Method for gauging public interest in a topic using network analysis of online discussions
First Claim
1. A system for gauging public interest in a topic using network analysis of online discussions, the system comprising:
- one or more processors and a non-transitory memory having instructions encoded thereon such that when the instructions are executed, the one or more processors perform operations of;
receiving, as input, a message from an online discussion related to a topic;
analyzing the message for information related to the message;
generating a graph comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the plurality of nodes represents information related to the message;
updating the graph over time as additional messages from the online discussion are received, such that additional nodes are generated and linked with at least one of the plurality of nodes in the graph to form at least one connected component comprising a set of nodes that are linked together by paths;
determining a normalized diameter of the largest connected component in the graph, wherein the diameter of a connected component is the length of the longest path between two nodes in the connected component; and
outputting a level of collective focus in the online discussion related to the topic based on the normalized diameter to a user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described is system and method for gauging public interest in a topic using network analysis of online discussions. A message from an online discussion related to a specific topic is received as input. The message is analyzed for information related to the message, and a graph comprised of nodes is generated where each node represents information related to the message, such as user name, location, hyperlinks, and annotations. The graph is updated over time as additional messages from the online discussion are received. Additional nodes are generated and linked with at least one of the existing nodes in the graph to form at least one connected component. A normalized diameter of the largest connected component in the graph is determined, and a level of collective focus in the online discussion related to the topic based on the normalized diameter is output to a user.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A system for gauging public interest in a topic using network analysis of online discussions, the system comprising:
-
one or more processors and a non-transitory memory having instructions encoded thereon such that when the instructions are executed, the one or more processors perform operations of; receiving, as input, a message from an online discussion related to a topic; analyzing the message for information related to the message; generating a graph comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the plurality of nodes represents information related to the message; updating the graph over time as additional messages from the online discussion are received, such that additional nodes are generated and linked with at least one of the plurality of nodes in the graph to form at least one connected component comprising a set of nodes that are linked together by paths; determining a normalized diameter of the largest connected component in the graph, wherein the diameter of a connected component is the length of the longest path between two nodes in the connected component; and outputting a level of collective focus in the online discussion related to the topic based on the normalized diameter to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A computer-implemented method for gauging public interest in a topic using network analysis of online discussions, comprising:
-
an act of causing one or more processors to execute instructions stored on a non-transitory memory such that upon execution, the data processor performs operations of; receiving, as input, a message from an online discussion related to a topic; analyzing the message for information related to the message; generating a graph comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the plurality of nodes represents information related to the message; updating the graph over time as additional messages from the online discussion are received, such that additional nodes are generated and linked with at least one of the plurality of nodes in the graph to form at least one connected component comprising a set of nodes that are linked together by paths; determining a normalized diameter of the largest connected component in the graph, wherein the diameter of a connected component is the length of the longest path between two nodes in the connected component; and outputting a level of collective focus in the online discussion related to the topic based on the normalized diameter to a user. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A computer program product for gauging public interest in a topic using network analysis of online discussions, the computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by a computer having a processor for causing the processor to perform operations of:
-
receiving, as input, a message from an online discussion related to a topic; analyzing the message for information related to the message; generating a graph comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the plurality of nodes represents information related to the message; updating the graph over time as additional messages from the online discussion are received, such that additional nodes are generated and linked with at least one of the plurality of nodes in the graph to form at least one connected component comprising a set of nodes that are linked together by paths; determining a normalized diameter of the largest connected component in the graph, wherein the diameter of a connected component is the length of the longest path between two nodes in the connected component; and outputting a level of collective focus in the online discussion related to the topic based on the normalized diameter to a user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A system for gauging public interest in a new consumer product using network analysis of online discussions, the system comprising:
-
one or more processors and a non-transitory memory having instructions encoded thereon such that when the instructions are executed, the one or more processors perform operations of; receiving, as input, a message from an online discussion related to a topic; analyzing the message for information related to the message; generating a graph comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the plurality of nodes represents information related to the message; updating the graph over time as additional messages from the online discussion are received, such that additional nodes are generated and linked with at least one of the plurality of nodes in the graph to form at least one connected component comprising a set of nodes that are linked together by paths; determining a normalized diameter of the largest connected component in the graph, wherein the diameter of a connected component is the length of the longest path between two nodes in the connected component; outputting a level of collective focus in the online discussion related to the topic based on the normalized diameter to a user; wherein the user monitors an online discussion among consumers related to a new consumer product and uses the level of collective focus to estimate how interested the set of consumers are in the new consumer product.
-
Specification