SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING INFORMATION FROM VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL SYSTEMS AND SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEMS
Systems and methods of recommending that two people form a link on a social networking system use activities conducted by the two people on a telephony system to determine if the two people are likely acquainted. If it appears that both parties are calling each other, or if both parties are placing or receiving calls from common individuals, a recommendation that they form a link on the social networking system is issued to one or both parties.
1 . A method of recommending that a first member of a social networking system establish a link with a second member of the social networking system, comprising:
reviewing a first member's communications activity on a telephony system to create a list of identifiers associated with the first member's communications activity;
reviewing a second member's communications activity on the telephony system to create a list of identifiers associated with the second member's communications activity;
determining if identifiers associated with the first member's communications activity match identifiers associated with the second member's communications activity; and
recommending that a link between the first and second members be established on the social networking system if one or more of the identifiers associated with the first member's communications activity match identifiers associated with the second member's communications activity.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifiers comprise telephone numbers from which the first and second members have received communications and to which the first and second members have sent communications.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reviewing steps comprise reviewing call detail records for the first and second members.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the recommending step comprises recommending that a link between the first and second members be established on the social networking system if at least a predetermined number of the identifiers associated with the first member's communications activity match identifiers associated with the second user's communications activity.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of reviewing the first member's communications activity comprises:
creating a first list of identifiers associated with individuals and businesses to which the first member has sent communications and from which the first member has received communications;
consulting an identifier cross-reference database, using the identifiers on the first list, to identify additional identifiers that are associated with the individuals and businesses to which the first member has sent communications and from which the first member has received communications; and
wherein the determining step comprises determining if the identifiers on the first list or the additional identifiers identified during the consulting step match any of the identifiers associated with the second member's communications activity.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein creating a list of identifiers associated with second member's communications activity comprises:
creating a second list of identifiers associated with individuals and businesses to which the second member has sent communications and from which the second member has received communications;
consulting an identifier cross-reference database, using the identifiers on the second list, to identify additional identifiers that are associated with the individuals and businesses to which the second member has sent communications and from which the second member has received communications; and
wherein the determining step comprises determining if the identifiers on the first list or the additional identifiers identified when the identifier cross-reference table was consulted based on the identifiers on the first list match the identifiers on the second list or the additional identifiers identified when the identifier cross-reference database was consulted based on the identifiers on the second list.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of reviewing the first member's communications activity comprises:
transcribing voicemail messages that have been created for the first member; and
creating lists of identifiers appearing in the transcriptions.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of reviewing the second member's communications activity comprises:
transcribing voicemail messages that have been created for the second member; and
creating lists of identifiers appearing in the transcriptions.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of reviewing the first member's communications activity comprises:
transcribing recordings of the first member's telephone conversations; and
creating lists of identifiers appearing in the transcriptions.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of reviewing the second member's communications activity comprises:
transcribing recordings of the second member's telephone conversations; and
creating lists of identifiers appearing in the transcriptions.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of reviewing the first member's communications activity comprises creating a list of identifiers appearing in text messages sent to the first member or received by the first member.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of reviewing the first member's communications activity comprises creating a list of identifiers appearing in e-mail messages sent to the first member or received by the first member.
13 . A system for recommending that a first member of a social networking system establish a link with a second member of the social networking system, comprising:
means for reviewing a first member's communications activity on a telephony system to create a list of identifiers associated with the first member's communications activity;
means for reviewing a second member's communications activity on the telephony system to create a list of identifiers associated with the second member's communications activity;
means for determining if identifiers associated with the first member's communications activity match identifiers associated with the second member's communications activity; and
means for recommending that a link between the first and second members be established on the social networking system if one or more of the identifiers associated with the first member's communications activity match identifiers associated with the second member's communications activity.
14 . A system for recommending that a first member of a social networking system establish a link with a second member of the social networking system, comprising:
a reviewing unit that reviews a first member's communications activity on a telephony system to create a list of identifiers associated with the first member's communications activity and that reviews a second member's communications activity on the telephony system to create a list of identifiers associated with the second member's communications activity;
a determining unit that determines if identifiers associated with the first member's communications activity match identifiers associated with the second member's communications activity; and
a link recommendation unit that recommends that a link between the first and second members be established on the social networking system if one or more of the identifiers associated with the first member's communications activity match identifiers associated with the second member's communications activity.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the identifiers comprise telephone numbers from which the first and second members have received communications and to which the first and second members have sent communications.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the reviewing unit reviews call detail records for the first and second members.
17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the link recommendation unit recommends that a link between the first and second members be established on the social networking system if at least a predetermined number of the identifiers associated with the first member's communications activity match identifiers associated with the second user's communications activity.
18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the reviewing unit creates a first list of identifiers associated with individuals and businesses to which the first member has sent communications and from which the first member has received communications, wherein the reviewing unit consults an identifier cross-reference database, using the identifiers on the first list, to identify additional identifiers that are associated with the individuals and businesses to which the first member has sent communications and from which the first member has received communications, and wherein the determining unit determines if the identifiers on the first list or the additional identifiers match any of the identifiers associated with the second member's communications activity.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the reviewing unit also creates a second list of identifiers associated with individuals and businesses to which the second member has sent communications and from which the second member has received communications, wherein the reviewing unit consults an identifier cross-reference database, using the identifiers on the second list, to identify additional identifiers that are associated with the individuals and businesses to which the second member has sent communications and from which the second member has received communications, and wherein the determining unit determines if the identifiers on the first list or the additional identifiers derived the identifiers on the first list match the identifiers on the second list or the additional identifiers derived from the identifiers on the second list.
20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the reviewing unit transcribes voicemail messages that have been created for the first member and creates lists of identifiers appearing in the transcriptions.
21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the reviewing unit transcribes voicemail messages that have been created for the second member and creates lists of identifiers appearing in the transcriptions.
22 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the reviewing unit transcribes recordings of the first member's telephone conversations and creates lists of identifiers appearing in the transcriptions.
23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the reviewing unit transcribes recordings of the second member's telephone conversations and creates lists of identifiers appearing in the transcriptions.
24 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the reviewing unit creates a list of identifiers appearing in text messages sent to the first member or received by the first member.
25 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the reviewing unit creates a list of identifiers appearing in e-mail messages sent to the first member or received by the first member.