Identifying conversations in a social network system having relevance to a first file

• US 8,812,602 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Python4fun Inc
• Original Assignee: Python4fun Inc
• Inventors: Srikrishna, Devabhaktuni, Coram, Marc A., Hogan, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Ronak
• Application Number:
  US13/438,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20130262595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3329 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing related conversations in a social network system are disclosed. One method includes identifying a plurality of conversations within the social network system, wherein the plurality of conversations each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the social network system provides a platform for storing and sharing conversation, and each conversation includes a conversation and associated information. The method further includes generating, by a system server, a list of inquiries based on the plurality of conversations, providing, by the system server, the list of inquiries to at least one sender of the first file, receiving from the at least one sender at least one response to the list of inquiries, selecting a subset of the plurality of conversations based on the at least one response, and storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of conversations.

Claims

1. A method of identifying conversations of a social network system having relevance to a first file, comprising:

identifying a plurality of conversations within the social network system, wherein the plurality of conversations each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the social network system provides a platform for storing and sharing conversation, and each conversation includes a conversation and associated information;

generating, by a system server, a list of inquiries based on the plurality of conversations, wherein the list of inquiries includes search terms used in a search that identified the first file and the plurality of conversations, thereby establishing the relationship between the first file and the plurality of conversations by text analysis or filtering;

providing, by the system server, the list of inquiries to at least one sender of the first file, wherein the sender is provided with write-privilege to the first file;

receiving from the at least one sender at least one response to the list of inquiries;

selecting a subset of the plurality of conversations based on the at least one response;

storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of conversations for access if the first file is selected;

providing, by the system server, the selected subset of the plurality of conversations to a user that selects the first file; and

identifying the at least one sender to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the system server, a second list of inquiries based on the plurality of conversations;

providing, by the system server, the second list of inquiries to at least one second sender of the plurality of conversations;

receiving from the at least one second sender of the plurality of conversations at least one second response to the second list of inquiries;

re-selecting the subset of the plurality of conversations based on the at least one response and the at least one second response; and

storing information related to the re-selected subset of the plurality of conversations for access if the first file is selected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the at least one sender comprises providing the user with the at least one sender'"'"'s name, qualifications, institution, affiliation, address, or contact information of the at least one sender.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein identifying the at least one sender comprises providing the user with a name, qualifications, institution, affiliation, address, or contact information of the at least one sender.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a hyperlink between the first file and the selected subset of the plurality of conversations, wherein the hyperlink influences a ranking of search results that include at least one of the first file and the plurality of conversations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conversations are each identified by a plurality of subject-matter searches, wherein each search identifies one of the plurality of conversations and the first file.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of subject-matter searches is refined by the at least one response.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of subject-matter searches uses a keyword search application programming interface to access conversations in the social network system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the search terms comprise strings of words.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the search terms comprise noun phrases.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the search terms comprise sender names cited by the first file.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the search terms comprise a term within the first file.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the search is based on at least one of a word string, a sender, or an image.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the search terms are included within text of hyperlinks of the first file.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of conversations includes a publication date, wherein each of the publication dates is more recent than at least one of a first revision or a last revision date of the first file.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of conversations includes a publication date, wherein each of the publication dates is a specific date.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of conversations includes a publication date, wherein each of the publication dates comprises a date before a specific date.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of inquiries includes titles of at least a subset of the plurality of conversations.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of inquiries includes senders of at least a subset of the plurality of conversations.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sender includes a first sender and a second sender, and wherein the list of inquiries for the first sender is influenced by a response received from the second sender.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of inquiries includes a relationship tag between at least one of the plurality of conversations and the first file.

22. The method of claim 21, where in the relationship tag comprises at least one question of whether the relationship of the at least one the plurality of conversations to the first file is supportive, contradictory or summarizing.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the list of inquiries to the at least one sender of the first file comprises electronically communicating the list of inquires to the at least one sender using a notification.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the notification comprises at least one of an email, messaging on a social network, or instant message.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the notification comprises a web-based interface notification.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the at least one sender at least one response to the list of inquiries comprises receiving a selected subset of the plurality of conversations that the at least one sender selects as being relevant to the first file.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the at least one sender at least one response to the list of inquiries comprises receiving a ranked list of at least a subset of the plurality of conversations that identifies an order of relevance of the at least the subset of the plurality of conversations to the first file.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the at least one inquiry based on one response to at least one other sender;

receiving from the at least one other sender at least one second response to the at least one response;

re-selecting the subset of the plurality of conversations based on the at least one second response; and

storing information related to the re-selected subset of the plurality of conversations for access if the first file is selected.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of inquiries is provided to a plurality of senders, and responses received from each of the plurality of senders are compiled for selecting the subset of the plurality of conversations.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of lists of inquiries are provided to a plurality of senders, and responses received from each of the plurality of senders are compiled for selecting the subset of the plurality of conversations.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising the at least one sender having a permission to edit the first file.

32. A method for a server to identify conversations having relevance to a first file, comprising:

receiving, by the server, a plurality of conversations, wherein the plurality of conversations were generated by a subject matter search;

generating, by the server, a list of inquiries based on the plurality of conversations, wherein the list of inquiries includes search terms used in a search that identified the first file and the plurality of conversations, thereby establishing the relationship between the first file and the plurality of conversations by text analysis or filtering;

providing, by the system server, the list of inquiries to at least one sender of the first file, wherein the sender is provided with write-privilege to the first file;

receiving from the at least one sender at least one response to the list of inquiries;

selecting a subset of the plurality of conversations based on the at least one response;

storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of conversations for access if the first file is selected;

providing, by the system server, the selected subset of the plurality of conversations to a user that selects the first file; and

identifying the at least one sender to the user.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising providing, by the server, the selected subset of the plurality of conversations to a user that selects the first file.

34. A system for identifying conversations having relevance to a first file, comprising:

a server configured to present on a first display a list of inquiries to an identified sender of a first file, wherein the sender is provided with write-privilege to the first file, wherein the list of inquiries is based on a plurality of conversations, wherein the list of inquiries includes search terms used in a search that identified the first file and the plurality of conversations, thereby establishing the relationship between the first file and the plurality of conversations by text analysis or filtering;

the server configured to receive from the identified sender at least one response to the list of inquiries;

the server configured to select a subset of the plurality of conversations based on the at least one response;

a server configured to present on a second display the selected subset of the plurality of conversations to a user that selects the first file, and identify the at least one sender to the user.

35. A programmable storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a non-transitory program of instructions when executed by the machine to perform a method of identifying conversations of a social network system having relevance to a first file, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of conversations within the social network system, wherein the plurality of conversations each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the social network system provides a platform for storing and sharing conversation, and each conversation includes a conversation and associated information;

generating, by a system server, a list of inquiries based on the plurality of conversations, wherein the list of inquiries includes search terms used in a search that identified the first file and the plurality of conversations, thereby establishing the relationship between the first file and the plurality of conversations by text analysis or filtering;

providing, by the system server, the list of inquiries to at least one sender of the first file, wherein the sender is provided with write-privilege to the first file;

receiving from the at least one sender at least one response to the list of inquiries;

selecting a subset of the plurality of conversations based on the at least one response;

storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of conversations for access if the first file is selected;

providing, by the system server, the selected subset of the plurality of conversations to a user that selects the first file; and

identifying the at least one sender to the user.

36. A method of identifying conversations of a social network system having relevance to a first file, comprising:

identifying a plurality of conversations within the social network system, wherein the plurality of conversations each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the social network system provides a platform for storing and sharing conversation, and each conversation includes a conversation and associated information;

generating, by a system server, a first list of inquiries based on the plurality of conversations, wherein the list of inquiries includes search terms used in a search that identified the first file and the plurality of conversations, thereby establishing the relationship between the first file and the plurality of conversations by text analysis or filtering;

providing, by the system server, the first list of inquiries to at least one sender of the first file, wherein the sender is provided with write-privilege to the first file;

receiving from the at least one sender of the plurality of conversations at least one first response to the first list of inquiries;

generating, by the system server, a second list of inquiries based on the plurality of conversations;

providing, by the system server, the second list of inquiries to at least one second sender of the first file, wherein the second sender is provided with write-privilege to the first file;

receiving from the at least one second sender at least one second response to the second list of inquiries;

selecting a subset of the plurality of conversations based on the at least one response and the at least one second response;

storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of conversations for access if the first file is selected;

providing, by the system server, the selected subset of the plurality of conversations to a user that selects the first file; and

identifying the at least one sender and the at least one second sender to the user.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the information related to the selected subset of the plurality of conversations comprises an opinion of the at least one sender of either the first file or the plurality of conversations.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprises providing the opinion of the at least one sender to a user that selects the first file.