Patent Publication Number: US-9898785-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for managing a social network

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/131,696, filed Apr. 18, 2016, now U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016/0232183, which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/750,765, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,351,047, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/623,268, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,100,550, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in their entirety as if set forth herein in full. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to media content and more specifically to an apparatus and method for managing a social network. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Consumers have a number of venues to access media content. For example, consumers can view video content supplied by social networking portals such as MySpace, FaceBook, and YouTube over an Internet browser. Similarly, consumers can view via a set-top box video content supplied by an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) communication system, a satellite TV communication system, cable TV communication system, or other interactive TV systems. Other forms of media content such as audio content, pictures, articles, or combinations thereof can also be accessed by consumers over a public network such as the Internet. 
     Consumers can share with others their thoughts about media content they have consumed by word of mouth, text messaging (e.g., email), or other forms of common communication. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-2  depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems that provide media services; 
         FIG. 3  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal interacting with the communication systems of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
         FIG. 4  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device utilized in the communication systems of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
         FIG. 5  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system for transmitting media content, the system operable in the communications systems of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a screenshot illustrating commentary on a timeline associated with a media program; 
         FIG. 7  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operable in portions of the communication systems of  FIGS. 1-2 and 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  depicts an illustrative embodiment of an adaptive social network resulting from the method of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a method involving presenting an overlay combined with a presentation of media content at each of a plurality of computing devices to illustrate user-generated comments temporally associated with portions of the presented media content, collecting a plurality of user-generated comments from each of the plurality of computing devices, detecting in the plurality of user-generated comments one or more clusters of correlated user-generated comments, and detecting an educational aspect from the one or more clusters of correlated user-generated comments. This application incorporates by reference the contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/146,131, filed Jun. 25, 2008. 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to collect a plurality of commentaries from each of the plurality of computing devices, detect in the plurality of commentaries one or more clusters of correlated commentaries, and identify educational trends from the one or more clusters of correlated commentaries. 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a computing device having a controller to present an overlay combined with a presentation of media content to illustrate commentaries temporally associated with portions of the presented media content, and receive an invitation to a social network of one or more other computing devices that generated commentaries temporally associated with the presented media content and that educationally correlate to commentaries generated by the computing device. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communication system  100  for delivering media content. The communication system  100  can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) broadcast media system. The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO)  110  with at least one super headend office server (SHS)  111  which receives media content from satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In the present context, media content can represent audio content, moving image content such as videos, still image content, or combinations thereof. The SHS server  111  can forward packets associated with the media content to video head-end servers (VHS)  114  via a network of video head-end offices (VHO)  112  according to a common multicast communication protocol. 
     The VHS  114  can distribute multimedia broadcast programs via an access network  118  to commercial and/or residential buildings  102  housing a gateway  104  (such as a common residential or commercial gateway). The access network  118  can represent a group of digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service area interface that provide broadband services over optical links or copper twisted pairs  119  to buildings  102 . The gateway  104  can use common communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to media processors  106  such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn present broadcast channels to media devices  108  such as computers or television sets managed in some instances by a media controller  107  (such as an infrared or RF remote control). 
     The gateway  104 , the media processors  106 , and media devices  108  can utilize tethered interface technologies (such as coaxial or phone line wiring) or can operate over a common wireless access protocol. With these interfaces, unicast communications can be invoked between the media processors  106  and subsystems of the IPTV media system for services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronic programming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services. 
     Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled to one or more computing devices  130  a portion of which can operate as a web server for providing portal services over an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network  132  to wireline media devices  108  or wireless communication devices  116  by way of a wireless access base station  117  operating according to common wireless access protocols such as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), or cellular communication technologies (such as GSM, CDMA, UMTS, WiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, and so on). 
     The first communication system  100  can also include a recipient media device  135 . The recipient media device  135  can be communicatively linked to the ISP network  132 , the one or more computing devices  130 , and to other devices in the system  100 . Notably, the recipient media device  135  can be a STB, mobile device, personal computer, telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or other device capable of receiving and transmitting media content. Furthermore, the recipient media device  135  can be configured to operate in an iTV network, which can include, but is not limited to including, IPTV, interactive cable television, and interactive satellite television. 
