Friend recommendation methods, computer devices, and computer programs

Abstract

To provide a method of recommending a friend in a timeline service, a computer apparatus, and a computer program.SOLUTION: In an environment that provides a timeline service as a function included in a community using a friendship-based social graph, a method of recommending a friend in the timeline service includes: a step of calculating affinity scores with a user, for each of friend accounts with friendship set for the user; and a step of recommending at least some of the friend accounts, using the affinity scores, as recommendation accounts for setting follow-based registration relationship, separately from the social graph, in the timeline service.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following description relates to a technology for providing a timeline service within a messenger.

Background Art

[0002] Community services such as social network services (SNS) and messengers help users form relationships and support interactions through postings.

[0003] Community services provide users with information in different contexts. For example, community services provide update information regarding user connection relationships, posting update information, content recommendations, and various other types of information items.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 (registration date: June 29, 2017) discloses a technology for managing posted messages using an SNS.

[0005] Some community services provide a view form in which posted items can be viewed in a timeline type. The timeline type of posted item display method is mainly used for private communication where rapid content updates and consumption occur.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] One objective of the present invention is to provide a method, computer device, and computer program for recommending friends within a timeline service. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A friend recommendation method performed on a computer device, wherein the computer device includes at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions contained in memory, and provides a timeline service as a function included in a community that utilizes a friendship-based social graph, the timeline service provides a timeline based on follow-based registration relationships, separate from the social graph, and the friend recommendation method includes the steps of: the at least one processor calculating an affinity score with each friend account with which the user has established a friendship relationship; and the at least one processor using the affinity scores to recommend at least some of the friend accounts as recommended accounts for establishing the registration relationship within the timeline service.

[0009] In one aspect, the calculation step may include a step of calculating the user's closeness to the friend account using log data generated within the timeline service within a certain period of time recently.

[0010] In other words, the calculation step may include a step of calculating the level of intimacy with the friend account based on the user's reactions to the friend account within the timeline service.

[0011] From another perspective, the recommendation stage may include a stage in which recently active friends, who are accounts among the friend accounts that have made a post within a certain period of time recently, are compiled into a friend recommendation list.

[0012] In other respects, the recommendation stage may further include a stage of sorting and providing the friend recommendation list based on the intimacy score.

[0013] In other respects, the configuration step may include a step of selecting some additional accounts from among the friend accounts based on the number of recently active friends.

[0014] In other respects, the configuration step may involve additionally selecting accounts from among the friend accounts that have a history of reactions by the user within the timeline service, and configuring them together with the recently active friends as the friend recommendation list.

[0015] In other respects, the configuration step may involve additionally selecting accounts from among the friend accounts whose intimacy score is above a certain value, and configuring them together with the recently active friends as the friend recommendation list.

[0016] In other respects, the calculation step includes a step of calculating the user's closeness to the friend accounts using log data generated within the timeline service, and the configuration step may involve selecting additional accounts from among the friend accounts whose calculated closeness is above a certain value, and configuring them together with the recently active friends as the friend recommendation list.

[0017] In other respects, the calculation step includes a step of calculating the user's closeness to the friend accounts using log data generated within the community's chat service, and the structuring step may further select accounts from among the friend accounts whose calculated closeness is above a certain value and combine them with the recently active friends to form the friend recommendation list.

[0018] The present invention provides a computer program, recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, that causes a computer device to execute the aforementioned friend recommendation method.

[0019] A computer device, including at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions included in a memory, provides a timeline service as a function included in a community that utilizes a friend relationship-based social graph. The timeline service provides a timeline based on a follow-based registration relationship separately from the social graph. The at least one processor processes a process of calculating an intimacy score with the user for each friend account in which a friend relationship is set with the user, and a process of recommending at least a part of the friend accounts by using the intimacy score as a recommended account for setting the registration relationship in the timeline service. A computer device is provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing an example of a network environment in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram showing an example of a computer device in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing an example of components that can be included in a processor of a computer device in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a flowchart showing an example of a method that can be executed by a computer device in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining a process of setting a follow-based registration relationship in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining a process of setting a follow-based registration relationship in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining a process of setting a follow-based registration relationship in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8]It is an exemplary diagram for explaining the process of setting a follow-based registration relationship in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a flowchart showing an example of the process of providing a friend recommendation list in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a flowchart showing an example of the process of providing a friend recommendation list in an embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a technology for providing a timeline service within a messenger. According to the following embodiments, as a service within the messenger, a timeline service can be provided in which the registration relationship is changed from a friend-based to a follow-based. Also, in order to set the registration relationship, accounts that match the user's interests can be recommended together with friend-related accounts. Further, friends can be recommended using an affinity score within the timeline service.

