Cumulative connectedness

• US 9,171,336 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Englar, Bruce Wyatt, Nielson, Brett A., Umamaheswaran, Rangarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Distefano, Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US13/220,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20130055151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 715/809, 709/204
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for determining the connectedness from a first individual to a second individual on a social network. In some embodiments, a method includes: (a) receiving information associated with the social network, (b) determining a direct connection between the first individual and the second individual, (c) determining one or more indirect connections between a first individual and a second individual, and (d) determining the connectedness based at least partially on: the direct connection, and/or the number of indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual, and/or the type of each indirect connection, and/or a qualitative value of each indirect connection. Embodiments of the invention allow a user of a system to determine the strength (or quality/closeness) of a connection between two individuals on a social network.

Claims

1. A method to determine connectedness from a first individual to a second individual on a social network, the method comprising:

receiving information associated with the social network of a first individual;

determining, based at least partially on the received information, using a processor, a direct connection between the first individual and the second individual;

calculating a connection path length between the first individual and the second individual on a social network based at least partially on the received social network information associated with the first individual;

comparing the calculated connection path length to a predetermined connection path length threshold value;

determining the calculated connection path length is greater than the predetermined connection path length threshold value;

determining an indirect connection between the first individual and the second individual based on at least determining that the connection path length is greater than the predetermined connection path length threshold value, wherein the indirect connection comprises one or more intermediate individuals;

calculating a cumulative connectedness weight (CCW) factor based on at least partially on the received network information and the calculated path length;

comparing the calculated CCW factor to a dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value, wherein the dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value is calculated based at least partially on determining at least a predetermined number of interactions between the first individual and the second individual during a predetermined period of time;

determining that the calculated CCW factor is greater than the dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value;

confirming the indirect connection between the first individual and the second individual based on determining that the calculated CCW factor is lower than the dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value; and

in response to determining no direct connection;

determining, based at least partially on the received information, one or more indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual;

determining an exchange of social network exchangeables between the first individual and the second individual, the social network exchangeables comprising multimedia;

determining unexchanged information common to the first individual and the second individual, the unexchanged information not exchanged between the first individual and the second individual, the unexchanged information comprising a picture tagging both the first individual and the second individual;

determining the connectedness based at least partially on;

a number of indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual, a type of each indirect connection, the unexchanged information, and the exchange of social network exchangeables.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of the indirect connection is based at least partially on a number of intermediate individuals associated with the indirect connection.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

in response to determining a direct connection;

determining one or more indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual; and

determining the connectedness based at least partially on;

the direct connection, the number of indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual, and the type of each indirect connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a contribution of an indirect connection to the connectedness is based at least partially on a number of branch connections associated with the indirect connection and a type of each branch connection, wherein the type of each branch connection is based at least partially on a distance of the branch connection to the first individual.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user to input, on a user interface, a name of the social network, a name of the first individual, and a name of the second individual.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user to input, on a user interface, a numeric value for a maximum number of intermediate individuals, wherein, in determining the connectedness, an indirect connection that comprises more than the maximum number of intermediate individuals is ignored.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined connectedness from the first individual to the second individual is the same as a determined connectedness from the second individual to the first individual.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined connectedness from the first individual to the second individual is different from a determined connectedness from the second individual to the first individual.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the connectedness based at least partially on a qualitative value associated with the indirect connection, wherein the qualitative value is based at least partially on the first individual'"'"'s activity on the social network, the second individual'"'"'s activity on the social network, and the first individual'"'"'s communication with the second individual on the social network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the qualitative value is either a positive or a negative value.

11. An apparatus to determine connectedness from a first individual to a second individual on a social network, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

at least processor; and

a module stored in the memory, wherein said module comprising computer instruction code executable by the at least one processor, and structured to cause said at least one processor to;

receive information associated with the social network of a first individual;

determine, based at least partially on the received information, using a processor, a direct connection between the first individual and the second individual;

calculate a connection path length between the first individual and the second individual on a social network based at least partially on the received social network information associated with the first individual;

compare the calculated connection path length to a predetermined connection path length threshold value;

determine the calculated connection path length is greater than the predetermined connection path length threshold value;

determine an indirect connection between the first individual and the second individual based on at least determining that the connection path length is greater than the predetermined connection path length threshold value, wherein the indirect connection comprises one or more intermediate individuals;

calculate a cumulative connectedness weight (CCW) factor based on at least partially on the received network information and the calculated path length;

compare the calculated CCW factor to a dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value, wherein the dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value is calculated based at least partially on determining at least a predetermined number of interactions between the first individual and the second individual during a predetermined period of time;

determine that the calculated CCW factor is greater than the dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value; and

