Enhanced notification system for real time control center

A control center includes a display screen for displaying different social media and social media analytics. The control center includes an enhanced notification device that operates independently and remotely from the display screen. A media controller receives a selection of a search term, selection of an analytic, and selection of a trigger event for the analytic. The control center obtains social media from different networks containing the search term and generates the selected analytic from the social media. The media controller activates the enhanced notification device when the trigger event is detected in the analytic. The activated notification device provides a different environmental attribute than the display screen that is more effective in gaining the attention of the control center operators.

BACKGROUND

A real time control center may display different social media and social media analytics associated with a campaign. For example, a company may launch a campaign for a new soft drink. Company employees can use the real time control center to view user responses to the campaign. For example, the social media center may display messages posted by users liking or disliking the soft drink associated with the campaign. The control center also may display analytics that identify the number of likes, dislikes, sentiment, posts, reposts, etc. for the campaign related social media.

Large campaigns may produce millions of social media messages. The analytics generated from these messages may continuously change. Company employees may monitor the displayed analytics to determine the success of the campaign and to head off any problems with the campaign. For example, the company may need to quickly respond to a negative post from the influencer to reduce further negative effects to the social media campaign, such as preventing other users from reposting the influencer comments. Quickly responding to certain social media analytics may be critical to the success of a social media campaign.

It may be difficult for company employees to detect and quickly respond to critical events in the social media. For example, the company employee may have to sit at a desk for hours viewing the campaign social media or may have to monitor the campaign social media while performing other work assignments on a computer. The company employee may easily miss a spike or significant event in the social media that indicates a possible campaign problem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a real time control center100that includes one of more display screens108that display social media and associated analytics. For example, a first pie chart110may display the number of male and female followers110for a social media campaign. A bar chart may identify the number of posted messages112associated with the campaign over time. A graph may identify user sentiment114associated with the campaign over time.

Of course, these are only examples, and any social media and associated analytics may be displayed on screen108. For example, control center100also may display posts from the most influential followers, or may display any other demographics associated with the social media. Any posted messages, likes, dislikes, followers, sentiment, or any analytics generated from the posted messages and/or user feedback is referred to generally below as analytics118.

Different operators102may view display screen108to monitor the status of a campaign. Operators102may use computers106to select different social media analytics118for displaying on display screen108. Operators102may constantly monitor analytics118for any positive or negative events. For example, a large increase in the number of followers110may indicate a significant event. A similar increase in sentiment114may indicate a positive event and a decrease in sentiment114may indicate a negative event.

Operators102can search through other analytics118to further discover what caused the social media event. For example, an influencer may have posted a negative review of the campaign product that both increased the number of posted messages112and reduced sentiment114. In another example, a large number of users may have posted a video of a sporting event that increased the number of posted messages112and also increased the posted message sentiment114.

Operators102may need to respond to certain events. For example, operators102can post a reply to a negative review by an influencer to try and improve a trending negative sentiment or the operators102can repost the sporting event video to try and further boost a trending positive sentiment.

As also mentioned above, trends in analytics118may change quickly. If operators102do not respond quickly, negative events can quickly escalate and positive events can quickly deescalate. As also explained above, due to all of the analytics118displayed on screen108, operators102may not notice, and therefore may not timely respond to, important events in analytics118.

Control center100uses an enhanced notification device120to more effectively notify operators102of significant social media events. Notification device120may include any combination of visual and audio indicators. For example, notification device120may include a set of variable colored programmable lights122. Notification device120also may include a programmable speaker124.

Example enhanced notification devices120may include a smart lighting device, such as a Hue lighting device made by Philips, The Netherlands. Enhanced notification device120also may include a smart audio device, such as Amazon Alexa made by Amazon.com, Inc., Seattle, Wash.

Operators102may program control center100to activate notification device120when certain selectable trigger events are detected in analytics118. For example, control center100may be programmed to activate notification device120when the number of followers110, posted messages112, or sentiment114reach certain thresholds.

Notification device120provides a new environmental attribute by operating independently and in a different location from display screen108. Notification device120provides an immediate heightened awareness to operators102of selectable social media events. Operators102are then more responsive to these social media events112and can more effectively multi-task without having to continuously view display screen108.

