1. OpenDSN Revisited: The Open, Distributed Social Networking Protocol By Zach Broderick and Tim Hickey

2. What is OpenDSN? An open, standard, platform independent protocol based on XML and HTTP that allows independent social networks to communicate with each other

3. Background: Explosive growth in social networking over the past few years Facebook, MySpace some of the most visited sites on the internet Why is social networking not integrated into our lives like it has the potential to?

4. Answer: Lack of Standards Standards essential to growth and integration in computer science Think IBM PC, TCP/IP, W3C There is no social networking standard protocol Monolithic entities rule, do not communicate with each other

5. Problems Ownership of information Redundancy Monopolies/Economies of scale

6. Previous Work OpenID Ning Facebook Connect OpenSocial

7. Introducing OpenDSN Communication protocol between independent networks via HTTP/XML Does not impose restrictions on platform, design, or functionality One set of login credentials, single sign on Only have to enter info/upload content once Automatically synced Control over information privacy

8. How does it work? Users join a trusted, heavyweight “Home Network” Lightweight, independent “Satellite Networks” pull information and content from Home Network

9. Home Network Stores, manages, and serves up all personal information and content Can be hosted on own server for maximum privacy Controls access to profile information from Satellite Networks Handles login and authentication

10. Satellite Networks Sign up by specifying URL of Home Network All profile content pulled from Home; nothing stored on Satellite Log in once via Home Network Allows for anyone to easily create their own network and plug in instantly to internet-wide network Eliminates redundancy and protects information

11. The Protocol A standard way for Home and Satellite networks to communicate Tasks include establishing credentials, transferring login and session data, and sending profile information Profile data and content encoded in standard XML

12. Example: Profile Picture Request Satellite asks home network for latest pictures from a members profile Home checks to see which pics Satellite allowed to see, responds with XML At the Beach! 8/14/08 http://homenetwork.com/pic1292

13. Demonstration and Questions