confirm the indirect connection between the first individual and the second individual based on determining that the calculated CCW factor is lower than the dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value;

in response to determining no direct connection;

determine, based at least partially on the received information, one or more indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual;

determine an exchange of social network exchangeables between the first individual and the second individual, the social network exchangeables comprising multimedia;

determine unexchanged information common to the first individual and the second individual, the unexchanged information not exchanged between the first individual and the second individual, the unexchanged information comprising a picture tagging both the first individual and the second;

determine the connectedness based at least partially on;

a number of indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual, a type of each indirect connection, the unexchanged information, and the exchange of social network exchangeables.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the type of the indirect connection is based at least partially on a number of intermediate individuals associated with the indirect connection.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the module is further configured to:

in response to determining a direct connection;

determine one or more indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual; and

determine the connectedness based at least partially on;

the direct connection, the number of indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual, and the type of each indirect connection.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a contribution of an indirect connection to the connectedness is based at least partially on a number of branch connections associated with the indirect connection and a type of each branch connection, wherein the type of each branch connection is based at least partially on a distance of the branch connection to the first individual.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the module is further configured to:

prompt a user to input, on a user interface, a name of the social network, a name of the first individual, and a name of the second individual.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the module is further configured to:

prompt a user to input, on a user interface, a numeric value for a maximum number of intermediate individuals, wherein, in determining the connectedness, the module ignores an indirect connection that comprises more than the maximum number of intermediate individuals.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the connectedness is determined based at least partially on a qualitative value associated with the indirect connection, wherein the qualitative value is based at least partially on the first individual'"'"'s activity on the social network, the second individual'"'"'s activity on the social network, and the first individual'"'"'s communication with the second individual on the social network.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the qualitative value is either a positive or a negative value.

19. A computer program product to determine connectedness between from a first individual to a second individual on a social network, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of codes for causing a computer to;

receive information associated with the social network of a first individual;

determine, based at least partially on the received information, using a processor, a direct connection between the first individual and the second individual;

calculate a connection path length between the first individual and the second individual on a social network based at least partially on the received social network information associated with the first individual;

compare the calculated connection path length to a predetermined connection path length threshold value;

determine the calculated connection path length is greater than the predetermined connection path length threshold value;

determine an indirect connection between the first individual and the second individual based on at least determining that the connection path length is greater than the predetermined connection path length threshold value, wherein the indirect connection comprises one or more intermediate individuals;

calculate a cumulative connectedness weight (CCW) factor based on at least partially on the received network information and the calculated path length;

compare the calculated CCW factor to a dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value, wherein the dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value is calculated based at least partially on determining at least a predetermined number of interactions between the first individual and the second individual during a predetermined period of time;

determine that the calculated CCW factor is greater than the dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value; and

confirm the indirect connection between the first individual and the second individual based on determining that the calculated CCW factor is lower than the dynamic predetermined CCW threshold value;

in response to determining no direct connection;

determine, based at least partially on the received information, one or more indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual;

determine an exchange of social network exchangeables between the first individual and the second individual, the social network exchangeables comprising multimedia;

determine unexchanged information common to the first individual and the second individual, the unexchanged information not exchanged between the first individual and the second individual, the unexchanged information comprising a picture tagging both the first individual and the second;

determine the connectedness based at least partially on;

a number of indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual, a type of each indirect connection, the unexchanged information, and the exchange of social network exchangeables.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the type of the indirect connection is based at least partially on a number of intermediate individuals associated with the indirect connection.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the set of codes further causes a computer to:

in response to determining a direct connection;

determine one or more indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual; and

determine the connectedness based at least partially on;

the direct connection, the number of indirect connections between the first individual and the second individual, and the type of each indirect connection.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein a contribution of an indirect connection to the connectedness is based at least partially on a number of branch connections associated with the indirect connection and a type of each branch connection, wherein the type of each branch connection is based at least partially on a distance of the branch connection to the first individual.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the set of codes further causes a computer to:

prompt a user to input, on a user interface, a name of the social network, a name of the first individual, and a name of the second individual.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the set of codes further causes a computer to:

prompt a user to input, on a user interface, a numeric value for a maximum number of intermediate individuals, wherein, in determining the connectedness, the set of codes ignores an indirect connection that comprises more than the maximum number of intermediate individuals.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the determined connectedness from the first individual to the second individual is different from a determined connectedness from the second individual to the first individual.

26. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the connectedness is determined based at least partially on a qualitative value associated with the indirect connection, wherein the qualitative value is based at least partially on the first individual'"'"'s activity on the social network, the second individual'"'"'s activity on the social network, and the first individual'"'"'s communication with the second individual on the social network.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the qualitative value is either a positive or a negative value.