System and method for building social networks based on activity around shared virtual objects

US7249123B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Michael D. Elder · Durham, US
• Jason Y. Jho · Raleigh, US
• Vaughn T. Rokosz · Newton, US
• Andrew L. Schirmer · Andover, US
• Matthew Schultz · Ithaca, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 31, 2002
• Grant date: Jul 24, 2007
• Expiry date: Nov 30, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S707/99934
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for determining a social network. A metrics database stores virtual object indicia including document attributes, activities, and associated persons. A query engine responsive to a user request and the metrics database infers individual connections to the virtual object by individuals executing the activities. A visualization engine visualizes membership in the social network as including these individuals and the activities connecting them. The query engine further collects a plurality of documents having non-unique values on a first shared attribute into an aggregate, and the visualization engine further filters the social network to include only individuals having membership in the aggregate.