The patent titled “Communicating Information in a Social Network System about Activities from Another Domain” was filed by Facebook Feb 8 2011.
here is the Abstract:
Abstract In one embodiment, a method is described for tracking information about the activities of users of a social networking system while on another domain. The method includes maintaining a profile for each of one or more users of the social networking system, each profile identifying a connection to one or more other users of the social networking system and including information about the user. The method additionally includes receiving one or more communications from a third-party website having a different domain than the social network system, each message communicating an action taken by a user of the social networking system on the third-party website. The method additionally includes logging the actions taken on the third-party website in the social networking system, each logged action including information about the action. The method further includes correlating the logged actions with one or more advertisements presented to the one or more users on the third-party website as well as correlating the logged actions with a user of the social networking system.
kind of interesting since Facebook claims they have no interest in tracking users when they are logged off.
here is the link for your viewing pleasure:
it is very clear as the intentions of the Patent if you read here:
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to social network systems and other websites in which users can form connections with other users, and in particular, to tracking activities of users of social network systems on other domains to, for example, analyze, target, or gauge the effectiveness of advertisements (ads) rendered in conjunction with social network systems.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Social networks, or social utilities that track and enable connections between users (including people, businesses, and other entities), have become prevalent in recent years. In particular, social network systems allow users to communicate information more efficiently. For example, a user may post contact information, background information, job information, hobbies, and/or other user-specific data to a location associated with the user on a social network system. Other users can then review the posted data by browsing user profiles or searching for profiles including specific data. The social network systems also allow users to associate themselves with other users, thus creating a web of connections among the users of the social network system. These connections among the users can be exploited by the website to offer more relevant information to each user in view of the users’ own stated interests in their connections.
[0004] Social network systems typically incorporate a system for connecting users to content that is most likely to be relevant to each user. For example, users may be grouped according to one or more common attributes in their profiles, such as geographic location, employer, job type, age, music preferences, interests, or other attributes. Users of the social network system or external parties can then use these groups to customize or target information delivery so that information that might be of particular interest to a group can be communicated to that group. Advertisers have attempted to leverage this information about users, targeting their ads to users whose interests best align with the ads.
not very good news for facebook.