Interactive networking systems

Abstract

A networking system may comprise a web site serviced by a web server assembly. The web site may generally comprise a combination of the following components: a crediting system, a chat bidding system, a performance bidding system, a telephony switching system, a media interaction system, a display system, a photo management system, and a messaging system. An exemplary embodiment of the chat bidding system may comprise a plurality of common user accounts, a queue, and a featured user account. Common users of the common user accounts may pose tasks to the featured user, and may make a pledge for each task. The tasks may be stored in, and sorted by, the queue based on their pledges. A featured user of the featured user account may be presented with a highest ranked task in the queue, and may choose to respond to the task or to skip the task.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority and the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60 / 974,723, filed Sep. 24, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60 / 059,444, filed Jun. 6, 2008. The disclosures of both of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth below.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]Various aspect of the present invention relate to social and professional networking and, more particularly, to interactive networking systems for enabling interaction between one or more classes of users.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Conventional social and professional networking systems enable users to interact with one another via various networking protocols. These systems provide a variety of services, but they generally lack the ability to classify a user's network of contacts to provide varying levels of communication capabilities among different levels of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029]If included, a display system may enable color and theme changes of the web site as viewed by a web client. Based on a user request, a color scheme and theme of the web site may be altered in response to a user request.

[0030]The photo management system, if included in the web site, may enable users of the web site to manage and edit digital images stored on the server assembly. The photo management system may comprise an image library and an image editor. The image library may contain images selected or created by a particular user, and the image editor may enable the user to edit images in the image library.

Problems solved by technology

These systems provide a variety of services, but they generally lack the ability to classify a user's network of contacts to provide varying levels of communication capabilities among different levels of users.

Such conventional systems are also not designed for serving as social or professional networking and communications platforms where certain individuals are highly sought after communication partners.

For example, while celebrities are able to register and utilize conventional networking systems to communicate directly with their friends and acquaintances, celebrities do not currently have the ability to selectively allow communications from their fans.

These conventional systems are also generally limited in how they allow various users to communicate.

For example, conventional systems generally limit inter-user communications to chat rooms, message boards, and / or private email messages.

Images