Role-relative social networking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9635126-B2
Application number	US-201414549208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2014
Priority date	Jan 28, 2014
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A role-based social network follow request that identifies a specified user role to follow within a social network is received from a social network user. A social network role-based query, derived from the specified user role identified within the role-based social network follow request, is executed. In response to executing the social network role-based query, role-based information of social network users within the social network is retrieved. Another social network user that matches the specified user role is identified based upon the retrieved role-based information of the social network users. Role-based social network following of the matching other social network user is configured for the requesting social network user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, via a processor from a social network user, a role-based social network follow request that identifies a specified user role to follow within a social network;
executing a social network role-based query derived from the specified user role identified within the role-based social network follow request;
retrieving, in response to executing the social network role-based query, role-based information of social network users within the social network;
identifying another social network user that matches the specified user role based upon the retrieved role-based information of the social network users;
configuring, for the requesting social network user, role-based social network following of the matching other social network user;
determining a change of role of the matching other social network user configured in association with the role-based social network following;
identifying a different social network user that matches the specified user role configured in association with role-based social network following; and
re-configuring, for the requesting social network user, the role-based social network following to follow the matching different social network user that matches the specified user role.

2. The method of claim 1 , where:
the requesting social network user is associated with a requesting-user role within the social network;
the specified user role to follow within the social network comprises a user role specified relatively to the requesting-user role of the requesting social network user; and
configuring, for the requesting social network user, the role-based social network following of the matching other social network user comprises configuring, for the requesting social network user, relative role-based social network following of the matching other social network user.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
retrieving at least one social network posting posted by the matching other social network user configured in association with the role-based social network following; and
providing the retrieved at least one social network posting posted by the matching other social network user configured in association with the role-based social network following to the social network user from which the role-based social network follow request was received.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
configuring, in response to retrieving the role-based information of social network users within the social network, a role-based social network graph that categorizes roles of social network users and relative roles of social network users within the social network using social network role labels;
providing a social network role label of the matching other social network user to the requesting social network user;
receiving a confirmation from the requesting social network user to add the matching other social network user to a social network role-based follow list of the requesting social network user; and
configuring the social network role-based follow list of the requesting social network user with the social network role label of the matching other social network user.

5. The method of claim 1 , where configuring, for the requesting social network user, the role-based social network following of the matching other social network user comprises:
identifying social network role-based following interests of the requesting social network user based upon the specified user role to follow within the social network;
configuring a social network role-based following interest profile comprising the social network following interests of the requesting social network user; and
deriving additional role-based social network users that match the social network role-based following interests of the requesting social network user configured within the social network role-based following interest profile.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising updating a social network role-based follow list configured for the requesting social network user using the derived additional role-based social network users that match the social network following interests of the requesting social network user configured within the social network role-based following interest profile.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Brooks David A
• Estrada Miguel A
• Perry Ethan L
• Schaeck Thomas
• Wanderski Michael C

Classifications

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• G06F16/9535

  Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation · CPC title

• H04L67/30 Primary

  Profiles · CPC title

• G06Q50/01

  Physics · mapped topic

• H04L67/306 Primary

  User profiles · CPC title