LEVERAGING COMMUNICATIONS TO IDENTIFY SOCIAL NETWORK FRIENDS

• US 20100057858A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Shahine, Omar H., Kafka, Steven D., Telehowski, Jennie Park, Gillum, Eliot, Shen, Jennifer Iting, Yang, Sara Liu
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A method for determining whether to recommend a social relationship between a social network member and another party is disclosed. Electronic communication activity of the social network member and the other party is monitored. Based on a number of characteristics of the communication, a determination is made as to whether to recommend the party to the member as a social network friend. The characteristics can include how the parties communicate—whether through email, instant messaging and/or voice communication, whether the parties send direct email messages to each other, whether they communicate as part of a group email message, the location of each parties address in the email message and whether communication includes sharing activity.

Claims

1. A method for enabling an electronic social relationship between a social network member and a second party, comprising:

monitoring email traffic between the social network member and the second party;

determining whether the email traffic merits recommendation of the second party to the member as a social network friend based on one or more characteristics of the email communication; and

if the email traffic merits recommending the second party to the social network member;

then providing a message to the social network member recommending second party as social network friend.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the message includes an action link enabling an action on the recommendation.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the action includes joining the second party as friend if the second party is a member of the social network.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the action includes inviting the second party to the social network if the second party is not a member of the social network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining comprises:

determining a plurality of characteristics of the email between the social network member and the at least one second party;

assigning a weight to each of the plurality of characteristics of the email;

summing the weight assigned to each characteristic and if said sum exceeds a threshold, recommending the establishment of a social relationship between the member at said at least one second party.

6. A method for determining whether to recommend a social relationship between an electronic social network member and at least one second party wherein the social network administrator provides communication services to the member, comprising:

monitoring electronic communication activity of the social network member and said at least one second party via a communication service provided by the administrator of the social network;

determining a plurality of characteristics of the communication activity between the social network member and the at least one second party;

assigning a weight to each of the plurality of characteristics of communication activity;

summing the weight assigned to communication and if said sum exceeds a threshold, recommending the establishment of a social relationship between the member at said at least one second party.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said method is performed for each communication event between the social network member and each of a plurality of second parties.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of second parties is not a member of the social network.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of monitoring includes monitoring email communications between the member and one or more second parties.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of assigning includes assigning a weight to each of a plurality of characteristics comprised of one or more of:

whether the communication activity comprises a direct email message communicated between the member a second party;

whether the communication activity is bidirectional.

whether the communication activity comprises a group email message communicated between the member and a group including the second party;

whether the communication activity comprises an email message including sharing activity between the member and said second party.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the communication activity comprises instant messaging.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the communication activity comprises a voice communication.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein said plurality of characteristics include one or more of:

the form of the electronic communication activity;

whether the activity is a direct or group communication between the member and second parties;

whether the activity is hosted by a third party service;

the frequency of communication with the second party;

whether the activity is bidirectional;

the time between communications by the member and second party; and

/or

whether the activity includes sharing activity between the member and a second party.

14. A method for determining an online relationship between two users, one user being a member of a social network service provided by a service provider having access to communication information from said one user, comprising:

monitoring communication activity between the member and one or more second parties;

determining one or more factors concerning the communication characterizing each communication event between the social network member and the second party based on number of communication factors; and

if the communication activity merits recommending the second party to the social network member;

then providing a message to the social network member recommending second party as social network friend, the message including an action link enabling an action on the recommendation.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing a message includes displaying one or more suggestions in a user interface comprising a home page for the social network member.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing a message includes displaying one or more suggestions in a mail service user interface.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of determining comprises:

assigning a weight to each of the plurality of factors of communication activity, and wherein said factors include;

the form of the electronic communication activity;

whether the activity is a direct or group communication between the member and second parties;

whether the activity is hosted by a third party service;

the frequency of communication with the second party;

whether the communication is bidirectional;

the time between communications by the member and second party; and

/or

whether the activity includes sharing activity between the member and a second party.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the action link enables joining the second party as friend if the second party is a member of the social network.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the action link enables inviting the second party to the social network if the second party is not a member of the social network.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the method further includes automatically joining the second party as a friend if the second party joins the social network.