Displaying strengths of social relationships between a user and other people

• US 20040122681A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schirmer, Andrew L., Ruvolo, Joann, Zeller, Marijane M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

The invention provides method of displaying strengths of social relationships between users of a computerized network. The invention evaluates network information, such as network communications, between one user of the network and other users of the network to produce metrics. The invention then normalizes the metrics from the perspective of the viewing user to produce relationship values representing strengths of social relationships between the viewing user and the other users. The invention classifies the relationship values into different groups, and optionally assigns context commands to each of the groups. The invention places each of the other users in one of the groups (according to their relationship value) and then displays a listing of the other users and their associated group identifications. The invention can assign different indicators to each of the groups, wherein the display links corresponding indicators to each of the other users to graphically identify the group in which each of the other users was placed. The display can utilizes numbers, characters, sizes, fonts, character sets, icons, graphic features, colors, motions, speeds, and/or directions to graphically distinguish and identify the group in which each of the other users was placed. The displaying is primarily directed to and for use by the viewing user, but other users can use the invention to study relationships of a particular individual.

Claims

1. A method of displaying strengths of social relationships between users of a computerized network, said method comprising:

evaluating network information and network communications between a first user of said network and other users of said network to produce metrics;

normalizing said metrics from the perspective of said first user to produce relationship values representing strengths of social relationships between said first user and said other users, such that one relationship value is produced for each of said other users with respect to said first user;

classifying said relationship values into different groups;

placing each of said other users in one of said groups according to said relationship values; and

displaying said other users and associated group identifications.

2. The method in claim 1, wherein said normalizing converts said metrics to be relative to all metrics associated with said first user to allow said relationship values to be made from the perspective of said first user.

3. The method in claim 1, further comprising assigning different indicators to each of said groups, wherein said displaying links a corresponding indicator to each of said other users to graphically identify the group in which each of said other users was placed.

4. The method in claim 1, wherein said displaying utilizes one or more of numbers, characters, sizes, fonts, character sets, icons, graphic features, colors, motions, speeds, and directions to graphically distinguish the group in which each of said other users was placed.

5. The method in claim 1, wherein said evaluating comprises automatically, and without user intervention, evaluating one or more of address book information, calendar information, event information, to-do list information, journal information, and e-mail information to produce said metrics.

6. The method in claim 1, wherein said displaying is primarily directed to said first user.

7. The method in claim 1, wherein said other users comprise a subset of all users of said network.

8. A method of displaying relationships between users of a computerized network, said method comprising:

altering, by a first user of said network, network relationship metrics of other users of said network, such that said metrics are made relative to said first user, wherein said altering produces relationship values; and

displaying said other users and associated relationship values.

9. The method in claim 8, wherein said altering converts said metrics to be relative to all metrics associated with said first user to allow said relationship values to be made from the perspective of said first user.

10. The method in claim 8, further comprising assigning different indicators to different groups of said relationship values, wherein said displaying links a corresponding indicator to each of said other users.

11. The method in claim 10, wherein said indicators comprise one or more of numbers, characters, sizes, fonts, character sets, icons, graphic features, colors, motions, speeds, and directions.

12. The method in claim 8, wherein said network relationship metrics are based on one or more of address book information, calendar information, event information, to-do list information, journal information, and e-mail information to produce said metrics.

13. The method in claim 8, wherein said displaying is primarily directed to said first user.

14. The method in claim 8, wherein said other users comprise a subset of all users of said network.

15. A method of displaying relationships between users of a computerized network, said method comprising:

processing network information between a first user of said network and other users of said network to produce relationship values representing strengths of relationships between said first user and said other users; and

displaying said other users and associated relationship values.

16. The method in claim 15, wherein said processing converts network relationship metrics to be relative to all relationship metrics associated with said first user to allow said relationship values to be made from the perspective of said first user.

17. The method in claim 15, further comprising assigning different indicators to different groups of said relationship values, wherein said displaying links a corresponding indicator to each of said other users.

18. The method in claim 17, wherein said indicators comprise one or more of numbers, characters, sizes, fonts, character sets, icons, graphic features, colors, motions, speeds, and directions.

19. The method in claim 15, wherein said processing comprises automatically, and without user intervention, evaluating one or more of address book information, calendar information, event information, to-do list information, journal information, and e-mail information to produce said relationship values.

20. The method in claim 15, wherein said displaying is primarily directed to said first user.

21. The method in claim 15, wherein said other users comprise a subset of all users of said network.

22. A method of displaying strengths of social relationships between users of a computerized network, said method comprising:

evaluating network information and network communications between a first user of said network and other users of said network to produce metrics;

normalizing said metrics from the perspective of said first user to produce relationship values representing strengths of social relationships between said first user and said other users, such that one relationship value is produced for each of said other users with respect to said first user;

classifying said relationship values into different groups;

assigning context commands to each of said groups;

placing each of said other users in one of said groups according to said relationship values; and

displaying said other users and associated group identifications.

23. The method in claim 22, wherein said normalizing converts said metrics to be relative to all metrics associated with said first user to allow said relationship values to be made from the perspective of said first user.

24. The method in claim 22, further comprising assigning different indicators to each of said groups, wherein said displaying links a corresponding indicator to each of said other users to graphically identify the group in which each of said other users was placed.

25. The method in claim 22, wherein said displaying utilizes one or more of numbers, characters, sizes, fonts, character sets, icons, graphic features, colors, motions, speeds, and directions to graphically distinguish the group in which each of said other users was placed.

26. The method in claim 22, wherein said evaluating comprises automatically, and without user intervention, evaluating one or more of address book information, calendar information, event information, to-do list information, journal information, and e-mail information to produce said metrics.

27. The method in claim 22, wherein said displaying is primarily directed to said first user.

28. The method in claim 22, wherein said other users comprise a subset of all users of said network.

29. A program storage device readable by machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform a method of displaying strengths of social relationships between users of a computerized network, said method comprising:

evaluating network information and network communications between a first user of said network and other users of said network to produce metrics;

normalizing said metrics from the perspective of said first user to produce relationship values representing strengths of social relationships between said first user and said other users, such that one relationship value is produced for each of said other users with respect to said first user;

classifying said relationship values into different groups;

placing each of said other users in one of said groups according to said relationship values; and

displaying said other users and associated group identifications.

30. The program storage device in claim 29, wherein said normalizing converts said metrics to be relative to all metrics associated with said first user to allow said relationship values to be made from the perspective of said first user.

31. The program storage device in claim 29, wherein said method further comprises assigning different indicators to each of said groups, wherein said displaying links a corresponding indicator to each of said other users to graphically identify the group in which each of said other users was placed.

32. The program storage device in claim 29, wherein said displaying utilizes one or more of numbers, characters, sizes, fonts, character sets, icons, graphic features, colors, motions, speeds, and directions to graphically distinguish the group in which each of said other users was placed.

33. The program storage device in claim 29, wherein said evaluating comprises automatically, and without user intervention, evaluating one or more of address book information, calendar information, event information, to-do list information, journal information, and e-mail information to produce said metrics.

34. The program storage device in claim 29, wherein said displaying is primarily directed to said first user.

35. The program storage device in claim 29, wherein said other users comprise a subset of all users of said network.