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: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 recording a plurality of activities performed by a member of a plurality of members of a social networking system;   categorizing each of the plurality of activities into at least one of a plurality of categories, the plurality of categories including at least two of an influence category, a reputation category, a responsiveness category, and a profile completeness category;   assigning a plurality of weights to the plurality of categories;   determining an aggregate score for an activity indicator for the member of the plurality of members of the social networking system based on the recording, categorizing, and assigning, wherein the determining of the aggregate score is performed by a processor; and   generating the activity indicator for presentation to an additional member of the plurality of members of the social networking system, the activity indicator representing the aggregate score.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of activities relates to a plurality of factors, the factors including:
 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. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors configured to:   record a plurality of activities performed by a member of a plurality of members of a social networking system;   categorize each of the plurality of activities into at least one of a plurality of categories, the plurality of categories including at least two of an influence category, a reputation category, a responsiveness category, and a profile completeness category;   determine an aggregate score for an activity indicator for the member of the plurality of members of the social networking system based on the recording, categorizing, and assigning; and   generate the activity indicator for presentation to an additional member of the plurality of members of the social networking system, the activity indicator representing the aggregate score.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of activities relates to a plurality of factors, the factors including:
 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. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for recording a plurality of activities performed by a member of a plurality of members of a social networking system;   means for categorizing each of the plurality of activities into at least one of a plurality of categories, the plurality of categories including at least two of an influence category, a reputation category, a responsiveness category, and a profile completeness category;   means for assigning a plurality of weights to the plurality of categories;   means for determining an aggregate score for an activity indicator for the member of the plurality of members of the social network based on the recording, categorizing, and assigning; and   means for generating the activity indicator for presentation to an additional member of the plurality of members of the social networking system, the activity indicator representing the aggregate score.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of activities relates a plurality of 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. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activity indicator is one of a plurality of reputation indicators used to visually represent a reputation of the member with respect to the social networking system. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the activity indicator includes a plurality of activity subindicators, the plurality of subindicators corresponding to the plurality of factors, respectively.