     The recipient media device  135  can be configured to transmit requests for media content and commentary associated with the media content from devices in the system  100 . The commentary can be user-generated and can be in a temporal vicinity of the associated media content. The media content and associated commentary can come from devices such as, but is not limited to, STBs  106 , media devices  108 , and wireless communications device  116 . Notably, the media content and associated commentary can include video content, audio content, still image content, text content, and other media content. Additionally, the recipient media device  135  can be configured to receive and respond to requests from devices in the system  100  for media content and commentary associated with the media content. In responding to the requests from the devices, the recipient media device  135  can transmit media content and commentary associated with the recipient media device  135  to the requesting devices. 
     Another distinct portion of the computing devices  130  can function as a server (herein referred to as server  130 ). The server  130  can use common computing and communication technology to perform the function of receiving, transmitting, maintaining, processing, and storing various types of content. As mentioned above, such content can include video content, audio content, still image content, text content, and other content. The server  130  can maintain a client program, which can be downloaded and/or accessed by the devices in the system  100 . The client program can be configured to present an overlay that can be superimposed onto the media content and can allow users of the devices in the system  100  to associate a comment with media content received at the devices. 
     Additionally, the server  130  can be configured to receive requests for the media content and commentary associated with the media content from the devices in the system  100 , such as the recipient media device  135  and the STBs  106 . Furthermore, the server  130  can relay and/or store the actual media content and/or the commentary associated with the media content, and/or relay links to the media content and/or commentary associated with the media content to the devices in the system  100  requesting the content and/or commentary. 
     It will be appreciated by an artisan of ordinary skill in the art that a satellite broadcast television system can be used in place of the IPTV media system. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite  115  supplying media content can be intercepted by a common satellite dish receiver  131  coupled to the building  102 . Modulated signals intercepted by the satellite dish receiver  131  can be submitted to the media processors  106  for generating broadcast channels which can be presented at the media devices  108 . The media processors  106  can be equipped with a broadband port to the ISP network  132  to enable infrastructure services such as VoD and EPG described above. 
     In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital broadcast distribution system such as cable TV system  133  can be used in place of the IPTV media system described above. In this embodiment the cable TV system  133  can provide Internet, telephony, and interactive media services. 
     It follows from the above illustrations that the present disclosure can apply to any present or future interactive over-the-air or landline media content services. 
       FIG. 2  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system  200  employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture to facilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switched systems. Communication system  200  can be overlaid or operably coupled with communication system  100  as another representative embodiment of communication system  100 . 
     Communication system  200  can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)  240 , a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server  230 , and other common network elements of an IMS network  250 . The IMS network  250  can establish communications between IMS compliant communication devices (CD)  201 ,  202 , Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs  203 ,  205 , and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)  220  coupled to a PSTN network  260 . 
     IMS CDs  201 ,  202  can register with the IMS network  250  by contacting a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with a corresponding Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with at the HSS  240 . To initiate a communication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD  201  can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originating P-CSCF  204  which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF  206 . The originating S-CSCF  206  can submit queries to the ENUM system  230  to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITE to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminating communication device is IMS compliant. 
     The SIP URI can be used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)  207  to submit a query to the HSS  240  to identify a terminating S-CSCF  214  associated with a terminating IMS CD such as reference  202 . Once identified, the I-CSCF  207  can submit the SIP INVITE to the terminating S-CSCF  214 . The terminating S-CSCF  214  can then identify a terminating P-CSCF  216  associated with the terminating CD  202 . The P-CSCF  216  then signals the CD  202  to establish communications. 
     If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as references  203  or  205 , the ENUM system  230  can respond with an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originating S-CSCF  206  to forward the call to the MGCF  220  via a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF)  219 . The MGCF  220  can then initiate the call to the terminating PSTN CD by common means over the PSTN network  260 . 
     The aforementioned communication process is symmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” in  FIG. 2  are interchangeable. It is further noted that communication system  200  can be adapted to support video conferencing by way of common protocols such as H.323. In addition, communication system  200  can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs  201 ,  203  the multimedia and Internet services of communication system  100 . 
     The server  130  of  FIG. 1  can be operably coupled to the second communication system  200  for purposes similar to those described above. 
