Abstract:
A method, program product and apparatus for controlling access to profile information, multi-media resources or social network functions of a first user by a second user not listed on a friend or group listing of the first user. An application retrieves a threshold criteria for access control and social network statistics in response to an attempted access by an entity without an appropriate privilege. The application compares the statistics to the threshold. Then, if the statistics meet the threshold criteria, the application allows access.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to the field of Internet communications and more particularly to a method apparatus and program product for using social networking thresholds in access control decisions. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Social networks are widely used for sharing content such as information, ideas, photographs, and the like. It is desirable for many social network users to control access to content owned by that user and available through a social network. In social networks such as Facebook, Yahoo 360, My Space and the like, there are various roles that the user can use to grant permissions and allow access to the resources and information owned by the individual. Examples of these roles include: Public (Anyone can access), Private (Only the owner can access), My Friends (Only users accepted into the owner&#39;s friends list can access), and Groups (a subset of My Friends, such as Work, Family, Soccer Team, etc can access). The membership to these roles is managed by the user by explicitly adding other users to a list associated with a particular role. Using explicit membership lists, however, limit the discovery and expansion of the social network. 
         [0003]    Different access levels may be assigned for different roles. For example, an owner of a blog set up to exchange information and pictures for a soccer team may allow the Public to view a blog entry, such as times and locations of future games and discussions about games. The owner, however, may only allow those users accepted as mutual friends to post comments to the entry, and only allow those friends who are tagged as members of the group “Soccer Team” to post pictures. The roles of Public, Private, My Friends, and Groups such as “Soccer Team” are all forms of traditional groups used in resource control. One drawback to using definitive group membership for access to social networking resources is that it retards one of the major benefits of social networking, namely discovering new people and adding them as participants in social interaction. In order to allow a new person to participate using resources that the owner desires to exercise control over at more than a Public setting, the owner must explicitly discover the new person and add that person to an explicit group. 
         [0004]    One approach that addresses the explicit membership issue is the “Friends of Friends” role offered by one social network provider. By designating the “Friends of Friends” role, permission (and access) can be granted to any user that has been added as a friend to someone who is explicitly in the user&#39;s “My Friends” list. This second degree of separation approach is very wide open. A mistake of one user to add an undesirable user such as a spammer or troll to his/her friends list exposes anyone who has chosen the “Friends of Friends” role and has the user explicitly listed as a friend. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A method, program product and apparatus for controlling access to profile information, multi-media resources or social network functions of a first user by a second user not listed on a friend or group listing of the first user. An application retrieves a threshold criteria for access control and social network statistics in response to an attempted access by an entity without an appropriate privilege. The application compares the statistics to the threshold. Then, if the statistics meet the threshold criteria, the application allows access. In an exemplary embodiment, meeting the threshold comprises the social network statistics having the features of the threshold. The social network statistics may comprise one or more of: number of users listed as friends for said first user who list said second user as a friend, length of time that users listed as friends for said first user have listed said second user as a friend, percentage of users listed as friends for said first user who list said second user as a friend, and groups of which said second user is a member. 
         [0006]    In an alternative embodiment, the threshold is met by the social network statistics not having the specified combination of statistics. Thus, likely spammers can be blocked by a statistical profile of a likely spammer. For example, a new member of a social network that is listed on a high percentage of friends list will likely be a spammer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. Included in the drawing are the following figures: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an apparatus for communicating through the internet using social networking thresholds in access control decisions according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a method for communicating through the internet using social networking thresholds in access control decisions according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a representation of exemplary friends lists in a social network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a method for implementing a social networking threshold according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The present invention provides a method, apparatus and program product for using social networking thresholds in access control decisions. 
         [0013]    In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for using social networking thresholds in access control decisions comprises a social networking server  100 . The server  100  is connected through a network  150  to a plurality of networked devices  160 . The networked devices may comprise personal computers (PCs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like. In one exemplary embodiment, a PC  161  is connected to the server  100 . The PC comprises a bus  162  interconnected with the network  150  and also interconnected with a processing unit (CPU)  163 , a random access memory (RAM)  164 , a memory  165 , an input/output device (such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, etc)  166 , and a display  167 . 
