User validation in a social network

A computer implemented system for validating a user associated with one or more social networks, comprising:

• a validation platform associated with said one or more social networks, wherein said validation platform comprises:
• a query processing module configured for processing a query about said user, wherein said query is received from a requesting party through an interface of said validation platform, wherein said query comprises a search criteria for identifying said user and a request for validation score of said user, wherein said requested validation score comprises at least one of an evaluation score, a feedback authentication score, a user authentication score, and a composite score;
• said query processing module further configured to receive differential weights from said requesting party for generating said composite score, wherein said received differential weights comprise differential weights for one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score, and wherein sum of one or more of said received differential weights equals 100%;
• a search engine configured for searching said user for said validation from said one or more social networks based on said search criteria;
• a user identification module that identifies said user for said validation from said one or more social networks;
• an information retrieval module that retrieves social information of said identified user from said one or more social networks, wherein said social information comprises relationship information of and between said identified user and social contacts of said identified user on said one or more social networks, wherein said social contacts arc associated with said one or more social networks;
• a feedback acquisition module that receives feedback on said identified user from one or more of said social contacts;
• a score generation module that generates one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score for said identified user based on one or more of said retrieved social information and said received feedback;
• and
• said score generation module that further generates a composite score for said identified user, wherein said composite score is a weighted sum of said evaluation score said feedback authentication score and said user authentication score whereby said generated validation score enables said validation of said user associated with said one or more social networks.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform operations, comprising:

• receiving a query from a requesting party by a validation platform through an interface for validating a user associated with one or more social networks, wherein said query comprises a search criteria for identifying said user and a request for validation score of said user, and wherein said requested validation score comprises at least one of an evaluation score, a feedback authentication score, a user authentication score, and a composite score;
• receiving differential weights from said requesting party by said validation platform for generating said composite score, wherein said received differential weights comprise differential weights for one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score, and wherein sum of one or more of said differential weights equals 100%;
• searching and identifying said user for validation from said one or more social networks based on said search criteria;
• retrieving social information of said identified user from said one or more social networks, wherein said social information comprises relationship information of and between said identified user and social contacts of said identified user on said one or more social networks, wherein said social contacts are associated with said one or more social networks;
• receiving feedback on said identified user from one or more of said social contacts;
• generating one or more of said evaluation score said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score for said identified user by said validation platform based on one or more of said retrieved social information and said received feedback;
• and
• generating a composite score for said identified user by said validation platform, wherein said composite score is a weighted sum of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score and said user authentication score, whereby said generated validation score enables said validation of said user associated with said one or more social networks.

A computer implemented method for validating one or more users associated with one or more social networks, comprising:

• providing, by a processor, a validation platform associated with said one or more social networks, said validation platform implemented on a computer system comprising one or more processors;
• receiving a query from a requesting party by said validation platform through an interface for validating said user, wherein said query comprises a search criteria for identifying said user and a request for validation score of said user, and wherein said requested validation score comprises at least one of an evaluation score, a feedback authentication score, a user authentication score, and a composite score;
• searching and identifying said one or more users for said validation from said one or more social networks by said validation platform based on said search criteria;
• retrieving social information of said identified user from said one or more social networks by said validation platform wherein said social information comprises relationship information of and between said identified one or more users and social contacts of said identified one or more users on said one or more social networks, wherein said social contacts are associated with said one or more social networks;
• receiving feedback on said identified user from one or more of said social contacts by said validation platform, wherein said validation platform selectively maintains anonymity of said received feedback from said one or more social contacts;
• and
• generating said one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score for said identified user by said validation platform based on one or more of said retrieved social information and said received feedback by said validation platform;
• whereby said generated validation score enables said validation of said one or more users associated with said one or more social networks.

