# US 8,751,575 B2 · System and method for generating a ghost profile for a social network

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- Number: US 8,751,575 B2
- Document ID: US8751575B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/246,724
- Filed: 2011-09-27
- Published: 2012-03-29
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-27
- Assignees: Google Inc.
- Applicants: Eduardo Jose Tejada-Gamero; Eduardo Thuler; Diego de Assis Monteiro Fernandes; Fernando Antonio Fernandes, Jr.; Bruno Maciel Fonseca
- Inventors: Eduardo Jose Tejada-Gamero; Eduardo Thuler; Diego de Assis Monteiro Fernandes; Fernando Antonio Fernandes, Jr.; Bruno Maciel Fonseca
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751575B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
- G06Q 10/40: Business processes related to social networking or social networking services
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A system and method for generating a ghost profile is disclosed. The ghost profile allows a user to use certain features in a social network without converting to a social network profile. Specifically, the ghost profiles are unsearchable and comments that originate from a ghost profile user are displayed as partial names. The ghost profile is generated when a member of the social network invites a user to join. In one example, the member is automatically added as a friend to the user's ghost profile.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for generating a ghost profile in a social network, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a first member of the social network to invite a user to access the social network;
generating the ghost profile for the user, the ghost profile being unsearchable;
generating an invitation to the user that contains a link to the ghost profile;
assigning a unique identifier to the ghost profile responsive to receiving a confirmation that the user selects the link;
generating a first display of a portion of a username where at least one of the characters in the username is obfuscated so that the user's identity is recognizable by some of the members of the social network that know the user; and
in response to receiving a selection of the portion of the username by the first member of the social network, generating a second display for communicating with the user for the first member, the second display being inaccessible to members of the social network that are unconnected to the user in the social network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein generating the ghost profile includes adding a profile type field to the ghost profile.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning a score of zero to the ghost profile and filtering search results with a zero score,

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising retrieving search results and filtering the ghost profile from the search results.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a reference to the user that is invisible to the members of the social network that are unconnected to the user in the social network.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the ghost profile is visible to the first member and is invisible to the members of the social network that are unconnected to the user in the social network.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising converting the ghost profile to a social network profile.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a friendship between the first member and the user.

### Claim 9

The method of claim. 8, wherein the ghost profile prohibits friendships between the user and the members of the social network that are unconnected to the user in the social network.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the invitation includes a one-time token and the link is accessible for a first click.

### Claim 11

A system for generating a ghost profile in a social network, the system comprising:
one or more processors;
a ghost profile engine stored on a memory and executable by the one or more processors, the ghost profile engine configured to receive a request from a first member of the social network to invite a user to access the social network, to generate the ghost profile for the user, the ghost profile being unsearchable, and to assign a unique identifier to the ghost profile responsive to receiving a confirmation that the user selects a link contained in an invitation;
an invitation engine coupled to the ghost profile engine and stored on the memory and executable by the one or more processors, the invitation engine configured to generate the invitation to the user that contains the link to the ghost profile; and
a graphical user interface module coupled to the ghost profile engine and stored on the memory and executable by the one or more processors, the graphical user interface module configured to generate a first display of a portion of a username where at least one of the characters in the username is obfuscated so that the user's identity is recognizable by some of the members of the social network that know the user, in response to receiving a selection of the portion of the username by the first member of the social network, to generate a second display for communicating with the user for the first member, the second display being inaccessible to members of the social network that are unconnected to the user in the social network.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11 wherein the ghost profile engine generates the ghost profile by adding a profile type field to the ghost profile.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11 further comprising a search engine coupled to the ghost profile engine, the search engine for assigning a score of zero to the ghost profile and for filtering search results with a zero score.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11 further comprising a search engine coupled to the ghost profile engine, the search engine for retrieving search results and filtering the ghost profile from the search results.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11 wherein the ghost profile engine receives a reference to the user that is invisible to the members of the social network that are unconnected to the user in, the social network.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11 wherein the ghost profile is visible to the first member and is invisible to the members of the social network that are unconnected to the user in the social network.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the ghost profile engine converts the ghost profile to a social network profile.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the ghost profile generates a friendship between the first member and the user.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the ghost profile prohibits friendships between the user and the members of the social network that are unconnected to the user in the social network.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the invitation includes a one-time token and the link is accessible for a first click.

### Claim 21

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
receive a request from a first member of a social network to invite a user to access the social network;
generate the ghost profile for the user, the ghost profile being unsearchable;
generate an invitation to the user that contains a link to the ghost profile;
assign a unique identifier to the ghost profile responsive to receiving a confirmation that the user selects the link;
generate a first display of a portion of a username where at least one of the characters in the username is obfuscated so that the user's identity is recognizable by some of the members of the social network that know the user; and
in response to receiving a selection of the portion of the username by the first member of the social network, generate a second display for communicating with the user for the first member, the second display being inaccessible to members of the social network that are unconnected to the user in the social network.