Abstract:
A social network system includes one or more participant terminals operable to act as a client on a social network and a computer operable to act as a server on the social network and to communicate with each of the participant terminals over the social network. The computer includes: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions. The set of instructions cause the processor to: receive email content from a user in the social network; generate an email to be sent from the social network website, wherein the email includes the received email content; and send the email to at least one intended recipient.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 119(a) of patent application Ser. No. 13/544,955, filed Jul. 9, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application relates generally to social networking sites. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Social media and social networks are an increasing means for people to connect, conduct business, entertain one another, and the like. Most social media and network sites are rather basic and do not include much in the terms of rich and deep functionality. Therefore, there exists a significant need for a more robust social network. 
         [0004]    In one embodiment, a social network system comprising: one or more participant terminals operable to act as a client on a social network; a computer operable to act as a server on the social network and to communicate with each of the participant terminals over the social network, the computer comprising: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions cause the processor to: receive email content from a user in the social network; generate an email to be sent from the social network website, wherein the email includes the received email content; and send the email to at least one intended recipient. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, a method for sending email from within a social network comprising: receiving email content from a user in the social network; generating an email to be sent from the social network website, wherein the email includes the received email content; and sending the email to at least one intended recipient. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative social network; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  depicts a search method within a social network; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  depicts a sponsored advertising method within a social network; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  depicts a user profile in a social network; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  depicts an email method in a social network; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  depicts a user-advertising method within a social network; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  depicts a calendar within a social network; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  depicts a method for selling applications within a social network; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  depicts an investment method within a social network. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a social network system  100  is depicted. The system may include one or more terminals  102   a - 102   n  (collectively  102 ), a server  104 , and a communications network  106 . The different elements and components of the system  100  may communicate with one another using wireless communications or hardwired connections, such as fiber optics, cable, DSL, telephone lines, and other similar connections. 
         [0017]    The communications network  106  may include any number of networks capable of providing communications between the server  104  and terminals  102 . For example, the communications network may be one or more, or any combination of, wireless networks, data or packet networks, publicly switched telephone networks (PSTN), etc. 
         [0018]    The participant terminals  102  may include any suitable device operable to act as a client on a network. Illustrative terminals  102  include, but are not limited to, personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, servers, or any suitable telecommunications device, including, but not limited to, VoIP telephones, smart telephones or wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDA), communications enabled mp3 players, etc. Each terminal  102  may be configured to transmit and/or receive information to and/or from the server  104  and/or other participant terminals  102 . 
       Search Function 
       [0019]    With particular reference to  FIGS. 1-2 , the server  104  may be any server, computer or device configured to process commands from the participant terminals  102 . For example, the sever  104  may be operable to receive one or more search terms from one or more terminals  102  [step  202 ]. A user may input one or more search terms into a text entry field displayed at one or more terminals  102 . Alternatively, a user may select one or more search terms from one or more drop-down menus comprising a list or library of predetermined search terms. In one embodiment, a user may include tags or themes, which have been applied to a post on another user&#39;s profile, to further narrow the search. It will, however, be appreciated that any suitable means for receiving one or more search terms from one or more users at one or more terminals may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0020]    Once the search terms are received [step  202 ], one or more databases  108  are searched for each search term [step  204 ]. The database(s)  108  may be stored on the server  104  or in a separate location apart from the server  104 . In one non-limiting example, the one or more databases  108  store information related to user profiles in the social network. Each database  108  may be configured to receive and/or store information from each user related to each user&#39;s profile. Each database is fully searchable and the search is not limited to any particular or narrow field. For example, and without limitation, a user may search the databases  108  for information with another user&#39;s post, tags or themes used by other user&#39;s with their posts, advertisements posted by other user&#39;s, videos posted by users, images posted by users, biographical information about users (e.g. name, location, gender, e-mail address, etc.) or any other suitable information. 
         [0021]    Once the database(s)  108  have been searched, the server  104  may generate a search result [step  206 ]. In one embodiment, the search result includes the number of instances each search term has been found in each database. Additionally, in one embodiment, the search result includes a date associated with each of the instances that each search term has been found. The date may be any suitable date. The search result may be arranged in any suitable fashion. For example, and without limitation, the results may be arranged according to relevance, number of hits, by user, alphabetically, or in any other suitable fashion. The user performing the search may then browse the search results and select certain items in the results list to view in further detail. 
       User Sponsored Ads 
       [0022]    The system  100  may also include a user sponsored ad function. With the user sponsored ad function, a user may include ads on their profile and generate revenue from such an ad. Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a method for user sponsored ads is shown  300 . First, the user will select one or more ads to be added to their profile [step  302 ]. The ads will typically be stored in one or more database(s)  108 . The user may select the ads from the database(s)  108 . Alternatively, a user may be presented with an opportunity to display an ad from another user or advertiser in the social network. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, an advertiser may receive certain data about a user to determine if the user is a suitable ad sponsor. The advertiser may gather any suitable demographic data about the user. Also, in one embodiment, an advertiser may receive information about the tags or themes a user employs with each post to determine the user&#39;s most talked about themes (see e.g. the theme section  404  in  FIG. 4 ). An advertiser may select a user based on any suitable information, including, but not limited to target demographic data, most used themes, etc. 
