Patent ID: 8407311

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of introducing users of a service, performed by a server system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the method comprising: at the server system: identifying, among contacts of a first user in a contact list of the first user, second and third users who are not in each other's contact lists and who satisfy predefined selection criteria with respect to two or more shared contacts, wherein the two or more shared contacts comprise the first user and one or more additional users identified in contact lists of both the second and third users and the predefined selection criteria is based, at least in part, on: a count of users who have both the second and third users in their contact lists; and a predefined combination of contact list entry scores for the second and third users, wherein a respective contact list entry score for the second user is determined, at least in part, based on two or more of: quantity, quality, and timing of communications between the second user and a respective shared contact of the two or more shared contacts; and a respective contact list entry score for the third user is determined, at least in part, based on two or more of: quantity, quality, and timing of communications between the third user and the respective shared contact; sending a server-generated suggestion to the first user of the service, suggesting an introduction of the second user to the third user of the service; receiving from the first user a response to the suggestion; and upon receiving a positive response to the suggestion from the first user, sending the introduction to at least one of the second and third users.