GB2563620A

GB2563620A - Social network

Info

Publication number: GB2563620A
Application number: GB1709854.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zamir Zabihullah
Original assignee: Inlinx Ltd
Current assignee: Inlinx Ltd
Priority date: 2017-06-20
Filing date: 2017-06-20
Publication date: 2018-12-26
Also published as: WO2018234800A1; GB201709854D0

Abstract

A method for enabling a user to communicate with other users in a social network, comprising: enabling the user to identify and categorise connections to other users to a first set that are allocated to a first connection category and not a second connection category, and a second set that are allocated to the second connection category and not the first connection category. A first input area 210 of a GUI is assigned to the first connection category and a second input area 230 assigned to the second connection category. A user uploads content to the social network via the first input area that which is viewable by the first set of other users and not by the second set of other users. The user can also upload content to the social network via the second input area which is viewable by the second set of other users and not the first set of other users. Methods relating to connecting users in a social network, alerting when comments are shared outside a group, displaying content feeds based on user grouping, and specifying which aspects of a users personal information are visible to user categories are also provided.

Description

TITLE

Social Network

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a social network. In particular, they relate to a social network that enables a user to categorise connections with other users and communicate with different categories of connection differently and separately.

BACKGROUND A social network provides a user with an ability to communicate with other users. The other users may be friends, family or work colleagues, for instance. On some occasions a user may wish to restrict the information that is available to different users, depending on his relationship with those users.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a method for enabling a user to communicate with other users in a social network, comprising: enabling the user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with a first set of other users that are allocated to a first connection category and not a second connection category, and connections with a second set of other users that are allocated to the second connection category and not the first connection category; causing a graphical user interface screen to be provided having a first input area assigned to the first connection category and a second input area assigned to the second connection category; enabling a user to upload content to the social network via the first input area that is, by default, viewable by the at least a portion of the first set of other users and not by the second set of other users; and enabling a user to upload content to the social network via the second input area that is, by default, viewable by the second set of other users and not the first set of other users.

The method may further comprise: enabling the user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with users that are allocated to both the first connection category and the second connection category. Content uploaded via the first input area may be, by default, viewable by those users and content uploaded via the second input area is, by default, viewable by those users.

The method may further comprise: providing, in the graphical user interface screen, a content feed assigned to the at least a portion of the first set of other users; and providing, in the graphical user interface screen, a content feed assigned to the second set of other users.

The method may further comprise: enabling a user to switch, in the graphical user interface screen, between: i) display of the content feed and the first input area assigned to the at least a portion of the first set of other users; and ii) display of the content feed and the second input area assigned to the second set of other users.

The method may further comprise: providing a first tab assigned to the first connection category that, when selected by the user, causes display of the content feed and the first input area assigned to the at least a portion of the first set of other users; and providing a second tab assigned to the second connection category that, when selected by the user, causes display of the content feed and the second input area assigned to the second set of other users.

The method may further comprise: providing a user selectable setting, in the first input area, enabling the user to specify that content uploaded to the social network via the first input area is viewable by users allocated to the second connection category. The user selectable setting may be accessible via a graphical item in the first input area.

The user may have connections, allocated to at least the first connection category, with a first subset of the other users belonging to a first group and a second subset of the other users belonging to a second group. The first input area may include a content upload area assigned to the first group and a content upload area assigned to the second group.

Content uploaded via the content upload area assigned to the first group may be, by default, viewable by the first subset of other users and not by the second subset of the other users nor users allocated solely to the second connection category. Content uploaded via the content upload area assigned to the second group may be, by default, viewable by the second subset of other users and not by the first subset of other users nor users allocated solely to the second connection category.

The method may further comprise: providing, in the graphical user interface screen, a content feed assigned to the first group; and providing, in the graphical user interface screen, a content feed assigned to the second group.

The content feed assigned to the first group may be displayed simultaneously with the content upload area assigned to the first group. The content feed assigned to second group may be displayed simultaneously with the content upload area assigned to the second group.

The method may further comprise: enabling the user to provide user input to switch, in the graphical user interface screen, between: i) display of the content upload area and the content feed assigned to the first group; and ii) display of the content upload area and the content feed assigned to the second group.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a method for enabling a first user to connect to a second user in a social network, comprising: enabling the first user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with other users allocated to a first connection category and/or a second connection category; enabling the second user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with other users allocated to the first connection category and/or the second connection category; forming a connection, in the social network, between the first user and the second user of the first connection category; identifying a request to form a connection of the second connection category between the first user and the second user; enabling the first user to decide whether to treat the second user as a connection allocated solely to the first connection category, or a connection allocated to both the first connection category and the second connection category; and enabling the second user to decide whether to treat the first user as a connection allocated solely to the first connection category, or a connection allocated to both the first connection category and the second connection category.

Enabling the first user to decide whether to treat the second user as a connection allocated solely to the first connection category, or a connection allocated to both the first connection category and the second connection category comprises: prompting the first user to choose.

Enabling the second user to decide whether to treat the first user as a connection allocated solely to the first connection category, or a connection allocated to both the first connection category and the second connection category comprises: prompting the second user to choose.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a method for enabling users to communicate in a social network, comprising: enabling a first user to join a group, in the social network, which includes other users; enabling the first user to share content, simultaneously, with the other users belonging to the group and with at least one other user outside the group; and responding to an input, from a second user, indicating a desire to comment on the shared content by providing an alert indicating that a comment on the shared content will be shared outside the group.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a method for enabling a user to communicate with other users in a social network, comprising: enabling the user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with a first set of other users that are allocated to a first connection category and not a second connection category and connections with a second set of other users that are allocated to the second connection category and not the first connection category; and enabling a user to specify whether a content feed relating to the first connection category or a further content feed relating to the second connection category is displayed initially when the user logs into the social network.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a method for enabling a user to communicate with other users in a social network, comprising: enabling the user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with a first set of other users that are allocated to a first connection category and connections with a second set of other users that are allocated to a second connection category; causing a graphical user interface screen to be provided in which a first tab is assigned to the first connection category and a second tab is assigned to the second connection category; and responding to selection of the first tab by displaying a content feed assigned to the first connection category; and responding to selection of the second tab by displaying a content feed assigned to the second connection category.

The first subset of the other users may belong to a first group and a second subset of the other users may belong to a second group, and, when the first tab is selected, a content feed assigned to the first group or a content feed assigned to the second group may be viewable in the graphical user interface screen.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a method for enabling a user to communicate with other users in a social network, comprising: enabling the user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with other users that are allocated to a first connection category and/or a second connection category; and enabling the user to specify which individual aspects ofthe user’s personal information are visible to: i) users allocated to the first connection category; ii) users allocated to the second connection category; iii) users allocated to neither the first connection category nor the second connection category.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided computer program code that, when executed by at least one processor of an apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform at the method(s) described above.

The computer program code may be stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium.

An apparatus comprising means for performing one or more of the methods described above.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided an apparatus for enabling a user to communicate with other users in a social network, comprising: at least one processor; and memory storing computer program code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to perform the method(s) described above.

The apparatus may comprise at least one server.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding of various examples that are useful for understanding the detailed description, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates an apparatus;

Fig. 2 illustrates a further apparatus;

Fig. 3 illustrates a network including at least one server and multiple client devices; Fig. 4 illustrates a relationship between a first user and a second user in a social network;

Fig. 5 illustrates a Venn diagram showing schematically how connections of a user may be categorised in the social network;

Fig. 6 illustrates a log in/registration screen for the social network;

Figs. 7A and 7B illustrate a home screen of the social network that is displayed initially upon log in;

Fig. 8 illustrates the home screen following selection of a family tab, and prior to the creation of a family group;

Fig. 9 illustrates the home screen following the creation of a family group;

Fig. 10 illustrates a user sharing content with a family group;

Fig. 11 illustrates the home screen when a user is sharing content with friends;

Fig. 12 illustrates a user selecting which categories of connections to share content with;

Figs. 13A and 13B illustrate a main settings page of the social network;

Fig. 14 illustrates a home screen of the social network in which a family tab has been selected.

Figs. 15A and 15B illustrate a main settings page of the social network;

Figs. 16A and 16B illustrate a content feed for a family group and a user commenting on a particular item in the content feed;

Figs. 17A and 17B illustrate a user commenting on a different item in the content feed for the family group;

Fig. 18 illustrates a user searching for another user in the social network;

Figs. 19A and 19B illustrate a user establishing a family connection in the social network and adding a user to a family group;

Figs. 20A and 20B illustrate a user receiving a family connection request and invite to join a family group;

Fig. 21 illustrates a home screen with the family tab selected and a particular family group tab selected;

Fig. 22A illustrates a user making a friend connection in the social network;

Fig. 22B illustrates a prompt being provided to a user asking whether another user should be treated as a family connection or as a friend connection;

Figs. 23A and 23B illustrate the acceptance of a friend connection request;

Fig. 23C illustrates an invitation asking the user whether he wishes to treat another user as a family connection or a friend connection; and

Figs. 24A and 24B illustrate a personal information page in the social network for a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

Embodiments of the invention relate to a social network that enables a user to establish connections with other users and to categorise those connections in order to control the dissemination of information to other users differently in the social network, depending on the categorisation. For example, a user may categorise his connections in the social network into a “friends category” and a “family category” and allow each category a different level of access to his personal information and/or different access to content that he shares in the social network. The social network also allows a user to switch seamlessly between communicating with connections in different categories and provides for easy communication within a particular group, such as a particular family group.

Details of the social network are described below.

Hardware

Fig. 1 illustrates an apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 may, for example, be a chip or a chipset. The apparatus 10 comprises at least one processor 12 and at least one memory 14.

The processor 12 is configured to read from and write to the memory 14. The processor 12 may also comprise an output interface via which data and/or commands are output by the processor 12 and an input interface via which data and/or commands are input to the processor 12.

The memory 14 stores a computer program 16 comprising computer program instructions (computer program code) 18 that controls the operation of the apparatus 10 when loaded into the processor 12. The computer program instructions 18 provide the logic and routines that enables the apparatuses 10/20 illustrated in figures 1 and 2 to perform the methods described below and illustrated the figures. The processor 12 by reading the memory 14 is able to load and execute the computer program 18.

Although the memory 14 is illustrated as a single component/circuitry it may be implemented as one or more separate components/circuitry some or all of which may be integrated/removable and/or may provide permanent/semi-permanent/ dynamic/cached storage.

Although the processor 12 is illustrated as a single component/circuitry it may be implemented as one or more separate components/circuitry some or all of which may be integrated/removable. The processor 12 may be a single core or multi-core processor.

Fig. 2 illustrates a further apparatus 20 which, in some embodiments, is one or more servers. A single server 20 is described below, but in practice the same functionality might be provided by multiple servers, with different functions being performed by different servers.

The further apparatus 20 comprises the apparatus 10 and one or more transceivers 22. The one or more transceivers 22 may include wired and/or wireless transceivers. The transceiver(s) 22 are configured to receive inputs, in the form of data, from the processor 12 and communicate that data to other apparatuses over a network. The transceiver(s) 22 are also configured to receive inputs, in the form of data, from other apparatuses in a network and communicate that data to the processor 12.

As illustrated in fig. 2, the computer program 16 may arrive at the apparatus 10 via any suitable delivery mechanism 40. The delivery mechanism 40 may be, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, a memory device, a record medium such as a memory card, a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or digital versatile disc (DVD). It may be an article of manufacture that tangibly embodies the computer program 16. The delivery mechanism 40 may be a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program 16. The apparatus 10 may propagate or transmit the computer program 16 as a computer data signal.

Figure 3 illustrates a network 100 in which the server 20 communicates with one or more client computing devices 101-104 via the internet 50. The computing devices 101-104 may, for example, include one or more desktops computers, laptop computers, one or more tablet computers and/or one or more mobile telephones. The server 20 provides the computing devices 101-104 with access to the functions of the social network, via the internet 50, by executing the computer program code 18. A computing device 101-104 may communicate with the server 20 using a dedicated social networking application stored at the computing device 101-104 or may, for example, communicate with the server 20 using an internet browser stored at the computing device 101-104.

General

As explained above, the social network enables a user to identify other users in the social network and to make connections with other users. A user may categorise the connections that he has with other users in order to control the dissemination of information to other users differently, depending on the categorisation in the social network. In the user’s profile in the social network, a connection may be allocated to a first connection category (e.g. family) and/or a second connection category (e.g. friend). In some instances, a user may amend a connection of the first connection category so that it also becomes a connection of a second connection category, and vice-versa.

Fig. 4 illustrates a first user 31 of the social network and a second user 32 of the social network. The social network enables the first user 31 and the second user 32 to connect to each other in the social network. The first user 31 is able to categorise his connection with the second user 32, in order to control which information 62, from the social networking profile of the first user 31 in the social network, is provided to the second user 32. For example, the first user 31 is able to categorise his connection to the second user 32 as a connection of a first connection category (e.g. as a “family” connection) and/or as a connection of a second connection category (e.g. as a “friend” connection). The first user 31 is then able to control which information is visible to connections of the first connection category (e.g. family) in the social network and which information is visible to connections of the second connection category (e.g. friends) in the social network.

Similarly, the second user 32 is able to categorise his connection to the first user 31 as a connection of a first connection category (e.g. as a “family” connection) or as a connection of a second connection category (e.g. as a “friend” connection). The categorisation that is selected by the second user 32 (for information 64 from the social networking profile of the second user 32 in the social network) may be the same or different from the categorisation that is selected by the first user 31 (for information 62 from the social networking profile of the first user 31 in the social network).

Fig. 5 illustrates a Venn diagram that shows schematically how a user’s connections to other users may be categorised in user’s profile in the social network. A first set of other users 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70e, 70f, 70g, 70h, 70i is allocated to a first connection category 70 (e.g. a “family” category) and a second set of other users 70e, 70f, 70g, 70h, 70i, 80a, 80b, 80c is allocated to a second connection category 80 (e.g. a “friends” category). Some users 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d are allocated to the first connection category 70 and not the second connection category 80. Some users 70e, 70g, 70h, 70i are allocated to both the first connection category 70 and the second connection category 80. Other users 80a, 80b, 80c are allocated to the second connection category 80 and not the first connection category 70. A first subset of the other users 70a-70c belong to a first group 71. A second subset of other users 70d-70f belong to a second group 72. A third subset of other users 70g-70i belong to a third group 73. Each group 71,72, 73 is allocated to the first connection category 70 and may, for example, relate to a different family group. It is possible for an individual user to be present in more than one family group, but that is not illustrated in fig. 5.

Hereinafter, the connections allocated to the first connection category 70 may be referred to as “family connections” and the connections with the second connection category 80 may be referred to as “friend connections” or “Linx connections”. The first connection category 70 may be referred to as the “family category” and the second connection category 80 may be referred to as the “friend category” or the “Linx category”. In the social network, friends are also known as “Linx”.

Login/Registration

Fig. 6 illustrates a login/registration screen 201 for the social network which, in this example, is named “inLinx”. In the illustrated example, the login screen is accessed via an internet browser of a client computing device 101 of a first user named “David”. As explained above, in other examples the social network (and therefore the login/registration screen 201) may be accessed via a dedicated social networking application.

Home Screen

Once the user has successfully registered for the social network and logged in, the server 20 initially causes the client computing device 101 to display the graphical user interface (GUI) screen 202 illustrated in fig. 7. The graphical user interface screen 202 illustrated in fig. 7 can be considered to be the “home screen” of the social network because it is the screen that is initially presented on the display of a client computing device 101 upon successful login by a user.