         [0014]    In an exemplary embodiment, the server  100  has a memory  110  with code stored thereon comprising social networking information  111  such as a social networking page, personal information, contact information, multi-media resources, and the like. The memory  110  may be an internal memory device such as a hard drive or the like. Alternatively, the memory may be an external device interconnected to the server  100 . A list of friends  120  may be stored on the memory  110  within the social networking information  111  or may be stored separately in memory  110 , or may be stored in a user computer  161 . 
         [0015]    The server  100  also has an operating system  130  for executing social networking programs and operations. In an exemplary embodiment, the operating system  130  is connected to the memory  110  through a bus  132 . In an exemplary embodiment, program code  142  is provided that, when executed by the operating  130  performs social networking functions interactively with one or more users. These functions may include creating a discussion topic, responding to a discussion topic, posting pictures, sharing information, and other social networking functions. The program code  142  may be provided in a separate memory  140  or may be stored in the same memory as the social networking information. 
         [0016]    A social network user may build one or more lists of friends  120 . This list  120  may comprise one or more roles  121  associated with various friends. For example, a user may add to his/her list  121  friends who are relatives  121 A, friends who are known personally  121 B, friends who are members of the user&#39;s soccer team  121 C, friends who are classmates  121 D, and the like. The list  121  may also include the date when each friend was added. 
         [0017]    The networking information  111  may be associated with the various roles  121 . For example, a social network user may associate his/her personal information with the role “known personally” so that only those friends that are listed as personally known to the user may access the personal information. In an exemplary embodiment, the roles may be selected when the content is posted, such as through a menu function or a dialog box. 
         [0018]    In an exemplary embodiment, the program code  142  comprises a threshold criteria  122 . The threshold criteria  122  is a statistical threshold used to grant access to a privileged content  111  or function. For example, a social network user may allow access to another user who is not on the content owner&#39;s friends list  120  if the other user is personally known by or a family member of a specified number of users who are on the content owner&#39;s friends list  120 . The specified number may be one or any number greater than one and may be a default value or a value set by the content owner. Alternatively, the threshold criteria may allow access if the other user attempting to access a privileged content  111  or a privileged function may require that the user seeking access is listed as a friend by a specified number of users currently on the content owner&#39;s friends list  120  or a specified percentage of the users currently listed on the content owner&#39;s friends list  120 . Moreover, the threshold criteria may require that the user seeking access be listed as a friend on the specified number of friends on the content owner&#39;s friends list  120  for a specified period of time. 
         [0019]    The networking functions may also be associated with specific roles. For example, a user may create information about the user&#39;s soccer team and post it to the user&#39;s social networking page. The user may then associate this content with the role “soccer team” for all functions. Thus, this content about the soccer team is only accessible to other users who are listed as friends with the specific role of “soccer team”. Alternatively, the user may post a discussion topic about the user&#39;s soccer team and associate the role “friends” with the function of viewing the content, associate the roles of “known personally” and “family” with the function of posting replies to the topic, and associate the role of “soccer team” with the function of posting pictures. Thus, all friends would be able to view the topic, only friends known personally and family would be able to post replies, and only friends listed as members of the soccer team would be able to post pictures. 
         [0020]    A method for using social networking thresholds in access control decisions is shown in  FIG. 2 . The program code  142  on server  100  receives an attempted entry into a social network user&#39;s content  111  by a second user (step  210 ). The program code  142  verifies whether or not the second user has the privilege required to access the content  111  (step  215 ). For example, if the content  111  is associated with the role “friends”, the program code  142  searches the content owner&#39;s friends list for the identity of the second user. If the second user is listed in the first user&#39;s friends list, then entry is allowed (step  220 ). 
         [0021]    If the second user does not have access privilege, then the program code  142  retrieves the threshold criteria  122  (step  230 ). As described above, the threshold criteria  122  is a statistical threshold based upon social networking statistics, such as number or percentage of users listed as friends by a content owner, who in turn list another user trying to access privileged content as a friend, length of time that the user seeking access has been listed as a friend, specific roles within friends lists such as relative or known personally, or combinations of statistics. 
         [0022]    The program code  142  also retrieves social networking statistics  143  (step  240 ). This may be accomplished, for example, by retrieving the friends list for each user listed as a friend on the content owner&#39;s friends list  120 , and searching the various friends lists for the desired statistics, as will be described below. 