       FIG. 3  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal  302  which can operate from the computing devices  130  described earlier of communication  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The portal  302  can be used for managing services of communication systems  100 - 200 . The portal  302  can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with a common Internet browser such as Microsoft&#39;s Internet Explorer™ using an Internet-capable communication device such as those described for  FIGS. 1-2 . The portal  302  can be configured, for example, to access a media processor  106  and services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a VoD catalog, an EPG, a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored in the media processor, provisioning IMS services described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioning cellular phone services, and so on. 
       FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device  400 . Communication device  400  can serve in whole or in part as an illustrative embodiment of the communication devices of  FIGS. 1-2 . The communication device  400  can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver  402  (herein transceiver  402 ), a user interface (UI)  404 , a power supply  414 , a location receiver  416 , and a controller  406  for managing operations thereof. The transceiver  402  can support short-range or long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), or cellular communication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologies can include, for example, CDMA- 1 X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, and next generation cellular wireless communication technologies as they arise. The transceiver  402  can also be adapted to support circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCPIP, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof. 
     The UI  404  can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad  408  with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, joystick, mouse, or navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device  400 . The keypad  408  can be an integral part of a housing assembly of the communication device  400  or an independent device operably coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or a wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad  408  can represent a numeric dialing keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a Qwerty keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI  404  can further include a display  410  such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology for conveying images to an end user of the communication device  400 . In an embodiment where the display  410  is touch-sensitive, a portion or all of the keypad  408  can be presented by way of the display. 
     The UI  404  can also include an audio system  412  that utilizes common audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard only in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system  412  can further include a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audio system  412  can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI  404  can further include an image sensor  413  such as a charged coupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images. 
     The power supply  414  can utilize common power management technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulation technologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy to the components of the communication device  400  to facilitate long-range or short-range portable applications. The location receiver  416  can utilize common location technology such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for identifying a location of the communication device  400  based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites, thereby facilitating common location services such as navigation. 
     The communication device  400  can use the transceiver  402  to also determine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi or Bluetooth access point by common power sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA) or time of flight (TOF). The controller  406  can utilize computing technologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such a Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies. 
     The communication device  400  can be adapted to perform the functions of the media processor  106 , the media devices  108 , or the portable communication devices  116  of  FIG. 1 , as well as the IMS CDs  201 - 202  and PSTN CDs  203 - 205  of  FIG. 2 . It will be appreciated that the communication device  400  can also represent other common devices that can operate in communication systems  100 - 200  of  FIGS. 1-2  such as a gaming console and a media player. 
       FIG. 5  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system  500  for transmitting media content, the system  500  being operable in portions of the communications systems of  FIGS. 1-2 . The system  500  can include one or more media devices  502 ,  504 , and  506 , which can be configured to deliver media content to display devices  508   a - c  and deliver and/or receive media content from server  510 , communications device  512 , and computing device  514 . The media devices  502 ,  504 , and  506  can be STBs or other similar media devices. The display devices  508   a - c  can include any device capable of displaying and/or playing media content such as televisions, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), computers, and the like. The server  510  can be a device including the operative features of server  130 , among other features. The communications device  512  can include, for example, a mobile device, a cellular phone, wireless device, or other communications device and the computing device  514  can be a computer or laptop. 
     The server  510  can be utilized to communicatively link the media devices  502  to the other devices of the system  500 . Notably, the server  510  can be configured to receive, transmit, maintain, and store various types of media content. Additionally, the server  510  can include a client program, which can be accessed, downloaded, and/or otherwise utilized by the devices in the system  500 . The client program can present an overlay that can be superimposed onto media content that is displayed and/or received at the devices in the system  500 . Users of the client program can use the client program to associate commentary/comments with the media content accessed by the user. 
     Users of the client program can select a portion of the media content and insert a comment in a temporal vicinity of the media content. For example, if the user is watching a television show, the user can select a particular scene or segment, or select a button which at the time the button is depressed creates a temporal association with a scene or segment of the show. Responsive to this selection, the user can create a commentary by common means such as by keyboard input, or a microphone that can captures speech which can be translated to text using common voice recognition techniques. The commentary (or user-generated comment) in turn can be associated with the scene or segment at the particular point in time that the scene or segment is shown. Of course, multiple users experiencing the same media content (synchronously or asynchronously between the users) can each insert their own comments to associate with the media content as well. 
