METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING SOCIAL NETWORKS

• US 20120158935A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kishimoto, Toyoaki, Chang, Michael, Lawton, Andrew Lee, Lyons, Gary Robert, Kennedy, Sean Patrick, Garay, Rommel M., Winter, Edward Theodore, Carpio, Fredrik, Crisan, Adrian
• Application Number:
  US12/974,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158935A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Systems and methods consistent with the disclosure relate to managing social networks. According to one exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method for managing social networks of a user is disclosed. The method accesses an online social network site of the user, and receives, from the online social network site, networking content related to the user and a plurality of contacts of the user. The method identifies the plurality of contacts based on the networking content, and determines relationships between the user and the respective contacts based on the networking content. The method also creates a social networking map according to the relationships.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing social networks of a user, comprising:

accessing, by a processor, an online social network site of the user;

receiving, from the online social network site, networking content related to the user and a plurality of contacts of the user;

identifying, by the processor, the plurality of contacts based on the networking content;

determining, by the processor, relationships between the user and the respective contacts based on the networking content; and

creating, by the processor, a social networking map according to the relationships.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the networking content in a content repository.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the social networking map to the user for editing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the networking content includes tags and metadata, and wherein determining the relationships between the user and the respective contacts includes:

sorting the networking content based on the tags and metadata.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the networking content includes photo or video content, and wherein identifying the plurality of contacts includes:

applying facial recognition on the photo or video content.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining strength of connectivity between the user and the respective contacts based on common connections to the networking content between the user and respective contacts.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the social networking map is a family tree including the user and a plurality of family contacts.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the social networking map is a friends tree including the user and a plurality of friend contacts.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a search query;

determining a subset of the networking content stored on the content repository that meets the search query; and

providing the subset of the networking content to the user.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying a subset of the networking content stored on the content repository for sharing;

generating a distribution list including at least one contact on the social networking map; and

sharing the subset of the networking content with the at least one contact on the distribution list.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the distribution list consists of contacts having strength of connectivity higher than a predetermined threshold.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the distribution list consists of contacts who are featured in the identified subset of the networking content.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

creating a shared account for accessing a directory of the content repository;

generating an access list including at least one contact on the social networking map; and

providing login information of the shared account to the at least one contact.

14. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

creating a dropbox on the content repository for the plurality of contacts on the social networking map to upload or download content; and

providing the plurality of contacts with access information to the dropbox.

15. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving tags applied by the user on a subset of the networking content stored on the content repository;

updating the social networking map based on the tags.

16. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting networking content on the content repository that have a same tag; and

merging the detected networking content into a single file.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing a photo or video of the user with a built-in camera; and

sharing the photo or video with the plurality of contacts on the social networking map.

18. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a keyword provided by the user during an online conversation;

identifying a subset of the networking content stored on the content repository related to the identified contact; and

providing the subset of the networking content with the user.

19. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

automatically determining a keyword based on the online conversation;

identifying a subset of the networking content stored on the content repository related to the keyword; and

providing the subset of the networking content to the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the keyword is used during the online conversation for more than a threshold times or identifies a distinct contact on the social networking map.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a date range input by the user;

identifying, from the networking content, social events within the date range; and

creating a calendar or timeline showing the identified social events.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

identifying participants to the social events who are on the social networking map; and

sharing the calendar or timeline with the participants.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining topics the user is interested in based on the networking content; and

providing recommended information to the user regarding the topics.

24. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting a change in the strength of connectivity between the user and a contact;

sending a reach out message to the contact.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the change is that the contact who was strongly connected becomes weakly connected.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the change is that the user has not communicated with the contact for a period of time longer than a predetermined duration.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sorting the networking content into a plurality of groups associated with respective tags, wherein a first tag is associated with a first group and a second tag is associated with a second group larger than the first group;

generating a tag cloud with the tags, wherein the second tag is shown in a larger text than the first tag in the tag cloud.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an user selection of a contact on the social networking map;

identifying networking content of the user that are similar to networking content of the contact; and

sharing the identified networking content of the user with the contact.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recording an online video chat between the user and a contact; and

sharing the online video chat with the plurality of contacts on the social networking map.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing an additional online social network site of the user;

locating, on the additional online social network site, additional networking content related to the plurality of contacts on the social networking map; and

updating the social networking map based on the additional networking content.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an online conversation between the user and a contact;

determining a keyword from the online conversation;

searching for online content related to the keyword; and

generating a template message based on the online content to assist the online conversation.

