Patent ID: 8773437
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing a system including a social graph, wherein the social graph comprises with system-provided nodes, wherein each node is coupled to other system-provided nodes via one or more edges and each edge comprises a value for a concept category: a plurality of nodes of a first type, referred to as system-provided nodes, wherein system-provided nodes represent entities tracked by the system and include information gathered by the system; a plurality of nodes of a second type, different from the first type of node and referred to as ghost nodes, wherein ghost nodes represent entities created for users of the system and include information specified by users of the system; a plurality of edges of a first type, referred to as system-provided edges, wherein system-provided edges represent relationships categorized by at least one concept category of the system between two different system-provided nodes of the social graph; and a plurality of edges of a second type, different from the first type of edge and referred to as ghost edges, wherein each ghost edge represents relationships between a system-provided node and a ghost node of the social graph, and information on the relationships are specified by users of the system; using at least one electronic processor, maintaining the social graph comprising: allowing a plurality of system-provided nodes of the social graph to be directly coupled to other system-provided nodes by system-provided edges, wherein system-provided nodes and system-provided edges include information gathered by the system; allowing a plurality of ghost nodes of the social graph to be directly coupled to system-provided nodes by ghost edges, wherein ghost edges include information specified by users of the system; disallowing a plurality of ghost nodes from being directly coupled to other ghost nodes or to system-provided nodes using system-provided edges; and disallowing a plurality of system-provided nodes from being directly coupled to other system-provided nodes using ghost edges; providing a first system-provided node; providing a second system-provided node; providing a first ghost node; providing a first ghost edge to couple the first ghost node and the first system-provided node; identifying a first system-provided edge to couple the first and second system-provided nodes; calculating a first edge-weight value to assign to the first system-provided edge comprising: at a first time, using the third edge-weight function, assigning the first edge-weight value for the first time; and at a second time, using the third edge-weight function, assigning the first edge-weight value for the second time.