Emotional mapping

1. A method comprising:

using one or more computers, obtaining and storing a first set of information comprising a set of emotional states with which users may be classified;

using one or more computers, obtaining and storing a second set of information comprising information relating to online activities of a user;

using one or more computers, obtaining and storing a third set of information comprising content choices of the user;

using one or more computers, based at least in part on the second set of information and the third set of information, classifying the user into at least one emotional state, of the set of emotional states; and

using one or more computers, facilitating providing the user with an online service at least in part in exchange for obtaining information regarding emotional information from and about the user, wherein the online service includes one or more of (a) a service relating to a commute, (b) a service relating to a playlist, (c) a service relating to collocation or meeting of friends, (d) a service relating to leading up to or performing a major purchase or acquisition, or (e) a service relating to social planning or follow-up.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising targeting the user with an online advertisement or content.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising collecting information relating to user-initiated online activities as well as associations of the user with particular content.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising using the emotional information in targeting the user with an online advertisement or online content.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising utilizing emotional information collected about the user in constructing an emotional profile of the user, and comprising utilizing the emotional profile in targeting the user with an online advertising or online content.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising, based at least in part on the at least one emotional state into which the user is classified, targeting the user with an offline advertisement, offline content, or an offline consumer item.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising facilitating serving of the online advertisement or the online content to the user.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising serving of the online advertisement or the online content to the user.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

based at least in part on the second set of information, classifying the user into at least one emotional state, of the set of emotional states, during a particular period of time; and

comprising targeting the user with an online advertisement or online content during the particular period of time.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein, based at least in part on the at least one emotional state into which the user is classified, targeting the user with an online advertisement or online content that is determined to be likely to perform well in connection with the at least one emotional state into which the user is classified.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein targeting the user comprises utilizing at least one emotional transition model, and wherein the at least one emotional transition model is used in predicting at least one emotional state that the user is likely to be in at a particular time or during a particular period of time.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining and storing a second set of information comprising obtaining and storing information relating to social interactions of the user.

13. The method of claim 1 , comprising profiling users based at least in part on a structured learning technique.

14. The method of claim 1 , comprising profiling users based at least in part on a machine learning technique.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein targeting the user comprises detecting and storing information regarding emotional patterns of the user.

16. A method comprising:

using one or more computers, based at least in part on online activities of a user, classifying the user into at least one emotional state of a set of emotional states into which users may be classified;

using one or more computers, selecting an advertisement for serving to the user, wherein the advertisement is selected based at least in part on the at least one emotional state into which the user is classified, and wherein the at least one emotional state into which the user is classified is predicted to lead to enhanced user engagement with the advertisement and enhanced effectiveness of the advertisement; and

using one or more computers, facilitating providing the user with an online service at least in part in exchange for obtaining information regarding emotional information from and about the user, wherein the online service includes one or more of (a) a service relating to a commute, (b) a service relating to a playlist, (c) a service relating to collocation or meeting of friends, (d) a service relating to leading up to or performing a major purchase or acquisition, or (e) a service relating to social planning or follow-up.

17. A system comprising:

one or more server computers coupled to a network; and

one or more databases coupled to the one or more servers;

wherein the one or more server computers are for:

obtaining and storing, in at least one of the one or more databases, a first set of information comprising a set of emotional states into which users may be classified;

obtaining and storing, in at least one of the one or more databases, a second set of information comprising information relating to online activities of a user;

obtaining and storing, in at least one of the one or more databases, a third set of information comprising content choices of the user;

based at least in part on the second set of information and the third set of information, classifying the user into at least one emotional state, of the set of emotional states; and

facilitating providing the user with an online service at least in part in exchange for obtaining information regarding emotional information from and about the user, wherein the online service includes one or more of (a) a service relating to a commute, (b) a service relating to a playlist, (c) a service relating to collocation or meeting of friends, (d) a service relating to leading up to or performing a major purchase or acquisition, or (e) a service relating to social planning or follow-up.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the one or more server computers are coupled to the Internet.

19. The system of claim 17 , comprising targeting the user with an online advertisement or online content.

20. The system of claim 17 , comprising utilizing emotional profiles of users in targeting users with online advertisements or online content.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium or media containing instructions for executing a method comprising:

using one or more computers, obtaining and storing a first set of information comprising a set of emotional states into which users may be classified;

using one or more computers, obtaining and storing a second set of information comprising information relating to online activities of a user, comprising facilitating providing an online service to the user at least in part in exchange for emotional information relating to the user, wherein the online service includes one or more of (a) a service relating to a commute, (b) a service relating to a playlist, (c) a service relating to collocation or meeting of friends, (d) a service relating to leading up to or performing a major purchase or acquisition, or (e) a service relating to social planning or follow-up;

using one or more computers, obtaining and storing a third set of information comprising content choices of the user;

using one or more computers, based at least in part on the second set of information and the third set of information, constructing an emotional profile of the user, wherein the emotional profile is adapted to be utilized in predicting an emotional state of the user;

using one or more computers, based at least in part on the second set of information, the third set of information, and the emotional profile, classifying the user into at least one emotional state, of the set of emotional states, during a particular period of time; and

using one or more computers, based at least in part on the at least one emotional state into which the user is classified during the particular period of time, targeting the user with an online advertisement during the particular period of time; and

using one or more computers, facilitating serving of the online advertisement to the user during the particular period of time.