Abstract:
A method and system for associating themes of member groups of a social networking system are associated with geographic data related to group members. Network members may self identify a locale to be associated with their online identity. A non-member of the group may search for group themes and be enabled to view indications of group member locations prior to requesting group membership. Member locales may be indicated within a rendered map image. Groups include selected members of the social network and each group preferably is associated with one or more themes, e.g., ideas, concepts, images, and topics. One or more members may have a specified status within a group wherein status assignments limit and/or empower relevant members of the group with privileges, authorities and/or obligations. Resources may be associated with a group, wherein a resource may be recommended by a group member, a sponsor, and/or the social networking system.

Description:
[0001]    The present Nonprovisional Patent Application is a Continuation-in-Part Patent Application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,524, filed on Apr. 16, 2013. The present Nonprovisional Patent Application claims the priority date of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,524. Furthermore, Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,524 is hereby incorporated into the present Nonprovisional Patent Application in its entirety and for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to social networking systems enabled by information technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of, and systems for, enabling user interaction with members and users of social networking systems to address and share information relayed to user-selected topics, concerns and issues. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions. 
         [0004]    The present invention relates generally to social networking, and in particular to methods and means of providing information relevant to a user of an electronically mediated and enabled social networking system. Information technology based social networking systems have become prevalent in recent years because they provide a useful environment in which users can connect to and communicate with other users. A variety of different types of social networking systems exist that provide mechanisms allowing users to interact within their social networks. In this context, a user may be an individual or any other entity, such as a business or other non-person entity. Accordingly, while enabling social communications among friends, a social networking system can also be a valuable tool for individuals, groups and representatives of groups finding and connecting with other parties who are concerned with certain issues, other topics related to selected issues, similar themes. 
         [0005]    Many members of social networks and potential participants in social networks find the geographic distribution of participants in a discussion group to be relevant to the desirability of joining in or paying attention to a given discussion, online community, or subset of a social network. However, the prior art fails to optimally and efficiently address these two desires of many parties to find (a.) groups within a social network that focus on a topic of interest, and (b.) have access to the geographic association of one or more members of a group or participants in a discussion. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Toward this object and other objects that are made obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present disclosure, a method of providing information to a participant having access to a social networking system is provided. In one aspect of the method of the present invention, information related to groups and discussion associated with one or more themes, topics, expressed ideas, and expressions and images representing ideas is made accessible to an enquiring party along with access to at least some geolocational information associated with members of one or more groups or participants in one or more discussions. In accordance with method of the present invention (hereinafter, “the invented method”) the geolocational information may comprise or be a name of a locale, a name of a community, a pair of geographic coordinates, and/or other identifier of a place on Earth. 
         [0007]    In an optional aspect of the invented method, one or more locations of group members may be displayed or indicated within or in association with a rendering of a geographic map image. 
         [0008]    In an alternate preferred embodiment of the invented method, a user of a social networking system enters a query into the a social networking system that indicates a theme. The social networking system then queries a database system and determines if there are any defined groups of members that indicate the theme named in the user-query as being of concern or interest. When a match is found between a theme of a user-query and a thematic association of a group, the user is enabled access to information related to self-identified locations of members of the selected group. The enquiring user may thus make an evaluation of the appeal of joining a social networking system group on the basis of both group themes and locations of members of particular groups. 
         [0009]    It is understood that two or more groups may have same or similar themes and that an enquiring user may be provided information concerning the locations of members of two or more groups. It is further understood that, in an optional aspect of the invented method, groups associated with expressions of themes or ideas that are synonymous with a theme stated in a user-enquiry may be selected and provided to the enquiring user in a search conducted by the social networking system in response to the user enquiry. 
         [0010]    In another optional aspect of the invented method, a member account may be assigned a status within a group that may limit and/or empower each user of the assigned account with authority or privileges in making posts to discussions, moderating a group or related discussions, allowing group membership, denying group membership, sanctioning a group member, reporting abuse behavior, terminating group membership, offering group membership, terminating a group, modifying a group&#39;s expressed theme, adding to a group&#39;s expressed or indicated range of interest, recommending or posting information about resources and/or hyperlinks to webpage addresses of the World Wide Web, posting comments associated with the group, and/or forming a group. 
         [0011]    In a yet other optional aspect of the invented method, recommending or posting information about resources and/or hyperlinks to webpage addresses of the World Wide Web provided by sponsors may be rendered in association with one or more groups of the social networking system. 
         [0012]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0013]    These, and further features of the invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification and drawings depicting the preferred embodiment, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a network diagram of one embodiment of a system for providing social networking system user notifications; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a social networking system of  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  is an exemplary first screen shot of a response to an exemplary user query as rendered on a display screen of the user device of  FIG. 1A  wherein a plurality of group names and screen names are displayed; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2B  is an exemplary first screen shot of a response to an exemplary user query as rendered on a display screen of the user device of  FIG. 1A  wherein a plurality of group names and screen names are displayed are shown in concert with a map image; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  is a representation of an exemplary first group record of the social networking system of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3B  is an additional representation of the exemplary first group record of  FIG. 3B  and showing particular theme expressions, user statuses, and histories of submissions to the exemplary first group defined by the first group record; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3C  is a representation of an exemplary first member account record of the social networking system of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of the social networking system of  FIG. 1A  interacting with the user device of  FIG. 1A  in an enquiry related to a theme; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the user device of  FIG. 1A  in rendering group data and in generating a request to join a group; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of the social networking system of  FIG. 1  processing a request to post a message within a group chat; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8A  is a flowchart of the social networking system of  FIG. 1A  processing a request to join a group related to a group defined by a group record of  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8B  is an illustration of a group chat with resource information as published by the social networking system of  FIG. 1A  via the electronics communication network of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9A  is a flowchart of the social networking system of  FIG. 1A  in posting a contributor resource information related to a group record; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9B  is a block diagram of a contributor resource record assessable by the process of  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10A  is a flowchart of the social networking system of  FIG. 1A  in posting a sponsor resource information related to a group record; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10B  is a block diagram of a sponsor resource record assessable by the process of  FIG. 10A ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  presents a block diagram of elements of the user device of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  presents a block diagram of additional optional aspects of the invented system and particularly the user device  FIG. 1A ; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  presents a block diagram of additional optional aspects of the exemplary first member account record of  FIG. 3C . 
