Displaying strengths of social relationships between a user and other people

• US 7,970,712 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ruvolo, Joann, Zeller, Marijane M., Schirmer, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Plucinski; Jamisue A
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCORMICK, GABRIELLE A
• Application Number:
  US10/323,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,113 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/319
• 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 utilize 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 a computer performing the steps of:

evaluating network information and network communications between a first user of said network and other users of said network to produce relationship metrics between said first user and each of said other users, wherein each relationship metric comprises a measured value for interactions between said first user and one of said other users;

normalizing said relationship metrics from the perspective of said first user, wherein said normalizing converts each of said relationship metrics to be relative to all of said relationship metrics associated with said first user to produce relationship values representing relative strengths of social relationships between said first user and said other users, and wherein one relationship value is produced for each one of said other users with respect to said first user;

classifying said relationship values into different groups based on said relative strengths of said social relationships;

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

assigning different indicators to each of said different groups such that each of said other users in each of said different groups is associated with a corresponding indicator; and

displaying, for each of at least some of said other users, an identifier and said corresponding indicator, so as to graphically distinguish in which of said different groups each of said at least some of said other users was placed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each relationship metric comprises a number of e-mails received by said first user from one of said other users.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said assigning of said different indicators comprises assigning one or more of sizes, fonts, icons, graphic features, colors, motions, speeds, and directions to graphically distinguish said different groups into which each of said other users was placed.

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

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said displaying further comprises limiting which of said other users are to be displayed based on at least one of a predetermined maximum number of said other users, a predetermined minimum relationship value for said other users, and additional logical groupings of said other users.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said other users comprise a subset of all users of said network.

7. A method of displaying relationships between users of a computerized network, said method comprising a computer performing the steps of:

normalizing, from the perspective of a first user of said network, relationship metrics between said first user and other users of said network, wherein each relationship metric comprises a measured value for interactions between said first user and one of said other users and wherein said normalizing converts each of said relationship metrics to be relative to all of said relationship metrics associated with said first user to produce relationship values representing relative strengths of social relationships between said first user and said other users, and wherein one relationship value is produced for each one of said other users with respect to said first user; and

displaying identifiers for said other users, wherein said identifiers are displayed with corresponding indicators so as to graphically distinguish said other users based on said relationship values.

8. The method according to claim 7, 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.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said indicators comprise one or more of numbers, sizes, fonts, icons, graphic features, colors, motions, speeds, and directions.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said relationship metrics are determined based on an evaluation of one or more of calendar information, event information, to-do list information, journal information, and e-mail information to produce said metrics.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein said displaying further comprises limiting which of said other users are to be displayed based on at least one of a predetermined maximum number of said other users, a predetermined minimum relationship value for said other users, and additional logical groupings of said other users.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein said other users comprise a subset of all users of said network.

13. A method of displaying relationships between users of a computerized network, said method comprising a computer performing the steps of:

processing network information between a first user of said network and other users of said network to produce relationship metrics between said first user and each of said other users, wherein each relationship metric comprises a number of emails received by said first user from each of said other users;

normalizing said relationship metrics from the perspective of said first user, wherein said normalizing converts each of said relationship metrics to be relative to all of said relationship metrics associated with said first user to produce relationship values representing relative strengths of social relationships between said first user and said other users, and wherein one relationship value is produced for each one of said other users with respect to said first user; and

displaying identifiers for said other users, wherein said identifiers are displayed with corresponding indicators so as to graphically distinguish said other users based on said relationship values.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein each relationship metric comprises a number of e-mails received by said first user from one of said other users.

15. The method according to claim 13, 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.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein said indicators comprise one or more of sizes, fonts, icons, graphic features, colors, motions, speeds, and directions.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein said processing comprises automatically, and without user intervention, evaluating e-mail information to produce said relationship metrics.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein said displaying further comprises limiting which of said other users are to be displayed based on at least one of a predetermined maximum number of said other users, a predetermined minimum relationship value for said other users, and additional logical groupings of said other users.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein said other users comprise a subset of all users of said network.

20. A method of displaying strengths of social relationships between users of a computerized network, said method comprising a computer performing the steps of:

evaluating network information and network communications between a first user of said network and other users of said network to produce relationship metrics between said first user and each of said other users, wherein each relationship metric comprises a measured value for a interactions between said first user and each of said other users;

normalizing said relationship metrics from the perspective of said first user, wherein said normalizing converts each of said relationship metrics to be relative to all of said relationship metrics associated with said first user to produce relationship values representing relative strengths of social relationships between said first user and said other users, and wherein one relationship value is produced for each one of said other users with respect to said first user;

classifying said relationship values into different groups based on said relative strengths of said social relationships;

assigning a context command to at least one of said different groups;

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

assigning different indicators to each of said different groups such that each of said other users in each of said different groups is associated with a corresponding indicator; and

displaying, for each of at least some of said other users, an identifier and said corresponding indicator, so as to graphically distinguish in which of said different groups each of said at least some of said other users was placed.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein each relationship metric comprises a number of e-mails received by said first user from one of said other users.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein said assigning of said different indicators comprises assigning one or more of sizes, fonts, icons, graphic features, colors, motions, speeds, and directions to graphically distinguish said different groups into which each of said other users was placed.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein said evaluating comprises automatically, and without user intervention, evaluating one or more of calendar information, event information, to-do list information, journal information, and e-mail information to produce said relationship metrics.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein said displaying further comprises limiting which of said other users are to be displayed based on at least one of a predetermined maximum number of said other users, a predetermined minimum relationship value for said other users, and additional logical groupings of said other users.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein said other users comprise a subset of all users of said network.

26. 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 relationship metrics between said first user and each of said other users, wherein each relationship metric comprises a measured value interactions between said first user and one of said other users;

normalizing said relationship metrics from the perspective of said first user, wherein said normalizing converts each of said relationship metrics to be relative to all of said relationship metrics associated with said first user to produce relationship values representing relative strengths of social relationships between said first user and said other users, and wherein one relationship value is produced for each one of said other users with respect to said first user;

classifying said relationship values into different groups based on said relative strengths of said social relationships;

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

assigning different indicators to each of said different groups such that each of said other users in each of said different groups is associated with a corresponding indicator; and

displaying, for each of at least some of said other users, an identifier and said corresponding indicator, so as to graphically distinguish in which of said different groups each of said at least some of said other users was placed.

27. The program storage device according to claim 26, wherein each relationship metric comprises a number of e-mails received by said first user from one of said other users.

28. The program storage device according to claim 26, wherein said assigning of said different indicators comprises assigning one or more of sizes, fonts, icons, graphic features, colors, motions, speeds, and directions to graphically distinguish said different groups into which each of said other users was placed.

29. The program storage device according to claim 26, wherein said evaluating comprises automatically, and without user intervention, evaluating one or more calendar information, event information, to-do list information, journal information, and e-mail information to produce said relationship metrics.

30. The program storage device according to claim 26, wherein said displaying further comprises limiting which of said other users are to be displayed based on at least one of a predetermined maximum number of said other users, a predetermined minimum relationship value for said other users, and additional logical groupings of said other users.

31. The program storage device according to claim 26, wherein said other users comprise a subset of all users of said network.