The GUI screen 202 comprises a search box which enables a user to search for other users within the social network. The GUI screen 202 also comprises a settings graphical item 260 and a personal information graphical item 270.

The GUI screen 202 further comprises a first input area 210, a second input area 230 and a third input area 250. The first input area 210 may be assigned to the first (family) connection category 70. The second input area 230 may be assigned to the second (friends/Linx) connection category 80. The third input area 250 is assigned to one or more chat rooms.

In the illustrated example, user selectable items in the form of tabs 211, 231, 251 are provided in the first, second and third input areas 210, 230, 250. Only one of the tabs 211, 231, 251 may be selected at any one instance in time.

In fig. 7, the tab 231 in the second input area 230 is selected. This is because, in this particular instance, the tab 231 in the second input area 230 is initially selected by default upon user login and display of the GUI screen 202. The only part of the first and third input areas 210, 250 that are visible in fig. 7 are the tabs 211,251.

If the tab 211 in the first input area 210 were selected in the situation illustrated in fig. 7, it would cause more of the first input area 210 to be revealed and the second input area 230, other than the tab 231, to be concealed. Similarly, if the tab 251 in the third input area 250 were selected, it would cause more of the third input area 250 to be revealed and the second input area 230, other than the tab 231, to be concealed.

When the tab 231 in the second input area 230 is selected, the second input area 230 comprises a content upload area 232 and a content feed 233 which are displayed simultaneously, as illustrated in fig. 7.

The content upload area 232 and the content feed 233 are assigned to second (friends/Linx) connection category 80. This is described in further detail below in relation to figures 11 and 12.

Each tab 211, 231,251 includes a graphical item 211a, 231a, 251a that enables a user to close or hide the related tabs 211,231, 251. Fig. 7B indicates the home screen 202 following user selection of the graphical item 231a in the tab 231 in the second input area 230. In response to the user selection, options are provided for the user to choose to close the tab 231 or hide the tab 231. If the user selects either of those options, the tab 231 and the input area 230 is removed from the home screen 202. If the user chooses to close the tab 231, a conventional refresh of the internet browser will cause the tab 231 to reappear. If the user chooses to hide the tab 231, a conventional refresh ofthe internet browser will not cause the tab 231 to reappear. In order to cause the tab 231 to reappear, the user may unhide the tab 231 via the main settings, as described below in relation to figures 13A and 13B.

Creating a Family Group

Fig. 8 illustrates the home screen 202 after the user (David) has selected the tab 211 in the first input area 210. In this particular situation, the user is not yet part of any family groups. The first input area 210 comprises a user selectable item 212 for creating a family group. Given that the user is not yet part of a family group, the item 212 may be pre-selected when the family tab 211 is selected by the user. When the family group creation item 212 is selected, the user is able to provide input to select an input area 213, provided within the first input area 210, for inputting and assigning a family group name to a family group to be created. Once the family group name has been inserted into the input area 213, the user may then select an item 214 to confirm the family group name and create the family group. A particular family group can be considered to be represented by one of the subsets 71, 72, 73 of the first (family) category illustrated in fig. 5.

Fig. 9 illustrates the home screen 202 after the user has inserted the family name “Jones” into the input area 213 and selected the item 214 to create the Jones family group. The first input area 210 in the home screen 202 now includes a content upload area 216 and a content feed 218 which are displayed simultaneously. The content feed 218 is assigned to the Jones family group and may include content items uploaded/shared by users belonging to the Jones family group. At present, no content items are included in the content feed 218 because the Jones family group is a newly created family group and has no members other than David.

The content upload area 216 enables the user to upload content to the social network that is, by default, viewable by at least some of the users allocated to the first (family) connection category 70 in David’s social networking profile. In this example, the content upload area 216 is assigned to the Jones family group. Content uploaded/shared via the content upload area 216 is viewable by users that belong to the Jones family group. In this particular example, no other users have yet been added to the Jones family group, but once they have been added, those users will be able to view content that is uploaded via the content upload area 216.

Sharing Content with a Family Group

Fig. 10 illustrates the user (David) sharing content via the content upload area 216. In this particular example, the user has selected the content upload area 216 and entered the text “Hello Jones family”. In response to user selection of the content upload area 216, a plurality of user selectable items 217 are displayed relating to the sharing of content. One of the user selectable items, which is designated with the reference numeral 217a in fig. 10, enables the user to select which other users, outside the Jones family group, the uploaded content will be visible to.

In response to user selection of the user selectable item 217a, a graphical item in the form of a dropdown box 217b is displayed in which a series of settings is provided. A box relating to the Jones family group is pre-selected by default and cannot be unselected. Other options for sharing the content are provided in the box 217b which are unselected by default. The options enable content to be shared with the user’s connections of the friend/links connection category 80 (the box labelled with the text “Linx”), an option to share the content publicly with all users in the social network and an option to share the content with a custom selection of users in the social network.

If the user uploads/shares content without changing the default settings, that content will be visible to users belonging to the Jones family group but not to other users, irrespective of whether connections of the first (family) connection category 70 or second (friend) connection category 80 have been made with those users. The Jones family group forms a subset of the set of users in the family category 70 of connections.