         [0023]    The program code  142  compares the social networking statistics  143  with the threshold criteria  122  to determine whether the social networking statistics meet the threshold criteria (step  245 ). For example, a threshold criteria  122  requires that at least five users listed as friends on the content owner&#39;s friends list  120  list the user attempting to access privileged content  111  as a friend. The program code  142  having previously determined that the user attempting access is not listed on the content owner&#39;s friends list  120 , retrieves the threshold criteria  122  and determines that at least five users listed on the content owner&#39;s friends list must list the user attempting access as friends. The program code  142  then retrieves the friends list of the first user listed on the content owner&#39;s friends list and searches for the identity of the user attempting access. The program code  142  continues to pull friends lists for the friends of the content owner and to compile social networking statistics  143  until it determines that the threshold criteria  122  is met or until all of the friends of the content owner have been checked. 
         [0024]    If the statistics  143  meet the threshold criteria  122 , then the program code  142  allows the user seeking access to access or enter the privileged content  111 . Thus, users that are not currently on the content owner&#39;s friends list  120  can be granted access to privileged content enabling the content owner to expand his/her social network. Moreover, the content owner can control the expansion of his/her social network to users that meet a threshold criteria  122  that has a high probability of screening out unwanted users (e.g., spammers and trolls). In an exemplary embodiment, the content owner can adjust the threshold criteria  122  to create a personal level of risk and expansion with which he/she is comfortable. 
         [0025]    If the statistics  143  do not meet the threshold criteria  122 , then the program code  142  does not allow access to the privileged content  111  by the user seeking access. Thus, the privileged content  111  is protected from unwanted access. 
         [0026]    The following examples refer to the exemplary friends lists shown in  FIG. 3 . A content owner “Al” has a content owner&#39;s friends list  120  comprising identifications  302  for other users that the content owner “Al” has added to his friends list. In the illustrated example, Al has added Bob, Carl, Dave, Ed and Frank to his friends list. Also, the friends list includes a length of time  304  (or date added) for each friend, and a role or status  306  such as known personally, family, soccer team, etc. for each friend. In the illustrated example, Bob&#39;s friends list  310  includes Al, Carl, Dave, Kevin, and Larry. Carl&#39;s friends list  320  includes Al, Bob and Dave. Dave&#39;s friends list  330  includes Al, Bob, Carl, and Kevin. Ed&#39;s friends list  340  includes Al, Bob, Carl and Kevin. Frank&#39;s friends list  350  includes Al Ed and Kevin. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a content owner creates content for a social network (step  410 ). This content may be any combination of information, images, discussion topics, or any other content suitable for posting on a social network. The content owner then decides whether or not to set a privilege to control access to the content (step  415 ). If the content owner elects not to set a privilege for the content, then the content is not privileged (step  420 ), and is accessible to all users. 
         [0028]    If the content owner elects to set a privilege, a privilege is set (step  430 ). This may be accomplished by opening a dialog box, accessing a tool from a pull down menu or any other appropriate means. In an exemplary embodiment, program code  142  may prompt the content owner to set privilege for access upon completion of content or upon posting of content. If a privilege is set for the content, then it can only be accessed by a user having the privilege that was set. For example, the privilege may be associated with a role, such as friends (only users listed on the content owner&#39;s friends list), family (only users listed as family on the content owner&#39;s friends list), known personally (only users listed as known personally on the content owner&#39;s friends list, soccer team (only users listed as members of the soccer team on the owner&#39;s friends list), and the like. 
         [0029]    The content owner may then decide whether or not to set a threshold criteria  122  (step  435 ). As with setting a privilege, this may be accomplished by opening a dialog box, accessing a tool from a pull down menu or any other appropriate means. In an exemplary embodiment, program code  142  may prompt the content owner to set threshold criteria  122 . 
