Generating a Discussion Group in a Social Network Based on Metadata

• US 20130027428A1
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Bailloeul, Timothee
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/438 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

The present invention includes a system and method for generating a discussion in a social network based on visual search results. A mixed media reality (MMR) engine receives images from a user device and identifies matching MMR objects. A social network application determines whether a discussion group that is related to metadata associated with the images from user devices are related to a discussion group. If the discussion group does not yet exist, the social network application generates the discussion group and provides the user devices with information about the discussion group.

Claims

1. A method for generating conversations in a social network comprising:

receiving a first electronic image from a first user device and metadata associated with the first electronic image;

performing a visual search of the first electronic image to identify a first mixed media reality (MMR) object;

determining whether a discussion group exists that is related to the metadata associated with the first electronic image;

responsive to an absence of the discussion group, generating the discussion group; and

providing information about the discussion group to the first user device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second electronic image from a second user and metadata associated with the second electronic image;

performing a visual search of the second electronic image to identify a second mixed media reality (MMR) object;

determining whether the discussion group is related to the metadata associated with the second image; and

responsive to the discussion group being related to the metadata associated with the second image, providing information about the discussion group to the second user device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the metadata associated with the second image is used to determine a proximity in time between a creation of the discussion group and a time of creation of the second electronic image.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the metadata associated with the first image and the second image is used to determine a proximity in distance between the location of the first user device and the second user device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata associated with the first image is at least one of proximity in time, proximity in location and a keyword associated with the first electronic image that is submitted by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the discussion group exists further comprises generating a window of time and a radius of allowance for newly established groups and including the discussion group if it is within the window of time and the radius of allowance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is also based on metadata associated with the first MMR object.

8. A system for generating conversations in a social network comprising:

a mixed media reality (MMR) engine receiving a first electronic image from a first user device and metadata associated with the first electronic image and performing a visual search of the first electronic image to identify a first mixed media reality (MMR) object; and

a social network application coupled to the MMR engine, the social network application determining whether a discussion group exists that is related to the metadata associated with the first image and responsive to an absence of the discussion group, generating the discussion group and providing information about the discussion group to the first user device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the MMR engine receives a second electronic image from a second user and metadata associated with the second electronic image, performs a visual search of the second electronic image to identify a second mixed media reality (MMR) object;

and

wherein the social network application determines whether the discussion group is related to the metadata associated with the second image and responsive to the discussion group being related to the metadata associated with the second image, the social network application provides information about the discussion group to the second user device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the metadata associated with the second image is used to determine a proximity in time between a creation of the discussion group and a time of creation of the second electronic image.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the metadata associated with the first image and the second image is used to determine a proximity in distance between the location of the first user device and the second user device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the metadata associated with the first image is used to determine at least one of proximity in time, proximity in location and a keyword associated with the first electronic image that is submitted by the user.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the social network application determines whether the discussion group exists by generating a window of time and a radius of allowance for newly established groups and including the discussion group if it is within the window of time and the radius of allowance.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the determining is also based on metadata associated with the first MMR object.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive a first electronic image from a first user device and metadata associated with the first electronic image;

perform a visual search of the first electronic image to identify a first mixed media reality (MMR) object;

determine whether a discussion group exists that is related to the metadata associated with the first image;

responsive to an absence of the discussion group, generate the discussion group; and

provide information about the discussion group to the first user device.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a second electronic image from a second user and metadata associated with the second electronic image;

performing a visual search of the second electronic image to identify a second mixed media reality (MMR) object;

determining whether the discussion group is related to the metadata associated with the second image; and

responsive to the discussion group being related to the metadata associated with the second image, providing information about the discussion group to the second user device.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the metadata associated with the second image is used to determine a proximity in time between a creation of the discussion group and a time of creation of the second electronic image.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the metadata associated with the first image and the second image is used to determine a proximity in distance between the location of the first user device and the second user device.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the metadata associated with the first image is at least one of proximity in time, proximity in location and a keyword associated with the first electronic image that is submitted by the user.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein determining whether the discussion group exists further comprises generating a window of time and a radius of allowance for newly established groups and including the discussion group if it is within the window of time and the radius of allowance.