Relationships

There are two sets of relationships that are defined in OpenSocial: VIEWER_FRIENDS and OWNER_FRIENDS. In the case of accessing another user's profile, a VIEWER_FRIENDS request will return the set of users that are friends with you, while a OWNER_FRIENDS request will return the set of users that are friends with your coworker. If you're viewing your own profile, VIEWER_FRIENDS and OWNER_FRIENDS will be the same set of users. The OpenSocial specification makes no assumptions about the relationship between VIEWER and OWNER.

Note that the OpenSocial specification does not distinguish personal relationships. The VIEWER and OWNER could be friends, but if you're looking at a stranger's profile, there's no relationship between the VIEWER and the OWNER. Here are types of personal relationships that may be supported in social applications:

• A one-way relationship from one person to another person that is not reciprocated.

• A two-way relationship from one person to another that is reciprocated.

• A mutual relationship where two parties have agreed on some shared item of information about the relationship (work for the same manager).

The standard OpenSocial specifications do not support the process of requesting and negotiating some form of social relationship with another user. The SocialSite software provides extensions that manage personal relationships (see People and Friends Extensions).

In addition, the standard OpenSocial specifications do not support any group creation, management or invitation capabilities. The SocialSite software provides extensions to create and manage groups (see Group Management Extensions).