Methods and apparatus for targeting communications using social network metrics

• US 9,305,062 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• 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:
  US14/503,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20150019667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 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 delivering electronic communications transmitted over a network based on social network metrics, 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;

determining, using one or more processors within the server, a social relationship between the first user and the second user, including a trust-metric between the first user and the second user;

delivering the electronic communication to the first user; and

evaluating the first social relationship to determine a fee to be assessed to the second user for delivering the electronic communication to the first user, wherein the fee assessment is triggered at least in part based on the trust-metric exceeding a designated threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the trust-metric includes calculating a social distance between the first user and the second user;

and

wherein the designated threshold is indicative of a maximum social distance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the trust-metric between the first user and the second user includes identifying membership in common affinity groups.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the social relationship between the first user and the second user includes determining a reliability rating for the second user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein evaluating the first social relationship includes evaluating a relationship weighting factor between the first user and the second user;

and

wherein triggering the fee assessment is further based on combining the trust-metric and the reliability rating based in part on the relationship weighting factor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein evaluating the relationship weighting factor includes determining a frequency of communications between the first user and the second user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating the first social relationship to determine the fee to be assessed includes determining that the fee is to be assessed to a third user, wherein the third user originally sent the electronic communication to the second user who electronically forwarded it to the first user.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting an action taken by the first user in response to receiving the electronic communication; and

wherein at least a portion of the fee to be assessed to the third user is sent to the second user in response to detecting the action taken by the first user.

9. 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, using the 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;

determining a social relationship between the first user and the second user, including a trust-metric between the first user and the second user;

delivering the electronic communication to the first user; and

evaluating the first social relationship to determine a fee to be assessed to the second user for delivering the electronic communication to the first user, wherein the fee assessment is triggered at least in part based on the trust-metric exceeding a designated threshold.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein determining the trust-metric includes calculating a social distance between the first user and the second user;

and

wherein the designated threshold is indicative of a maximum social distance.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein determining the trust-metric between the first user and the second user includes identifying membership in common affinity groups.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein determining the social relationship between the first user and the second user includes determining a reliability rating for the second user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein evaluating the first social relationship includes evaluating a relationship weighting factor between the first user and the second user;

and

wherein triggering the fee assessment is further based on combining the trust-metric and the reliability rating based in part on the relationship weighting factor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein evaluating the relationship weighting factor includes determining a frequency of communications between the first user and the second user.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein evaluating the first social relationship to determine the fee to be assessed includes determining that the fee is to be assessed to a third user, wherein the third user originally sent the electronic communication to the second user who electronically forwarded it to the first user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor and memory are further configured to:

detecting an action taken by the first user in response to receiving the electronic communication; and

wherein at least a portion of the fee to be assessed to the third user is sent to the second user in response to detecting the action taken by the first user.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions for delivering electronic communications transmitted over a network based on social network metrics that, when executed on a computing device including one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receive, 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;

determine a social relationship between the first user and the second user, including a trust-metric between the first user and the second user;

deliver the electronic communication to the first user; and

evaluate the first social relationship to determine a fee to be assessed to the second user for delivering the electronic communication to the first user, wherein the fee assessment is triggered at least in part based on the trust-metric exceeding a designated threshold.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions that cause the computing device to determine the trust-metric include instructions to calculate a social distance between the first user and the second user;

and

wherein the designated threshold is indicative of a maximum social distance.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions that cause the computing device to determining the trust-metric between the first user and the second user include instructions to identify membership in common affinity groups.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions that cause the computing device to determine the social relationship between the first user and the second user include instructions to determine a reliability rating for the second user.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions that cause the computing device to evaluate the first social relationship include instructions to evaluate a relationship weighting factor between the first user and the second user;

and

wherein triggering the fee assessment is further based on combining the trust-metric and the reliability rating based in part on the relationship weighting factor.