Notification device120also provides a quick status indication of the social media campaign. For example, a supervisor104may walk into the room where control center100is located. Supervisor104can simply look at notification device120to determine if any significant events are occurring in analytics118. For example, a red flashing light on notification device120may quickly notify supervisor104of a significant negative event occurring in the campaign. A green flashing light on notification device120may notify supervisor104of a significant positive event occurring in the campaign. No flashing lights on notification device120may quickly notify supervisor104that no significant events are occurring in the campaign.

The different visual devices122and audio devices124can provide different levels of information or criticality regarding the campaign. For example, an activated red light122may indicate a negative event and an activated green light122may indicate a positive event. Similarly, a first tone generated by speaker124, such as a low frequency tone, may indicate a negative event and a higher more pleasant tone may indicate a positive event.

Other light positions or audio tones may correspond with different events. For example, a first light122may be programmed to activate when a number of followers reaches a selected threshold and a second light122may be programmed to activate when the number of likes reaches a selected threshold. The first and second lights122also may be programmed to start flashing when the number of followers and the number of likes reach second higher or lower selectable thresholds.

Similarly, speaker124may be programmed to output a first tone based on the number of followers and output a second tone based on the number of likes. Of course notification device120may be programmed to output any visual or audio output for any selectable social media analytic.

FIG. 2shows control center100in more detail. Display screen108may comprise any type of display device, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), liquid crystal display (LCD), or any other type of screen or display device. Computer106may include a personal computer (PC), laptop, tablet, smart phone, smart watch, or any other computing device.

Control center100may access different data sources130, such as social networks, client networks, or any other source of social media content or analytic data. Social networks130may include social media websites, such as Twitter®, Facebook®, Instagram®, or the like. Client networks130may include websites for a company, individual, or any other entity associated with social media. For example, client networks130may include the www.acme.com website and other Acme company databases.

Third party data sources130may include websites such as Adobe® or Google® analytics that monitor, measure, and/or generate analytics for social media, data sources, websites, etc. Another example third party data source130may include customized databases, such as created by Salesforce®, Salesforce® Radian6, or Sysomos® that provide access to marketing and sales data.

Some data sources130may provide content, such as posted messages, and other data sources130may provide more numerical data such as, analytic data, company sales data, inventory data, financial data, spreadsheet data, website ecommerce data, wrist band radio frequency identification (RFID) reader data, number web page views, number of unique page views, time on web pages, starting web page, bounce rates, percentage of exists from web pages, impressions, Klout, or any other analytic data that may be relevant to a social media campaign.

An analytics engine136and a collection server138may use database application programmer interfaces (APIs)132to access data from data sources130. For example, analytics engine136may use APIs132to extract real-time streaming data134from data sources130. Collection server138also may use APIs132to extract and store data140from data sources130in a database142. Streaming data134may be similar to data140and may include real-time updates to data140already stored in database142.

A user may enter a search term146into computer106. For example, the user may enter any keyword, data string, term, value, or any other combination of characters into computer106. In one example, search term146may include the name of company or person, a name of a product or service, a brand name, a name of a campaign or event associated with a company or person, a name of a department within a company, a name of an account on a social website, a name of a subject or account, a hashtag name associated with the person or company, a name of a competitor or competitive product, or the name of any other service, item, topic, data category, content, event, or any other entity identifier.

A media controller144directs collection server138and/or analytics engine136to identify and extract data from data sources130associated with search term146. For example, media controller144may direct collection server138and/or analytics engine136to search for different social media accounts on the www.acme.com website and extract or scan data for different products or services sold on the www.acme.com website.

Collection server138may download links to the social media accounts and product information into database142. Media controller144then may direct collection server138to download content from the social media accounts identified on the Acme website. For example, collection server138may download or scan posted messages from the www.facebook.com/acme social media account into database142. Alternatively, a user may enter the social media account directly into computer106as search term146.

Media controller144and/or analytics engine136then may identify campaigns launched by Acme based on the hashtags in the posted messages. For example, analytics engine136may count the number of times the same hashtag or keyword is used in different posted messages. Analytics engine136may identify any hashtag or keyword used more than some threshold number of times in Acme posted messages as associated with a campaign.