           [0033]    The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular aspects of the present invention described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims. 
         [0035]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1A  is a network diagram of one embodiment of an invented system  100  for providing moderated and electronically mediated communications and group communications services among users, to include members, of a social networking system  102 . The system  100  includes one or more user devices  104 , a plurality of member devices  106 , the social networking system  102 , an electronics communications network  108 , and third party content providers  110 . For purposes of illustration, the embodiment of the system  100  shown by  FIG. 1  includes a plurality of participant systems  106  and a single user device  104 . However, in other embodiments, the system  100  may include more user devices  104  and/or more third-party informational content providers  110 . In certain embodiments, the social networking system  102  is operated by the social network provider, such as the FACEBOOK (™) social network service, the LINKEDIN (™) social networking system, or other suitable social networking systems and electronics communications network service providers known in the art. The social networking system  102  provides a platform, or backbone, which other systems and devices  104  &amp;  106 , such as third-party informational content providers  110 , may use to provide social networking services and functionalities to users across the network  108 , e.g., the Internet, the Internet in combination with a telephony network and/or wireless communications channels, and/or suitable alternate electronics communications devices known in the art. 
         [0036]    It is understood that the user device  104  is an exemplary member device  106  that is associated with a unique element number of  104  for the purposes of clarity of illustration only and not offered as an indication of any limitation. Furthermore, the term “user” is used in the present disclosure to indicate that in certain versions and alternate preferred embodiments of the invented method that a person or other entity may interact with the social networking system  102  without need of referencing, or being an authorized user of, a member account or a member account record MBR.001-MBR.N. 
         [0037]    The user device  104  and each member device  106  comprises one or more computing devices that can receive input from a user and can transmit and receive data via the network  108 . For example, the user device  104  and one or more member devices  106  may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDAs) or any other device including computing functionality and data communication capabilities. The user device  104  and each member device  106  are configured to communicate with the social networking system  102  via the network  108 , which may comprise any combination of local area and/or wide area networks, using both wired and wireless communication systems. In one embodiment, the user device  104  and one or more member devices  106  display content received from the social networking system  102 . 
         [0038]    The user device  104  and/or one or more member devices  106  may be or comprise a bundled computer hardware and computer software product such as (a.) a network-communications enabled THINKSTATION WORKSTATION (™) notebook computer marketed by Lenovo, Inc. of Morrisville, N.C.; (b.) a NIVEUS 5200 computer workstation marketed by Penguin Computing of Fremont, Calif. and running a LINUX (™) operating system or a UNIX (™) operating system; (c.) a network-communications enabled personal computer configured for running WINDOWS XP (™), VISTA (™) or WINDOWS 7 (™) operating system marketed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.; (d.) a MACBOOK PRO (™) personal computer as marketed by Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.; (e.) an IPAD (™) tablet computer as marketed by Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.; (f.) a TOUGHPAD (™) tablet computer as marketed by Panasonic Corporation of Kadoma, Osaka, Japan and running an ANDROID (™) operating system as marketed by Google, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif.; (h.) an IPHONE ™digital cellular telephone marketed by Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. or (h.) other suitable smart phone, tablet computer, computational system, and/or electronic communications device known in the art known in the art. 
         [0039]    One or more third-party informational content providers  110  comprise one or more sources of software-encoded content, which are communicated to the user device  104  at appropriate times. In one embodiment, the third-party informational content provider  110  is a separate entity from the social networking system  102 . For example, the third-party informational content provider  110  is associated with a first domain while the social networking system  102  is associated with a separate social networking domain. In various embodiments, the third-party informational content provider  110  is located on a website or alternatively a server, separate or in conjunction from the website or server that hosts the social networking system  102 . 
         [0040]    The social networking system  102  comprises one or more computing devices storing a social network, or a social graph, comprising a plurality of users and providing users of the social network with the ability to communicate and interact with other users of the social network. According to various embodiments, the social networking system  102  may comprise a website, or alternatively a server that can be accessed through a wired or wireless network  108  by the user device  104 , one or more member devices  106 , and/or third-party informational content providers  110 . In use, users join the social networking system  102  and then add connections (i.e., relationships) to a number of other users of the social networking system  102  to whom they desire to be connected. As used herein, the term “friend” refers to any other user of the social networking system  102  to whom a user has formed a connection, association, or relationship via the social networking system  102 . Connections may be added explicitly by a user or may be automatically created by the social networking systems  102  based on common characteristics of the users (e.g., users who are alumni of the same educational institution). For example, a first user specifically selects a particular other user to be a friend. Connections in the social networking system  102  are usually in both directions, but need not be, so the terms “user” and “friend” depend on the frame of reference. Connections between users of the social networking system  102  are usually bilateral, or “mutual,” but connections may also be unilateral, or “one-way.” For example, if Bob and Joe are both users of the social networking system  102  and connected to each other, Bob and Joe are each other&#39;s connections. If, on the other hand, Bob wishes to connect to Joe to view data communicated to the social networking system by Joe but Joe does not wish to form a mutual connection, a unilateral connection may be established. The connection between users may be a direct connection; however, some embodiments of a social networking system allow the connection to be indirect via one or more levels of connections or degrees or separation. Using a social graph, therefore, a social networking system  102  may keep track of many different types of information, interactions and connections within the system  100 , thereby maintaining an extremely rich store of socially relevant information. 
