Patent Document ID: 9152969
Application ID: 12755791
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method comprising: with at least one processor: adding a first friend to a user's network of friends in a social network; receiving a first rating from the first friend regarding a first product or service; receiving a first indication from the user that the user agrees with the first friend's rating of the first product or service; adding a second friend to the user's network of friends; receiving a second rating from the second friend regarding a second product or service; receiving a second indication from the user that the user disagrees with the second friend's rating of the product or service; computing a trust value for each of the first friend and the second friend based on trust values associated with each of the first friend and the second friend in the social network; creating a data set representing the first friend as a first node and the second friend as a second node and connections between the first node, the second node, and the user as a plurality of directional edges, each having an associated value for an expression of trust, wherein: a first directional edge of the plurality of directional edges represents the connection between the first node and the user and has a positive expression of trust based on the first indication from the user that the user agrees with the first friend's rating of the first product or service, a second directional edge of the plurality of directional edges represents the connection between the second node and the user and has a negative expression of trust based on the second indication from the user that the user disagrees with the second friend's rating of the second product or service, and, the computed trust value for each of the first friend and the second friend being greater than a threshold associated with a minimum level of trust in the social network; transmitting, to the user, a recommendation for a third product or service based on the positive expression of trust associated with the first friend and information that the first friend rated the third product or service positively.