Media controller144then may cause collection server138to download messages posted by the Acme account or posted by Acme account participants that include the identified campaign hashtag. Collection server138may download any other analytics associated with the downloaded messages, such as participant influencer data. Analytics engine134then may start downloading real-time streaming data134from data sources130that include, or are associated with, the identified campaign hashtag.

Analytics engine136may group together content based on the identified campaign. For example, an identified campaign may include all of the messages posted by the Acme account that include the identified campaign hashtag and include all of the messages posted by participants underneath the Acme posted messages, such as posted messages, replies, comments, etc. The campaign data may include any other data associated with the campaign hashtag.

Control center100may generate and display content and analytics related to the campaign on display screen108. For example, control center100may display a menu150that identifies the selected campaign, such as #drinkacme. An operator may select brand analytics, user generated content (UGC) analytics, or demographics from menu150. Some analytics are described in more detail below and are just examples of any analytic data that may be downloaded and/or generated by control center100.

In response to the user selecting UGC analytics from menu150, analytics engine136displays analytics118that identify the number of campaign related followers110, the number of campaign related posted messages112, and the campaign related sentiment114. Of course, analytics engine136may generate and display any other analytics.

Control center100also may identify the top influencers152that posted messages related to the campaign. Top influencers152may include participants with the largest number of followers, such as celebrities, journalists, experts, etc. Control center100also may display highest trending user posts, posts with the largest number of likes, or participants with the largest number of followers. Again, these are just examples of any combination of analytic data may be downloaded, generated, and displayed by analytic system100. Identifying campaigns and generating analytics for the campaigns is further described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/246,061; filed Aug. 24, 2016, entitled: DYNAMIC CAMPAIGN ANALYTICS VIA HASHTAG DETECTION, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Enhanced Notification System

As mentioned above, operators may have trouble detecting critical events in social media110. For example, after several hours viewing display screen108, an operator may not notice an event148A that indicates an increase in the number of posts112for the campaign or an event148B that indicates an increase in the negative sentiment of the campaign. In another example, the operator may not notice an event148C where a top influencer152posted a negative message about the campaign. Control center100includes the unique feature of activating enhanced notification device120whenever a programmed trigger event148is detected in analytics118.

Media controller144may control notification device120via a networked wired or wireless connection. As mentioned above, enhanced notification device120may include smart lighting or smart audio devices accessed via APIs. As also mentioned above, the smart lighting device can be programmed to generate different light colors, light intensities, light flashing, or light patterns, etc. Similarly, the smart audio device may be programmed to generate any audio level, tone, voice message, stored audio library sound, etc.

In one example, media controller144may be programmed to activate a first light122A, or generate a first audible tone from speaker124, whenever the number of posts112reaches threshold148A. Management server144also may be programmed to activate a second light122B, or generate a second audible tone from speaker124, whenever a negative sentiment114of posts112reaches threshold148B. Management server144also may be programmed to activate a third light122C, or generate a third audible tone from speaker124, whenever one of the top influencers152posts a negative message148C.

In another example, media controller144may be programmed with multiple trigger events for the same analytic118. For example, media controller144may receive a first lower threshold148B for sentiment114and a second higher threshold148D for sentiment114.

Media controller144may compare sentiment114with the two thresholds148B and148D. Media controller144may activate a first yellow light122A, or generate a first tone from speaker124, if negative sentiment114reaches first threshold148B. Media controller144may activate a second red light122B, or generate a second tone from speaker124, if sentiment114reaches second threshold148D.

In another example, media controller114may increase an intensity of one of lights122to indicate an increase in any selectable analytic118and decrease the intensity to indicate a decrease in analytic118.

Media controller144also may increase a rate that a sound is generated from speaker124to indicate an increase in analytic118and decrease the rate of the sound to indicate a decrease in analytic118. For example, media controller144may generate a series of tic noises, similar to the noise made by a geiger counter, that reflects the number of posted messages112. Media controller144may increase the rate of the audio tics in response to an increase in the number of posts112and decrease the rate of audio tics in response to a decrease in the number of posts112.