     Referring now also to  FIG. 6 , a screenshot  600  illustrating commentary on a timeline associated with a media program, is illustratively shown. The screenshot  600  features an overlay generated by the client program. The overlay can include menu buttons and other operative controls which are featured on the screenshot  600 . Notably, the overlay can include a timeline  601 , which can reflect the entire duration of a media program playing at a user&#39;s media device. 
     Screenshot  600  illustrates comments inserted at various points in the timeline  601  of the media program. The iconic spheres in the screenshot  600  can indicate that a comment has been inserted at that particular point in the timeline  601  of the media program. For example, a single comment  602 , a single comment  604 , a single comment  606 , and four comments  608  have been inserted into the timeline  601 . The comments can be textual or audible comments generated by the users. Once the user-generated comments are associated with their respective media segments, the user can utilize the client program to transmit the media content, commentary/comments, and/or links to the content and commentary to the server  510 . The server  510  can redirect this information to other communication or computing devices  512 ,  514  if instructed by the users who generated such comments. 
     The iconic symbols  603  and  605  can also represent commentaries, each having different meanings based on the shape of the symbol. The iconic star  603  can represent, for example, a commentary to remind the user that something of interest or importance to the user occurred in the media content at the time the star symbol was entered in the timeline  601 . This can be particularly useful in an educational setting. For instance, the star symbol  603  can remind the user that the lecturer presented something that the user can expect will be subject matter in a future examination. 
     It should be noted that a presentation of media content in an education setting can represent both a visual presentation such as a presentation of slides (e.g., PowerPoint slides) as illustratively shown in reference  607  of  FIG. 6  in addition to an audio portion of speech by the lecturer. When a user selects the star  603 , for example, the slide page along with a portion of the audio relating to the slide page can be replayed. This provides the user a prompt means to identify and replay important visual and audio content. It should be further noted, it is not necessary for the star symbol  603  to include a textual speech generated by the user. The symbol itself can serve as a commentary that temporally points to visual and/or audio content of interest or importance of some kind. 
     The symbol  605  can, for example, represent a symbol for notes, which can be useful to indicate entries in the timeline representing a self-note to the user who generated its content rather than a shared commentary between users. Self-notes or star symbol commentaries do not have to be shared with other users. 
     Any of the symbols on the timeline can be selectively chosen from a drop-down menu from one of the buttons shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The server  510  can be configured to access, store, and maintain the media content, commentary, and/or links to the media content and commentary. Additionally, the server  510  can be configured to maintain information about the media content and commentary. If only the links to the media content are sent to the server  510 , the server  510  can be configured to identify and extract the actual media content associated with the link. Similarly, if only the links to the commentary are sent to the server  510 , the server  510  can be configured to extract the actual commentary associated with the link. 
     The server  510  and/or the other devices in the system  500  can be configured to receive requests for the commentary and/or the media content from recipient media devices, which can be the devices in the system  500 . For example, media device  502  can transmit a request to server  510  for media content and commentary from communications device  512 . When the server  510  receives a request from a recipient media device, the server  510  can transmit at least a portion of the actual media content and commentary and/or the links to the media content and commentary to the recipient media device. If only the links are sent to the recipient media device, the recipient media device can access the media content and/or commentary via the links. 
     The recipient media device can then be configured to present the media content and/or commentary through a display device, such as display devices  508   a - c . Notably, the users of the recipient media device can utilize the client program much like the users of the media devices generating the commentary. Additionally, user-generated commentary and media content can be generated at the recipient media device and can be transmitted to other devices in the system  500  that request the commentary and/or media content generated at the recipient media device. 
     In an embodiment, the server  510  can prompt a media device, such as media devices  502 ,  504 , and  506 , to set a range of the media content to be transmitted to the server  510 . For example, the media device can set a range of the media content, which is thirty seconds before and thirty seconds after any commentary associated with the media content. Notably, the range can be defined by vertical start and end lines within the timeline of the media program that is presented by the client program, such as those surrounding comment  604  in  FIG. 6 . In another embodiment, the user of the media device can set the range without being prompted by the server  510 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts an illustrative method  700  operating in portions of the communication systems of  FIG. 1-2 , and  FIG. 5 . Method  700  can begin with step  702  in which a system such as server  510  presents an overlay combined with a presentation of media content at each of a plurality of computing devices such as the media devices of  FIG. 5 . For convenience and illustration purposes only, reference to the system in the flow diagram of  FIG. 7  will be replaced with server  510 , and reference to a computing device will be replaced with a media device. It will be appreciated that a system and a computing device can take on more than these illustrative embodiments. With this in mind, in step  704 , the server  510  can collect user-generated comments as described earlier from each of the media devices. 
