Metrics-based accessing of social threads

• US 8,738,603 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Fischer, Ronald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): FILIPCZYK, MARCIN R
• Application Number:
  US13/111,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20110289097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 705/27.1, 707/707, 707/727, 707/709, 707/751, 707/754, 707/999.101, 707/999.201, 709/231, 709/217, 709/219, 709/214, 709/224, 715/738
• US Class Current: 707/709
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

A method of accessing feeds based on metrics is provided. Feeds, each associated with an object stored in a database system, are provided to users of the database system. Inferential user interaction data captures implicit user behavior of users of the database system, wherein the data is generated in relation to a feed. Feed metrics are determined based on the user interaction data, wherein a feed metric is based upon statistics comprising user consumption, user responsiveness, content proliferation, and feed life. Finally, an action is executed in relation to at least one feed based on the feed metrics, wherein the action comprises discontinuing the feed, characterizing a feed, determining that a feed can be monetized, determining that a feed should be cached, or determining that intervention in a feed is advisable.

Claims

1. A method of accessing feeds based on metrics, the method comprising:

accessing a plurality of feeds, wherein each feed in the plurality of feeds is associated with an object stored in a database system;

providing the plurality of feeds to a plurality of users of the database system;

collecting inferential user interaction data from the plurality of users, wherein the inferential user interaction data is generated in relation to at least one of the plurality of feeds, and wherein the inferential user interaction data captures implicit user behavior of at least one of the plurality of users of the database system, wherein collecting inferential user interaction data comprises receiving data describing implicit user behavior, wherein the data was captured in part by client software operating on a computing device;

determining, using one or more processors associated with the one or more servers, one or more feed metrics based on the inferential user interaction data, wherein a feed metric is based upon statistics for the plurality of users comprising user consumption, user responsiveness, content proliferation, and feed life;

weighting the one or more feed metrics for the plurality of users with respect to each of the plurality of feeds; and

executing an action for the plurality of users in relation to the at least one of the plurality of feeds based on the one or more weighted feed metrics, wherein the action comprises discontinuing the feed, characterizing a feed, determining that a feed can be monetized, determining that a feed should be cached, or determining that intervention in a feed is advisable.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein executing an action based on the one or more feed metrics comprises selecting the action to be executed based on the one or more feed metrics.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein executing an action based on the one or more feed metrics comprises providing the one or more feed metrics as input to the action, and wherein the action is modified based on the one or more feed metrics.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more feed metrics based on the inferential user interaction data comprises determining the change in a feed metric over time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more feed metrics based on the inferential user interaction data comprises determining a feed metric with respect to a subgroup of the plurality of users, wherein users in the subgroup share a common characteristic.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more feed metrics based on the inferential user interaction data comprises determining a first feed metric with respect to a second feed metric.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the one or more feed metrics based on the inferential user interaction data comprises determining average user responsiveness or average user-initiated content proliferation with respect to average user consumption.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the one or more feed metrics based on the inferential user interaction data comprises determining average user consumption, average user responsiveness, or average user-initiated content proliferation with respect to feed life.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein executing an action in relation to the feed comprises discontinuing the feed, wherein the one or more feed metrics comprises a feed life feed metric, and wherein the feed life metric indicates that the feed is no longer active.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein executing an action in relation to the feed comprises characterizing the feed as being important, wherein the one or more feed metrics comprises a user consumption feed metric, and wherein the user consumption feed metric indicates that the feed has a high average user consumption.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein executing an action in relation to the feed comprises determining that the feed should be cached, wherein the one or more feed metrics comprises a user consumption feed metric and a user responsiveness feed metric, wherein the user consumption feed metric indicates that the feed has a high average user consumption, and wherein the user responsiveness feed metric indicates that the feed has a low average user responsiveness.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein executing an action in relation to the feed comprises determining that intervention in the feed is advisable, wherein the one or more feed metrics comprises a user responsiveness feed metric, and wherein the user responsiveness feed metric indicates that the feed has a high average user responsiveness.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein executing an action in relation to the feed comprises determining that a feed can be monetized, wherein the one or more feed metrics comprises a user-initiated content proliferation feed metric, and wherein the user-initiated content proliferation feed metric indicates that the feed has a high level of proliferation.

14. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for accessing feeds based on metrics, the instructions comprising:

program code to access a plurality of feeds, wherein each feed in the plurality of feeds is associated with an object stored in a database system;

program code to provide the plurality of feeds to a plurality of users of the database system;

program code to collect inferential user interaction data from the plurality of users, wherein the inferential user interaction data is generated in relation to at least one of a plurality of feeds, and wherein the inferential user interaction data captures implicit user behavior of at least one user of a plurality of users of the database system, wherein the program code is configured to receive data describing implicit user behavior, wherein the data was captured in part by client software operating on a computing device;

program code to determine, using one or more processors associated with one or more servers, one or more feed metrics based on the inferential user interaction data, wherein a feed metric is based upon statistics for the plurality of users comprising user consumption, user responsiveness, content proliferation, and feed life;

program code to weight the one or more feed metrics for the plurality of users with respect to each of the plurality of feeds; and

program code to execute an action for the plurality of users in relation to at least one of the plurality of feeds based on the one or more weighted feed metrics, wherein the action comprises discontinuing the feed, characterizing a feed, determining that a feed can be monetized, determining that a feed should be cached, or determining that intervention in a feed is advisable.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program code to determine the one or more feed metrics based on the inferential user interaction data comprises program code to determine the change in a feed metric over time.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program code to determine the one or more feed metrics based on the inferential user interaction data comprises program code to determine a feed metric with respect to a subgroup of the plurality of users, wherein users in the subgroup share a common characteristic.

17. A system for accessing feeds based on metrics, the system comprising

a database storing a plurality of objects, wherein the database is running on one or more servers;

and

one or more processors associated with the one or more servers, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform the following operations;

access a plurality of feeds, wherein each feed in the plurality of feeds is associated with an object stored in the database;

provide the plurality of feeds to a plurality of users of the database system;

collect inferential user interaction data from the plurality of users, wherein the inferential user interaction data is generated in relation to at least one of a plurality of feeds, and wherein the inferential user interaction data captures implicit user behavior of at least one user of the plurality of users of the database system, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive data describing implicit user behavior, wherein the data was captured in part by client software operating on a computing device;

determine one or more feed metrics based on the inferential user interaction data, wherein a feed metric is based upon statistics for the plurality of users comprising user consumption, user responsiveness, content proliferation, and feed life;

weight the one or more feed metrics for the plurality of users with respect to each of the plurality of feeds; and

execute an action for the plurality of users in relation to at least one of the plurality of feeds based on the one or more weighted feed metrics, wherein the action comprises discontinuing the feed, characterizing a feed, determining that a feed can be monetized, determining that a feed should be cached, or determining that intervention in a feed is advisable.