Dynamic social network relationship determination method and apparatus

A method for dynamically determining social relationships within a social networking system including a database system, a graphing system, and a server system, the method comprising:

• computing, within the graphing system at a user session initiation for a first user, a social map for the first user based at least in part on a plurality of social network relationships for a plurality of users maintained in the database system;
• storing, within computer memory within the graphing system, a copy of the social map for the first user;
• monitoring, within the server system during the user session, activities related to the social network to identify actions affecting the social map for the first user;
• and
• triggering, in response to identification of an action affecting the social map for the first user during the user session, generation of a revised social map for the first user within the graphing system.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed within a social networking system including a database system, a graphing system, and a server system, cause the social network system to perform operations comprising:

• computing, within the graphing system at a user session initiation for a first user, a social map for the first user based at least in part on a plurality of social network relationships for a plurality of users maintained in the database system;
• storing, within computer memory within the graphing system, a copy of the social map for the first user;
• monitoring, within the server system during the user session, activities related to the social network to identify actions affecting the social map for the first user;
• and
• triggering, in response to identification of an action affecting the social map for the first user and during the user session, generation of a revised social map for the first user within the graphing system.