Systems and methods to facilitate self regulation of social networks through trading and gift exchange

• US 20060190281A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Lili, Hughes, Richard L., Kelly, Sean U., Vyhmeister, Alwin R., Kott, Ryszard K., Portnoy, William L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates self-regulation of a social network system based at least in part on user behavior, and in particular on good or desirable user behavior. The system and method involve monitoring user behavior such as user activity and user interactions with other users and the network itself. Several factors can be weighed to determine whether the user behavior is good. Network assets or rights can be allocated to good users in the form of gifts or trade exchange opportunities whereas less desirable or bad users may not receive such gifts or trade opportunities or assets and rights might be revoked from them. By watching user behavior and promoting good behavior in this manner, the social network can be managed and self-regulated to optimize the utilization and distribution of both limited and unlimited assets (e.g., network created and user created assets or resources).

Claims

1. A system that facilitates self-regulation of a social network comprising:

a network monitoring component that watches user behavior on the social network; and

an asset allocation component that allocates or re-allocates one or more assets among one or more network users based at least in part on whether the user behavior is desirable.

2. The system of claim 1, the assets comprise content, quota to create the content and rights to perform certain actions in the social network.

3. The system of claim 1, the assets comprise social network-created and user-created assets.

4. The system of claim 1, the asset allocation component re-allocates one or more assets from at least one network user to at least one of the following when the user behavior is not desirable to one or more other network users and the social network asset pool.

5. The system of claim 1, the asset allocation component allocates one or more assets to at least one network user when the network user behavior is determined to be desirable.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a rating component that rates at least one network user'"'"'s content as well as character and frequency of the user'"'"'s actions to facilitate determining whether the network user'"'"'s behavior is desirable.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a trade exchange component that provides opportunities to trade or exchange one or more objects between a network users or between the social network and the network user when the network user behavior is determined to be desirable.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of modules that provide network users with an ability to gift, barter, generate, and/or trade objects based at least in part on the users'"'"' individual behavior to facilitate promoting good behavior on and optimized operation of the social network.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising an artificial intelligence component that facilitates regulating user behavior on the social network.

10. A computer-implemented method that facilitates self-regulation of a social network comprising:

observing user behavior within the social network; and

allocating one or more assets among network users based at least in part on their individual behavior.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing network users with an ability to gift, barter, generate, and/or trade assets in connection with behaving in a desirable manner on the social network.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising allocating virtual monies, network assets and user rights to one or more network users in connection with rewarding desirable user behavior.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising performing a probabilistic-based utility analysis in connection with regulating the social network based in part on user behavior.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising collecting and analyzing user feedback about at least one network user to determine whether the network user exhibits desirable behavior.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising offering to trade one or more assets with at least one network user to optimize utilization of the one or more assets.

16. The method of claim 10, the assets comprise content, quota to create the content, as well as rights to perform certain actions in the social network.

17. The method of claim 10, the assets comprise network-generated assets and user-generated assets.

18. A system that facilitates self-regulation of a social network comprising:

means for watching user behavior on the social network; and

means for allocating one or more assets among one or more network users based at least in part on whether the user behavior is desirable.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for providing opportunities to trade or exchange one or more objects between a network users or between the social network and the network user when the network user behavior is determined to be desirable.

20. The system of claim 18, the assets comprise content, quota to create the content as well as rights to perform certain actions in the social network.