Patent ID: 8412706
Filing Date: 2013-04-02
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for classifying a member of an internet or computer-based personal-communication-network as an opinion leader or innovator in a field of interest, the personal-communication-network including a number of members, the method comprising the steps of: gathering explicit personal-communication-network data from information entered on the personal-communication-network; gathering implicit personal-communication-network data from activities conducted on the personal-communication-network, wherein the implicit personal-communication-network data includes historical data describing interactions of the personal-communication-network members within the personal-communications-network, and wherein the implicit personal-communication-network data is based upon a quantity of personal-communication-network keyword or name searches that list the member in the search results or the number of times that other personal-communication-network members access the member's profile; and classifying the member as an opinion leader or innovator in a field of interest based at least in part on inferences made about the member based upon the gathered explicit personal-communication-network data and implicit personal-communication-network data; wherein the step of classifying includes classifying a person's innovativeness based upon: wherein the personal-communication-network includes a plurality of nodes and a plurality of communication links, each communication link connecting a pair of the plurality of nodes and annotated with a field of interest.