[0023] Embodiments including the matters specifically disclosed in this specification can provide a timeline service that uses a follow-based registration relationship rather than a friend-based registration relationship as a function included in the messenger. At this time, friends can be recommended using an affinity score with the user within the timeline service.

[0024] A timeline service system according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by at least one computer device, and a timeline service method according to an embodiment of the present invention may be executed by at least one computer device included in the timeline service system. In this case, a computer program according to one embodiment of the present invention may be installed and executed on the computer device, and the computer device may execute the timeline service method according to an embodiment of the present invention in accordance with the control of the executed computer program. The above-described computer program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium in conjunction with the computer device to cause the computer to execute the timeline service method.

[0025] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of a network environment in one embodiment of the present invention. The network environment in Figure 1 shows an example that includes a plurality of electronic devices 110, 120, 130, 140, a plurality of servers 150, 160, and a network 170. Figure 1 is merely an example for the purpose of explaining the invention, and the number of electronic devices and servers is not limited to that shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, the network environment in Figure 1 is merely an example of an environment applicable to this embodiment, and the environment applicable to this embodiment is not limited to the network environment in Figure 1.

[0026] The multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 may be fixed terminals or mobile terminals implemented by computer devices. Examples of the multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 include smartphones, mobile phones, navigation systems, PCs (personal computers), notebook PCs, digital broadcasting terminals, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), PMPs (Portable Multimedia Players), and tablets. As an example, Figure 1 shows a smartphone as an example of electronic device 110, but in embodiments of the present invention, electronic device 110 may mean one of a variety of physical computer devices that can communicate with other electronic devices 120, 130, 140 and / or servers 150, 160 via the network 170 using substantially wireless or wired communication methods.

[0027] The communication method is not limited, and may include not only communication methods that utilize communication networks that can be included in network 170 (for example, mobile communication networks, wired internet, wireless internet, broadcasting networks), but also short-range wireless communication between devices. For example, network 170 may include one or more arbitrary networks such as PAN (personal area network), LAN (local area network), CAN (campus area network), MAN (metropolitan area network), WAN (wide area network), BBN (broadband network), and the Internet. Furthermore, network 170 may include, but is not limited to, one or more network topologies, including bus networks, star networks, ring networks, mesh networks, star-bus networks, tree or hierarchical networks.

[0028] Servers 150 and 160 may each be implemented by one or more computer devices that communicate with multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 via a network 170 to provide commands, code, files, content, services, etc. For example, server 150 may be a system that provides services (for example, a messenger service) to multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 connected via a network 170.

[0029] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a computer device in one embodiment of the present invention. Each of the aforementioned electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140, as well as each of the servers 150 and 160, may be implemented by the computer device 200 shown in Figure 2.

[0030] Such a computer device 200 may include a memory 210, a processor 220, a communication interface 230, and an input / output interface 240, as shown in Figure 2. The memory 210 is a computer-readable recording medium and may include RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), and persistent mass storage devices such as disk drives. Here, persistent mass storage devices such as ROM and disk drives may be included in the computer device 200 as separate persistent storage devices distinct from the memory 210. The memory 210 may also store an operating system and at least one program code. Such software components may be loaded into the memory 210 from a computer-readable recording medium separate from the memory 210. Such a separate computer-readable recording medium may include computer-readable recording media such as floppy disks, disks, tapes, DVD / CD-ROM drives, and memory cards. In other embodiments, the software components may be loaded into the memory 210 through a communication interface 230 which is not a computer-readable recording medium. For example, software components may be loaded into the memory 210 of the computer device 200 based on a computer program installed by a file received via the network 170.

[0031] The processor 220 may be configured to process computer program instructions by performing basic arithmetic, logic, and input / output operations. Instructions may be provided to the processor 220 by memory 210 or a communication interface 230. For example, the processor 220 may be configured to execute instructions received according to program code stored in a recording device such as memory 210.

[0032] The communication interface 230 may provide a function for the computer device 200 to communicate with other devices (for example, the recording device described above) via the network 170. For example, requests, instructions, data, files, etc., generated by the processor 220 of the computer device 200 according to program code recorded in a recording device such as memory 210 may be transmitted to other devices via the network 170 under the control of the communication interface 230. Conversely, signals, instructions, data, files, etc., from other devices may be received by the computer device 200 via the network 170 through the communication interface 230 of the computer device 200. Signals, instructions, data, etc., received via the communication interface 230 may be transmitted to the processor 220 or memory 210, and files, etc., may be recorded on a recording medium (the persistent recording device described above) that the computer device 200 may further include.