         [0030]    For example, in a social network represented by the friends lists of  FIG. 3 , Al is the content owner. Al sets a threshold of users listed as friends by thee current friends. Thus, access will be extended to users who are not on Al&#39;s friends list  120  but are listed on the friends lists of at least three users currently on Al&#39;s friends list  120 . In the illustrated example, Kevin is not on Al&#39;s friends list  120 . However, Bob, Dave, Ed and Frank each list Kevin are each on Al&#39;s friends list  120  and list Kevin on their respective friends lists  310 ,  330 ,  340 ,  350 . Kevin, therefore, will be allowed to access the privileged content, because Kevin meets the threshold criteria of being listed on the friends list of at least three friends on Al&#39;s list. Larry, however, is only listed as a friend by Bob and Ed. Thus, since Larry does not meet the threshold criteria  122  of being listed on the friends list of at least three friends on Al&#39;s list, Larry will not be allowed access. 
         [0031]    In another example, a social network is represented by the friends lists of  FIG. 3 . Al, who is the content owner, sets a threshold of users known personally by or family members of at least two current friends. Thus, access will be extended to users who are not on Al&#39;s friends list  120  but are listed as on the friends lists of at least two users currently on Al&#39;s friends list  120  either as known personally by or family of those current friends. Kevin, who is not on Al&#39;s friends list  120  is not listed as known personally or family on the friends lists of any users who are listed on Al&#39;s friends list. Thus, Kevin does not meet this threshold criteria of being listed as known personally or family by at least two users on Al&#39;s friends list  120 . Larry, however, is listed as family on Bob&#39;s friends list  310  and as known personally on Ed&#39;s friends list  340 , and both Bob and Ed are listed on Al&#39;s friends list  120 . Thus, Larry does meet this threshold criteria of being listed as known personally or family by at least two users on Al&#39;s friends list  120 , and will be allowed access. 
         [0032]    In yet another example, a social network is represented by the friends lists of  FIG. 3 . Al, who is the content owner, sets a threshold of being listed as a friend by at least three current friends for a period of at least five days. Thus, access will be extended to users who are not on Al&#39;s friends list  120  but have been listed as friends on the friends lists of at least three users currently on Al&#39;s friends list  120  for at least five days. Neither Kevin nor Larry have been listed as friends by three current friends from Al&#39;s list for at least five days. Thus, neither will be allowed access. 
         [0033]    In yet another example, a social network is represented by the friends lists of  FIG. 3 . Al, who is the content owner, sets a threshold of being listed as a friend by at least forty percent of current friends for a period of at least three days or being listed as known personally or family by at least two current friends. Thus, access will be extended to users who are not on Al&#39;s friends list  120  but have been listed as friends on the friends lists of at least forty percent of users currently on Al&#39;s friends list  120  for at least three days, and access will be extended to users who are not on Al&#39;s friends list  120  but are listed as on the friends lists of at least two users currently on Al&#39;s friends list  120  either as known personally by or family of those current friends. Kevin who is listed on Bob&#39;s and Ed&#39;s friends lists  310 ,  340  for at least three days (three and five, respectively, and two of five equals forty percent) meets the first test of the threshold criteria, and Larry who is listed as family on Bob&#39;s friends list  310  and as known personally on Ed&#39;s friends list  340  meets the second test of the threshold criteria. 
         [0034]    In another exemplary embodiment, a user may set a threshold for statistics that the user wants to exclude. For example a new user that has been added to a large percentage of the network may be a spammer. Thus, the user sets a threshold of not having joined the social the network less than one month ago and being listed in the friends lists of over sixty percent of the network. 
         [0035]    The foregoing examples are just a few of the possible threshold criteria that are possible. It should be understood that any combination of statistics may be used and that alternative or cumulative statistics may be used to form the threshold criteria. 
         [0036]    The invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc. 
         [0037]    Furthermore, the invention may take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system or device. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium may be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0038]    The foregoing method may be realized by a program product comprising a machine-readable media having a machine-executable program of instructions, which when executed by a machine, such as a computer, performs the steps of the method. This program product may be stored on any of a variety of known machine-readable media, including but not limited to compact discs, floppy discs, USB memory devices, and the like. Moreover, the program product may be in the form of a machine readable transmission such as relational database, HTML, XML, or the like. 
         [0039]    The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD. 
         [0040]    The preceding description and accompanying drawing are intended to be illustrative and not limiting of the invention. The scope of the invention is intended to encompass equivalent variations and configurations to the full extent of the following claims.