         [0041]    In addition to establishing and maintaining connections between users and members and allowing interactions between users and members, the social networking system  102  provides users and members with the ability to join and/or communicate with electronically mediated and optionally moderated groups that are supported by the social networking system  102 . These groups may be formed to include members of networks (where “networks” here refer not to physical communication networks, but rather social networks of people, entities, and concepts) to which users and members of the social networking system may belong and a user and/or member may be enabled to communicate with by means of the social networking system and/or by additional means. 
         [0042]    It is understood that a user or a member may be enabled by the social networking system  102  to communicate with and/or interact with anything that is capable of being represented in the social networking system  102  or by an external system of the third-party informational content provider  110 , which is separate from the social networking system  102  and coupled to the social networking system  102  via a network  108 . 
         [0043]    The social networking system  102  is also capable of linking a variety of entities. For example, the social networking system  102  enables users and members to interact with each other as well as receive content from third-party informational content providers  110  or other entities, or to allow users to interact with these entities through an API or other communication channels. 
         [0044]    The social networking system  102  also includes user-generated informational content, which enhances a user&#39;s interactions with the social networking system  102 . User-generated content may include anything a user can add, upload, send, or “post,” to the social networking system  102 . For example, a user communicates posts to the social networking system  102  from a user device  104 . Posts may include data such as commentary meant for inclusion in a group chat, status updates or other textual data, location information, photos, videos, links, music or other similar data and/or media. Content may also be added to the social networking system  102  by a third-party through a “communication channel,” such as a newsfeed or stream. In these ways, users of the social networking system  102  are encouraged to communicate with each other by posting text and informational content of various types through various communication channels, increasing the interaction of users with each other and increasing the frequency with which users interact with the social networking system  102 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 1B  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a social networking system  102 . The embodiment of a social networking system  102  shown by  FIG. 1B  includes a server system software  111 , a web server software  112 , a search engine software module  114 , a member interface software module  116 , a member account database management system software  118  and a member connection database software  120 . 
         [0046]    The server system software  111  preferably includes an operating system and additional software code that enables the social network system  102  to effectively engage in interaction with the user device  104 , the plurality of user devices  106 , the third party system  110 , the network  108  and other elements of the invented system  100  in accordance with the aspects and steps of the invented method as disclosed herein. In other embodiments, the social networking system  102  may include additional, fewer, or different modules for various applications. Conventional components such as network interfaces, security mechanisms, load balancers, failover servers, management and network operations consoles, and the like are not shown so as to not obscure the details of the social networking system  102 . 
         [0047]    As described above in conjunction with  FIG. 1A , the social networking system  102  comprises a computing system that allows members to communicate or otherwise interact with each other and access content as described herein. The social networking system  102  stores member account records MBR.001-MBR.999 assigned to individual members of a social network in the member account database management system (hereinafter, “DBMS” 118). The information stored in one or more member account records MBR.001-MBR.999 may include biographic, demographic, and other types of descriptive information, such as work experience, educational history, hobbies or preferences, interests, location, and the like. For example, the DBMS 118 contains data structures with fields suitable for describing a member&#39;s profile. When a new object of a particular type is created, the social networking system  102  initializes a new data structure, i.e., a “node” of the corresponding type, assigns a unique object identifier to it, and begins to add data to the object as needed. This might occur, for example, when a member becomes a member of the social networking system  102 , the social networking system  102  generates a new instance of a member profile in the DBMS 118, assigns a unique identifier to the member profile, and begins to populate the fields of the member profile with information provided by the member. 
         [0048]    In addition, the DBMS 118 may include data structures suitable for describing a member&#39;s demographic data, behavioral data, and other social data. Demographic data typically includes data about the member, such as age, gender, location, etc., e.g., as included in the member&#39;s profile. Behavioral data typically includes information about the member&#39;s activities within the social networking system  102 , such as specific actions (posts, likes, comments, etc.), activity levels, usage statistics, etc. Other social data comprises information about the member from within the social networking system  102  that is not strictly demographic or behavioral, such as interests or affinities, etc. In one embodiment, member&#39;s interests may be explicitly specified in the member&#39;s profile or interests that may be inferred from the member&#39;s activities in the social networking system (e.g., uploaded content, postings, reading of messages, etc). Additionally, the DBMS 118 includes logic for maintaining member interest information for members according to one or more categories. Categories may be general or specific, e.g., if a member “likes” an article about a brand of shoes the category may be the brand, or the general category of “shoes” or “clothing.” Multiple categories may apply to a single member interest. In addition, the DBMS 118 may be accessed by other aspects of the social networking system  102 . 
