USER CREATED TAGS FOR ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING
The present invention provides a social networking system and method by which customized tags can be created by a registered user in an online social networking environment and distributed to facilitate social networking. The tags represent personal characteristics and preferences associated with users of the online social networking environment. A graphical user interface (GUI) is provided in the online social networking website that enables a specific user to create and customize tags. Tags can be embeddable in that a user can insert the tag in a website GUI for display. Also, tags may have embedded content, e.g. a photo, a song, a profile page location, etc and may be sponsored or traded in the social networking website. Also a skin that shows the personal profile page GUI style may be customized, sponsored, or traded.
1 . A method, comprising:
establishing an online networking environment to enable a plurality of users to engage in an online networking activity;
providing, by a server, a user interface in the online networking environment to enable a first user of the networking activity to:
select a first tag to convey to a second user, the first tag representing a trait of the second user as attributed by the first user.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, the first tag is provided to the second user to enable the second user to add the first tag to a tag collection.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first tag is displayed in a profile page associated with the second user subsequent to the second user accepting the first tag.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user selects the first tag from a first tag repository, wherein the first tag repository includes a plurality of tags maintained by an operator of the online networking environment.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
establishing a profile page for each user of the online networking environment, the profile page enabling each user to display tags received from other users.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user selects the first tag from a second tag repository.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the second tag repository includes a plurality of tags associated with the first user; wherein the second tag repository further includes customized tags created by the first user.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the second tag repository further includes tags conveyed to the first user by other users of the online networking environment.
9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein in the first tag repository, the plurality of tags are created by the operator.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first tag repository includes tags contributed by users of the online networking environment.
11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the second tag repository includes sponsored tags, wherein, each sponsored tag is contributed by a specific sponsor for marketing a product or service.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first tag is created dynamically by the first user.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, operating a tag market in association with the online networking environment,
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the tag market enables the first user to sell a specific tag to:
a third user of the social networking game, enabling the third user to add the specific tag to a tag repository associated with the third user.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the tag market enables the first user to sell a specific tag to:
an operator of the online networking environment, enabling the operator to add the specific tag to a tag repository associated with the online networking environment.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user conveys the first tag as a gifted tag.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first user conveys the gifted tag as a traded tag in return for a particular tag stored in a tag repository associated with another user.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first tag includes one or more of:
a graphic image; an animated graphic image; an embedded audio media; an embedded video media; an embedded hyperlink; or an embedded executable application.
19 . A system, comprising:
means for, establishing an online networking environment to enable a plurality of users to engage in an online networking activity;
means for, providing, by a server, a user interface in the online networking environment to enable a first user of the networking activity to convey a tag to a second user,
wherein, the tag includes embedded content.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the tag includes a graphic image.
21 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the tag includes an animated graphic image.
22 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the tag includes embedded audio media;
23 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the tag includes embedded video media.
24 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the tag includes an embedded hyperlink.
25 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the tag includes an embedded executable application.
26 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising, means for, depicting the tag in a tag library responsive to receiving a request from the user.
27 . The system of claim 19 , wherein, tag includes tag options including a recipient list.
28 . The system of claim 19 , wherein, tag includes tag parameters defined by the first user.
29 . A method for using a tag in an online networking environment, comprising:
identifying a tag parameter associated the tag;
wherein, the tag parameter indicates an association with a user;
storing the tag in the online networking environment as being associated with the user for future use by the user.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the tag includes options for association with a recipient list or buddy list of the user.
31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the tag includes options for external distribution by the user.
32 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the tag is depicted among a library of tags in a graphical user interface of the online networking environment and selected by the user from the library of tags.
33 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the library of tags includes tags that are predefined.
34 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the library of tags includes tags predefined by an operator of the online networking environment.
35 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the library of tags include tags customized by users in the online networking environment.
36 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter is defined by a user.
37 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter includes a name.
38 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter includes a graphic icon.
39 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter includes embedded content.
40 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter includes a business card.
41 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter includes additional tags.
42 . The method of claim 29 , wherein, the tag parameter specifies a category.
43 . A method for managing a tag in an online networking environment, comprising:
depicting, in a user interface, tags for a user to browse or select;
wherein, the tags include tag parameters defined and stored as associated with the user;
wherein, the user interface further enables the user to create customized tags;
wherein, tag parameters associated with the customized tags are definable by the user.
44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include options to be associated with a recipient list or a buddy list.
45 . The method of claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags indicate personal preferences or characteristics of the user.
46 . The method of claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include an embedded photo.
47 . The method of claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include an embedded song.
48 . The method of claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include an expression of feelings.
49 . The method of claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include executable instructions.
50 . The method of claim 43 , wherein, the customized tags include a link to a profile page.
51 . A system for using a tag in an online networking environment, comprising:
means for, identifying a tag parameter associated the tag;
wherein, the tag parameter indicates an association with a user;
means for, storing the tag in the online networking environment as being associated with the user for use by the user;
wherein, the tag includes embedded content which includes an expression of feelings of the user.
52 . A method for using a tag in an online networking environment, comprising:
means for, identifying a tag parameter associated the tag;
wherein, the tag parameter indicates an association with a user;
means for, storing the tag in the online networking environment as being associated with the user for use by the user;
wherein, the tag includes executable instructions to see a photo, play a song, or to go to a profile page.
53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein, the executable instructions are executable to play a movie or to chat.