Identifying influencers for topics in social media

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9864807-B2
Application number	US-201615186975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2016
Priority date	Jan 7, 2014
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A computer determines social media influencers in a specific topic by receiving a dataset of information associated with a website, the information including a first list of users of the website and a list of content that each user posts on the website, wherein each user is associated with other users from the first list of users. The computer determines initial values representing variables of the dataset of information on the website, wherein the variables include one or more topics for the list of content that each user from the first list of users posts on the website. The computer performs an iteration of Gibbs Sampling utilizing the initial values. The computer determines the one or more new values representing variables of the dataset represent a distribution of the one or more topics for the list of content that each user from the first list of users posts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a processor, a dataset of information associated with a website, the information including a first list of users of the website and a list of content that each user posts on the website, wherein each user is associated with one or more other users from the first list of users;
receiving, by a processor, initial values representing variables of the dataset of information on the website, wherein the variables include one or more topics for the list of content that each user from the first list of users posts on the website;
performing, by a processor, one or more iterations of Gibbs Sampling utilizing the initial values, wherein performing each of the one or more iterations assigns new values representing variables of the dataset;
determining, by a processor, that the one or more new values representing variables of the dataset represent a distribution of the one or more topics for the list of content that each user from the first list of users posts;
identifying, by a processor, one or more topics in the list of content that each user of the first list of users posts on the website;
determining, by a processor, the one or more topics do not exist in a topic search engine;
creating, by a processor, the one or more topics in the topic search engine;
identifying, by a processor, a list of keywords in the list of content that each user from the first list of users posts on the website;
consolidating, by a processor, the list of keywords for utilization by the topic search engine for each of the one or more topics;
updating, by a processor, each of the one or more topics with a subset list of the first list of users representing influencers in each of the one or more topics; and
consolidating, by a processor, the subset list of the first list of users representing influencers in each of the one or more topics.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more new values statistically represent one or more topics for which each user associates with the one or more other users.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining, by a processor, for each user, percentage values for the one or more variables, wherein the percentage values represent an occurrence for which of the one or more topics each user associates with the one or more other users.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing one or more iterations of Gibbs Sampling utilizing the initial values, further comprises:
performing, by a processor, a first iteration of Gibbs Sampling, wherein performing the first iteration assigns a first set of values as new values representing variables of the dataset; and
performing, by a processor, a second iteration of Gibbs Sampling, wherein performing the second iteration assigns a second set of values as part of the new values representing variables of the dataset.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second set of values replaces a part of the first set of values.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
executing, by a processor, a topic specific search in the topic search engine based on the distribution of the one or more topics for the list of content that each user from the first list of users posts, the topic search providing the subset list of the first list of users representing influencers in a specific topic.

7. A computer program product comprising:
one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to receive a dataset of information associated with a website, the information including a first list of users of the website and a list of content that each user posts on the website, wherein each user is associated with one or more other users from the first list of users;
program instructions to receive initial values representing variables of the dataset of information on the website, wherein the variables include one or more topics for the list of content that each user from the first list of users posts on the website;
program instructions to perform one or more iterations of Gibbs Sampling utilizing the initial values, wherein performing each of the one or more iterations assigns new values representing variables of the dataset;
program instructions to determine that the one or more new values representing variables of the dataset represent a distribution of the one or more topics for the list of content that each user from the first list of users posts;
program instructions to identify one or more topics in the list of content that each user of the first list of users posts on the website;
program instructions to determine the one or more topics do not exist in the topic search engine;
program instructions to create the one or more topics in a topic search engine;
program instructions to identify a list of keywords in the list of content that each user from the first list of users posts on the website;
program instructions to consolidate the list of keywords for utilization by the topic search engine for each of the one or more topics;
program instructions to update each of the one or more topics with a subset list of the first list of users representing influencers in each of the one or more topics; and
program instructions to consolidate the subset list of the first list of users representing influencers in each of the one or more topics.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the one or more new values statistically represent one or more topics for which each user associates with the one or more other users.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
determine for each user, percentage values for the one or more variables, wherein the percentage values represent an occurrence for which of the one or more topics each user associates with the one or more other users.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein performing one or more iterations of Gibbs Sampling utilizing the initial values, further comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
perform a first iteration of Gibbs Sampling, wherein performing the first iteration assigns a first set of values as new values representing possible variables; and
perform a second iteration of Gibbs Sampling, wherein performing the second iteration assigns a second set of values as part of the new values representing possible variables.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the second set of values replaces a part of the first set of values.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 , further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
execute a topic specific search in a topic search engine based on the distribution of the one or more topics for the list of content that each user from the first list of users posts, the topic search providing the subset list of the first list of users representing influencers in a specific topic.

13. A computer system comprising:
one or more computer processors;
one or more computer readable storage media; and
program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage medium for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising:
pro

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Balmin Andrey L
• Bi Bin
• Sismanis John
• Tian Yuanyuan

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

• G06F16/338

  Presentation of query results · CPC title

• G06Q30/0201 Primary

  Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data · CPC title

• G06F16/958

  Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking · CPC title