32. A social network managing system for managing social networks of a user, comprising:

a processor configured to;

accessing an online social network site of the user;

receiving, from the online social network site, networking content related to the user and a plurality of contacts of the user;

identifying the plurality of contacts based on the networking content;

determining relationships between the user and the respective contacts based on the networking content; and

creating a social networking map according to the relationships.

33. The social network managing system of claim 32, further comprising a memory configured to:

store the networking content in a content repository.

34. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide the social networking map to the user for editing.

35. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the networking content includes tags and metadata, and wherein the processor is further configured to:

sort the networking content based on the tags and metadata.

36. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the networking content includes photo or video content, and wherein the processor is further configured to:

apply facial recognition on the photo or video content.

37. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine strength of connectivity between the user and the respective contacts based on common connections to the networking content between the user and respective contacts.

38. The social network managing system of claim 37, wherein the social networking map is a family tree including the user and a plurality of family contacts.

39. The social network managing system of claim 37, wherein the social networking map is a friends tree including the user and a plurality of friend contacts.

40. The social network managing system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a search query;

determine a subset of the networking content stored on the content repository that meets the search query; and

provide the subset of the networking content to the user.

41. The social network managing system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify a subset of the networking content stored on the content repository for sharing;

generate a distribution list including at least one contact on the social networking map; and

share the subset of the networking content with the at least one contact on the distribution list.

42. The social network managing system of claim 41, wherein the distribution list consists of contacts having strength of connectivity higher than a predetermined threshold.

43. The social network managing system of claim 41, wherein the distribution list consists of contacts who are featured in the identified subset of the networking content.

44. The social network managing system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to:

create a shared account for accessing a directory of the content repository;

generate an access list including at least one contact on the social networking map; and

provide login information of the shared account to the at least one contact.

45. The social network managing system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to:

create a dropbox on the content repository for the plurality of contacts on the social networking map to upload or download content; and

provide the plurality of contacts with access information to the dropbox.

46. The social network managing system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive tags applied by the user on a subset of the networking content stored on the content repository;

update the social networking map based on the tags.

47. The social network managing system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect networking content on the content repository that have a same tag; and

merge the detected networking content into a single file.

48. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

capture a photo or video of the user with a built-in camera; and

share the photo or video with the plurality of contacts on the social networking map.

49. The social network managing system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a keyword provided by the user during an online conversation;

identify a subset of the networking content stored on the content repository related to the identified contact; and

provide the subset of the networking content with the user.

50. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a keyword based on the online conversation;

identify a subset of the networking content stored on the content repository related to the keyword; and

provide the subset of the networking content to the user.

51. The social network managing system of claim 50, wherein the keyword is used during the online conversation for more than a threshold times or identifies a distinct contact on the social networking map.

52. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a date range input by the user;

identify, from the networking content, social events within the date range; and

create a calendar or timeline showing the identified social events.

53. The social network managing system of claim 52, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify participants to the social events who are on the social networking map; and

share the calendar or timeline with the participants.

54. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine topics the user is interested in based on the networking content; and

provide recommended information to the user regarding the topics.

55. The social network managing system of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect a change in the strength of connectivity between the user and a contact;

send a reach out message to the contact.

56. The social network managing system of claim 55, wherein the change is that the contact who was strongly connected becomes weakly connected.

57. The social network managing system of claim 55, wherein the change is that the user has not communicated with the contact for a period of time longer than a predetermined duration.

58. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

sort the networking content into a plurality of groups associated with respective tags, wherein a first tag is associated with a first group and a second tag is associated with a second group larger than the first group;

generate a tag cloud with the tags, wherein the second tag is shown in a larger text than the first tag in the tag cloud.

59. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive an user selection of a contact on the social networking map;

identify networking content of the user that are similar to networking content of the contact; and

share the identified networking content of the user with the contact.

60. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

record an online video chat between the user and a contact; and

share the online video chat with the plurality of contacts on the social networking map.

61. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

access an additional online social network site of the user;

locate, on the additional online social network site, additional networking content related to the plurality of contacts on the social networking map; and

updating the social networking map based on the additional networking content.

62. The social network managing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

monitor an online conversation between the user and a contact;

determine a keyword from the online conversation;

search for online content related to the keyword; and

generate a template message based on the online content to assist the online conversation.

63. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device that stores a set of instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for managing social networks of a user, comprising:

accessing, by a processor, an online social network site of the user;

receiving, from the online social network site, networking content related to the user and a plurality of contacts of the user;

identifying, by the processor, the plurality of contacts based on the networking content;

determining, by the processor, relationships between the user and the respective contacts based on the networking content; and

creating, by the processor, a social networking map according to the relationships.