     The server  510  in step  706  can use common pattern recognition techniques such as regression or other statistical models to detect a correlation between user-generated comments collected from the media devices. A correlation can represent a degree of similarity between commentaries. The higher the degree of similarity, the higher the likelihood that media device users generating the user-generated commentaries have common interests, thereby representing a detectable behavioral pattern. 
     Correlation can be determined for example by detecting similar commentaries having a near temporal relation. For instance, the server  510  can detect negative, positive, or narrative commentaries having a temporal proximity to each other in relation to the media content being presented. For example suppose five users generate comments about a lecture in an educational setting which these users are commenting about. Further suppose three out of the  6  users have comments indicating a lack of understanding in relation to a segment of the lecture, while the other three have made commentaries that indicate a neutral or enhanced understanding of the same segment of the lecture. Under these circumstances, the server  510  can determine from the user-generated comments that three out of the  6  users may have a common need for tutoring or assistance from the lecturer or a third party. 
     The server  510  can be programmed with varying degrees of sophistication to determine a correlation between user-generated comments. For instance, the server  510  can be programmed to associate users having trouble comprehending educational material with those who can provide assistance. Such a setting can be established by the lecturer in order to assist students in need by matching them with other students who are not encountering the same challenges. A simple algorithm such as this can result in a more cohesive educational setting between students. The server  510  can also identify correlations based on key words or phrases (“I&#39;m confused”, “did you get that?”, “this will be on the final exam”, “what”, “confusing”, etc.), demographic or psychographic traits of each user directly or indirectly identified from the user-generated comments collected from the users. These traits can be used to better pair students. The server  510  can also be programmed to detect correlations which can be subcategorized (e.g., high performer, under performer, sociable, introverted, etc.). 
     It should be evident from these illustrations that there can be innumerable ways to identify correlations in user-generated comments, which can be useful in identifying users with interests and/or behaviors which may be complementary and/or team building. The present disclosure thereby contemplates all possible embodiments for correlating user-generated comments which may have use in an educational setting. 
     When the server  510  detects correlation(s) in step  706 , it can proceed to step  708  where it identifies clusters of correlated user-generated comments and an education aspect in each of the clusters. The education aspect can be a correlated understanding or lack of understanding in segments of the media content. In this step the server  510  can identify the media devices or users thereof by clusters of correlated user-generated comments. The media device and/or users can be identified by any form of identifiable data (e.g., telephone number, user login, social security ID, biometric ID, STB identifier, SIP URI, static IP address, etc.). 
     Once the media devices and/or users have been identified, the server  510  can be programmed to notify the users by transmitting a message to their respective media devices. The message can indicate that a correlation has been detected which may warrant establishing an educational social network if desired between the users having correlated commentaries. In step  712 , the server  510  can receive messages from the media devices initiated by the users indicating an interest or disinterest from the identified users in joining the educational social network. 
     In step  714 , the server  510  can establish a social network according to the users indicating from their messages that they are interested in joining a social network based on the identified education aspect (e.g., group of students having a mutual need for educational assistance from the lecturer or other fellow students). In this step, the server  510  can create a virtual or adaptive educational social network  802  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The social network can be adaptive in that the server  510  can be programmed to manage the inclusion or exclusion of users and their media devices over the course of time. 
     The adaptive social network  802  can be implemented with common networking technology such as virtual private network (VPN) connections established between the identified media devices, or by other common networking techniques which can be established through the networks of  FIGS. 1-3 . The adaptive social network  802  can also be created by way of existing social networking applications such as FaceBook™, MySpace™, and so on. 
     Once a social network has been established, the server  510  can continue to collect user-generated comments in step  716  from the users partaking in the adaptive educational social network  802  by way of their media devices. In step  718 , the server  510  can determine if the user-generated comments indicate a decorrelation of interests between the users. In this step the server  510  can monitor from the user-generated comments if one or more users in the adaptive social network  802  are not getting along, have fallen out of grace with each other, or have demonstrated adverse interests or behavior. If a decorrelation has been detected, and if the decorrelation appears to be long-term, the server  510  can be programmed in step  720  to terminate the adaptive social network  802  in whole or in part. 
