Methods and apparatus for targeting communications using social network metrics

• US 10,135,774 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Lawler, Brian, Loh, Elliot, Martino, Paul J., Pincus, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Acolatse, Kodzovi
• Application Number:
  US15/713,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20180013708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A method for a computer system includes receiving a first user communication, determining a first group of users, determining a target number of users, determining whether the first group of users includes the target number of users, and if not, providing the communication to the first group of users, determining a hierarchal mapping of groups of users in response to user memberships, determining a second group of users from the hierarchal mapping, determining a plurality of social network relationship factors for the second group of users with respect to the first user, and providing the communication to at least a subset of users in the second group of users in response to the first plurality of social network relationship factors.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, on a server providing a user interface presented on a client device, an electronic communication originated by a first user of a social network;

providing, in the user interface, an option to specify criteria for the electronic communication based upon relationships defined in the social network, the option including selecting a maximum social distance in the social network from the first user for receiving the electronic communication, wherein the social distance between two users is a numeric value corresponding to a degree of social separation in the social network between the two users;

receiving, in the user interface from the first user, the criteria for the electronic communication, the criteria indicating the maximum social distance for receiving the electronic communication;

determining which users of the social network are within the maximum social distance from the first user, wherein the maximum social distance is two; and

sending the electronic communication to the users within the maximum social distance, wherein the electronic communication is sent to users directly connected to the first user in the social network and to users directly connected to the users directly connected to the first user in the social network.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the option further includes specifying a geographical location of recipients of the electronic communication, wherein specifying the geographical location includes specifying a city.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining one or more filters for a recipient of the electronic communication;

delivering the electronic communication to the recipient when the one or more filters enable delivery of the electronic communication to the recipient; and

avoiding delivery of the electronic communication to the recipient when the one or more filters do not enable delivery of the electronic communication to the recipient.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the one or more filters for the recipient comprise the maximum social distance between the first user and the recipient.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic communication is not sent to the users having the social distance to the first user greater than the maximum social distance.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing, in the user interface, ability to specify an amount of first user information viewable to other users of the social network based on metrics between the first user and the other users.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the first user is able to specify a social distance for viewing a photo album of the first user by other users.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic communication is presented on a data feed of the social network.

9. A system comprising:

a memory comprising instructions; and

one or more computer processors, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving, on a user interface, an electronic communication originated by a first user of a social network;

providing, in the user interface, an option to specify criteria for the electronic communication based upon relationships defined in the social network;

the option including selecting a maximum social distance in the social network from the first user for receiving the electronic communication, wherein the social distance between two users is a numeric value corresponding to a degree of social separation in the social network between the two users;

receiving, in the user interface from the first user, the criteria for the electronic communication, the criteria indicating the maximum social distance for receiving the electronic communication;

determining which users of the social network are within the maximum social distance from the first user, wherein the maximum social distance is two; and

sending the electronic communication to the users within the maximum social distance, wherein the electronic communication is sent to users directly connected to the first user in the social network and to users directly connected to the users directly connected to the first user in the social network.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the option further includes specifying a geographical location of recipients of the electronic communication, wherein specifying the geographical location includes specifying a city.

11. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising:

determining one or more filters for a recipient of the electronic communication;

delivering the electronic communication to the recipient when the one or more filters enable delivery of the electronic communication to the recipient; and

avoiding delivery of the electronic communication to the recipient when the one or more filters do not enable delivery of the electronic communication to the recipient.

12. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving, on a server providing a user interface presented on a client device, an electronic communication originated by a first user of a social network;

providing, in the user interface, an option to specify criteria for the electronic communication based upon relationships defined in the social network, the option including selecting a maximum social distance in the social network from the first user for receiving the electronic communication, wherein the social distance between two users is a numeric value corresponding to a degree of social separation in the social network between the two users;

receiving, in the user interface from the first user, the criteria for the electronic communication, the criteria indicating the maximum social distance for receiving the electronic communication;

determining which users of the social network are within the maximum social distance from the first user, wherein the maximum social distance is two; and

sending the electronic communication to the users within the maximum social distance, wherein the maximum social distance is two, wherein the electronic communication is sent to users directly connected to the first user in the social network and to users directly connected to the users directly connected to the first user in the social network.

13. The machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the option further includes specifying a geographical location of recipients of the electronic communication, wherein specifying the geographical location includes specifying a city.