Generating network activity indicators for users of a social network

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 computer-implemented method for generating an activity indicator in a social network, the method comprising:
 storing one or more activity records, each of the one or more activity records being associated with an activity performed with respect to the social network by a member of a plurality of members of the social network;   determining a score to associate with an activity indicator to be associated with the member of the plurality of members of the social network, the activity indicator representing a summary of the activities specified in the one or more activity records, wherein the determining of the score is performed by a processor; and   generating the activity indicator based on the score, the activity indicator to be provided to an additional member of the plurality of members of the social network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the score is based on at least two the following factors:
 evidence of selectivity of connections of the member in accepting connections,   frequency of one or more of accepting, declining, and ignoring requests,   factors indicating one of completeness and currentness of profile elements associated with the member,   length of description of profile elements associated with the member,   number of positions in the profile elements associated with the member,   education information in profile elements associated with the member,   number of members who have removed connections to the member, and   number of one of investigations and complaints against the member.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the score is based on at least two of the following factors:
 frequency with which the member is invited to establish a connection with another member,   adjusted percentage of invitations accepted by the member,   frequency with which the member receives requests from other members of the social network,   number of times a profile of the member is viewed in a time period,   frequency with which the member is asked to forward a request, and   frequency with which the member is asked to forward requests when there are multiple paths to a target of the requests.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the determining of the score is based on reports of the member sending unsolicited messages to other members of the social network, the unsolicited message sent outside the social network, the member having found the second member using the social network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the score is based on reports of the member performing a high volume of searches on the social network with minimal other activities. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the score is based on the reports of the member performing a high volume of activities relative to other members. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activity indicator is one of a plurality of reputation indicators of the member, each of which is to be provided to the additional member of the plurality of members of the social network to aid the additional members of the plurality of members to make a decision with regard to the member. 
     
     
         8 . A system for generating an activity indicator in 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 activity records, each of the one or more activity records being associated with an activity performed with respect to the social network by a member of a plurality of members of the social network;   determine a score to associate with an activity indicator to be associated with the member of the plurality of members of the social network, the activity indicator representing a summary of the activities specified in the one or more activity records; and   generate the activity indicator based on the score, the activity indicator to be provided to an additional member of the plurality of members of the social network.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the determining of the score is based on at least two the following factors:
 evidence of selectivity of connections of the member in accepting connections,   frequency of one or more of accepting, declining, and ignoring requests,   factors indicating one of completeness and currentness of profile elements associated with the member,   length of description of profile elements associated with the member,   number of positions in the profile elements associated with the member,   education information in profile elements associated with the member,   number of members who have removed connections to the member, and   number of one of investigations and complaints against the member.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the determining of the score is based on at least two of the following factors:
 frequency with which the member is invited to establish a connection with another member,   adjusted percentage of invitations accepted by the member,   frequency with which the member receives requests from other members of the social network,   number of times a profile of the member is viewed in a time period,   frequency with which the member is asked to forward a request, and   frequency with which the member is asked to forward requests when there are multiple paths to a target of the requests.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the determining of the score is based on reports of the member sending unsolicited messages to other members of the social network, the unsolicited message sent outside the social network, the member having found the second member using the social network. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the determining of the score is based on reports of the member performing a high volume of searches on the social network with minimal other activities. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the determining of the score is based on the reports of the member performing a high volume of activities relative to other members. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the activity indicator is one of a plurality of reputation indicators of the member, each of which is to be provided to the additional member of the plurality of members of the social network to aid the additional members of the plurality of members to make a decision with regard to the member. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for generating an activity indicator in a social network, the apparatus comprising:
 means for storing one or more activity records, each of the one or more activity records being associated with an activity performed with respect to the social network by a member of a plurality of members of the social network;   means for determining a score to associate with an activity indicator to be associated with the member of the plurality of members of the social network, the activity indicator representing a summary of the activities specified in the one or more activity records; and   means for generating the activity indicator based on the score, the activity indicator to be provided to an additional member of the plurality of members of the social network.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the determining of the score is based on at least two the following factors:
 evidence of selectivity of connections of the member in accepting connections,   frequency of one or more of accepting, declining, and ignoring requests,   factors indicating one of completeness and currentness of profile elements associated with the member,   length of description of profile elements associated with the member,   number of positions in the profile elements associated with the member,   education information in profile elements associated with the member,   number of members who have removed connections to the member, and   number of one of investigations and complaints against the member.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the determining of the score is based on at least two of the following factors:
 frequency with which the member is invited to establish a connection with another member,   adjusted percentage of invitations accepted by the member,   frequency with which the member receives requests from other members of the social network,   number of times a profile of the member is viewed in a time period,   frequency with which the member is asked to forward a request, and   frequency with which the member is asked to forward requests when there are multiple paths to a target of the requests.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the determining of the score is based on reports of the member sending unsolicited messages to other members of the social network, the unsolicited message sent outside the social network, the member having found the second member using the social network. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the determining of the score is based on reports of the member performing a high volume of searches on the social network with minimal other activities. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the determining of the score is based on the reports of the member performing a high volume of activities relative to other members.