         [0049]    For example, the DBMS 118 includes logic for maintaining interest information for members according to one or more categories. Categories may be general or specific, e.g., if a member “likes” an article about a brand of shoes the category may be the brand, or the general category of “shoes” or “clothing.” Multiple categories may apply to a single member interest. In addition, the DBMS 118 may be accessed by other aspects of the social networking system  102 . 
         [0050]    The social networking system  102  further stores data describing one or more connections between different members in a member connection database  120 . The connection information may indicate members who have similar or common work experience, group memberships, hobbies, educational history, or are in any way related or share common attributes. Additionally, the social networking system  102  includes member-defined connections between different members, allowing members to specify their relationships with other members. For example, member-defined connections allow members to generate relationships with other members that parallel the members&#39; real-life relationships, such as friends, co-workers, partners, and so forth. Members may select from predefined types of connections, or define their own connection types as needed. The connection database  120  includes data structures suitable for describing a member&#39;s connections to other members, connections to third party systems  110 , or connections to other entities. The connection stores may also associate a connection type with a member&#39;s connections, which may be used in conjunction with the member&#39;s privacy setting, to regulate access to information about the member. In addition, the connection database  120  may be accessed by other aspects of the social networking system  102 . 
         [0051]    The web server  112  links the social networking system  102  to one or more member devices  104  &amp;  106  and/or one or more third party systems  110  via the network  108 . The web server  112  serves web pages, as well as other web-related content, such as Java, Flash, XML, and so forth. The web server  112  may include a mail server or other messaging functionality for receiving and routing messages between the social networking system  102  and one or more member devices  104  &amp;  106 . The messages can be instant messages, queued messages (e.g., email), text and SMS messages, or any other suitable messaging format. 
         [0052]    Any information that a particular member provides with respect to a group GP.001-GP.999 or another member is associated with each member&#39;s associated member account record MBR.001-MBR.999, through information maintained in the DBMS  118  or in a similar database or other data repository. Examples of information provided by a member within the social network  102  that are identified and stored may include, for example, providing textual, graphic or photographic data to a chat of a group GP.001-GP.999, adding a connection to another member, sending a message to another member, reading a message from another member, viewing content associated with another member, attending an event posted by another member or other actions interacting with another member. 
         [0053]    The social networking system  102  may receive a request to associate information, such as information provider by a member of the social network or a member associated with a member account record MBR.001-MBR.999, with a group record GP.001-GP.999 of the social networking system  102 . 
         [0054]    A user interface (or Member Interface) module  116  is configured to display a ranked list of search results on a user device  104  or member device  106  that have been ranked by a search engine module  114 . The search engine module  114  is configured to respond to user queries provided through the user interface module  116  that specify a theme name THEME.001-THEME.999 by attempting to match the instant theme name THEME.001-THEME.999 with a group name record GP.001-GP.999 that is associated with the theme name THEME.001-THEME.999 specified in an instant query. 
         [0055]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2A  is an exemplary first screen shot  200  of a response to an exemplary user query as rendered on a display screen  104 A of the user device  104 . The displayed information includes three group names GRPNM.001, GP.055 &amp; GRPNM999 of groups GP.001, GP.055 &amp; GP.999 that are defined and/or maintained by the social networking system  100 . The query exemplary user query asked for groups that are associated with an exemplary first theme THEME.001. It is understood that one or more groups GP.001-GP.999 may be associated with one or more themes THEME.001-THEME.999. The term theme is defined herein include any word, image, symbol, or information that can be represented as a digitized data string or record within the invented system  100 . 
         [0056]    The rendered windows 202-206 separately include screen names SCRNM.001-SCRNM.999 that are each identified by the server  102  as being associated with a group name GRPNM.001-GP.999 maintained by the system  100 . Each window 202-206 includes only those screen names SCRNM.001-SCRNM.999 that are identified by the social networking system  102  as being associated with the group name GRPNM.001-999 that is concurrently displayed in the comprising window 202-206. In addition, one or more screen names SCRNM-001-SCRNM.999 are each individually associated with a specific location name LOC.001-LOC.999 in its comprising rendered window 202-206. It is understood that one or more screen names SCRNM-001-SCRNM.999 may alternatively, additionally or optionally not presented in association with a location name, as evidenced in the exemplary screen shot of  FIG. 2A  by the notations of N/A. 
         [0057]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 2B  is an exemplary second screen shot  208  of an alternate modality of presentation of group names GRPNM.002-GRPNM.998 that are associated with a second exemplary theme THEME.999 and certain screen names SCRNM.001-SCRNM.999 that are further associated with the selected and associated group names GRPNM.002 &amp; GRPNM.998. More particularly, the user device  104  renders an exemplary additional theme THEME.999 that is expressed by the words FOOD SECURITY, wherein the additional theme THEME.999 is expressed by the user device display screen  104 A by visually displaying textual characters spelling the words FOOD SECURITY. In addition, a map  210  presents markers  212 A- 214 N that each represent a location data LOC.001-LOC.999 that is associated by the social networking system  102  with a member account record MBR.001-MBR.999 of the system  100 , wherein each represented member account record MBR.001-MBR.999 is associated with a group name GRPNM.002 &amp; GRPNM.998 that is in turn associated with the additional exemplary theme THEME.999 of FOOD SECURITY. A user may position and hover a cursor over or proximate to a marker  212 A- 214 N, whereupon the system  100  will cause a drop down screen  216  &amp;  218  associated with a selected marker  212 A- 2414 N to render and display information related to the selected marker  212 A- 214 N. More particularly, an exemplary first drop down screen  216  presents information associated with an exemplary one hundred and fifth member account record MBR. 105  that is associated with a second exemplary group name GRPNM.002, wherein the first drop down screen  216  presents information related to or comprised within the one hundred and fifth member account record MBR.105, including but not limited, an associated second group name GRPNM.002, a unique one hundred and fifth screen name SCRNM.105, a one hundred and fifth locale LOC.105, a one hundred and fifth text data document TXT.105, and/or a one hundred and fifth photographic data file PHOTO.105. 
