METHOD FOR SOCIAL SEARCH

• US 20130036112A1
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roger J. Poon
• Original Assignee: Roger J. Poon
• Inventors: Poon, Roger J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9536 Search customisation based on social or collaborative filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

System and methods for performing social searches using a social graph including nodes associated with voting values associated with items of interest. At least one rating (such as importance rating, compatibility rating, proximity rating, and/or social rank value) is obtained for each node. A web search obtains search results. A sort value (for sorting the search results) is determined for each search result in which an item is identified. The sort value may be determined for a search result by (a) identifying nodes associated with a voting value that is associated with an item identified in the search result, (b) determining a node value for each node identified based on the rating obtained for the node and the voting value associated with both the node and the item(s) identified in the search result, and (c) determining the sort value based on the node values of the nodes identified.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for use with data representing a social graph associated with a user, the social graph comprising a plurality of nodes each associated with voting values associated with a plurality of items of interest, the method being performed by one or more computing devices and comprising:

(a) obtaining an importance rating for each of the plurality of nodes;

(b) receiving search criteria from the user;

(c) conducting a web search using the search criteria to obtain search results;

(d) identifying at least one of the plurality of items of interest in the search results;

(e) determining a sort value for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, the sort value being determined for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified by;

(i) identifying one or more nodes of the social graph associated with a voting value associated with any of the plurality of items of interest identified in the search result;

(ii) determining a node value for each node identified based at least in part on the importance rating obtained for the node and the voting value associated with both the node and any of the plurality of items of interest identified in the search result; and

(iii) determining the sort value for the search result based at least in part on the node value determined for each node identified;

(f) ordering the search results based at least in part on the sort value determined for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified; and

(g) generating a user interface including the ordered search results that is displayable to the user via a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the importance rating is obtained for each of the plurality of nodes by receiving input from the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the input received from the user comprises a numerical importance value for each of the plurality of nodes.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the input received from the user comprises a node order that ranks the plurality of nodes in accordance with importance to the user.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein for each of at least a portion of the nodes, the input is received from the user when the user accepts a friend request from an entity represented by the node, or the user sends a friend request to the entity represented by the node.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the importance rating is obtained for each of the plurality of nodes by at least one of (1) pattern recognition performed on social data that is associated with the user, (2) pattern recognition performed on social data that is received by the user, and (3) pattern recognition performed on actions taken by the user.

7. The method of claim 1 for use with each of the plurality of nodes representing an entity, wherein the importance rating is obtained for each of the plurality of nodes by at least one of (1) pattern recognition performed on social data that is associated with the entity represented by the node, (2) pattern recognition performed on social data that is received by the entity represented by the node, and (3) pattern recognition performed on actions taken by the entity represented by the node.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a proximity rating for each of the plurality of nodes, the proximity rating indicating at least one of (1) a distance between the node and the user on the social graph, or (2) a physical distance between an entity represented by the node and the user,

wherein for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, the node value for each node identified is based at least in part on the proximity rating associated with the node.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

obtaining a compatibility rating for each of the plurality of nodes based on an analysis of similarity between social data associated with the user and social data associated with the node,

wherein for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, the node value for each node identified is based at least in part on the compatibility rating associated with the node.

10. The method of claim 8, the method further comprising:

identifying a type of subject matter;

identifying each of at least a portion of the plurality of nodes as a followed node, each followed node being followed by at least one other of the plurality of nodes in the social graph, a social rank value having been assigned to each followed node for the type of subject matter;

for each followed node, identifying one or more of the plurality of nodes that are following the followed node;

for each followed node, (1) analyzing social data associated with the one or more of the nodes following the followed node to determine whether any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter; and

(2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter if it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter; and

determining whether the search criteria is related to the type of subject matter;

when it is determined that the search criteria is related to the type of subject matter, for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, the node value for each node identified being based at least in part on the social rank value assigned to the node for the type of subject matter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter when it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter comprises:

identifying one or more of the interested following nodes which has assigned an importance rating to the followed node as rated nodes; and

for each rated node, (1) calculating an increase amount as a function of the importance rating assigned by the rated node to the followed node, and (2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter by the increase amount.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter when it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter comprises:

identifying one or more of the interested following nodes which has assigned an importance rating to the followed node as rated nodes; and

for each rated node, (1) calculating an increase amount as a function of the importance rating assigned by the rated node to the followed node, and the social rank value of the rated node, and (2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter by the increase amount.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a type of subject matter;

identifying each of at least a portion of the plurality of nodes as a followed node, each followed node being followed by at least one other of the plurality of nodes in the social graph, a social rank value having been assigned to each followed node for the type of subject matter;

for each followed node, identifying one or more of the plurality of nodes that are following the followed node;

for each followed node, (1) analyzing social data associated with the one or more of the nodes following the followed node to determine whether any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter; and

