Methods and apparatus for targeting communications using social network metrics

• US 9,171,047 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Lawler, Brian, Loh, Elliot, Martino, Paul J., Pincus, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): KHAJURIA, SHRIPAL K
• Application Number:
  US14/495,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20150012605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 709/207
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A method for a computer system includes receiving a first user communication, determining a first group of users, determining a target number of users, determining whether the first group of users includes the target number of users, and if not, providing the communication to the first group of users, determining a hierarchal mapping of groups of users in response to user memberships, determining a second group of users from the hierarchal mapping, determining a plurality of social network relationship factors for the second group of users with respect to the first user, and providing the communication to at least a subset of users in the second group of users in response to the first plurality of social network relationship factors.

Claims

1. A method for automated prioritization of electronic communications transmitted over a network, the method comprising:

receiving, on a server using an interface communicatively coupled to the network, an electronic communication directed to a first user, the electronic communication initiated by a second user, the first and second users belonging to a social network;

identifying, using one or more processors within the server, a first affinity group with at least the first user as a member;

calculating a first social distance between the second user and the affinity group based on accessing the relationship information within the social network; and

prioritizing presentation of the electronic communication, relative to a plurality of other electronic communications for the first user, based at least in part on comparing the first social distance with social distances associated with each electronic communication of the plurality of other electronic communications.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the first social distance includes determining whether the second user is a member of the first affinity group.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second user is not a member of the first affinity group, calculating the first social distance includes traversing a hierarchy of affinity groups related to the first affinity group to locate a second affinity group with the second user as a member.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein calculating the first social distance includes determining a degree of separation between the first affinity group and the second affinity group.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the first social distance includes factoring in a weighting factor, wherein the weighting factor is influenced by interactions between the second user and the first affinity group.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein prioritizing presentation includes storing the electronic communication in a low priority folder, wherein the contents of the low priority folder are only visible upon request by the first user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a trust-network metric associated with the second user; and

wherein prioritizing presentation of the electronic communication includes weighting the trust-network metric associated with the second user in comparison to trust-network metrics associated with the plurality of other electronic communications.

8. The method claim 1, wherein prioritizing presentation of the electronic communication includes storing the electronic communication in a folder associated with the first affinity group.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the second user paid a fee associated with the electronic communication; and

wherein the prioritizing presentation includes increasing a priority level of the electronic message, based on the fee paid by the second user, relative to the plurality of other electronic communications.

10. A system comprising:

a network interface;

a memory device; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory device, wherein the processor, the memory device, and the network interface cooperate such that the system performs operations comprising;

receiving, over a network using the network interface, an electronic communication directed to a first user, the electronic communication initiated by a second user, the first and second users belonging to a social network;

identifying a first affinity group with at least the first user as a member;

calculating a first social distance between the second user and the affinity group based on accessing the relationship information within the social network; and

prioritizing presentation of the electronic communication, relative to a plurality of other electronic communications for the first user, based at least in part on comparing the first social distance with social distances associated with each electronic communication of the plurality of other electronic communications.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein calculating the first social distance includes determining whether the second user is a member of the first affinity group.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second user is not a member of the first affinity group, calculating the first social distance includes traversing a hierarchy of affinity groups related to the first affinity group to locate a second affinity group with the second user as a member.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein calculating the first social distance includes determining a degree of separation between the first affinity group and the second affinity group.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein calculating the first social distance includes factoring in a weighting factor, wherein the weighting factor is influenced by interactions between the second user and the first affinity group.

15. The system of claim 10, the system further performing operations comprising:

determining a trust-network metric associated with the second user; and

wherein prioritizing presentation of the electronic communication includes weighting the trust-network metric associated with the second user in comparison to trust-network metrics associated with the plurality of other electronic communications.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions for automated prioritization of electronic communications transmitted over a network that, when executed on a computing device including one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receive an electronic communication directed to a first user, the electronic communication initiated by a second user, the first and second users belonging to a social network;

identify a first affinity group with at least the first user as a member;

calculate a first social distance between the second user and the affinity group based on accessing the relationship information within the social network; and

prioritize presentation of the electronic communication, relative to a plurality of other electronic communications for the first user, based at least in part on comparing the first social distance with social distances associated with each electronic communication of the plurality of other electronic communications.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions that cause the computing device to calculate the first social distance include instructions to determine whether the second user is a member of the first affinity group.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the second user is not a member of the first affinity group, the instructions that cause the computing device to calculate the first social distance include instructions to traverse a hierarchy of affinity groups related to the first affinity group to locate a second affinity group with the second user as a member.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions that cause the computing device to calculate the first social distance include instructions to determine a degree of separation between the first affinity group and the second affinity group.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions that cause the computing device to calculate the first social distance include instructions to factor in a weighting factor, wherein the weighting factor is influenced by interactions between the second user and the first affinity group.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that cause the computing device to:

determine a trust-network metric associated with the second user; and

wherein prioritizing presentation of the electronic communication includes weighting the trust-network metric associated with the second user in comparison to trust-network metrics associated with the plurality of other electronic communications.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that cause the computing device to:

determine that the second user paid a fee associated with the electronic communication; and

wherein the prioritizing presentation includes increasing a priority level of the electronic message, based on the fee paid by the second user, relative to the plurality of other electronic communications.