If the user changes the default selection by selecting the option for sharing the content with “Linx”, upon upload of the content (“Hello Jones family”), the content will be shared simultaneously with the Jones family group and his Linx connections (the set of users in the friends/Linx connection category 80). The content will therefore be visible to both the user’s family connections in the Jones family group and the user’s friend/Linx connections).

If the user were part of one or more other family groups, the box 217b would provide an option to share the content with that/those family groups in addition to the Jones family group. Each family group forms a subset of the set of users in the family connection category 70.

Sharing Content with Linx/Friends

Fig. 11 illustrates the home screen 202 in the social network when the Linx tab 231 is selected. In the example illustrated in fig. 11, the user has selected the content upload area 232 in the second input area 230 and inserted the text “Hello World”. Following the selection of the content upload area 232, a plurality of user selectable items 234 is displayed relating to the sharing of content. One of the user selectable items 234 is labelled with the reference numeral 234a in fig. 11, and enables the user to select which users in the social network the content will be visible to.

Fig. 12 illustrates the home screen 202 after the user has selected the user selectable item 234a in fig. 11. A dropdown box 234b is displayed which provides the user with the ability to select which connections the content will be shared with. As shown in fig. 12, by default an option to share the content with the users that are allocated to the second (friend/Linx) connection category 80 in David’s social networking profile. That is, by default any content shared via the content upload area 232 is viewable by the users with whom David has a connection of the second (friend/Linx) connection category 80.

The user may select the relevant option(s) to share the content to be uploaded simultaneously with any of the family groups to which he belongs (in this example, the Jones family group), he may choose to simultaneously share the content publicly with all users in the social network, and/or he may choose to simultaneously share the content with a custom selection of users of the social network.

The user may even choose not to share the content with his friend/Linx connections by de-selecting the relevant option if he wishes.

Main Settings

Figures 13A and 13B illustrates a main settings page that is displayed following user selection ofthe settings graphical item 260 in the home screen 202. The main settings page includes a series of settings 302, 303, 304, 305 that enables a user to customise the home screen 202 in the social network in relation to his social networking profile. A first setting 302 enables the user to select which of the main tabs 211,231,251 will be selected initially when the home screen 202 is first displayed following log in. In the example illustrated in fig. 13A, the Linx/public tab 231 is selected, but the family tab 211 or the chat room tab 251 may be selected instead.

The second setting 303 enables the user to select which family sub-tab will be preselected in the first input area 210. In this particular example, the user is only part of one family group (“Jones”). However, if the user were part of more than one family group, he would be able to select which family group should be pre-selected when the main family tab 210 is selected.

If, for example, the first and second settings 302, 303 are set such that the family tab 211 is initially selected upon login and the Jones family sub-tab is initially selected upon selection of the family tab 211, then the content upload area 216 and the content feed 218 for the Jones family group are displayed initially upon login. If, on the other hand, the first setting 302 is set to display the Linx/public tab 231 is initially upon login, the content upload area 232 and the content feed 233 for the user’s friend/Linx connections is displayed initially upon login.

The third setting 304 enables a user to choose to hide (or unhide, if already hidden) one or more of the main tabs 211, 231, 251 when the home screen 202 is displayed.

Any of the tabs 211, 231, 251 that are hidden will not be displayed when the home screen 202 is displayed. A fourth setting 305 enables the user to choose to hide (or unhide, if already hidden) one or more of the family sub-tabs in the first input area 210. If a family sub-tab is selected to be hidden, it will not appear when the main family tab 210 is selected.

Switching Between Family Groups

Fig. 14 illustrates the home screen 202 in the social network when a different user, named Scott, is logged into the social network. In this example, the user named Scott is part of three family groups named “UKLS family”, “Harrison” and “Smith”. When the main family tab 211 is selected, a family sub-tab 215a, 215b, 215c is displayed in the first input area 210 for each of the family groups that the user is part of. Access to all of the user’s family groups is provided in a convenient manner by the simultaneously display of the sub-tabs 215a, 215b, 215c in the first input area 210.

In fig. 14, the sub-tab 215a for the UKLS family is pre-selected by default according to the second setting 303, so the content upload area 216 and the content feed 218 assigned to the UKLS family group are displayed (simultaneously) when the family tab 201 is selected. The user is conveniently able to switch between the different family groups by selecting the appropriate family sub-tab 215a, 215b, 215c. For example, if the user selects the family sub-tab 215b, the content upload area 216 and the content feed 218 assigned to the Harrison family group are displayed simultaneously. A content upload area 216 is displayed in which content is shared, by default, with users belonging to the Harrison family group and not with other users. Content may also be shared with other users outside the Harrison family group, however, in the manner explained above in relation to fig. 10 and the Jones family group.

Furthermore, when the family sub-tab 215b relating to the Harrison family group is selected, the content feed 218 displays content that has been uploaded and shared specifically with the Harrison family group. The content in the content feed 218 may or may not have been shared with other users in the social network outside the Harrison family group, depending upon the sharing settings that were selected by the uploading user.

Each sub-tab 214a, 215b, 215c includes an “x” graphical item which enables the subtab to be closed. The user may cause a closed sub-tab to reappear by refreshing the internet browser in a conventional manner.

