Patent ID: 7631053

Claim:
A method for determining access rights of a node in a social network having a plurality of nodes, comprising: for each of a plurality of first distributions of content among the plurality of nodes, generating a content path record identifying a nodal path of the content from an originating node through a plurality of recipient nodes; storing each content path record in a memory; receiving a request for a level indicator associated with one of the plurality of nodes during a second distribution of content; identifying an originating node of the second distribution of content; retrieving at least one content path record wherein: the originating node of the second distribution of content is the same originating node as the originating node identified in the at least one content path record; and the one of the plurality of nodes is the same as one recipient node of the plurality of recipient nodes identified in the at least one content path record; calculating a number of recipient nodes in the nodal path identified in the at least one content path record between the originating node identified in the at least one content path record and the one of the plurality of recipient nodes identified in the at least one content path record; determining the level indicator based on the number of recipient nodes in the nodal path; and sending the level indicator in response to the request.