Systems and methods for measuring user affinity in a social network environment

• US 20080040475A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bosworth, Andrew, Cox, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,402,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

A system and method for measuring user affinity in a social network environment is provided. One or more activities performed by a user associated with a social network environment are monitored. A relationship associated with the one or more activities is identified. An affinity for one or more objects associated with the social network environment is then determined based on the one or more activities and the relationship.

Claims

1. A method for measuring user affinity in a social network environment comprising:

monitoring one or more activities performed by a user associated with a social network environment;

identifying at least one relationship associated with the one or more activities; and

determining an affinity for one or more objects associated with the social network environment based on the one or more activities and the at least one relationship.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising generating one or more items of media based on the user affinity.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more activities comprises interactions with one or more second users.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more activities comprises interaction with content associated with one or more second users.

5. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising delivering the one or more items of media to the user.

6. The method recited in claim 4, further comprising specifying an order for the one or more items of media according to the one or more activities and the at least one relationship.

7. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising assigning a weight to the one or more user activities based on the at least one relationship.

8. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising adjusting the one or more items of media generated based on continuous monitoring of the one or more activities.

9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more objects include at least one second user.

10. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more objects include at least one item of media.

11. A system for measuring user affinity in a social network environment comprising:

a monitoring module configured to monitor one or more activities performed by a user associated with a social network environment;

a relationship database coupled to the monitoring module, the relationship database configured to identify at least one relationship associated with the one or more activities; and

an affinity engine coupled to the relationship database, the affinity engine configured to determine an affinity for one or more objects associated with the social network environment based on the one or more activities and the at least one relationship.

12. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the affinity engine is further configured to generate one or more items of media based on the user affinity.

13. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more activities comprises interactions with one or more second users.

14. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more activities comprises interaction with content associated with one or more second users.

15. The system recited in claim 11, further comprising a display engine configured to display the one or more items of media to the user.

16. The system recited in claim 15, wherein the affinity engine is further configured to specify an order for the one or more items of media according to the one or more activities and the at least one relationship.

17. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the affinity engine is further configured to assign a weight to the one or more user activities based on the at least one relationship.

18. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the affinity engine is further configured to adjust the one or more items of media generated based on continuous monitoring of the one or more activities.

19. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more objects include at least one second user.

20. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more objects include at least one item of media.

21. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for measuring user affinity in a social network environment including instructions for:

monitoring one or more activities performed by a user associated with a social network environment;

identifying at least one relationship associated with the one or more activities; and

determining an affinity for one or more objects associated with the social network environment based on the one or more activities and the at least one relationship.