(2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter if it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter; and

determining whether the search criteria is related to the type of subject matter;

when it is determined that the search criteria is related to the type of subject matter, for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, the node value for each node identified being based at least in part on the social rank value assigned to the node for the type of subject matter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter when it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter comprises:

identifying one or more of the interested following nodes which has assigned an importance rating to the followed node as rated nodes; and

for each rated node, (1) calculating an increase amount as a function of the importance rating assigned by the rated node to the followed node, and (2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter by the increase amount.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter when it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter comprises:

identifying one or more of the interested following nodes which has assigned an importance rating to the followed node as rated nodes; and

for each rated node, (1) calculating an increase amount as a function of the importance rating assigned by the rated node to the followed node, and the social rank value of the rated node, and (2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter by the increase amount.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a compatibility rating for each of the plurality of nodes based on an analysis of similarity between social data associated with the user and social data associated with the node,

wherein for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, the node value for each node identified is based at least in part on the compatibility rating associated with the node.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a compatibility topic;

for each node, obtaining a compatibility rating for the compatibility topic based on an analysis of similarity between social data associated with the user and social data associated with the node; and

determining whether the search criteria is related to the compatibility topic,

wherein if it is determined that the search criteria is related to the compatibility topic, for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, the node value for each node identified is based at least in part on the compatibility rating associated with the node and the compatibility topic.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a compatibility topic;

for each node, obtaining a compatibility rating for the compatibility topic based on an analysis of similarity between social data associated with the user and social data associated with the node;

determining whether the search criteria is related to the compatibility topic;

obtaining a proximity rating for each of the plurality of nodes, the proximity rating indicating at least one of (1) a distance between the node and the user on the social graph, or (2) a physical distance between an entity represented by the node and the user;

identifying a type of subject matter;

identifying each of at least a portion of the plurality of nodes as a followed node, each followed node being followed by at least one other of the plurality of nodes in the social graph, a social rank value having been assigned to each followed node for the type of subject matter;

for each followed node, identifying one or more of the plurality of nodes that are following the followed node;

for each followed node, (1) analyzing social data associated with the one or more of the nodes following the followed node to determine whether any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter; and

(2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter if it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter; and

determining whether the search criteria is related to the type of subject matter;

wherein for each of the search results in which one of the plurality of items of interest was identified;

(i) the node value for each node identified is based at least in part on the proximity rating associated with the node,

(ii) if it is determined that the search criteria is related to the compatibility topic, the node value for each node identified is based at least in part on the compatibility rating associated with the node and the compatibility topic, and

(iii) if it is determined that the search criteria is related to the type of subject matter, the node value for each node identified is based at least in part on the social rank value assigned to the node for the type of subject matter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter when it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter comprises:

identifying one or more of the interested following nodes which has assigned an importance rating to the followed node as rated nodes;

for each rated node, (1) calculating an increase amount as a function of the importance rating assigned by the rated node to the followed node, and (2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter by the increase amount.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter when it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter comprises:

identifying one or more of the interested following nodes which has assigned an importance rating to the followed node as rated nodes;

for each rated node, (1) calculating an increase amount as a function of the importance rating assigned by the rated node to the followed node, and the social rank value of the rated node, and (2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter by the increase amount

21. A computer-implemented method for use with data representing a social graph associated with a user, the social graph comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being associated with voting values associated with a plurality of items of interest, the method being performed by one or more computing devices and comprising:

(a) determining a proximity rating for each of the plurality of nodes based at least in part on at least one of (1) a distance between the node and the user on the social graph, or (2) a physical distance between an entity represented by the node and the user;

(b) receiving search criteria from the user;

(c) conducting a web search using the search criteria to obtain search results;

(d) identifying at least one of the plurality of items of interest in the search results;

(e) for each of the search results in which at least one of one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, determining a sort value by;

(i) identifying one or more nodes of the social graph associated with a voting value associated with any of the plurality of items of interest identified in the search result;

(ii) determining a node value for each node identified based at least in part on the proximity rating associated with the node, and the voting value associated with both the node and any of the plurality of items of interest identified in the search result; and

(iii) determining the sort value for the search result based at least in part on the node value determined for each node identified;

(f) ordering the search results based at least in part on the sort value determined for each of the search results in which at least one of one of the plurality of items of interest was identified; and

(g) generating a user interface including the ordered search results that is displayable to the user via a display device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

obtaining an importance rating for each of the plurality of nodes, wherein the proximity rating for each of the plurality of nodes is determined at least in part based on the importance rating of the node.

