Validating achievements of 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 method for validating an assertion of a target member of a social networking system, the method comprising:
 storing one or more profile elements for the target member, each profile element of the one or more profile elements entered by the target member;   validating at least one profile element of the one or more profile elements with an external, third party source, the at least one profile element selected based on the at least one profile element pertaining to a type of an accomplishment asserted by the target member, wherein the validating of the at least one profile element is performed by one or more computer processors;   receiving a search request, the search request having the target member as a search result; and   generating a display profile of the target member for display, the display profile including a visualization of the validating, the visualization comprising a notation associated with the at least one profile element.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the notation comprises an icon that represents the validating of the at least one profile element. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to a completion of an academic course. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to an achieving of a test score. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to an earning of an academic degree. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to having a membership in an organization. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to at least one of a certification, an honor, an award, a published review, a published article, a published patent, and employer resume verification. 
     
     
         8 . A system for validating an assertion of a target member of a social networking system, 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 for the target member, each profile element of the one or more profile elements entered by the target member;   validate at least one profile element of the one or more profile elements with an external, third party source, the at least one profile element selected based on the at least one profile element pertaining to a type of an accomplishment asserted by the target member;   receive a search request, the search request having the target member as a search result; and   generate a display profile of the target member for display, the display profile including a visualization of the validating, the visualization comprising a notation associated with the at least one profile element.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the notation comprises an icon that represents the validating of the at least one profile element. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to a completion of an academic course. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to an achieving of a test score. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to an earning of an academic degree. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to having a membership in an organization. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to at least one of a certification, an honor, an award, a published review, a published article, a published patent, and employer resume verification. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for validating an assertion of a target member of a social networking system, the apparatus comprising:
 means for storing one or more profile elements for the target member, each profile element of the one or more profile elements entered by the target member;   means for validating at least one profile element of the one or more profile elements with an external, third party source, the at least one profile element selected based on the at least one profile element pertaining to a type of an accomplishment asserted by the target member;   means for receiving a search request, the search request having the target member as a search result; and   means for generating a display profile of the target member for display, the display profile including a visualization of the validating, the visualization comprising a notation associated with the at least one profile element.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the notation comprises an icon that represents the validating of the at least one profile element. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to a completion of an academic course. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to an achievement of a test score. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to earning of an academic degree. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the type of the accomplishment pertains to having a membership in an organization.