Ontology models for identifying connectivity between entities in a social graph
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- crawling a network of unstructured information data sources to obtain information;
filtering the information according to an ontology data model to create ontology data structures in a filtered information format, wherein each ontology data structure represents a relationship between two entities;
storing the ontology data structures on a server;
building a social graph based on the ontology data structures created from the filtered information format from the network of unstructured information data sources, wherein the social graph comprises a first type of node called system-provided nodes and a first type of edge called system-provided edges that link the system-provided nodes;
allowing a plurality of users to provide information about connections they may have to entities already represented in the social graph based on the ontology data structures;
updating the social graph to include a second type of node called user-provided nodes and a second type of edge called user-provided edges, wherein the user-provided nodes represent each user of the plurality of users;
coupling each user-provided node to at least one system-provided node by a user-provided edge, wherein each user-provided edge is specified by the provided information of the user represented by the user-provided node; and
providing a graphical user interface through which users can access information stored in the social graph based on the ontology data structures, wherein the social graph comprises both the system-provided nodes and the user-provided nodes in the same social graph.
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Abstract
A system gathers information on important and influential people and uses an ontology to build a social graph. The information is organized based on this social graph and provided to users as a service. The system uses ontology models to identify connectivity between entities (e.g., people, organizations, events, and things) in the social graph. Through its ontology, the system can determine, interpret, and represent the relationships of people that occur in the real world.
84 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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crawling a network of unstructured information data sources to obtain information; filtering the information according to an ontology data model to create ontology data structures in a filtered information format, wherein each ontology data structure represents a relationship between two entities; storing the ontology data structures on a server; building a social graph based on the ontology data structures created from the filtered information format from the network of unstructured information data sources, wherein the social graph comprises a first type of node called system-provided nodes and a first type of edge called system-provided edges that link the system-provided nodes; allowing a plurality of users to provide information about connections they may have to entities already represented in the social graph based on the ontology data structures; updating the social graph to include a second type of node called user-provided nodes and a second type of edge called user-provided edges, wherein the user-provided nodes represent each user of the plurality of users; coupling each user-provided node to at least one system-provided node by a user-provided edge, wherein each user-provided edge is specified by the provided information of the user represented by the user-provided node; and providing a graphical user interface through which users can access information stored in the social graph based on the ontology data structures, wherein the social graph comprises both the system-provided nodes and the user-provided nodes in the same social graph. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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crawling a network of unstructured information data sources by a system to obtain crawled information; filtering the crawled information according to an ontology data model to create ontology data structures; storing the ontology data structures on a server; providing a social graph, wherein the social graph comprises; a plurality of nodes of a first type, referred to as system-provided nodes, wherein each system-provided node represents an entity and includes the crawled information gathered by the system from the crawling the network of unstructured information data sources by the system; a plurality of nodes of a second type, different from the first type of node and referred to as ghost nodes, wherein each ghost node represents an entity created for a user and includes user information specified by a user of the system; a plurality of edges of a first type, referred to as system-provided edges, wherein each system-provided edge represents a relationship between two different system-provided nodes of the social graph and includes a relationship type determined by the system from the crawled information; and a plurality of edges of a second type, different from the first type of edge and referred to as ghost edges, wherein each ghost edge represents a relationship between a system-provided node and ghost node of the social graph, and information on the relationship is specified by a user of the system; and providing a graphical user interface through which users, each being represented by a ghost node in the social graph, can access information on system-provided nodes in the social graph along with a visual indication of relationships specified by the stored ontology data structures. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification