabilities. 
         [0021]    A user may gain access to social networking system  100  through creating an account of social networking system  100 . User&#39;s account may include the users profile, for example, biographic, demographic, and other types of descriptive information, such as work experience, educational history, hobbies or preferences, location, and the like. When creating the account for social networking system  100 , a user may provide login information, such as a login email address or a login ID and a password. In one embodiment, the provided login information must be used by the user to sign into and access social networking system  100  for subsequent sessions between the user and social networking system  100 . Upon the user creating the user account, the user may gain access to master social network  110  (through network server  150 ) and network clouds  120 ,  130  and  140 . 
         [0022]    As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a user is coupled to network server  150  through user device  160 . User device  160  may include configuration or functionality that allows the user to communicate via any network, or internet. User device  160  may be coupled to social networking system  100  through a choice of internet or available networks, which allows user device  160  to perform receipt and transmittal of data. In one embodiment, the medium in which user device  160  may be coupled to social networking system  100  may comprise any wired or wireless networks. In one embodiment, user device  160  may use an available operating system, for example, iOS, ANDROID, Microsoft Windows, Apple OS, of Linux based operating systems. Thus, user device  160  may be a personal digital assistant, a tablet, a smart phone, a laptop computing system, a net book, a desktop computer, or other device that integrate computing and data communication functionality. The user may then utilize a variety of applications on user device  160  to allow interaction with social networking system  100 . 
         [0023]    Referring still to  FIG. 1 , network sever  150  may be a gateway for user device  160  to master social network  110 . In one embodiment, network server  150  may be a computer server that is capable of processing the users input (e.g., users request to perform transaction through network system  100 ). As stated in the above example, when a user wishes to interact with another user, the signals from the user is transmitted to the network server  150  and then to the master social network and subsequently to another user. 
         [0024]    Master social network  110  is further coupled to network clouds  120 ,  130  and  140 . The Master social network  110  provides users capability to explore and consume contents from hundreds of inter-linked networks (e.g., network clouds  120 ,  130  and  140 ). 
         [0025]    Network clouds  120 ,  130  and  140  are built for targeted groups. The targeted group may be allocated according to various interest groups. In one embodiment, the targeted group includes lifestyle network, art and culture network, music network, sports network, pets network, fashion and beauty network, competition network and entertainment network. The user (using user device  160 ) may also be able to interact with other users from different targeted group. Hence, network system  100  may be able to provide a wide spectrum of users. 
         [0026]    As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , network clouds  120 ,  130  or  140  are interlinked. Therefore, a user may choose to enter a particular network cloud  120 ,  130  or  140  and subsequently enter another network cloud  120 ,  130  or  140  without going through master social network  110 . The flexibility provides a user to hop on to different network clouds  120 ,  130  or  140  with a click of a button. Furthermore, interlinked network clouds  120 ,  130  and  140  may be utilized to gather behavior pattern of the user within the respected network cloud  120 ,  130  or  140 . This may subsequently allow social networking system  100  to provide specific information (e.g., advertisement, etc.) to the user. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2 , meant to be illustrative and not limiting, illustrates interaction between network server and a user device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, user device  160  and network server  150  may be similar to user device  160  and network server  150  of  FIG. 1 , respectively. User device  160  transmits a signal to processor  230  within network server  150 . Processor  230  having a computer program within computer readable medium  220 , processes the signal and transmits back a response signal to user device  160 . The response then is processes by user device  160  and displayed on display screen  210 . In one embodiment, display screen may display a webpage of the social networking system. 
         [0028]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , computer readable medium  220  includes any device that provides (i.e. stores and or transmits) information in a form readable by a computer, that when executed by the computer, can perform the functions executed by computer program. For example, computer readable medium  220  may include read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices . Several embodiments of the present invention can comprise more than one computer readable medium depending on the design of the machine. 
         [0029]    It should be appreciated that computer-executable instructions may include program modules that may be executed by a personal computer or a server. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically, the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various environments. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3 , meant to be illustrative and not limiting, illustrates webpages displayed on a user device when a user selects a particular button in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Master network homepage  310  is displayed immediately after a user enters a social networking system (e.g., social networking system  100  of  FIG. 1 ). The user is within a master social network (e.g., master social network  110  of  FIG. 1 ). Master network homepage  310  is displayed on a monitor screen of the user device (e.g., display screen  210  of  FIG. 2 ). Information with regards to graphical user interface (GUI) for master network homepage  310  may be retrieved from a computer-readable medium (e.g., computer-readable medium  220  of  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0031]    Master network homepage  310  may include navigation bar  311 . As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , navigation bar  311  includes two buttons, i.e., network store button  313  and social network button  314 . Network store button  313  provides the user an access to network store homepage  340 . Alternatively, social network button  314  provides the user an access to social network homepage  320 . 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, when the user selects social network button  314 , social network homepage  320  may be displayed on the display screen. Social networks homepage  320  may include multiple targeted social network buttons  321 - 324 . Targeted social network buttons  321 - 324  may include lifestyle network button, art and culture network button, music network button, sports network button, pets network button, fashion and beauty network button, competition network button and entertainment network button. Targeted social network button  321 - 324  may provide an access to the user to respective targeted network homepages (e.g., targeted network homepage  330 ). For example, a respective targeted social network buttons  321 - 324  that is a lifestyle network button may lead to lifestyle network homepage. 
