Methods and systems for a location-based online social network

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments relate to a system and a method of managing an online social network having a plurality of neighborhoods. The system may receive a location from a user, and select, based on the location, a neighborhood from the plurality of neighborhoods. The system may further assign the user to the selected neighborhood and grant the user access to communications by users assigned to the selected neighborhood.

1 . A computer-implemented method of managing an online social network having a plurality of neighborhoods, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, a location from a user;   selecting, by the processor, based on the location, a neighborhood from the plurality of neighborhoods;   assigning, by the processor, the user to the selected neighborhood;   selecting, by the processor, from the plurality of neighborhoods, a set of one or more neighborhoods, wherein each neighborhood in the selected set is associated with a geographical area proximate to the geographical area associated with the selected neighborhood; and   granting, by the processor, the user access to communications by users assigned to the selected neighborhood and communications by users assigned to neighborhoods within the selected set.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location comprises an address. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein selecting the neighborhood comprises determining which one of the plurality of neighborhoods is associated with a geographical area that includes the address. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected neighborhood is associated with a geographical area that corresponds to one of a city, a town, a ZIP code, and a subdivision. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the total population of the geographical areas associated with the neighborhoods from the selected set is correlated with a population threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the population threshold is calculated based at least on characteristics of the geographical area associated with the selected neighborhood. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein any user assigned to the selected neighborhood is denied access to communications by users assigned to neighborhoods other than the selected neighborhood and other than the neighborhoods in the selected set. 
     
     
         9 . A server for managing an online social network having a plurality of neighborhoods, the server comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions, the instructions executable by the processor to:
 receive a location from a user; 
 select, based on the location, a neighborhood from the plurality of neighborhoods; 
 assign the user to the selected neighborhood; 
 select, from the plurality of neighborhoods, a set of one or more neighborhoods, wherein each neighborhood in the selected set is associated with a geographical area proximate to the geographical area associated with the selected neighborhood; and 
 grant the user access to communications by users assigned to the selected neighborhood and communications by users assigned to neighborhoods within the selected set. 
   
     
     
         10 . The server of  claim 9 , wherein the location comprises an address. 
     
     
         11 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein selecting the neighborhood comprises determining which one of the plurality of neighborhoods is associated with a geographical area that includes the address. 
     
     
         12 . The server of  claim 9 , wherein the selected neighborhood is associated with a geographical area that corresponds to one of a city, a town, a ZIP code, and a subdivision. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The server of  claim 9 , wherein the total population of the geographical areas associated with the neighborhoods from the selected set is correlated with a population threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The application server of  claim 14 , wherein the population threshold is calculated based at least on characteristics of the geographical area associated with the selected neighborhood. 
     
     
         16 . The application server of  claim 9 , wherein any user assigned to the selected neighborhood is denied access to communications by users assigned to neighborhoods other than the selected neighborhood and other than the neighborhoods in the selected set. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of managing an online social network having a plurality of neighborhoods, the method comprising:
 receiving a location from a user;   selecting, based on the location, a neighborhood from the plurality of neighborhoods;   assigning the user to the selected neighborhood;   selecting, from the plurality of neighborhoods, a set of one or more neighborhoods, wherein each neighborhood in the selected set is associated with a geographical area proximate to the geographical area associated with the selected neighborhood; and   granting the user access to communications by users assigned to the selected neighborhood and communications by users assigned to neighborhoods within the selected set.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the location comprises an address. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein selecting the neighborhood comprises determining which one of the plurality of neighborhoods is associated with a geographical area that includes the address. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the selected neighborhood is associated with a geographical area that corresponds to one of a city, a town, a ZIP code, and a subdivision. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the total population of the geographical areas associated with the neighborhoods from the selected set is correlated with a population threshold. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 22 , wherein the population threshold is calculated based at least on characteristics of the geographical area associated with the selected neighborhood. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein any user assigned to the selected neighborhood is denied access to communications by users assigned to neighborhoods other than the selected neighborhood and other than the neighborhoods in the selected set.