A computer implemented method for validating one or more users associated with one or more social networks, comprising:

• providing, by a processor, a validation platform associated with said one or more social networks, said validation platform implemented on a computer system comprising one or more processors;
• receiving a query from a requesting party by said validation platform through an interface for validating said user, wherein said query comprises a search criteria for identifying said user and a request for validation score of said user, and wherein said requested validation score comprises at least one of an evaluation score, a feedback authentication score, a user authentication score;
• searching and identifying said one or more users for said validation from said one or more social networks by said validation platform based on said search criteria;
• retrieving social information of said identified user from said one or more social networks by said validation platform wherein said social information comprises relationship information of and between said identified one or more users and social contacts of said identified one or more users on said one or more social networks, wherein said social contacts are associated with said one or more social networks;
• receiving feedback on said identified user from one or more of said social contacts by said validation platform;
• and
• generating said one or more of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score, and said user authentication score for said identified user by said validation platform based on one or more of said retrieved social information and said received feedback;
• whereby said generated validation score enables said validation of said user associated with said one or more social networks.

A method for generating a score for a validating a user associated with at least a social network, said method comprising:

• receiving, by a processor, at least a query from at least a requesting party for validating a user;
• identifying at least a user for said validation;
• retrieving at least social information of said identified user from said social network;
• acquiring at least feedback from at least a social contact associated with said social network:
• aggregating at least social information of said identified user from at least a social network profile of said identified user;
• generating at least a profile for said identified user based On at least one of said retrieved social information, said acquired feedback, and said generated validation score;
• generating an evaluation score by,
• producing at least a score for quantifying at least acquired feedback based on evaluation of a plurality of attributes of said identified user by one or more social contacts of said user;
• generating a feedback authentication score by,
• producing at least a score for quantifying at least authenticity of said acquired feedback based on at least feedback authentication criteria, wherein said feedback authentication criteria is determined using at least data related to authenticity of relationship between said identified user and said social contacts who provide said feedback;
• generating a user authentication score by,
• producing at least a score for quantifying at least authenticity of said identified user based on at least user authentication criteria, wherein said user authentication criteria is determined using at least data related to at least one of a duration of time that, said identified user is associated with said social network, a level of activity of said identified user in said social network, a number of social contacts of said identified user, a validation score of said social contact of said identified user;
• generating at least an aggregate validation score for said identified user by defining at least an instruction for aggregating at least one of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score and said user authentication score, wherein at least a weighted combination of each of said scores is utilized in generating said composite score for said identified user;
• and
• determining, using said aggregate validation score, a validity of said identified user based at least a threshold validation score by said requesting party.

A system for generating a score for a validating a user associated with at least a social network, said system comprising:

• at least a processor;
• and
• at least a storage medium comprising instructions, wherein said instructions cause said hardware processor to:
• receive at least a query from at least a requesting party for validating a user, by a query processing module;
• identify at least a user for said validation, by a user identification module;
• retrieve at least social information of said identified user from said social network, by an information retrieval module;
• acquire at least feedback from at least a social contact associated with said social network, by a feedback acquisition module;
• aggregate at least social information of said identified user from at least a social network profile of said identified user, by an aggregation module;
• generate at least a profile for said identified user based on at least one of said retrieved social information, said acquired feedback, and said generated validation score, by a profile generation module;
• generate an evaluation score by a score generation module, wherein said score generation module is configured to produce at least an evaluation score for quantifying at least acquired feedback based on evaluation of a plurality of attributes of said identified user by one or more social contacts of said user,
• generate a feedback authentication score by said score generation module, wherein said score generation module is configured to produce at least a feedback authentication score for quantifying at least authenticity of said acquired feedback based on at least feedback authentication criteria, wherein said feedback authentication criteria is determined using at least data related to authenticity of relationship between said identified user and said social contacts who provide said feedback;
• generate a user authentication score by said score generation module, wherein said score generation module is configured to produce at least a user authentication score for quantifying at least authenticity of said identified user based on at least .user authentication criteria. wherein said user authentication criteria is determined using at least data related to at least one of a duration of time that said identified user is associated with said social network, a level of activity of said identified user in said social network, a number of social contacts of said identified user, a validation score of said social contact of said identified user;
• generate at least an aggregate validation score for said identified user by defining at least an instruction for aggregating at least one of said evaluation score, said feedback authentication score and said user authentication score, wherein at least a weighted combination of each of said scores is utilized in generating said composite score for said identified user, by an aggregate score generation module;
• and
• determine, using said aggregate validation score, a validity of said identified user based at least a threshold validation score by said requesting party, by said aggregate score generation module.