In another example, media controller144may generate a higher, more pleasant, or positive sounding tone from speaker124when a particular analytic118goes up and generate a lower, less pleasant, or more negative sounding tone when the analytic118goes down. For example, media controller144may generate a positive sounding ding tone when the number of posts112increases and generate a negative buzzer tone when the number of posts112decreases.

Any other combination of visual and audio notifications can then be used for any programmable event. For example, media controller144may activate enhanced notification device120based on any other value, threshold, percentage, rate of change, etc. for any selected analytic118.

In another example, media controller144may detect an initial value or rate of change for one of analytics118. Media controller144then may predict a future value of the analytic118based on the initial value or rate. Media controller144may be programmed to activate notification device120if the predicted future value of analytic118is above a programmed threshold. This provides the operator with pre-notification of a future potentially important social media event.

Multiple different enhanced notification devices120may be located in different locations within a room. Media controller144can then be programmed to control different environmental notification attributes in any room location. This moves social media monitoring beyond just the two dimensional display screen108to a 3-dimensional space with improved event detection and notification.

FIG. 3shows an example user interface160displayed on computer106. Media controller144may display a set of fields or icons162on user interface160that an operator uses to control notification device120. For example, user interface160may display a search field162A. As described above, an operator may enter a search term146into search field162A that causes control center100to search for different social media and other analytic data associated with search term146. In this example, search term146may be associated with a campaign.

The operator may select a type of social media or analytic in field162B. For example, the operator may enter a sentiment analytic into field162B. Control center100then calculates and displays the sentiment analytic114in a graph as shownFIG. 2.

Field162C may identify a trigger event for the analytic identified in field162B. For example, the operator may enter a 50% negative trigger event into field162C directing the media controller to detect when the sentiment of the campaign messages is more than 50% negative.

The operator may enter a value into field162D that identifies which enhanced notification device120to activate when the trigger event in field162C is detected. For example, the operator may select a yellow light in field162D. Media controller144is then programmed to activate a yellow light in notification device120when the sentiment of the campaign messages is more than 50% negative.

The operator may enter a second type of social media or analytic into field162E. In one example, the operator may enter the same sentiment analytic previously entered into field162B. However, any other social media or analytic can be entered into field162E.

The operator may enter another trigger event into field162F for the analytic selected in field162E. In this example, the operator enters a 75% negative trigger event into field162F directing the media controller to detect when the sentiment of the campaign messages is more than 75% negative.

The operator selects a second notification device120in field162G to activate when the trigger event in field162F is detected. For example, the operator may enter red light into field162G directing media controller144to activate a red light in notification device120when the sentiment of the campaign messages is more than 75% negative.

Control center100accesses real-time streaming data associated with the selected search term in field162A and generates associated sentiment data based on the entries in fields162B and162E. Control center100activates the yellow light identified in field162D when a 50% negative sentiment as identified in field162C is detected. Control center100also activates the red light identified in field162G when a 75% negative as sentiment identified in field162F is detected.

FIG. 4shows another example of how an operator can select different analytic trigger events for activating the enhanced notification device. In this example, the same #drinkacme search term146is entered into field162A. This may be the first time search term146is entered into user interface160. Or, the operator may use the previously entered search term146and associated data fromFIG. 3and enter different values into any combination of fields162B-162G.

The operator may enter top influencer analytic into field162B, a negative sentiment trigger event into field162C, and a flashing red light into field162D. Control center100identifies the top influencers posting content associated with the #drinkacme campaign based on the analytic selected in field162B. Control center100monitors the messages posted by the top influencers for any negative sentiment based on the trigger event selected in field162C. Control center100then automatically activates a flashing red light in notification device120if any top influencers post a message with a negative sentiment.

The operator may enter a second analytic, such as the number of posted messages, into field162E. The operator may enter a second trigger event, such as 1000 posts, into field162F. The operator may enter a second notification device, such a siren, into field162G.

Control center100continuously calculates the number of posts associated with the #drinkacme campaign over time based on the analytic selected in field162E. Control center100then activates the siren in notification device120whenever 1000 posts are detected.