Main Settings

Figs. 15A and 15B illustrate the main settings page for the user named Scott. As mentioned above, the main settings page 301 is accessed by selecting the user selectable item 260 on the home screen 202. It can be seen in figs. 15A and 15B that the second setting 303 provides the user with the option to select the sub-family tab 215a, 215b, 215c that is pre-selected when the family tab 211 is selected following initial display of the home screen 202 after log in.

The fourth setting 305 provides the user with the ability to hide the family sub-tabs 215a, 215b, 215c.

Commenting in a Family Content Feed

Fig. 16A illustrates a portion of the content feed 218 in the input area 210 after the user has scrolled down the home screen 202 illustrated in fig. 14. It can be seen in fig. 16A that each item in the content feed 218 includes an indicator/icon 218a, 218d, 218e indicating the extent to which the content item was shared within the social network. The icon designated with the reference numeral 218a in fig. 16A indicates that the content item that it relates to (containing the text “what’s for dinner... ”) was only shared within the family group that the displayed content feed 218 relates to (UKLS family). The indicator/icon designated with the reference numeral 218d indicates that the content item that it relates to (the text “happy new year”) was shared publicly with all users in the social network.

The indicator/icon labelled with the reference numeral 218e indicates that the content item that it relates to (the text “hi all”) was shared with the currently selected family group (UKLS family) and with other users outside the currently selected family group (e.g. at least one other family group).

If a user selects the graphical item labelled with the reference numeral 218b, in order to comment on a content item that was only shared within the currently selected family group, in response an input area 218c is displayed in which the user may enter text to comment on the content item, as shown in fig. 16B.

Figs. 17A and 17B illustrate what happens when a user chooses to comment on a content item that was shared beyond the currently selected family group. The indicator/icon 218c in fig. 17A indicates that the content item was shared not only with the currently selected family group but with other users that are not present in the currently selected family group. If a user selects the graphical item 218b in fig. 17A, in response an alert 218f is provided (see fig. 17B), in addition to the display of the input area 218c, indicating that a comment on the shared content item will be shared outside the currently selected family group. Advantageously, the user can then choose whether or not he wishes to make the content in an informed manner.

Making a Connection and Allocating Users into a Category

Fig. 18 illustrates the home screen 202 for the user named Scott. The text “David” has been inserted into the search box 280 so that the user named Scott can find the user named David. After the user has searched for “David” as shown in fig. 18, a graphical item 282 is displayed showing the results of a search. Depending on the text that is entered into the box 280, multiple graphical items may be displayed, one for each user that has been identified by text entered into the search box. In this example, the user selects the graphical item 282 relating to the user named David, which results in the display of the screen 401 illustrated in fig. 19A. a first user selectable item 402 in the screen 401 enables a user to make a friend/Linx connection with the user named David. A second user selectable item 403 enables Scott to make a family connection with David. In this example, input is provided at the second user selectable item 403 to establish a family connection with David. In response, a dropdown box 404 is displayed, as shown in fig. 19B, which includes an option for each of the family groups that Scott is part of. The selection of an option relating to a particular family group will invite David to that particular family group. In this example, the option to invite David to the Harrison family group is selected in fig. 19B.

Fig. 20A illustrates the home screen 202 after David has logged into the social network following the invitation that was sent to him. A graphical item 290 is displayed at the top of the home screen 202 indicating that David has an outstanding invite. User selection of the graphical item 290 results in a prompt 291 being displayed, as illustrated in fig. 20B. The prompt enables David to accept or decline Scott’s invitation to join the Harrison family group. David chooses to accept Scott’s invitation to join the Harrison family group. After accepting the invitation, David then selects the main family tab 211 in the home screen. A sub-family tab is now displayed in the input area 210, along with the sub-tab 215 for the Jones family group, as shown in fig. 21. The user may switch the content upload area 216 and the content feed 218 between the Jones family group and the Harrison family group by selecting the relevant sub-tab 215, 215b.

The user named Scott now decides that he would like to make David a friend/Linx connection. Scott provides the necessary input in order to navigate to the screen 401, for example by carrying out the actions illustrated above and described in relation to figs. 18 and 19A. The first user selectable item 402 is then selected, as shown in fig. 22A, that causes a dropdown box 405 to be displayed which includes options for Scott to add David as a friend connection, to block David in the social network or to report David to the administrator of the social network. On this occasion, the option to add David as a friend connection in the social network is selected. In response, the server 20 identifies that the request has been made and that David is already a family connection of Scott. The server 20 causes a prompt 406 to be provided in the screen 401 as illustrated in fig. 22B, which enables Scott to decide whether to treat David as a connection of both the first (family) connection category 70 and the second (friend/Linx) connection category 80 or as a connection of solely the first (family) connection category 70 (and not the second, friend/Linx, connection category 80). In this particular example, Scott decides to treat David as solely a family connection, as illustrated in fig. 22B. This means that, in Scott’s social networking profile, David remains a connection of the first (family) category 70 and does not also become a connection of the second (friend/Linx) category 80.