         [0033]    Targeted network homepage  330  is displayed on the display screen of the user when one of targeted social network buttons  321 - 324  is selected. At this point of time, the user has entered one of the network clouds (e.g., network clouds  120 ,  130  or  140 ) that are interlinked with master social network. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , targeted social network homepage  330  may include targeted discussion box  331 , advertisement box  332  and store box  333 . Targeted discussion box  331  and store box  333  may depend on the network cloud which the user has entered. For example, when the user enters sports network, targeted discussion box  331  may be include discussions of sports and store box  333  may be includes stores related to sports. 
         [0034]    Advertisement box  332 , on the other hand, may depend on the transactions of the user within the targeted social network and other targeted social networks that the user. It should be appreciated that each of the transaction by the user within targeted social networks may be marked to understand the pattern of the user. For example, if the user is a sport fan and is marked to access the sports network frequently and has on previous transactions purchased sports equipment, the user may be shown sports advertisement when entering a different targeted social network (e.g., lifestyle network). 
         [0035]    In one embodiment, different advertisement box  332  may show one advertisement or multiple advertisements. The multiple advertisements may be shown simultaneously or at different instance of time. Therefore, still with regard to example of the user being the sport fan, when the user enters different targeted social network (e.g., lifestyle network), advertisement box  332  may show lifestyle-related advertisement and also sports-related advertisement. 
         [0036]    Alternatively, when the user selects network store button  313  at master network homepage  310 , network store homepage  340  may be displayed on the display screen. Networks store homepage  340  may include multiple store homepages  341 - 344 . In one embodiment, store homepages may be related to lifestyle, art and culture, music, sports, pets, fashion and beauty, competition and entertainment. 
         [0037]    When the user selects one of store homepage  341 - 344 , the user will be linked to an internal webpage (internal to social networking system  100  of  FIG. 1 ) that corresponds to a store network. Simultaneously, store homepage  350  will be displayed on the display screen. Store homepage  350  may include a plurality of goods  351 - 354 . In addition to that, store homepage  350  may include platform for a user to purchase goods  351 - 354 . 
         [0038]    One of store homepages  341 - 344  may also be selected through store box  333  within targeted network homepage  330 . When a user selects a store within store box  333 , the user will be linked to the store network. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4 , meant to be illustrative and not limiting, illustrates a method of navigating social networking system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Social networking system may be similar to social networking system  100  of  FIG. 1 . The method may be performed by a user using a user device (e.g., user device  160 ) in correspondence with a network server (e.g., network server  150  of  FIG. 1 ), which is coupled to a master social network (e.g., master social network  110  of  FIG. 1 ). At step  410 , a social network button is displayed on master network homepage. The information with regards to the master network homepage and the social network button may be transmitted from the network server to the user device. Once the information is received by the user device, the information is displayed on the users device display screen (e.g., display screen  210  of  FIG. 2 ). In one embodiment, the social network button and the master network homepage may be similar to social network button  314  and master network homepage  310  of  FIG. 3 . At step  420 , the user may determine whether to select the social network button. If the user selects the social network button, the method proceeds to step  430 . If the user does not select the social network button, the method is terminated. 
         [0040]    At step  430 , the user device may display to the user multiple targeted social network buttons on the social network homepage. The multiple targeted social network buttons may be similar to targeted social network buttons  321 - 324  of  FIG. 3 . At step  440 , the user may determine whether to select one of the targeted social network buttons. If the user selects one of the targeted social network buttons, the method proceeds to step  450 . If the user does not select one of the targeted social network buttons, the method is terminated. At step  450 , a targeted social network homepage is displayed. The targeted social network homepage may be similar to targeted social network homepage  330  of  FIG. 3  within the targeted social network. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5 , meant to be illustrative and not limiting, illustrates another method of navigating social networking system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Similar to method described in  FIG. 4 , method  500  may be utilized for navigating through social networking system  100  of  FIG. 1 . At step  510 , a social network button and a network store button is displayed on a master network homepage. In one embodiment, the social network button and the store network button may be similar to social network button  314  and store network button  313  of  FIG. 3 . At step  520 , the user may determine whether to select the network store button. If the user selects the network store button, the method proceeds to step  530 . If the user does not select the social network button, method  500  is terminated. 
         [0042]    At step  530 , the user device displays to the user multiple targeted store buttons on a network store homepage. The network store homepage may be similar to network store homepage  340 . Correspondingly, the multiple targeted store buttons may be similar to store buttons  341 - 344  of  FIG. 3 . At step  540 , the user determines whether to select one of the targeted store buttons. If the user selects one of the targeted store buttons, the method proceeds to step  550 . If the user does not select one of the targeted social network buttons, the method is terminated. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6 , meant to be illustrative and not limiting, illustrates an e-commerce business model that is available through the social networking system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The social networking system may be similar to social networking system  100  of  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment, the e-commerce business model provides a capability to sell a product through targeted social network homepage  610 . The capability to sell may be performed using sell through master network store button  611 . When the sell through master network store button  611  is selected, the goods are placed on store homepage  630 . The goods may be shown on store homepage  630  as goods  631 . In one embodiment, the store homepage  630  that may include the goods may depend on the targeted social network that the user is in and the targeted social network that the user has previously used. It should be appreciated that the placement of the goods on store homepage  630  using the targeted social network homepage  610  may be similar to the placement of goods through store homepage  620 , which is also by clicking on sell store homepage button  621 . 
         [0044]    Although the methods of operations were described in a specific order, it should be understood that other operations may be performed in between described operations, described operations may be adjusted so that they occur at slightly different times or described operations may be distributed in a system which allows occurrence of the processing operations at various intervals associated with the processing, as long as the processing of the overlay operations are performed in a desired way. 
         [0045]    Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for the purposes of clarity, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.