IP Library Granted Patent US 9,356,903
Granted Patent B2
US 9,356,903 · App. 13/826,970 · Granted May 31, 2016

Dynamically managing social networking groups

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,356,903
App. No.
13/826,970
Granted
May 31, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamically managing social networking groups according to embodiments of the present invention are provided. A particular embodiment includes detecting a predetermined number of user devices within a specified physical area; and in response to detecting the predetermined number of user devices within the specified physical area, creating a social networking group corresponding to the specified physical area. Another embodiment includes detecting a predetermined number of user devices exiting a specified physical area, each user device associated with a user belonging to a social networking group corresponding to the specified physical area; and in response to detecting the predetermined number of user devices exiting the specified physical area, destroying the social networking group after a duration following the detection of the predetermined number of users of the social networking group exiting the specified physical area.

Claims (41)

1. An apparatus comprising a computing device, a computer processor, and a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

detecting a first predetermined number of user devices within a specified physical area;

in response to detecting the first predetermined number of user devices within the specified physical area, creating a social networking group corresponding to the specified physical area;

determining, in dependence upon an amount of user activity within the social networking group, a group historical significance value to correspond with the social networking group;

allocating computing resources to the social networking group based on the historical significance value determined in dependence upon the amount of user activity within the social networking group;

determining, based on the group historical significance value, a duration of time to maintain availability of content of the social networking group;

in response to detecting a second predetermined number of user devices exiting the specified physical area, maintaining the availability of the content of the social network group for the duration of time; and

destroying the social networking group after the expiration of the duration of time following the detection of the second predetermined number of users of the social networking group exiting the specified physical area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

detecting a user device within the specified physical area; and

in response to detecting the user device within the specified physical area, inviting a user of the user device to join the social networking group.

3. A computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to carry out the steps of:

detecting a first predetermined number of user devices within a specified physical area;

in response to detecting the predetermined number of user devices within the specified physical area, creating a social networking group corresponding to the specified physical area; and

determining, in dependence upon an amount of user activity within the social networking group, a group historical significance value to correspond with the social networking group;

allocating computing resources to the social networking group based on the historical significance value determined in dependence upon the amount of user activity within the social networking group;

determining, based on the group historical significance value, a duration of time to maintain availability of content of the social networking group;

in response to detecting a second predetermined number of user devices exiting the specified physical area, maintaining the availability of the content of the social network group for the duration of time; and

destroying the social networking group after the expiration of the duration of time following the detection of the second predetermined number of users of the social networking group exiting the specified physical area.

4. The computer program product of claim 3 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a storage medium.

5. A method comprising:

detecting, by a computing device, a first predetermined number of user devices within a specified physical area;

in response to detecting, by the computing device, the first predetermined number of user devices within the specified physical area, creating, by the computing device, a social networking group corresponding to the specified physical area;

determining, by the computing device, in dependence upon an amount of user activity within the social networking group, a group historical significance value to correspond with the social networking group;

allocating, by the computing device, computing resources to the social networking group based on the historical significance value determined in dependence upon the amount of user activity within the social networking group;

determining, by the computing device, based on the group historical significance value, a duration of time to maintain availability of content of the social networking group;

in response to detecting, by the computing device, a second predetermined number of user devices exiting the specified physical area, maintaining, by the computing device, the availability of the content of the social network group for the duration of time; and

destroying, by the computing device, the social networking group after the expiration of the duration of time following the detection of the second predetermined number of users of the social networking group exiting the specified physical area.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

detecting a user device within the specified physical area; and

in response to detecting the user device within the specified physical area, inviting a user of the user device to join the social networking group.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein determining the group historical significance value to correspond with the social networking group includes determining the group historical significance value based one or more parameters associated with the social networking group.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the one or more parameters includes at least one of: individual historical significance value of a user of the social network group; number of user devices within the specified physical area; number of users associated with the social networking group; diversity of user activity within the social networking group; and number of pictures posted in the social networking group.

9. A method of dynamically managing social networking groups, the method comprising:

determining, by a computing device, in dependence upon an amount of user activity within a social networking group, a group historical significance value to correspond with the social networking group;

allocating, by the computing device, computing resources to the social networking group based on the historical significance value determined in dependence upon the amount of user activity within the social networking group;

determining, by the computing device, a duration of time based on the group historical significance value;

detecting, by the computing device, a predetermined number of user devices exiting a specified physical area, each user device associated with a user belonging to a social networking group corresponding to the specified physical area; and

in response to detecting, by the computing device, the predetermined number of user devices exiting the specified physical area, destroying, by the computing device, the social networking group after the duration of time following the detection of the predetermined number of users of the social networking group exiting the specified physical area.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein determining the group historical significance value to correspond with the social networking group includes determining the group historical significance value based one or more parameters associated with the social networking group.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the one or more parameters includes at least one of: individual historical significance value of a user of the social network group; number of user devices within the specified physical area; number of users associated with the social networking group; amount of user activity within the social networking group; diversity of user activity within the social networking group; and number of pictures posted in the social networking group.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2019
From: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 050301/0494 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2016
From: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 039872/0136 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0111 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2013
From: ALDEREGUIA, ALFREDO; HAMILTON, JEFFREY R.; KERR, CLIFTON E.; RICHTER, GRACE A.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030003/0592 →