Methods and apparatus for determining or inferring influential rumormongers from resource usage data
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for ascertaining an influential rumormonger from amongst a plurality of users through a directed graph from resource usage log data including records having (i) user information, (ii) resource identification information, and (iii) resource request time information, the method comprising steps of:
- a) inferring a corresponding measure of influence between each of a plurality of pairs of said users from the usage log data based on (i) the user information, (ii) the resource identification information, (iii) the resource request time information, and (iv) a memory length parameter so as to define a plurality of influence measures, wherein, for each of said pairs of users, one of the users in said each pair appears to exhibit influence, as reflected in said corresponding influence measure, over action taken by another one of the users in said one pair;
b) generating the directed graph having, for said each one of the pairs of users, first and second vertices corresponding to the one and the other one, respectively, of the users and having an edge connecting the first and second vertices and associated with the corresponding influence measure; and
c) determining the influential rumormonger from amongst the users and the influence measures provided in the directed graph.
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Abstract
Resource usage data is used to infer degrees of influence between users. Once such inferences are made, a directed graph representation of the users and the inferred "influence" between the users can be generated. "Influential rumormongers" can then be determined from the directed graph, for example, by using a greedy graph covering algorithm. In this way, marketing information can be targeted to "influential rumormongers" to optimize its dissemination and impact. If actual (explicit) data regarding the influence between users is known, such data may be used to refine or replace at least some edge values.
108 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for ascertaining an influential rumormonger from amongst a plurality of users through a directed graph from resource usage log data including records having (i) user information, (ii) resource identification information, and (iii) resource request time information, the method comprising steps of:
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a) inferring a corresponding measure of influence between each of a plurality of pairs of said users from the usage log data based on (i) the user information, (ii) the resource identification information, (iii) the resource request time information, and (iv) a memory length parameter so as to define a plurality of influence measures, wherein, for each of said pairs of users, one of the users in said each pair appears to exhibit influence, as reflected in said corresponding influence measure, over action taken by another one of the users in said one pair; b) generating the directed graph having, for said each one of the pairs of users, first and second vertices corresponding to the one and the other one, respectively, of the users and having an edge connecting the first and second vertices and associated with the corresponding influence measure; and c) determining the influential rumormonger from amongst the users and the influence measures provided in the directed graph. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26)
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21. A device for inferring an influential rumormonger from amongst a plurality of users from resource usage log data including records having (i) user information, (ii) resource identification information, and (iii) resource request time information, the device comprising:
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a) a graph edge determination facility for determining a corresponding influence measure between each of a plurality of pairs of said users based on the user information, the resource identification information, the resource request time information, and a memory length parameter so as to define a plurality of influence measures, wherein, for each of said pairs of users, one of the users in said each pair appears to exhibit influence, as reflected in said corresponding influence measure, over action taken by another one of the users in said one pair; and b) an influential rumormonger determination facility for determining the influential rumormonger based on the corresponding influence measures between all the pairs of said users, the users, and an observation length parameter.
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22. A device for ascertaining an influential rumormonger from amongst a plurality of users through a directed graph from resource usage log data including records having (i) user information, (ii) resource identification information, and (iii) resource request time information, the method comprising steps of:
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a) means for inferring [an) a corresponding measure of influence between each of a plurality of pairs of said users from the usage log data based on (i) the user information, (ii) the resource identification information, (iii) the resource request time information, and (iv) a memory length parameter so as to define a plurality of influence measures, wherein, for each of said pairs of users, one of the users in said each pair appears to exhibit influence, as reflected in said corresponding influence measure, over action taken by another one of the users in said one pair; b) a graph generator for generating the directed graph having, for said each one of the pairs of users, first and second vertices corresponding to the one and the other one, respectively, of the users and having an edge connecting the first and second vertices and associated with the corresponding influence measure; and c) an influential rumormonger determination facility for determining the influential rumormonger from amongst the users and the influence measures provided in the directed graph. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification