Role-relative social networking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9898538-B2
Application number	US-201615278714-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2016
Priority date	Jan 28, 2014
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

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;
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.

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 , 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.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising updating the 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.

6. A system, comprising:
a memory; and
a processor programmed to:
receive, from a social network user, a role-based social network follow request that identifies a specified user role to follow within a social network;
execute a social network role-based query derived from the specified user role identified within the role-based social network follow request;
retrieve, in response to executing the social network role-based query, role-based information of social network users within the social network;
identify another social network user that matches the specified user role based upon the retrieved role-based information of the social network users;
configure, for the requesting social network user, role-based social network following of the matching other social network user within the memory;
configure, 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 within the memory;
provide a social network role label of the matching other social network user to the requesting social network user;
receive 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
configure 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 within the memory.

7. The system of claim 6 , 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
in being programmed to configure, for the requesting social network user, the role-based social network following of the matching other social network user within the memory, the processor is programmed to configure, for the requesting social network user, relative role-based social network following of the matching other social network user within the memory.

8. The system of claim 6 , where the processor is further programmed to:
retrieve 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
provide 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.

9. The system of claim 6 , where:
in being programmed to configure, for the requesting social network user, the role-based social network following of the matching other social network user within the memory, the processor is programmed to:
identify social network role-based following interests of the requesting social network user based upon the specified user role to follow within the social network;
configure a social network role-based following interest profile comprising the social network following interests of the requesting social network user within the memory; and
derive 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.

10. The system of claim 9 , where the processor is further programmed to update the 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 ne

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

• G06F17/30864

  Physics · mapped topic

• H04L67/306 Primary

  User profiles · CPC title

• H04L63/105

  Multiple levels of security · CPC title