Search engine that identifies and uses social networks in communications, retrieval, and electronic commerce
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- one or more processors;
a database that stores maps of associations between search-related information and entities that are members of a social network; and
memory storing computer-readable instructions by the one or more processors to perform operations including;
performing an analysis of at least one of terms or phrases of searches performed by a plurality of members of the social network to infer interests of the plurality of members;
determining, based on the analysis, that a first number of the searches is associated with a first interest, the first number of the searches being performed by a first group of members included in the social network;
determining, based on the analysis, that a second number of the searches is associated with a second interest, the second number of the searches being performed by a second group of members included in the social network;
forming, in the database, a first subnetwork of the social network, the first subnetwork including the first group of members;
forming, in the database, a second subnetwork of the social network, the second subnetwork including the second group of members;
receiving a search query from a user;
determining search results responsive to the search query;
returning the determined search results;
determining that the search query corresponds with the first interest; and
returning, at least partly in response to determining that the search query corresponds with the first interest, a link to at least one member of the first group of members.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Architecture that monitors interaction data (e.g., search queries, query results and click-through rates), and provides users with links to other users that fall into similar categories with respect to the foregoing monitored activities (e.g., providing links to individuals and groups that share common interests and/or profiles). A search engine can be interactively coupled with one or more social networks, and that maps individuals and/or groups within respective social networks to subsets of categories associated with searches. A database stores mapped information which can be continuously updated and reorganized as links within the system mapping become stronger or weaker. The architecture can comprise a social network system that includes a database for mapping search-related information to an entity of a social network, and a search component for processing a search query for search results and returning a link to an entity of a social network based on the search query.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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one or more processors; a database that stores maps of associations between search-related information and entities that are members of a social network; and memory storing computer-readable instructions by the one or more processors to perform operations including; performing an analysis of at least one of terms or phrases of searches performed by a plurality of members of the social network to infer interests of the plurality of members; determining, based on the analysis, that a first number of the searches is associated with a first interest, the first number of the searches being performed by a first group of members included in the social network; determining, based on the analysis, that a second number of the searches is associated with a second interest, the second number of the searches being performed by a second group of members included in the social network; forming, in the database, a first subnetwork of the social network, the first subnetwork including the first group of members; forming, in the database, a second subnetwork of the social network, the second subnetwork including the second group of members; receiving a search query from a user; determining search results responsive to the search query; returning the determined search results; determining that the search query corresponds with the first interest; and returning, at least partly in response to determining that the search query corresponds with the first interest, a link to at least one member of the first group of members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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performing an analysis of at least one of terms or phrases of searches performed by a plurality of members of a social network to infer interests of the plurality of members; determining, based on the analysis, that a first number of the searches is associated with a first topic of interest, the first number of the searches being performed by a first group of members included in the social network; determining, based on the analysis, that a second number of the searches is associated with a second topic of interest, the second number of the searches being performed by a second group of members included in the social network; receiving a search query from a user; in response to receiving the search query; determining, by a computer, search results responsive to the search query; returning, by the computer, the determined search results; accessing, by the computer, a database of mapping information, wherein the mapping information maps the first group of members included in the social network with the first topic of interest and the second group of members included in the social network with the second topic of interest; forming, by the computer and in the database, a first subnetwork of the social network, the first subnetwork including the first group of members included in the social network; forming, by the computer and in the database, a second subnetwork of the social network, the second subnetwork including the second group of members included in the social network; determining, by the computer, that the search query matches the first topic of interest; and returning, by the computer and at least partly in response to determining that the search query matches the first topic of interest, a link to at least one member of the first subnetwork of the social network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
under control of one or more processors configured with executable instructions; performing an analysis of at least one of terms or phrases of searches performed by a plurality of members of the social network to infer interests of the plurality of members; determining, based on the analysis, that a number of the searches is associated with a topic of interest, the number of the searches being performed by a group of members included in the social network; storing mapping information in a database, the mapping information indicating that the group of members included in the social network is associated with the topic of interest; forming a subnetwork of the social network including the group of the members of the social network; receiving a search query from a user of the social network; determining search results responsive to the search query; returning the search results to the user of the social network; determining that the search query matches the topic of interest; and returning, to the user of the social network, a link associated with the group of members of the social network at least partly in response to determining that the search query matches the topic of interest. - View Dependent Claims (20)
Specification