User created tags for online social networking

Abstract

The present invention provides a social networking system and method by which customized tags can be created by a registered user in an online social networking environment and distributed to facilitate social networking. The tags represent personal characteristics and preferences associated with users of the online social networking environment. A graphical user interface (GUI) is provided in the online social networking website that enables a specific user to create and customize tags. Tags can be embeddable in that a user can insert the tag in a website GUI for display. Also, tags may have embedded content, e.g. a photo, a song, a profile page location, etc and may be sponsored or traded in the social networking website. Also a skin that shows the personal profile page GUI style may be customized, sponsored, or traded.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 establishing an online networking environment to enable a plurality of users to engage in an online networking activity;   providing, by a server, a user interface in the online networking environment to enable a first user of the networking activity to:   select a first tag to convey to a second user, the first tag representing a trait of the second user as attributed by the first user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, the first tag is provided to the second user to enable the second user to add the first tag to a tag collection. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first tag is displayed in a profile page associated with the second user subsequent to the second user accepting the first tag. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user selects the first tag from a first tag repository, wherein the first tag repository includes a plurality of tags maintained by an operator of the online networking environment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing a profile page for each user of the online networking environment, the profile page enabling each user to display tags received from other users.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user selects the first tag from a second tag repository. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second tag repository includes a plurality of tags associated with the first user; wherein the second tag repository further includes customized tags created by the first user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second tag repository further includes tags conveyed to the first user by other users of the online networking environment. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein in the first tag repository, the plurality of tags are created by the operator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first tag repository includes tags contributed by users of the online networking environment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second tag repository includes sponsored tags, wherein, each sponsored tag is contributed by a specific sponsor for marketing a product or service. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first tag is created dynamically by the first user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, operating a tag market in association with the online networking environment, 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the tag market enables the first user to sell a specific tag to:
 a third user of the social networking game, enabling the third user to add the specific tag to a tag repository associated with the third user.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the tag market enables the first user to sell a specific tag to:
 an operator of the online networking environment, enabling the operator to add the specific tag to a tag repository associated with the online networking environment.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user conveys the first tag as a gifted tag. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first user conveys the gifted tag as a traded tag in return for a particular tag stored in a tag repository associated with another user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first tag includes one or more of:
 a graphic image; an animated graphic image; an embedded audio media; an embedded video media; an embedded hyperlink; or an embedded executable application.   
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 means for, establishing an online networking environment to enable a plurality of users to engage in an online networking activity;   means for, providing, by a server, a user interface in the online networking environment to enable a first user of the networking activity to convey a tag to a second user,   wherein, the tag includes embedded content.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the tag includes a graphic image. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the tag includes an animated graphic image. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the tag includes embedded audio media; 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the tag includes embedded video media. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the tag includes an embedded hyperlink. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the tag includes an embedded executable application. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising, means for, depicting the tag in a tag library responsive to receiving a request from the user. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein, tag includes tag options including a recipient list. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein, tag includes tag parameters defined by the first user. 
     
     
         29 . A method for using a tag in an online networking environment, comprising:
 identifying a tag parameter associated the tag;   wherein, the tag parameter indicates an association with a user;   storing the tag in the online networking environment as being associated with the user for future use by the user.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the tag includes options for association with a recipient list or buddy list of the user. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the tag includes options for external distribution by the user. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the tag is depicted among a library of tags in a graphical user interface of the online networking environment and selected by the user from the library of tags. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the library of tags includes tags that are predefined. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the library of tags includes tags predefined by an operator of the online networking environment. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the library of tags include tags customized by users in the online networking environment. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter is defined by a user. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter includes a name. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter includes a graphic icon. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter includes embedded content. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter includes a business card. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter includes additional tags. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter specifies a category. 
     
     
         43 . A method for managing a tag in an online networking environment, comprising:
 depicting, in a user interface, tags for a user to browse or select;   wherein, the tags include tag parameters defined and stored as associated with the user;   wherein, the user interface further enables the user to create customized tags;   wherein, tag parameters associated with the customized tags are definable by the user.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include options to be associated with a recipient list or a buddy list. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags indicate personal preferences or characteristics of the user. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include an embedded photo. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include an embedded song. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include an expression of feelings. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include executable instructions. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include a link to a profile page. 
     
     
         51 . A system for using a tag in an online networking environment, comprising:
 means for, identifying a tag parameter associated the tag;   wherein, the tag parameter indicates an association with a user;   means for, storing the tag in the online networking environment as being associated with the user for use by the user;   wherein, the tag includes embedded content which includes an expression of feelings of the user.   
     
     
         52 . A method for using a tag in an online networking environment, comprising:
 means for, identifying a tag parameter associated the tag;   wherein, the tag parameter indicates an association with a user;   means for, storing the tag in the online networking environment as being associated with the user for use by the user;   wherein, the tag includes executable instructions to see a photo, play a song, or to go to a profile page.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein, the executable instructions are executable to play a movie or to chat.