Observation-based user profiling and profile matching

• US 9,043,257 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2013
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invent.ly LLC
• Original Assignee: Invent.ly LLC
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Michael B
• Application Number:
  US13/920,335
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 706/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Observation-based user profiling and profile matching are provided. The network behavior of users of a computer-implemented social network are observed and used for user profiling. By observing network behavior instead of necessarily relying on user self-reported data, accurate and objective user profiles can be formed; user profiling is accomplished based on the observed network behaviors with or without the knowledge of the user being profiled. The observed network behaviors can include the customization of a visual graphic, a media preference, a communication preference, or a selection of words from a word list. The user profiles can be with respect to a domain and two or more users can be matched based on their profiles with respect to the same domain. User ratings and profile updating based on the ratings are also provided.

Claims

1. An application server for matching a plurality of users within a domain, said application server configured to:

(A) implement a social network having a plurality of users;

(B) observe network behaviors of at least some of said plurality of users of said social network;

(C) develop profiles of at least some of said plurality of users within at least one of a plurality of domains using a profile function, wherein (i) said profile function defines a level of relevance of network behaviors for said domain, (ii) said profile function maps said observed network behaviors to said profiles for said domain and (iii) each of said profiles stores a descriptor representing one of said plurality of users for said domain; and

(D) compute matches of two or more of said plurality of users with respect to one of said domains, wherein said matches are based on a relation of common descriptors of said profiles for said domain.

2. The application server according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of domains comprises at least one of an activity, a goal, a need and an interest.

3. The application server according to claim 1, further configured to:

(E) receive ratings of one or more of said matches from said plurality of users, wherein said rating is based on a combination of (i) one or more user inputs of said users having matched profiles and (ii) participation data of said users having matched profiles; and

(F) update said profiles based on said ratings.

4. The application server according to claim 1, wherein said profiles comprise scale factors having a magnitude representing said level of relevance of said observed network behaviors for said domain.

5. The application server according to claim 4, wherein said magnitude of said scale factors are refined based on ratings received from said plurality of users.

6. The application server according to claim 1, wherein said profiles are developed with respect to one or more domains.

7. The application server according to claim 1, wherein (i) said observed network behaviors are represented by a matrix and (ii) said profiles are an association of said matrix with respect to said domain.

8. The application server according to claim 1, wherein said observed network behaviors are determined automatically based on actions, habits and preferences of each of said plurality of users.

9. The application server according to claim 8, wherein said actions, habits and preferences of said user are performed on a portable communication device.

10. The application server according to claim 8, wherein said actions, habits and preferences are based on data collected from sensors of a portable communication device.

11. The application server according to claim 1, wherein said observed network behaviors comprise a customization of an avatar.

12. The application server according to claim 1, wherein (i) said observed network behaviors comprise a selection of words from a word list and (ii) said words are associated with any combination of a value, a need and a goal.

13. The application server according to claim 1, wherein said observed network behaviors comprise a communication preferences between at least one of said plurality of users and a service provider.

14. The application server according to claim 1, wherein said level of relevance of said network behaviors across domains is updated in accordance to ratings provided by said plurality of users.

15. The application server according to claim 1, wherein content is (i) recommended in a first mode and (ii) presented in a second mode based on said profile and said domain.

16. The application server according to claim 1, wherein (i) friends and (ii) acquaintances are suggested based on said profile and said domain.

17. The application server according to claim 1, wherein one or more scale factors associate one or more of said network behaviors with one or more of said plurality of domains.

18. The application server according to claim 1, wherein (i) said profiles are updated and (ii) said updates are based on cumulative activity of said plurality of users.

19. The application server according to claim 18, wherein said cumulative activity updates said level of relevance of one or more of said network behaviors with respect to one or more of said domains.