System and method for blocking objectionable communications in a social network

Abstract

A system and method blocks objectionable communications in a social network. A first user of the social network determines when communications from a second user to the first user that are displayed and viewed by third party users of the social network are objectionable. In response, the first user blocks further display of communications from the second user to the first user that were intended by the second user to be displayed and viewed by third party users of the social network.

1 . A method for blocking objectionable communications in a social network, comprising:
 transmitting data from a communications module of a social network server to communications devices to display a user interface on the communications devices and post communications between a first and second user that are viewed by third party users of the social network;   the social network server automatically determining when communications from the second user that are posted and displayed and viewed by third party users are objectionable based on preference settings established by the first user in the user interface, and in response, blocking further display of communications from the second user to the first user that can be viewed by third party users; and   displaying further communications from the second user only to the first user while blocking display of those communications to the third party users.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second user is an approved user designated by the first user to display communications to the third party users. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the approved second user is a friend designated by the first user. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the third party users are approved users designated by the first user. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the approved third party users are friends designated by the first user. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , the preference settings established by the first user in a penalty box of the user interface on the communications device. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communications from the second user to the first user comprise posting communications on a wall of the first user. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , and further comprising blocking the second user for a predetermined period of time and allowing further display of communications from the second user to the first user to be viewed by the third party users after the predetermined period of time has passed. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , and further comprising indicating to the second user that the communications to the first user that are intended to be displayed to other third party users have been blocked. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , and further comprising indicating to the second user that the second user has been placed within a penalty box status indicative of the first user blocking the second user. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein communications between first and second users comprise instant messaging communications. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying on a user interface of the first user a penalty box indicating that the second user is no longer able to post communications intended from the second user to the first user.   
     
     
         13 . A communications system, comprising:
 a social network server that is configured to provide a user interface for a social network and allow a first user to receive communications from a second user that are displayed and viewed by third party users of the social network; and   a communications module that communicates with the first and second users and third party users and receives a blocking request from the first user and communicates the blocking request to the social network server for blocking further display to the third party users of communications from the second user to the first user that are intended to be displayed and viewed by the third party users after the social network server has automatically determined that the communications from the second user are objectionable based on preference settings established by the first user,   said social network server is operative with the communications module for displaying communications from the second user only to the first user while blocking display of those communications to the third party users.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the second user is an approved user designated by the first user to display communications to the third party users. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the approved second user is a friend designated by the first user. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the approved third party users are approved users designated by the first user. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the third party users are friends designated by the first user. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 13 , the preference settings established by the first user in a penalty box of the user interface. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said social network server is operative for implementing a wall of the first user to which communications from other users of the social network can be posted, wherein the communications from the second user to the first user comprise posting communications on the wall of the first user. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said social network server is operative with the communications module for blocking the second user for a predetermined period of time and allowing further display of communications from the second user to the first user to be viewed by the third party users after the predetermined period of time has passed. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said social network server is operative with the communications module for indicating to the second user that their communications to the first user and that are intended to be displayed to other third party users have been blocked. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 21 , and further comprising indicating to the second user that the second user has been placed within a penalty box status indicative of the first user blocking the second user. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the communications between first and second users comprise instant messaging communications. 
     
     
         24 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for blocking objectionable communications in a social network, comprising:
 receiving communications from a second user to a first user that are viewed by third party users of the social network; and   blocking further display of communications from the second user to the first user that were intended by the second user to be displayed and viewed by third party users of the social network after automatically determining that the communications from the second user are objectionable based on preference settings established by the first user in a user interface; and   displaying further communications from the second user only to the first user while blocking display of those communications to the third party users.   
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 24 , wherein said computer-executable instructions are operable for blocking the second user for a predetermined period of time and allowing further display of communications from the second user to the first user to be viewed by the third party users after the predetermined period of time has passed. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 24 , wherein said computer-executable instructions are operable for processing instant messaging communications. 
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 24 , where the preference settings are established by the first user in a penalty box of the user interface. 
     
     
         28 . A method for blocking objectionable communications in a social network, comprising:
 transmitting data from a communications module of a social network server to communications devices to display a user interface on the communications devices and post communications between a first and second user that are viewed by third party users of the social network;   the social network server automatically determining when communications from the second user that are posted and displayed and viewed by third party users are objectionable based on preference settings established by the first user, and in response, blocking further display of communications from the second user to the first user that can be viewed by third party users; and   displaying on a user interface of the first user a penalty box indicating that the second user is no longer able to post communications intended from the second user to the first user.   
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , the preference settings established by the first user in the penalty box of the user interface of the first user.