         [0058]    In addition, an exemplary second drop down screen  218  presents information associated with an exemplary seven hundred and forty third member account record MBR.743 that is associated with a nine hundred and ninety eighth exemplary group name GRPNM.998, wherein the second drop down screen  216  presents information related to or comprised within the forty third member account record MBR.743, including but not limited, an associated nine hundred and ninety eighth exemplary group name GRPNM.998, a unique seven hundred and forty third screen name SCRNM.743, a seven hundred and forty third locale LOC.743, a seven hundred and forty third text data document TXT.743, and/or a seven hundred and forty third photographic data file PHOTO.743. 
         [0059]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3A  is a representation of selected elements of an first exemplary group record GRP.REC.01, wherein a plurality of member records MBR.001-MBR.999 may be associated with one or more selected theme expressions THEME.01-THEME.999. It is understood that the contents referred to in the discussions of certain exemplary records GRP.REC-.001-GRP.REC.999, MBR.001-MBR.999, CR.REC.001-CR.REC.999 &amp; CR.REC.999 are offered for clarity of explanation and are not meant as indicating limitations of the scope of the invented method. It is further understood that one or more theme expressions THEME.01-THEME.999 may comprise textual data, graphics data, photographic data and/or audio data. 
         [0060]    The exemplary first group record GRP.REC.01 includes a group record identifier GRPREC.ID, a first group identifier GRP.ID.001, a first group screen name GRPNM.001, one or more theme expressions THEME.001 &amp; THEME.999, and member data identifiers MBR.ID.001-MBR.ID.098 selected from individual member records MBR.001-MBR.999. The unique group record identifier GRPREC.ID identifies the comprising first group record GRP.REC.001 to the social networking system  102 . The unique first group identifier GRP.ID.001 identifies the first instant group of member records as a group to the social networking system  102 , whereas the unique first group screen name GRPNM.001 may be visually rendered by the devices  104  &amp;  106  when the first group record GRP.REC.001 is selected. The theme expressions THEME.001 &amp; THEME.999 associate the first group record GRP.REC.01 with individual themes. The status indicators STATUS.001-STATUS.098 are each individually associated with a member identifier MBR.ID.001-MBR.098 and indicate a status level within the group associated with the relevant member identifier MBR.ID.001-MBR.098. One or more status levels STATUS.001-STATUS.098 may direct the social networking system  102  to allow a privilege or limit a capability in reference to an associated member identifier MBR.ID.001-MBR.098. One or more history data fields HIST.001-HIST.098 that may contain textual, graphical, photographic and/or audio data previously submitted by or associated with a particular member identifier MBR.ID.001-MBR.098. 
         [0061]      FIG. 3B  is a representation of selected elements of the first exemplary group record GRPREC.001, wherein the first group screen name GRPNM.001 is shown to be the word FOODIES.  FIG. 3B  further shows that the first exemplary theme expression THEME.001 is the written word DINING and the additional exemplary theme expression THEME.999 is the written term FOOD SECURITY. It is understood, and shown by the first exemplary group record GRPREC.001, that a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 may be associated with more than one theme expression THEME.001-THEME.999. 
         [0062]    The first exemplary group record GRPREC.001 further comprises the plurality of member records identifiers MBR.ID.001-MBR.ID.098 that are shown in  FIG. 3B  to each be associated with a group member status of OWNER, MODERATOR, CONTRIBUTOR, EXPERT, MEMBER or NONMEMBER.  FIG. 3B  also shows the exemplary first record contain textual TEXT.001 &amp; TEXT.098, graphical GRAPH.098, photographic PHOTO.008, hyperlink data LINK.075, audio data AUDI0.055 previously provided by or associated with a particular member record identifier MBR.ID.001-MBR.098. The hyperlink data LINK.075 preferably includes a specific universal resource locator of the Internet and/or a domain name of the World Wide Web. 
         [0063]    Referring now Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 3C ,  FIG. 3C  is a representation of selected elements of an exemplary first member account record MBR.001. The first member account record MBR.001 includes a first member record identifier MBR.REC.ID.001, a first member account identifier MBR.ID.001, a first member account password PASS.001, a first locale LOC.001, a first member screen name SCRNM.001, a first telephone number TEL.001, and a first text flag TXT.001. The first text flag TXT.001 is preferably a binary value space that by its immediate value indicates whether the first telephone number TEL.001 is enabled to send and/or receive text messaging. The first member account record MBR.001 further includes theme expressions THEME.001 &amp; THEME.098 indicated to be of relevance to the comprising first member account record MBR.001 and selected group identifiers GRP.ID.001, GRP.ID.006 &amp; GRP.ID.098 associated with the also specified theme expressions THEME.001 &amp; THEME.098. Each included group identifier GRP.ID.001, GRP.ID.006 &amp; GRP.ID.098 may be associated with a specific screen name GRPNM.001, GRP.006 &amp; GRPNM.098 and a specific group participant status OWNER.001, MEMBER.006 &amp; CONTRIBUTOR.098. 
