In a filing made public today, Microsoft is seeking a patent for something it calls "One-Way Public Relationships" in social networks and other online properties.

Even though you've probably never heard or used that phrase, chances are you're involved in many of these types of relationships already. That's because it's more commonly known as being a "fan" of something online.

Here's an excerpt from the abstract.

In an implementation, a control is exposed that is operable to become a fan of an object within a social networking page. Responsive to operation of the control, data may be stored to establish a one-way public relationship between a user and the selected object. By establishing a one-way public relationship rather than a mutual friend relationship, the object and/or a corresponding owner of the object is not included in the user's social network and is not provided access to the user's profile, status, or other personal information. The one-way public relationship may be employed by a service provider to serve content related to the object to the user. The one-way public relationships may also be employed by the service provider to push status updates regarding the object to "fans" of the object.

Further down, the patent application goes into more detail, citing the example of a fictional user becoming a fan of his favorite band.

When Steve clicks on the "Add" button, a relation module operates to establish a social networking relationship between Steve and "U2". In at least some embodiments, the control is operable by a single-click to establish a one-way public relationship between Steve and "U2". For instance, a one-way public relationship may be established using accounts with the service provider corresponding to Steve and/or "U2". Based on this relationship, Steve may be able to post on "U2's" profile page, and obtain content and/or status updates related to "U2" based on the one-way public relationship. The one-way public relationship may also be employed by the service provider to serve content and/or ads related to "U2" to Steve's account across various services. The one-way public relationship may further be employed by the service provider to push status updates for "U2" to Steve's account. A mutual friend relationship is not established between Steve and "U2" in this instance. Accordingly, "U2" is not provided reciprocal access to Steve's social network and related information and is not added to Steve's contacts.

Unless there's some innovative nuance hidden in the text of the application, it seems like Microsoft could face an uphill climb in its quest for a patent on this one.

The application, made public today, was originally filed in July 2009. Facebook first established its fan pages back in November 2007. The "Like" button has since replaced the "Become a Fan" mechanism, but the basic concept is the same, working essentially as described in the Microsoft patent application.

Microsoft is a partner with and minority investor in Facebook, but the social network isn't named in the patent application.

Previously: Dating help from Microsoft: Find your match with a picture