The company's patent describes a "system, method and apparatus
for connecting users in an online computer system based on their
relationships within social networks".
Friendster was a pioneer of the booming social networking craze,
but failed to turn a profit and had to be refinanced by existing
investors. Other sites, such as MySpace and Bebo, have had more
recent success in attracting huge numbers of members.
Friendster founder Jonathan Abrams is named as the inventor of
the process. Abrams was replaced as chief executive of the company
by backers, who had initially put $15 million behind the firm.
Following the sale of competitor MySpace to News Corporation for
$500m last autumn, Friendster was widely understood to be for sale.
When no buyer was found at the desired price, investors put more
money behind the company in February of this year.
Friendster president Kent Lindstrom said that more patents would
follow. "This patent is the first of many expected to be awarded to
Friendster over the next several years," said Lindstrom. "[It]
underscores the company's ongoing commitment to innovation in
social networking."
The patent gives a broad description of now commonplace social
networking processes and could be used to hinder the development of
rival firms.
The patent explains:
"…a computer system collects descriptive
data about various individuals and allows those individuals to
indicate other individuals with whom they have a personal
relationship. The descriptive data and the relationship data are
integrated and processed to reveal the series of social
relationships connecting any two individuals within a social
network."
The pathways connecting any two individuals can be displayed.
Further, the social network itself can be displayed to any number
of degrees of separation. A user of the system can determine the
optimal relationship path (i.e., contact pathway) to reach desired
individuals. A communications tool allows individuals in the system
to be introduced (or introduce themselves) and initiate direct
communication."
It is not clear whether or not Friendster will pursue all other
social networking sites using the patent. Lindstrom told Red
Herring magazine that it was too early to say what action it would
take. "We’ll do what we can to protect our intellectual property,"
he said.
