Facebook, LinkedIn and Linket

27 Dec Facebook, LinkedIn and Linket

The US PTO will grant Linket’s founder a patent for a social network of linket users. Currently the invention is a patent pending. It will issue as a patent by the end of February 2020. The value of a social network is well known, given the success of Facebook and LinkedIn. The patent shows how a social network can be made from the use of linkets. This data could be used by a larger social network to improve its efficacy in describing the behavior of users with mobile apps.

The patent describes in part how users of a linket can review the linket. The reviews are held at the Linket Registry.  Suppose the owner of the linket, Jane, is proficient in teaching music. Her students can write reviews and give a rating. An average rating can be found, as a measure of how good a tutor Jane is.

Reviewers can disclose information about themselves, like a nickname, an email address and what city or country they are in, to give their remarks more credence.

If Jane sells her linket to another tutor, then a new rating is automatically found from reviews made after the ownership changed. There is a clear demarcation of how reviews and ratings are a function of linket ownership.

Why this matters

Linket’s verified social network is qualitatively different from Facebook or LinkedIn. Theirs are based on what YOU SAY. Linket is based on what YOU DO. Suppose Tara says on LinkedIn that she went to Harvard. Or Ralph says on Facebook he was a manager at Sysco. These are not verified. LinkedIn and Facebook do not verify educational or employment history.

See the figure above. Dinesh is a student of Jane. He clicks [Jane Music Lessons] to install and run the app muse5.  The clicking of the linket is gotten by the Registry. Only those who do so can write reviews of her. Also, suppose he takes several lessons from her. Each time, he clicks her linket. This gives a history recorded in the Registry.

This data can be integrated into LinkedIn or Facebook. Imagine Dinesh having a LinkedIn page. He writes that he learnt music history from Jane, who also has a LinkedIn page. This can be designated as verified by Linket. He can also say that he used the app muse5, and this is also verified. Such verified statements can give his resume more credibility. LinkedIn can charge him for this premium service.

Now consider the owner of a linket. Below shows John Doe. He is a gig worker who drives for a ride sharing firm. He also tutors math, using his  [Math Tutor].  He puts these into a verified section of his resume. His linkets are clickable, whether in a webpage or mobile app. If a student clicks [Math Tutor], then John can start earning money right away thru an app.  The student pays the app, which takes a commission and passes the rest to him.

LinkedIn is currently set up for traditional full time white collar jobs. It is not geared towards part time gigs. And even for those, there is no means to immediately earn money. If Linket’s tech is used, LinkedIn extends its scope significantly.

18 March 2020:     Yes, we got the patent! Published by the PTO on 18 February 2020.