Relationship networks having link quality metrics with inference and concomitant digital value exchange

A computer network for operating a digital social relationship network, comprising:

• a plurality of client computers connected to a social network server computer, each of the client computers being programmed:
• to receive from the social network server computer an interactive presentation of a user-viewable display of a social network of individuals or groups and social relationships between the individuals or groups;
• to send to the network server computer input from the user of the client computer selecting, from the user-viewable display of the social network and the social relationships, at least one of the social relationships between individuals or groups other than the user, the social network server computer storing a digital social network representation corresponding to a graph having nodes representing the individuals or groups and links representing the actual social relationships between the individuals or groups, the digital social network representation having embedded relationship-dependent information corresponding to a plurality of links of the graph;
• and
• to receive from the network server computer a social relationship profile comprising a user-viewable display of the relationship-dependent information corresponding to the social relationship selected by the user of the client computer,
• wherein the relationship-dependent information of the social relationship profile comprises postings entered into the social relationship profile by at least one of the individuals or groups participating in the social relationship corresponding to the social relationship profile, a user-viewable display of the postings being viewable by the user of the client computer through the presentation of the social-relationship profile to the user.

A method of operating a client computer connected to a digital social relationship network, comprising the steps of:

• interactively presenting to a user of the client computer a user-viewable display of a social network of individuals or groups and actual social relationships between the individuals or groups, the client computer being connected to a social network server computer that stores a digital social network representation corresponding to a graph having nodes representing the individuals or groups and links representing the actual social relationships between the individuals or groups, the digital social network representation having embedded relationship-dependent information corresponding to a plurality of links of the graph;
• and
• sending, to the social network server computer, input from the user of the client computer selecting, from the user-viewable display of the social network and the social relationships, at least one of the social relationships between individuals or groups other than the user;
• presenting to the user of the client computer a user-viewable social relationship profile, specific to the social relationship selected by the user, comprising a user-viewable display of the relationship-dependent information corresponding to the social relationship selected by the user of the client computer;
• and
• facilitating, using the network server computer, exchange of digital value to the user of the client computer, or a group to which the user of the client computer belongs, based on the relationship-dependent information embedded in the digital social network representation stored in the social network server computer.

A method of operating a digital social relationship network, comprising the steps of:

• storing in a social network server computer a digital social network representation corresponding to a graph having nodes representing individuals or groups and links representing actual social relationships between the individuals or groups;
• obtaining relationship-dependent information corresponding to a plurality of links of the graph, the step of obtaining relationship-dependent information including performing automated inference of link quality metrics for the plurality of links of the graph;
• embedding the relationship-dependent information in the digital social network representation stored in the social network server computer;
• receiving, at the social network server computer, input, from a user of a client computer connected to the social network server computer, selecting at least one of the social relationships between individuals or groups;
• and
• presenting to the user of the client computer a user-viewable social relationship profile, specific to the social relationship selected by the user, comprising a user-viewable display of at least some of the relationship-dependent information corresponding to the social relationship selected by the user of the client computer, the user-viewable display being dependent on a value of the link quality metric automatically inferred for the link corresponding to the social relationship selected by the user.

A method of operating a digital social relationship network, comprising the steps of:

• storing in a social network server computer a digital social network representation corresponding to a graph having nodes representing individuals or groups and links representing actual social relationships between the individuals or groups, the links of the graph including links representing social relationships between a user of a client computer connected to the network server computer, or a group to which the user of the client computer belongs, and other individuals or groups;
• obtaining relationship-dependent information corresponding to a plurality of links of the graph;
• embedding the relationship-dependent information in the digital social network representation stored in the social network server computer;
• receiving, at the social network server computer, input from the user of the client computer selecting at least one of the social relationships between individuals or groups;
• and
• presenting to the user of the client computer a user-viewable social relationship profile, specific to the social relationship selected by the user, comprising a user-viewable display of at least some of the relationship-dependent information corresponding to the social relationship selected by the user of the client computer;
• and
• facilitating, using the network server computer, exchange of digital value to the user of the client computer, or a group to which the user of the client computer belongs, based on the relationship-dependent information embedded in the digital social network representation stored in the social network server computer.

A method of operating a digital social relationship network, comprising the steps of:

• storing in a social network server computer a digital social network representation corresponding to a graph having nodes representing individuals or groups and links representing actual social relationships between the individuals or groups, the links of the graph including links representing social relationships between a user of a client computer connected to the network server computer, or a group to which the user of the client computer belongs, and other individuals or groups;
• obtaining relationship-dependent information corresponding to a plurality of links of the graph, the step of obtaining relationship-dependent information including performing automated inference of link quality metrics for the plurality of links of the graph;
• embedding the relationship-dependent information in the digital social network representation stored in the social network server computer;
• receiving, at the social network server computer, input from the user of the client computer selecting at least one of the social relationships between individuals or groups;
• presenting to the user of the client computer a user-viewable social relationship profile, specific to the social relationship selected by the user, comprising a user-viewable display of at least some of the relationship-dependent information corresponding to the social relationship selected by the user of the client computer;
• and
• facilitating, using the network server computer, exchange of digital value to the user of the client computer, or a group to which the user of the client computer belongs, based on a value of a link quality metric automatically inferred in connection with the digital social network representation stored in the social network server computer.

A social network server computer for operating a digital social relationship network, the social network server computer being programmed:

• to store in the social network server computer a digital social network representation corresponding to a graph having nodes representing individuals or groups and links representing actual social relationships between the individuals or groups, the links of the graph including links representing social relationships between a user of a client computer connected to the network server computer, or a group to which the user of the client computer belongs, and other individuals or groups;
• to obtain relationship-dependent information corresponding to a plurality of links of the graph, the step of obtaining relationship-dependent information including performing automated inference of link quality metrics for the plurality of links of the graph;
• to embed the relationship-dependent information in the digital social network representation stored in the social network server computer;
• to receive, at the social network server computer, input from the user of the client computer selecting at least one of the social relationships between individuals or groups;
• to present to the user of the client computer a user-viewable social relationship profile, specific to the social relationship selected by the user, comprising a user-viewable display of at least some of the relationship-dependent information corresponding to the social relationship selected by the user of the client computer;
• and
• to facilitate, using the network server computer, exchange of digital value to the user of the client computer, or a group to which the user of the client computer belongs, based on a value of a link quality metric automatically inferred in connection with the digital social network representation stored in the social network server computer.