The first red flashing light notifies the control center operators of a potentially bad event associated with a negative influencer review. The second siren may notify the control center operators of an escalation or second social media activity level, based on the increase in the number of posts. Accordingly, the control center operators can further investigate and/or respond to either trigger event to address any issues in the social media campaign.

FIG. 5shows in more detail how the control center operates the enhanced notification device. In operation170A, the control center may receive a search term. In operation170B, the control center may receive a request to generate a particular analytic from data associated with the search term. As explained above, the control center uses collection servers and an analytics engine to collect social media and other data associated with the search term. If an analytic request is received, the control center in operation170C uses the analytics engine to generate the requested analytic.

In operation170D, the control center may receive a trigger event for activating the enhanced notification device. For example, the trigger event may identify a threshold, rate change, percentage, or any other characteristic of the analytic identified in operation170B. If a trigger event is received, the control center in operation170E monitors the analytic for the trigger event. If the trigger event is detected, the control center in operation170F activates the selected notification device. The control center may repeat operations170B-170F for any other number of selected analytics and associated trigger events.

Hardware and Software

FIG. 6shows a computing device1000that may be used for operating the control center and performing any combination of processes discussed above. The computing device1000may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. In other examples, computing device1000may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a web appliance, or any other machine or device capable of executing instructions1006(sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine.

While only a single computing device1000is shown, the computing device1000may include any collection of devices or circuitry that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the operations discussed above. Computing device1000may be part of an integrated control system or system manager, or may be provided as a portable electronic device configured to interface with a networked system either locally or remotely via wireless transmission.

Processors1004may comprise a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), programmable logic devices, dedicated processor systems, micro controllers, or microprocessors that may perform some or all of the operations described above. Processors1004may also include, but may not be limited to, an analog processor, a digital processor, a microprocessor, multi-core processor, processor array, network processor, etc.

Some of the operations described above may be implemented in software and other operations may be implemented in hardware. One or more of the operations, processes, or methods described herein may be performed by an apparatus, device, or system similar to those as described herein and with reference to the illustrated figures.

Processors1004may execute instructions or “code”1006stored in any one of memories1008,1010, or1020. The memories may store data as well. Instructions1006and data can also be transmitted or received over a network1014via a network interface device1012utilizing any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols.

Memories1008,1010, and1020may be integrated together with processing device1000, for example RAM or FLASH memory disposed within an integrated circuit microprocessor or the like. In other examples, the memory may comprise an independent device, such as an external disk drive, storage array, or any other storage devices used in database systems. The memory and processing devices may be operatively coupled together, or in communication with each other, for example by an I/O port, network connection, etc. such that the processing device may read a file stored on the memory.

Some memory may be “read only” by design (ROM) by virtue of permission settings, or not. Other examples of memory may include, but may be not limited to, WORM, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH, etc. which may be implemented in solid state semiconductor devices. Other memories may comprise moving parts, such a conventional rotating disk drive. All such memories may be “machine-readable” in that they may be readable by a processing device.

“Computer-readable storage medium” (or alternatively, “machine-readable storage medium”) may include all of the foregoing types of memory, as well as new technologies that may arise in the future, as long as they may be capable of storing digital information in the nature of a computer program or other data, at least temporarily, in such a manner that the stored information may be “read” by an appropriate processing device. The term “computer-readable” may not be limited to the historical usage of “computer” to imply a complete mainframe, mini-computer, desktop, wireless device, or even a laptop computer. Rather, “computer-readable” may comprise storage medium that may be readable by a processor, processing device, or any computing system. Such media may be any available media that may be locally and/or remotely accessible by a computer or processor, and may include volatile and non-volatile media, and removable and non-removable media.

Computing device1000can further include a video display1016, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT) and a user interface1018, such as a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, etc. All of the components of computing device1000may be connected together via a bus1002and/or network.

For the sake of convenience, operations may be described as various interconnected or coupled functional blocks or diagrams. However, there may be cases where these functional blocks or diagrams may be equivalently aggregated into a single logic device, program or operation with unclear boundaries.

Having described and illustrated the principles of a preferred embodiment, it should be apparent that the embodiments may be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. Claim is made to all modifications and variation coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims.