IP Library Granted Patent US 10,795,896
Granted Patent B2
US 10,795,896 · App. 15/927,721 · Granted Oct 6, 2020

Systems and methods for automatically identifying specific teams of users to solve specific and real-time problems

Inventors: Noshir S. Contractor (Evanston, IL); Harshad E. Gado (Evanston, IL); Anup S. Sawant (Evanston, IL)
Assignee: Northwestern University
G06F16/24578G06F16/248G06F16/24575G06F16/951G06Q10/063112G06Q10/10G06Q50/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,795,896
App. No.
15/927,721
Granted
Oct 6, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure include a system that automatically defines and assembles a group of users capable of solving a particular problem, such as problems associated with network platforms and infrastructures. The group of users are identified from user data captured while users interact within and throughout a network, such as a social network.

Claims (55)

1. A system for logically arranging users of a social networking platform into groups comprising:

a computing device to:

execute a query to generate a recommendation of a group of users capable of resolving a problem, the group of users identified from a plurality of users active in a social network deployed within a communications network, the query comprising:

a set of preferences corresponding the problem; and

information defining at least one of a skill and an expertise for each user of the plurality of users; and

based on the set of preferences corresponding the problem and the information defining the at least one of the skill and the expertise for each user of the plurality of users, calculate a score for each user of the plurality of users by:

determining the information defining the at least one of the skill and the expertise for a user based on the query:

determining a weighting for the determined information based on the set of preferences,

calculating intermediate scores for each user in the plurality of users for each preference in the set of preferences; and

calculating the score for each user in the plurality of users based on the calculated intermediate scores for the user;

based on the score of each user of the plurality of users, include respective users in the group of users; and

cause the recommendation of the group of users to be displayed in real-time in a graphical user-interface at a client device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:

generate a data structure determining a shortest distance from a first user of the plurality of users to a second user of the plurality of users; and

identifying the second user in the group of users as a target user for resolving the problem.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:

generate a similarity map identifying at least one user in the group of user with an identical expertise of at least one other user in the group of users.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the generated recommendation is displayed in real-time at the client device for acceptance by a respective user of the one or more users of the team.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the problem is identifying a path of connection between a user of the group of users and at least one other user of the group of users.

6. A method for logically arranging users of a social networking platform into groups comprising:

executing, using a computing device, a query to generate a recommendation of a group of users capable of resolving a problem, the group of users identified from a plurality of users active in a social network deployed within a communications network, the query comprising:

a set of preferences corresponding the problem; and

information defining at least one of a skill and an expertise for each user of the plurality of users; and

based on the set of preferences corresponding the problem and the information defining the at least one of the skill and the expertise for each user of the plurality of users, calculating, using the computing device, a score for each user of the plurality of users by:

determining the information defining the at least one of the skill and the expertise for a user based on the query;

determining a weighting for the determined information based on the set of preferences;

calculating intermediate scores for each user in the plurality of users for each preference in the set of preferences; and

calculating the score for each user in the plurality of users based on the calculated intermediate scores for the user;

based on the score of each user of the plurality of users, including, using the computing device, respective users in the group of users; and

causing, using the computing device, the recommendation of the group of users to be displayed in real-time in a graphical user-interface at a client device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

generating a data structure determining a shortest distance from a first user of the plurality of users to a second user of the plurality of users; and

identifying the second user in the group of users as a target user for resolving the problem.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

generating a similarity map identifying at least one user in the group of user with an identical expertise of at least one other user in the group of users.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the generated recommendation is displayed in real-time at the client device for acceptance by a respective user of the one or more users of the team.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the problem is identifying a path of connection between a user of the group of users and at least one other user of the group of users.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions for logically arranging users of a social networking platform into groups, the instructions, executable by a processor device, comprising:

executing, using a computing device, a query to generate a recommendation of a group of users capable of resolving a problem, the group of users identified from a plurality of users active in a social network deployed within a communications network, the query comprising:

a set of preferences corresponding the problem; and

information defining at least one of a skill and an expertise for each user of the plurality of users; and

based on the set of preferences corresponding the problem and the information defining the at least one of the skill and the expertise for each user of the plurality of users, calculating, using the computing device, a score for each user of the plurality of users by:

determining the information defining the at least one of the skill and the expertise for a user based on the query,

determining a weighting for the determined information based on the set of preferences;

calculating intermediate scores for each user in the plurality of users for each preference in the set of preferences; and

calculating the score for each user in the plurality of users based on the calculated intermediate scores for the user;

based on the score of each user of the plurality of users, including, using the computing device, respective users in the group of users; and

causing, using the computing device, the recommendation of the group of users to be displayed in real-time in a graphical user-interface at a client device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

generating a data structure determining a shortest distance from a first user of the plurality of users to a second user of the plurality of users; and

identifying the second user in the group of users as a target user for resolving the problem.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

generating a similarity map identifying at least one user in the group of user with an identical expertise of at least one other user in the group of users.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the generated recommendation is displayed in real-time at the client device for acceptance by a respective user of the one or more users of the team.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the problem is identifying a path of connection between a user of the group of users and at least one other user of the group of users.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Feb 6, 2025
From: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 070127/0418 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2018
From: CONTRACTOR, NOSHIR; GADO, HARSHAD; SAWANT, ANUP
To: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 045676/0513 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62474351 · Mar 21, 2017
Related Publication 20180276219A1 · Sep 27, 2018