Server for facilitating electronic communication among users in a network including professional acquaintances

A server comprising:

• memory;
• and
• at least one processor to:
• provide at least one web form including at least one field to obtain profile information from a first user, the profile information to include name, email address, location information, academic information, employment information, and family relationship information;
• store, in a database, a profile for the first user based on the profile information from the web form;
• provide at least one webpage including a representation of at least a portion of a social network including representation of acquaintances associated with the first user, and the at least one webpage including representation of a second user that is a second-degree connection of the first user via a third user that is a first-degree connection of the first user, the at least one webpage including a link that may be selected to generate an invitation for the second user to become a first-degree connection of the first user;
• transmit a search result in response to a search query identifying a profile attribute to be searched, the search result including information representative of a fourth user, the search result to identify a degree of connectedness between the fourth user and the first user, the fourth user indirectly connected to the first user;
• and
• enable the first user to invite the fourth user to directly connect with the first user.

A method comprising:

• providing at least one web form including at least one field to obtain profile information from a first user, the profile information to include name, email address, location information, academic information, employment information, and family relationship information;
• storing, in a database, a profile for the first user based on the profile information from the web form;
• providing at least one webpage including a representation of at least a portion of a social network including representation of acquaintances associated with the first user, and the at least one webpage including representation of a second user that is a second-degree connection of the first user via a third user that is a first-degree connection of the first user, the at least one webpage including a link that may be selected to generate an invitation for the second user to become a first-degree connection of the first user;
• transmitting a search result in response to a search query identifying a profile attribute to be searched, the search result including information representative of a fourth user, the search result to identify a degree of connectedness between the fourth user and the first user, the fourth user indirectly connected to the first user;
• and
• enabling the first user to invite the fourth user to directly connect with the first user.