Determining reputation of users with respect to skills

Abstract

A method and system for evaluating the reputation of a member of a social networking system is disclosed. Consistent with an embodiment of the invention, one or more attributes associated with a social networking profile of a member of a social network are analyzed. Based on the analysis, a ranking, rating or score is assigned to a particular category of reputation. When requested, the ranking, rating or score is displayed to a user of the social network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining a reputation indicator for a skill of a member of a plurality of members of a social network, the method comprising:
 storing one or more profile elements associated with the member of the plurality of members of the social network, the one or more profile elements corresponding to the skill of the member of the plurality of members of the social network, each of the one or more profile elements having a respective plurality of endorsements, each endorsement of the plurality of endorsements being specified by one or more additional members of the plurality of members of the social network; and   determining the reputation indicator for the skill of the member of the plurality of members, the determining based on an analysis of the plurality of endorsements, wherein the determining of the reputation indicator is performed by one or more computer processors.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a visualization for display on a profile of the member, the visualization including an icon representing the reputation indicator. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the icon further represents a category of the reputation indication. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determining further comprises calculating a reputation score based on the analysis of the plurality of endorsements and wherein the icon further represents the reputation score. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the generating of the visualization for display on the profile of the member is based on the reputation score transgressing a threshold value. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the determining of the reputation score is based on a seniority of positions held by first-degree connections of the member of the plurality of members. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reputation indicator is an access indicator representing a level of access the member of the plurality of members of the social network has to an additional member of the plurality of members of the social network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the access indicator is determined based on a closeness of a viewer of a profile of the member to the additional member. 
     
     
         9 . A system for determining a reputation indicator for a skill of a member of a plurality of members of a social network, the system comprising:
 a memory comprising a set of instructions;   one or more processors coupled to the memory and configured to, based on the set of instructions,   store one or more profile elements associated with the member of the plurality of members of the social network, the one or more profile elements corresponding to the skill of the member of the plurality of members of the social network, each of the one or more profile elements having a respective plurality of endorsements, each endorsement of the plurality of endorsements being specified by one or more additional members of the plurality of members of the social network; and   determine the reputation indicator for the skill of the member of the plurality of members, the determining based on an analysis of the plurality of endorsements.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, based on the set of instructions,
 generate a visualization for display on a profile of the member, the visualization including an icon representing the reputation indicator.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the icon further represents a category of the reputation indication. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the determining further comprises calculating a reputation score based on the analysis of the plurality of endorsements and wherein the icon further represents the reputation score. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the generating of the visualization for display on the profile of the member is based on the reputation score transgressing a threshold value. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the determining of the reputation score is based on a seniority of positions held by first-degree connections of the member of the plurality of members. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the reputation indicator is an access indicator representing a level of access the member of the plurality of members of the social network has to an additional member of the plurality of members of the social network. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the access indicator is determined based on a closeness of a viewer of a profile of the member to the additional member. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for determining a reputation indicator for a skill of a member of a plurality of members of a social network, the apparatus comprising:
 means for storing one or more profile elements associated with the member of the plurality of members of the social network, the one or more profile elements corresponding to the skill of the member of the plurality of members of the social network, each of the one or more profile elements having a respective plurality of endorsements, each endorsement of the plurality of endorsements being specified by one or more additional members of the plurality of members of the social network; and   means for determining the reputation indicator for the skill of the member of the plurality of members, the determining based on an analysis of the plurality of endorsements.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , the apparatus further comprising:
 means for generating a visualization for display on a profile of the member, the visualization including an icon representing the reputation indicator.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the icon further represents a category of the reputation indication. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the determining further comprises calculating a reputation score based on the analysis of the plurality of endorsements and wherein the icon further represents the reputation score.