23. A computer-implemented method for use with data representing a social graph associated with a user, the social graph comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being associated with voting values associated with a plurality of items of interest, the method being performed by one or more computing devices and comprising:

(a) identifying a plurality of compatibility topics;

(b) for each node, obtaining a compatibility rating for each of the plurality of compatibility topics based on similarity between social data associated with the user and social data associated with the node;

(c) receiving search criteria from the user;

(d) identifying one of the plurality of compatibility topics as a search topic based on the search criteria;

(e) conducting a web search using the search criteria to obtain search results;

(f) identifying at least one of the plurality of items of interest in the search results;

(g) for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, determining a sort value by;

(i) identifying one or more nodes of the social graph associated with a voting value associated with any of the plurality of items of interest identified in the search result;

(ii) determining a node value for each node identified based at least in part on the compatibility rating associated with both the node and the search topic, and the voting value associated with both the node and any of the plurality of items of interest identified in the search result; and

(iii) determining the sort value for the search result based at least in part on the node value determined for each node identified;

(h) ordering the search results based at least in part on the sort value determined for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified; and

(i) generating a user interface including the ordered search results that is displayable to the user via a display device.

24. A computer-implemented method for use with data representing a social graph associated with a user, the social graph comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being associated with voting values associated with a plurality of items of interest, the method being performed by one or more computing devices and comprising:

(a) identifying a type of subject matter;

(b) identifying each of at least a portion of the plurality of nodes as a followed node, each followed node being followed by at least one other of the plurality of nodes in the social graph;

(c) for each followed node, identifying one or more of the plurality of nodes that are following the followed node;

(d) for each followed node, (1) analyzing social data associated with the one or more of the nodes following the followed node to determine whether any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter; and

(2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter if it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter;

(e) receiving search criteria from the user;

(f) determining whether the search criteria is related to the type of subject matter;

(g) conducting a web search using the search criteria to obtain search results; and

(h) when it is determined that the search criteria is related to the type of subject matter, identifying at least one of the plurality of items of interest in the search results, determining a sort value for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, ordering the search results based at least in part on the sort value determined for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, and generating a user interface including the ordered search results that is displayable to the user via a display device, the sort value being determined for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified by;

(i) identifying one or more nodes of the social graph associated with a voting value associated with any of the plurality of items of interest identified in the search result;

(ii) determining a node value for each node identified based at least in part on the social rank value associated with both the node and the type of subject matter, and the voting value associated with both the node and any of the plurality of items of interest identified in the search result; and

(iii) determining the sort value for the search result based at least in part on the node value determined for each node identified.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter when it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter comprises:

identifying one or more of the interested following nodes which has assigned an importance rating to the followed node as rated nodes;

for each rated node, (1) calculating an increase amount as a function of the importance rating assigned by the rated node to the followed node, and (2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter by the increase amount.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter when it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter comprises:

identifying one or more of the interested following nodes which has assigned an importance rating to the followed node as rated nodes;

for each rated node, (1) calculating an increase amount as a function of the importance rating assigned by the rated node to the followed node, and the social rank value of the rated node, and (2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter by the increase amount.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein identifying the type of subject matter comprises:

analyzing social data associated with the user.

28. A computer-implemented method for use with data representing a social graph associated with a user, the social graph comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes being associated with voting values associated with a plurality of items of interest, the method being performed by one or more computing devices and comprising:

(A) receiving search criteria from the user;

(B) identifying a type of subject matter based on the search criteria;

(C) identifying each of at least a portion of the plurality of nodes as a followed node, each followed node being followed by at least one other of the plurality of nodes in the social graph;

(D) for each followed node, identifying one or more of the plurality of nodes that are following the followed node;

(E) for each followed node, (1) analyzing social data associated with the one or more of the nodes following the followed node to determine whether any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter; and

(2) increasing the social rank value assigned to the followed node for the type of subject matter if it is determined that any of the one or more following nodes are interested in the type of subject matter;

(F) conducting a web search using the search criteria to obtain search results;

(G) identifying at least one of the plurality of items of interest in the search results;

(H) determining a sort value for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified, the sort value being determined for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified by;

(i) identifying one or more nodes of the social graph associated with a voting value associated with any of the plurality of items of interest identified in the search result;

(ii) determining a node value for each node identified based at least in part on the social rank value associated with both the node and the type of subject matter, and the voting value associated with both the node and any of the plurality of items of interest identified in the search result; and

(iii) determining the sort value for the search result based at least in part on the node value determined for each node identified;

(I) ordering the search results based at least in part on the sort value determined for each of the search results in which at least one of the plurality of items of interest was identified; and

(J) generating a user interface including the ordered search results that is displayable to the user via a display device.