[0033] The input / output interface 240 may be a means for interface with the input / output device 250. For example, the input device may include a microphone, keyboard, or mouse, and the output device may include a display or speaker. In another example, the input / output interface 240 may be a means for interface with a device that integrates input and output functions into one, such as a touchscreen. The input / output device 250 may consist of the computer device 200 and one other device.

[0034] In other embodiments, the computer device 200 may include fewer or more components than those shown in Figure 2. However, it is not necessary to explicitly show most of the prior art components in the figure. For example, the computer device 200 may be implemented to include at least some of the input / output devices 250 described above, and may further include other components such as transceivers, databases, etc.

[0035] The following describes methods and specific implementations of systems for recommending friends within a timeline service.

[0036] In this specification, "community" may encompass any online communication space based on relationships, such as a messenger service. A community can provide chat services, timeline services, calling services, etc., to users who have established friendships through a process involving adding them using phone numbers or IDs. However, it is not limited to this; it can be expanded to any space where communication is possible through various communication functions based on friendships.

[0037] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of components that a computer device processor may include in one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a timeline service method that a computer device may perform in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] The computer device 200 according to this embodiment may provide messenger services by connecting to a dedicated application or a web / mobile site. The computer device 200 may be configured with a timeline service system implemented on the computer. For example, the timeline service system may be implemented as an independently operating program, or it may be configured as an in-app version of a specific application so that it can operate on the specific application.

[0039] The processor 220 of the computer device 200 may include, as shown in Figure 3, an account recommendation unit 310, a registration relationship setting unit 320, and a post provision unit 330 as components for executing the timeline service method described below. Depending on the embodiment, the components of the processor 220 may be selectively included in or excluded from the processor 220. Also, depending on the embodiment, the components of the processor 220 may be separated or merged for the expression of the functions of the processor 220.

[0040] Such a processor 220 and its components may control the computer device 200 to perform steps included in the timeline service method described below. For example, the processor 220 and its components may be implemented to execute instructions from the operating system code contained in the memory 210 and the code of at least one program.

[0041] Here, the components of the processor 220 may be representations of different functions that are executed by the processor 220 according to instructions provided by the program code recorded in the computer device 200. For example, an account recommendation unit 310 may be used as a functional representation of the processor 220 that controls the computer device 200 according to the above-mentioned instructions so that the computer device 200 recommends an account on the messenger.

[0042] The processor 220 may read necessary instructions from the memory 210, which is loaded with instructions related to the control of the computer device 200. In this case, the instructions read may include instructions for controlling the processor 220 to execute the timeline service method described below.

[0043] The steps included in the timeline service method described below may be performed in a different order than shown in the diagram, and some steps may be omitted or additional steps may be included.

[0044] The steps included in the timeline service method are performed on the client where the messenger is installed, but depending on the embodiment, some of the steps may be performed on the server 150.

[0045] Referring to Figure 4, in step 410, the account recommendation unit 310 may recommend accounts on the messenger, which is a type of community, that are associated with the user as accounts for timeline registration. In this embodiment, a timeline service may be provided as a function included in the messenger, and in particular, a registration environment for timeline posts may be provided based on following rather than being based on friends. The account recommendation unit 310 may recommend accounts on the messenger so that the user can set up timeline registration based on their following relationships. As an example, the account recommendation unit 310 may provide accounts on the messenger that have been set up as friends with the user, i.e., messenger friends, as recommended accounts. In this case, recommended accounts may include general accounts (personal accounts) that have been set up with the user through the friend-adding process using phone numbers, IDs, etc. on the messenger, as well as official accounts. As another example, the account recommendation unit 310 may provide accounts on the messenger that correspond to the user's interests as recommended accounts. The system may recommend promoted accounts, such as influencer accounts with a certain number of followers, that fall into categories that match the user's interests. The account recommendation unit 310 may distinguish between following accounts (for which a registration relationship has already been established) and unfollowing accounts (for which a registration relationship has not been established) among the recommended accounts for timeline registration.

[0046] In step 420, the registration relationship setting unit 320 may set up registration relationships based on the user's follow settings for at least some of the recommended accounts. In other words, the registration relationship setting unit 320 may set up follow-based registration relationships for timeline registration as a separate relationship from messenger friends. The registration relationship setting unit 320 may also allow the user to set up registration relationships for unfollowed accounts among the recommended accounts according to user settings, and may also allow the user to remove registration relationships for accounts that are currently being followed.