     It should be noted that the adaptive social network  802  can also expand over time as the server  510  detects in steps  702 - 714  that other users may have similar interests. When additional users with common interests are detected, the server  510  can inform the users in an already established educational social network whether they would be interested in adding additional parties. When decorrelation is detected, the server  510  can also be programmed to inform the remaining users in the social network with common interests whether they have a desire to remove the one or more users with the detected decorrelation. The decision to remove one or more users (students) can be determined by majority vote, or other criteria established by the educational social network. 
     In step  722 , the server  510  can also be programmed to compare the identified correlated user-generated comments to a threshold. The threshold can for example represent an educational metric established by the lecturer. The educational metric can be used to detect behavior in the student body that the lecturer may be interested in. For example the lecturer may want to identify in real time when too many students are questing a portion of the presented materials (media content). If the server  510  detects in step  722  that student inquiries for example exceed 20% of the class, then the server  510  can notify the lecturer in step  724  that the threshold has been reached. The notice can be an iconic symbol such as reference  607  shown in  FIG. 6 , which the lecturer may be able to readily see in a computer monitor during the slide presentation. The lecturer may or may not know which students are making the inquiries. Either way, the notice can provide the lecturer an opportunity in real time to return to a segment of the presentation (the media content) to assist the portion of the students having trouble before continuing with subsequent portions of the lecture. 
     Method  700  as described above can provide the lecturer and student body a closed system for enhancing the educational process. 
     Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. For example, the server  510  can be an integral part of a social networking application (e.g., MySpace). In this embodiment, creating social networks of users based on a correlation of their user-generated comments can be kept within the community of users utilizing the social networking application. With the above technique, sub-groups of educational social networks can be created within the social network application. 
     In addition to the aforementioned steps, an individual user of a media device can submit to the server  510  a request to identify other media devices and/or its respective users having user-generated comments that correlate to the user-generated comments of the user submitting the request. When receiving such a request, the server  510  can identify other users who have commented on the same media content, and thereafter perform correlation analysis as previously described. The server  510  can then compare the user-generated comments of all parties to determine which parties are likely to have common interests with the user submitting the request. From this point forward, an educational social network can be established with the requesting user in a manner similar to the above descriptions. 
     Additionally, method  700  can be adapted so that all or a portion of the steps described above can be performed in a distributed system. That is, the method can be implemented at each of the media devices without a server  510 . In this embodiment, the media devices can be adapted to communicate amongst each other, share user-generated comments and assess whether correlations exist. Once correlations are detected, messages can be submitted between the media devices to propose invitations to an educational social network. 
     It should be further noted that the media devices generating user-generated comments can be generally represented as computing devices of any form having the computing and communication resources to perform the aforementioned embodiments. The user-generated comments can be in many forms including without limitation text entered by a user, recorded speech, hand drawings entered on for example a computer tablet, or other detectable forms of communication. Additionally, a computing device can be a mobile phone, a lap top computer, a desktop computing, a gaming console, or any other device capable of establishing a communication session with another device and performing the embodiments of the present disclosure in whole or in part. 
     Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the claims below. Accordingly, the reader is directed to the claims section for a fuller understanding of the breadth and scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 9  depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system  900  within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. 
     The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will be understood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. 
     The computer system  900  may include a processor  902  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory  904  and a static memory  906 , which communicate with each other via a bus  908 . The computer system  900  may further include a video display unit  910  (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system  900  may include an input device  912  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  914  (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit  916 , a signal generation device  918  (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device  920 . 
     The disk drive unit  916  may include a machine-readable medium  922  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software  924 ) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions  924  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  904 , the static memory  906 , and/or within the processor  902  during execution thereof by the computer system  900 . The main memory  904  and the processor  902  also may constitute machine-readable media. 
     Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein. 
     The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containing instructions  924 , or that which receives and executes instructions  924  from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network environment  926  can send or receive voice, video or data, and to communicate over the network  926  using the instructions  924 . The instructions  924  may further be transmitted or received over a network  926  via the network interface device  920 . 
     While the machine-readable medium  922  is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure. 
     The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored. 
     Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents. 
     The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 
     Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.