         [0064]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 4A  is a flowchart of the social networking system of  FIG. 1  interacting with a user in an enquiry related to a theme expression THEME.001-THEME.999. In step 4.02 the social networking system  102  determines of a user has provided required log in information, e.g., a member password PASS.001, via the user device  104  and proceeds on to step  4 . 04  to perform alternate operations if a required log in information is not detected by the social networking system  102  in step  4 . 02 . It is understood that the social networking system  102  may be alternately adapted to enable a nonmember or other party to log on in step  4 . 02  without providing any authentication information. In step  4 . 06  the social networking system  102  determines of a user has provided submitted an enquiry referencing and regarding a thematic expression THEME.001-THEME.999, e.g., the word DINING or the term FOOD SAFETY, via the user device  104  and proceeds on to step  4 . 04  to perform alternate operations if no enquiry referencing and regarding a thematic expression THEME.001-THEME.999. When the social networking system  102  detects an enquiry referencing and regarding a theme expression THEME.001-THEME.999 in step  4 . 08 , the social networking system  102  proceeds on to step  4 . 10  and employs the search engine module  114  to search the DBMS  118  for any group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 that comprises the theme reference THEME.001-THEME.999 of the enquiry message detected in step  4 . 06 . If no group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 that comprises the theme reference THEME.001-THEME.999 of the enquiry message detected in step  4 . 06 , the social networking system  102  proceeds from step  4 . 10  to step  4 . 12  and reports this failure to the user device  104 . The social networking system  102  next determines in step  4 . 14  whether to (a.) exit the loop of steps  4 . 06  through  4 . 14  and proceed to step  4 . 04 ; or (b.) proceed from step  4 . 14  to execute step  4 . 06 . 
         [0065]    Alternatively, when the social networking system  102  determines in step  4 . 10  to have found a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 that references the theme expression THEME.001-THEME.999 of the enquiry message detected in step  4 . 06 , the social networking system  102  provides data of one or more theme-matching group records GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 to the user device  104  for rendering by the user device  104  as shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B . When the social networking system  102  in step  4 . 18  receives a selection of an information request related to the data of one or more theme-matching group records GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 transmitted in step  4 . 16 , the social networking system  102  proceeds on to step  4 . 20  and transmits the requested data to the user device  104  in step  4 . 20 . The social networking system  102  determines in step  4 . 22  whether to proceed to anther execution of step  4 . 06  or on to step  4 . 04 . Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the user device  104  processing a request to join a group associated with a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 of the invented system  100 . The user device  104  determines in step  5 . 02  whether data of a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 has been received from the social networking system  102  in step  5 . 02  and proceeds onto step  5 . 04  and to perform alternate computational operations in step  5 . 04  when no newly received data of a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 has been received in step  5 . 02 . In the alternative, the user device  104  determines in step  5 . 02  that data of a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 has been newly received from the social networking system  102  in step 5.02, the user device  104  proceeds on to step  5 . 06  and to determine if the user of the user device  104  has determined whether to render the newly received data of a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 as directed by the user in step  5 . 08  or step  5 . 10 . When directed by the user, the user device  104  renders a map image as per  FIG. 2B  presenting the newly received data of a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 in step  5 . 12  or alternately as a listing in step  5 . 14  as per  FIG. 2A . 
         [0066]    The user device  104  determines in step  5 . 16  whether the user has directed the user device to request access to and participation in a group of the social networking system  102  associated with a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999, and when directed by the user transmits a request to accordingly access the social networking system  102  in step  5 . 18 . The user device  104  may proceed from  5 . 06 ,  5 . 16  or  5 . 18  to step  5 . 20  and to perform additional and alternative computer operations. 
         [0067]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 6  is a flowchart of the social networking system  102  processing a request to post a message within a group chat related to a group defined by a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999. When the social networking system  102  determines in step  6 . 02  that a message has been received from the user device  104  to post a comment in a group chat related to a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 specified by the user device  104 , the device determines whether to authorize a posting of the received comment in step  6 . 04  and may determine to publish in step  6 . 06  the comment received from the user device  104  to the indicated chat. Alternatively, the social networking system  102  may proceed from step  6 . 04  to transmit to the moderator the request and comment received from the user device  104  to a group moderator&#39;s network address in step  6 . 08 . The social networking system  102  may proceed from step  6 . 02 , step  6 . 06  or step  6 . 08  to step  6 . 10  and to perform additional and alternative computer operations. 
         [0068]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 7  is a flowchart of the social networking system  102  processing a request to join a group related to a group defined by a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999. When the social networking system  102  determines in step  7 . 02  that a message has been received from the user device  104  to post a comment in a group chat related to a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 specified by the user device  104 , the device determines whether to authorize an inclusion of a member identifier MBR.ID.001-MBR.ID.999 in step  7 . 04  in a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999 referenced in the request examined in step  7 . 0 . The social networking system  102  may to include in step  7 . 06  the member identifier MBR.ID.001-MBR.ID.999 received from the user device  104  in the referenced group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999. Alternatively, the social networking system  102  may proceed from step  7 . 04  to transmit to the moderator the request and group record reference received from the user device  104  to a group moderator&#39;s network address in step  7 . 08 . The social networking system  102  may proceed from step  7 . 02 , step  7 . 06  or step  7 . 08  to step  7 . 10  and to perform additional and alternative computer operations. 
         [0069]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 8A ,  FIG. 8A  is a flowchart of the social networking system  102  in a posting  800  of a chat session related to a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999. In step  8 . 02  the social networking system  102  determines if a command to render a group chat has been received, and if no such command has been received, the social networking system  102  proceeds on to step  8 . 04  and to perform additional and alternate computational processing. Alternatively, when a command to render a group chat has been determined to have been received by the social networking system  102  in step  8 . 02 , the social networking system  102  publishes the requested chat for access by web browsers or other suitable means known in the art in step  8 . 06 . The social networking system  102  additionally posts sponsors resource information associated with the selected group record GRPREC.001-GRP.999 in step  8 . 08  in association with the chat of step  8 . 06 , and further posts contributor resource information in step  8 . 10  in association with the chat of step  8 . 06 . The social networking system  102  then proceeds through the loop of steps  8 . 12 ,  8 . 14  and  8 . 16  and executes in step  8 . 16  any received commands related to the posted chat and posted resource information, When the social networking system  102  determines to, or complies with a command to, end the posting of the chat in step  8 . 14 , the social networking system  102  proceeds from step  8 . 14  to step  8 . 18  and ceases publishing the chat and resource information of steps  8 . 06 ,  8 . 08  and  8 . 10 . 
         [0070]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 8B ,  FIG. 8B  is an illustration of a group chat  800  with resource information  802  &amp;  804  as published by the social networking system  102  via the invented system  100  and the network  108 . The group chat  800  provides text images  806  of dialog input from users, a group name rendering  808  of a previously assigned group name GRPNM.001-GRPNM.999, a theme expression rendering  810  of previously assigned associated theme THEME.001-THEME.999, and/or additional visual, audio and/or textual data renderings  812  of information related to group members, chat participants, and/or the invented system  100 . The contributor resource image  802  may include renderings of a hyperlink CR.LINK.001, textual data CR.TEXT.001, photographic data CR.PHOTO.001 and/or renderings of additional data types. In addition, the sponsor resource image  804  may include renderings of a sponsored hyperlink SR.LINK.001, sponsored textual data SR.TEXT.001, sponsored photographic data SR.PHOTO.001 and/or renderings of additional sponsored information of additional data types. 
         [0071]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 9A ,  FIG. 9A  is a flowchart of the social networking system  102  in posting a chat session related to a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999. In step  9 . 02  the social networking system  102  publishes information maintained in a contributor resource record CR.REC.001-CR.REC.999. In step  9 . 04  the social networking system  102  determines if a request to publish additional information has been received, and posts additional information related to the contributor resource record CR.REC.001-CR.REC.999 of step  9 . 02 , and posts requested additional information in step  9 . 06 . in step  9 . 08  the social networking system  102  determines if any executable commands have been received via the network  108  in step  9 . 08  related to the published information of steps  9 . 02  and optionally  9 . 06 , and executes any detected related commands in step  9 . 10 . 
         [0072]    When the social networking system  102  in step  9 . 12  determines to, or complies with a command to, end the posting of the information of steps  9 . 02  and  9 . 06 , the social networking system  102  proceeds to execute step  9 . 14  and ceases publishing the contributor resource information of steps  9 . 02  and  9 . 06 , and optionally to perform additional computational operations in step  9 . 14 . 
         [0073]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 9B ,  FIG. 9B  is an exemplary first contributor resource record CR.REC.001 that is accessed in the process of  FIG. 9A . The first contributor resource record CR.REC.001 includes a first contributor resource record identifier CR.REC.ID.001, a member identifier MBR.ID.001 of a member have the status of CONTRIBUTOR in the group related to the first contributor resource record CR.REC.001, the group name GRPNM.055 of an associated fifty-fifth group record GRPREC.055. The first contributor resource record optionally further includes contributor resource photo data CR.PHOTO.001, contributor resource text data CR.TXT.001, and/or a contributor resource hyperlink CR.LINK.001. 
         [0074]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10A ,  FIG. 10A  is a flowchart of the social networking system  102  in posting a chat session related to a group record GRPREC.001-GRPREC.999. In step  10 . 02  the social networking system  102  publishes information maintained in a sponsor resource record CR.REC.001-CR.REC.999. In step  10 . 04  the social networking system  102  determines if a request to publish additional information has been received, and posts additional information related to the sponsor resource record CR.REC.001-CR.REC.999 of step  10 . 02 , and posts requested additional information in step  10 . 06 . in step  10 . 08  the social networking system  102  determines if any executable commands have been received via the network  108  in step  10 . 08  related to the published information of steps  10 . 02  and optionally  10 . 06 , and executes any detected related commands in step  10 . 10 . 
         [0075]    When the social networking system  102  in step  10 . 12  determines to, or complies with a command to, end the posting of the information of steps  10 . 02  and  10 . 06 , the social networking system  102  proceeds to execute step  10 . 14  and ceases publishing the sponsor resource information of steps  10 . 02  and  10 . 06 , and optionally to perform additional computational operations in step  10 . 14 . 
         [0076]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10B ,  FIG. 10B  is an exemplary first sponsor resource record SR.REC.001 that is accessed in the process of  FIG. 10A . The first sponsor resource record SR.REC.001 includes a first sponsor resource record identifier CR.REC.ID.01 and another exemplary group name GRPNM.066 of an associated sixty-fifth group record GRPREC.066. The first sponsor resource record optionally further includes sponsor resource photo data SR.PHOTO.001, sponsor resource text data SR.TXT.001, and/or a sponsor resource hyperlink SR.LINK.001. 
         [0077]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 11  presents a block diagram of elements of the user device  104 . The display screen  104 A is shown to be a component of a display module  104 B. The display module  104 B is bi-directionally communicatively coupled through a display module interface  104 B to a central processing unit  104 D via an internal communications bus  104 E. The central processing unit  104 D is further bi-directionally communicatively coupled through the internal communications bus  104 E to a system memory  104 F and a network interface  104 G. The network interface  104 G further bi-directionally communicatively couple the central processing unit  104 D with the network  108 . A computer keyboard  104 H and a selection device  104 I are communicatively coupled with the display module  104 B and enable the user to position the cursor  105  within the display screen  104 A. The selection device  104 I may be or comprise a computer mouse, touchpad, track ball or other suitable point-and-click computer selection device known in the art. 
         [0078]    It is further understood that the user device  104  further comprises a web browser software  104 J and system software  104 K that in combination enable the user device  104  to be directed to effectively engage in interaction with the social networking system  102 , the network  108  and other elements of the invented system  100 . The web browser  104 J may be or comprise a commercially or generally available web browser software such as, but not limited too, a SAFARI (™) web browser as provided by Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., a INTERNER EXPLORER (™) web browser as provided by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., or a FIREFOX (™) as provided by the Mozilla Foundation of Mountain View, Calif. The system software  104 K preferably includes an operating system and additional software code that enables the user of the user device  104  to direct the user device  104  to effectively engage in interaction with the social networking system  102 , the network  108  and other elements of the invented system  100  in accordance with the aspects and steps of the invented method as disclosed herein. 
         [0079]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 12  illustrates an optional aspect of the UI module  116  wherein a brain icon  1200  is displayed at the user device  104  and the user may drag and drop member records MBR.001-MBR.999 that comprise theme expressions THEME.001-THEME.999 and/or group names GRPNM.001-GRPNM.999 into the brain icon  1200  and thereby direct the social networking system  102  to populate the user profile with screen names SCRNM.001-SCRNM.999 of member account records MBR.002-MBR.999 into the exemplary first member account record MBR.001. For example, should the user apply the selection device  1041  to drag and the representation of the first group record GRPREC.001 into the brain icon, all screen names SCRNM.001-SCRNM.999 included within the first group record GRPREC.001 will be written into, or associated with and made accessible via, the exemplary first member record MBR.001. Furthermore, should the user apply the selection device  1041  to drag and the representation of the first theme expression THEME.001 into the brain icon, all screen names SCRNM.001-SCRNM.999 of member records MBR.002-MBR.999 that reference the first theme expression THEME.001 will be written into, or associated with and made accessible via, the exemplary first member record MBR.001. The user may thus acquire the ability to send messages to other members identified by member records MBR.002-MBR.999 of the invented system  100  by referencing screen names SCRNM.002-SCRNM.999. The user may thus elect to communicate with social network members on the basis of self-expressed interests in themes, e.g., topics, issues and concerns. 
         [0080]    In another optional aspect of the invented method, one or more theme expressions THEME.001-THEME.999 may be color-coded when rendered or visually associated with a same color within the display screen  104 A to indicate that that any two or more theme expressions THEME.001-THEME.999 being rendered with a same color-code or color association are indicated to be comprised within or related to a same category or quality of thought, idea, concept, area of expertise, and/or area of interest. Offered as an example, where two themes expressions of FOODIE and DINING might be rendered a same color-code or color association of a shade of green to indicate that both themes are related to nutrition or agriculture. 
         [0081]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 13  illustrates the exemplary first member account record wherein the first group record identifier GRPREC.ID.001 and screen names SCRNM.008, SCRNM.055 &amp; SCRNM.075 associated with the member account identifiers MBR.ID.008, MBR.ID.055 &amp; MBR.ID.075 that are included in the first group record GRPREC.001 have been dropped into and included within the first member account record MBR.001 by the described in the discussion of  FIG. 12 . Furthermore, the first theme expression THEME.001 and certain screen names SCRNM.023, SCRNM.077 &amp; SCRNM.125 associated with the member account records MBR.002-MBR.999 that comprise a reference to the first theme expression THEME.001 have been dropped into and included within the first member account record MBR.001 by the described in the discussion of  FIG. 12 . 
         [0082]    The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. 
         [0083]    Some portions of this description describe the embodiments of the invention in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on information. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are commonly used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work effectively to others skilled in the art. These operations, while described functionally, computationally, or logically, are understood to be implemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits, microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient at times, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules, without loss of generality. The described operations and their associated modules may be embodied in software, firmware, hardware, or any combinations thereof. 
         [0084]    Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may be performed or implemented with one or more hardware or software modules, alone or in combination with other devices. In one embodiment, a software module is implemented with a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer program code, which can be executed by a computer processor for performing any or all of the steps, operations, or processes described. 
         [0085]    Embodiments of the invention may also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, and/or it may comprise a general-purpose computing device selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, which may be coupled to a computer system bus. Furthermore, any computing systems referred to in the specification may include a single processor or may be architectures employing multiple processor designs for increased computing capability. 
         [0086]    Embodiments of the invention may also relate to a product that is produced by a computing process described herein. Such a product may comprise information resulting from a computing process, where the information is stored on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium and may include any embodiment of a computer program product or other data combination described herein. 
         [0087]    Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based herein. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.