         [0024]    Once the ads are selected [step  302 ], the advertisement may be displayed in the user&#39;s profile [step  304 ]. In  FIG. 4 , a profile  400  is shown with an advertisement  402  thereon. It will be appreciated that the ad may be any type of ad (e.g. text, audio, video, etc.) and be located or displayed in any suitable manner and the present disclosure is in no way limited to the illustrative embodiment depicted herein. 
         [0025]    Next, the user&#39;s revenue from displaying the ad may be calculated [step  306 ]. The user&#39;s revenue may be calculated in any suitable manner. For example, a user may collect 50% of the ad revenue from the social network host, the user may collect a predetermined amount of revenue per each click on the ad from visitors to the user&#39;s profile, the user may collect revenue based on how long the user keeps the ad on the profile, etc. It will be appreciated that the model to calculating revenue may be any suitable model and is in no way limited to the illustrative examples provided herein. 
       E-Mail System 
       [0026]    The system  100  may also include an e-mail system that permits a user to e-mail a non-member directly from the user&#39;s profile. Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a illustrative method is shown  500 . First, the user will create the contents for an email within the user&#39;s profile in the social network [step  502 ]. Next, the system  100  will convert the user&#39;s email to an email from the social network (e.g. user@socialnetwork.com). Thus, when the non-member receives the email and responds to it, the non-member&#39;s response will go directly to the user&#39;s profile to allow the user to view the email within the user&#39;s profile on the social network. 
       User Shop 
       [0027]    The system  100  may also permit user&#39;s to sell any suitable item from their profile. Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an illustrative method is shown  600 . First, the user will create and display an ad on their profile [step  602 ].  FIG. 4  illustrates an ad  406  displayed on a profile  400 . Once the ad is created and displayed [step  602 ], the user may receive offers or bids from other users. The item may be presented as being on sale for a set price or may be auctioned. Once the sale is completed, revenue is transferred from the selling user to the buying user [step  606 ]. 
       Calendar 
       [0028]    The system  100  may also be configured to allow a user to have a calendar on their profile.  FIG. 7  illustrates a calendar  702  of a user&#39;s profile  700 . The user may choose to make the calendar private or public. In one embodiment, the calendar may be used to show what the user posted to their profile on any given day. 
       Applications 
       [0029]    The system  100  may be configured to allow a user to sell user-created applications from the user&#39;s profile.  FIG. 8  illustrates a method  800 . First, the user creates an application and uploads it to the user profile [step  802 ]. The application is displayed as being available for sale and/or download [step  804 ]. The application may be for any suitable platform and may be for use within the social network or for use with any other device (e.g. computer, mobile device, etc.). Once another user purchases an application from the user profile, the system will calculate revenue and distribute the revenue to the creator of the application [step  806 ]. 
       Money Game 
       [0030]    The system may also be configured to host a money-making game. This game may be a stock market game wherein users play with pretend money and purchase pretend stocks that perform similarly to real-world counterparts. User&#39;s may be given a certain amount of “money” to play with upon signing up with an option to purchase additional “money” for this game. The system may track users and display the top performers (e.g. via their profiles) over a given period of time (e.g. monthly, etc.). In one embodiment, the pretend money is redeemable for prizes and the like. 
       Investment Opportunities 
       [0031]    The system  100  may also allow users to post investment opportunities to their profiles.  FIG. 9  shows an illustrative method  900 . First, a user posts an investment opportunity with all of the information about the investment [step  902 ].  FIG. 4  shows such a posting  408  on a user profile  400 . The investment posting typically includes what the investment is, what an investor will receive in return, how much investment is needed, etc. Next, the user receives investment commitments from other users in the social network [step  904 ]. It is then determined if the user has received the necessary investments [step  906 ]. If the user has received the necessary investments, the system  100  can distribute the funds to the user to begin the project [step  908 ]. If the user did not receive the necessary investments, the user may cancel the project or re-post the investment opportunity with more information about the project, less required investment to launch the project, or the even the same posting as before [step  902 ]. 
       Charity Function 
       [0032]    The system  100  may also be configured to permit user&#39;s to donate money to charities or other users. The user may search the social network for charities having profiles in the network. The user may then select to transfer funds to the charity of choice in the social network. 
         [0033]    Alternatively, the user may choose to donate funds or other goods to another user in need. The user may search or otherwise notify users within user&#39;s network that the user is looking to “pay-it-forward” to another user. The user may then selectively donate the funds and/or goods to the user in need. 
         [0034]    In the illustrative embodiments, the server  104  includes a memory and a processor to accommodate the forgoing. However, it will be appreciated that the forgoing may be implemented in hardware, software, or a suitable combination of hardware and software, and which can be one or more software systems operating on a general purpose server platform. As used herein, a hardware system can include discrete semiconductor devices, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other suitable devices. A software system can include one or more objects, agents, threads, lines of code, subroutines, separate software applications, user-readable (source) code, machine-readable (object) code, two or more lines of code in two or more corresponding software applications, databases, or other suitable software architectures. In one exemplary embodiment, a software system can include one or more lines of code in a general purpose software application, such as an operating system, and one or more lines of code in a specific purpose software application. 
         [0035]    While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.