Fig. 23A illustrates the home screen 202 after David has logged into social network following the sending of the connection request by Scott. The home screen 202 includes a graphical item 290 at the top. Upon selection of the graphical item 290, a prompt 291 is displayed asking David to accept or decline the friend/Linx connection request sent by Scott, as shown in fig. 23B. David chooses to accept the request sent by Scott and, in response, the server 20 causes the prompt 406 to be displayed on the home screen 202, as shown in fig. 23C. The prompt 406b enables David to decide whether he wishes to treat Scott as a connection of both the first (family) connection category 70 and the second, friend/Linx, connection category 80 or as a connection of solely the first, family, connection category 70. On this occasion, David chooses to treat Scott as a connection of both the friend/Linx connection category 80 and the first (family) connection category 70 by selecting “Linx”, as illustrated in Fig. 23C.

Scott’s choice to treat David as a connection of the family category 70 means that David will not see content uploaded by Scott via the content upload area 232 in the second input area 230 pertaining to Linx connections. David will, however, be able to see content shared by Scott via the content upload area 216 in the first input area 210 pertaining to family connections (because David continues to be allocated to the family connection category 70 in Scott’s social networking profile), but only when the input area 210 is assigned to the Harrison family group (i.e. when the sub-tab 215b for the Harrison family group is selected, and not when the sub-tabs 215a, 215c for the UKLS family group and the Smith family group are selected, unless Scott specifically chooses to share with the Harrison family group in addition to the currently selected family group in the manner described in fig. 10, for example).

David decided to treat Scott as a Linx/friend connection, causing Scott to be allocated to the friend/Linx connection category 80 in addition to the family connection category 70. This means that content shared by David via the content upload area 232 of the second input area 230 pertaining to friend/Linx connections will be visible to Scott. Scott and David also continue to be part of the Harrison family group, so any content shared by David with the Harrison family group will be visible to Scott.

In existing social networks a problem exists in that users are not able to easily control which of their connections see content that they share. This problem is solved by embodiments of the present invention, which enable a user to share content with particular family groups separately from friends. For example, a user may set up a different family group for each side of his family and share content separately with each side. In addition, a user may share different content with his friends that are Linx/friend connections, without his family being able to see that shared content.

Furthermore, in the event that a user receives a friend/Linx connection request from a member of his family, he is able to accept that request but continue treating the person from whom the request was received as a family connection. Consequently, the user is able to restrict the content that is seen by that family member in a straightforward manner.

For example, if a user receives a friend/Linx connection request from his Grandmother, he is able to accept that request but continue to treat his Grandmother as a family connection and not as a friend/Linx connection. This means that his Grandmother would not see content uploaded by him via the content upload area 232 in the second input area 230 pertaining to friend/Linx connections. Thus, the user is able to manage access to content that he uploads to the social network in an appropriate manner.

Protection of Personal Information

Fig. 24A illustrates a screen 501 that is displayed when the personal information graphical icon 270 is selected in the home screen 202. Fig. 24B illustrates a continuation of that screen 501, which is displayed upon scrolling down.

The screen 501 mentions different aspects ofthe user’s personal information, including the user’s first name, last name, gender, date of birth, address, telephone number, email address, spoken languages and interests in the section of the screen 501 designated by the reference numeral 502. A series of user selectable options 503 are provided in the screen 501 which enable the user to specify which individual aspects of the user’s personal information are visible to the user’s family connections, the user’s friend/Linx connections and the public (i.e. all users ofthe social network). In this example, the social network requires the user to share his first name and last name with his family connections, his friend/Linx connections and the public. With regard to the other aspects of the user’s personal information, the user may choose to share each one of those with any combination of his family connections, friend/Linx connections and all users ofthe social network or, indeed, none of those. The user can therefore specify which aspects of his personal information can be seen by different users in the social network, in dependence upon his relationship with those users.

In some embodiments, the selection of a user selectable option that indicates whether or not a particular aspect of the user’s personal information is visible to the user’s family connections causes the display of a series of further options which enables the user to select whether users in particular family groups will or will not be able to see that aspect of the user’s personal information. For instance, in the illustrated example, if Scott selects the user selectable option that indicates whether or not his gender is visible to his family connections, a series of options will be displayed that enables Scott to select whether his gender is visible to users in the UKLS family, Harrison and/or Smith family groups. Scott is able to select that his gender is visible to users in some of those family groups, all of those family groups or none of them.

Closing Comments

References to ‘computer-readable storage medium’, ‘computer program product’, ‘tangibly embodied computer program’ etc. ora ‘controller’, ‘computer’, ‘processor’ etc. should be understood to encompass not only computers having different architectures such as single/multi-processor architectures and sequential (Von Neumann)/parallel architectures but also specialized circuits such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific circuits (ASIC), signal processing devices and other processing circuitry. References to computer program, instructions, code etc. should be understood to encompass software for a programmable processor or firmware such as, for example, the programmable content of a hardware device whether instructions for a processor, or configuration settings for a fixed-function device, gate array or programmable logic device etc.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, although embodiments of the invention are described above in relation to “friend connections” and “family connections”, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention are not limited in this way and that categories other than “friends” and “family” could be used.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon. l/we claim:

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to communicate with other users in a social network, comprising: enabling the user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with a first set of other users that are allocated to a first connection category and not a second connection category, and connections with a second set of other users that are allocated to the second connection category and not the first connection category; causing a graphical user interface screen to be provided having a first input area assigned to the first connection category and a second input area assigned to the second connection category; enabling a user to upload content to the social network via the first input area that is, by default, viewable by the at least a portion of the first set of other users and not by the second set of other users; and enabling a user to upload content to the social network via the second input area that is, by default, viewable by the second set of other users and not the first set of other users.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: enabling the user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with users that are allocated to both the first connection category and the second connection category, wherein content uploaded via the first input area is, by default, viewable by those users and content uploaded via the second input area is, by default, viewable by those users.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: providing, in the graphical user interface screen, a content feed assigned to the at least a portion of the first set of other users; and providing, in the graphical user interface screen, a content feed assigned to the second set of other users.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: enabling a user to switch, in the graphical user interface screen, between: i) display of the content feed and the first input area assigned to the at least a portion of the first set of other users; and ii) display of the content feed and the second input area assigned to the second set of other users.

5. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising: providing a first tab assigned to the first connection category that, when selected by the user, causes display of the content feed and the first input area assigned to the at least a portion of the first set of other users; and providing a second tab assigned to the second connection category that, when selected by the user, causes display of the content feed and the second input area assigned to the second set of other users.

6. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising: providing a user selectable setting, in the first input area, enabling the user to specify that content uploaded to the social network via the first input area is viewable by users allocated to the second connection category.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user selectable setting is accessible via a graphical item in the first input area.

8. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the user has connections, allocated to at least the first connection category, with a first subset of the other users belonging to a first group and a second subset of the other users belonging to a second group, and the first input area includes a content upload area assigned to the first group and a content upload area assigned to the second group.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein: content uploaded via the content upload area assigned to the first group is, by default, viewable by the first subset of other users and not by the second subset of the other users nor users allocated solely to the second connection category; and content uploaded via the content upload area assigned to the second group is, by default, viewable by the second subset of other users and not by the first subset of other users nor users allocated solely to the second connection category.

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, further comprising: providing, in the graphical user interface screen, a content feed assigned to the first group; and providing, in the graphical user interface screen, a content feed assigned to the second group.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the content feed assigned to the first group is displayed simultaneously with the content upload area assigned to the first group, and the content feed assigned to second group is displayed simultaneously with the content upload area assigned to the second group.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: enabling the user to provide user input to switch, in the graphical user interface screen, between: i) display of the content upload area and the content feed assigned to the first group; and ii) display of the content upload area and the content feed assigned to the second group.

13. A method for enabling a first user to connect to a second user in a social network, comprising: enabling the first user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with other users allocated to a first connection category and/or a second connection category; enabling the second user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with other users allocated to the first connection category and/or the second connection category; forming a connection, in the social network, between the first user and the second user of the first connection category; identifying a request to form a connection of the second connection category between the first user and the second user; enabling the first user to decide whether to treat the second user as a connection allocated solely to the first connection category, or a connection allocated to both the first connection category and the second connection category; and enabling the second user to decide whether to treat the first user as a connection allocated solely to the first connection category, or a connection allocated to both the first connection category and the second connection category.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein enabling the first user to decide whether to treat the second user as a connection allocated solely to the first connection category, or a connection allocated to both the first connection category and the second connection category comprises: prompting the first user to choose.

15. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein enabling the second user to decide whether to treat the first user as a connection allocated solely to the first connection category, or a connection allocated to both the first connection category and the second connection category comprises: prompting the second user to choose.

16. A method for enabling users to communicate in a social network, comprising: enabling a first user to join a group, in the social network, which includes other users; enabling the first user to share content, simultaneously, with the other users belonging to the group and with at least one other user outside the group; and responding to an input, from a second user, indicating a desire to comment on the shared content by providing an alert indicating that a comment on the shared content will be shared outside the group.

17. A method for enabling a user to communicate with other users in a social network, comprising: enabling the user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with a first set of other users that are allocated to a first connection category and not a second connection category and connections with a second set of other users that are allocated to the second connection category and not the first connection category; and enabling a user to specify whether a content feed relating to the first connection category or a further content feed relating to the second connection category is displayed initially when the user logs into the social network.

18. A method for enabling a user to communicate with other users in a social network, comprising: enabling the user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with a first set of other users that are allocated to a first connection category and connections with a second set of other users that are allocated to a second connection category; causing a graphical user interface screen to be provided in which a first tab is assigned to the first connection category and a second tab is assigned to the second connection category; and responding to selection of the first tab by displaying a content feed assigned to the first connection category; and responding to selection of the second tab by displaying a content feed assigned to the second connection category.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein a first subset of the other users belong to a first group and a second subset of the other users belong to a second group, and, when the first tab is selected, a content feed assigned to the first group or a content feed assigned to the second group is viewable in the graphical user interface screen.

20. A method for enabling a user to communicate with other users in a social network, comprising: enabling the user to identify and make, in the social network, connections with other users that are allocated to a first connection category and/or a second connection category; and enabling the user to specify which individual aspects of the user’s personal information are visible to: i) users allocated to the first connection category; ii) users allocated to the second connection category; and/or iii) users allocated to neither the first connection category nor the second connection category.

21. Computer program code that, when executed by at least one processor of an apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform at least the method of one or more of claims of the preceding claims.

22. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 20.

23. An apparatus for enabling a user to communicate with other users in a social network, comprising: at least one processor; and memory storing computer program code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to perform at least the method of one or more of the preceding claims.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one server.