[0047] In step 430, the post provider 330 may provide posts (e.g., posts) from followed accounts in a timeline format based on the follow-based registration relationship. The timeline service may provide a view format in the form of a timeline for viewing posts uploaded by messenger accounts. In this case, posts from accounts that the user follows may be presented in chronological order. Therefore, the post provider 330 can provide posts from accounts with which the user and follow-based registration relationships have been established in a timeline format. In the case of a timeline provided as a service within a messenger, the registration relationship may be changed from a messenger friend-based relationship to a follow-based relationship and applied accordingly.

[0048] In this invention, when providing a timeline service within a messenger that utilizes a friendship-based social graph, it is possible to provide a timeline service that utilizes a follow-based social graph in addition to the friendship-based social graph.

[0049] Figures 5-8 are illustrative diagrams illustrating the process of setting up follow-based registration relationships in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] When users move to a timeline service from Messenger, a user guide flow may be provided to change the friend-based registration relationship that was applied to the traditional registration list to a follow-based registration relationship.

[0051] For example, processor 220 may provide a tutorial-style account recommendation screen to enable users to find new followers and set up registration relationships.

[0052] Referring to Figure 5, the processor 220 may, when the "Timeline" menu 501 for moving to the Timeline service is selected on the service screen 500, which is provided as other functions of the messenger (such as chat service or calling service), input a user selection on the intro page 50 asking whether to maintain a friends-based registration list or change to a follow-based registration list.

[0053] If the user requests a change to a follow-based subscription list on the intro page 50, the processor 220 may provide a concern setting screen 610 for setting user concerns, as shown in Figure 6.

[0054] The interest settings screen 610 may include a category list 611 used to classify messenger accounts, posts, etc. Related categories may be set during the process of creating a messenger account or registering a post, and accounts and posts may be classified into each category based on these categories.

[0055] The user may select one or more categories corresponding to their interests from the category list 611 on the interest setting screen 610, and once the user's interests have been set, the processor 220 may provide accounts on the messenger that correspond to the user's interests as recommended accounts.

[0056] Once the user's interests have been configured, the processor 220 may provide an influencer recommendation screen 720, as shown in Figure 7. The processor 220 may also provide an influencer recommendation list 721 consisting of influencer accounts with a certain number of followers or more, and which fall under categories that match the user's interests.

[0057] Each account included in the influencer recommendation list 721 may display at least one post from that account (for example, a post created recently, or a post with the most reactions), and may also be provided with a "Follow" menu 72 for setting up follow relationships. Among the recommended accounts, an "Unfollow" menu 72 may be provided for accounts that the user does not follow, and an "Unfollow" menu may be provided for accounts that the user already follows, indicating that the user is currently following them, in order to remove the follow setting.

[0058] Users can find influencer accounts with similar interests from a list of 721 recommended influencers and establish a following relationship.

[0059] The processor 220 may provide a friend recommendation screen 730 when the user requests the following recommendation list. The processor 220 may provide a friend recommendation list 731 consisting of general accounts on the messenger that have established a relationship with the user through a friend-adding process using a phone number, ID, etc.

[0060] Each account included in the friend recommendation list 731 may be provided with a "Follow" menu 73 for setting up the follow relationship. Among the recommended accounts, an "Unfollow" menu 73 may be provided for accounts that the user does not follow, and an "Unfollow" menu may be provided for accounts that the user already follows, indicating that they are followed accounts, in order to remove the follow setting.

[0061] Processor 220 may recommend an official account in addition to a general account.

[0062] If the user requests the following recommendation list, the processor 220 may provide an official account recommendation screen 840, as shown in Figure 8. The processor 220 may provide an official account recommendation list 841, which consists of official accounts on the messenger that have established a relationship with the user through a friend-adding process using a phone number, ID, etc.

[0063] Each account included in the official account recommendation list 841 may be provided with a "Follow" menu 84 for setting up follower relationships. Among the recommended accounts, an "Unfollow" menu 84 may be provided for unfollow accounts that the user does not follow, and an "Unfollow" menu may be provided for follow accounts that the user is already following, indicating that it is a followed account, in order to remove the follower setting.

[0064] It is also possible to provide the friend recommendation list (731) and the official account recommendation list (841) as a single list, rather than providing them as separate lists.

[0065] Instead of applying all messenger friends (regular and official accounts that have been set as friends) as registered relationships on the timeline, users can selectively apply registered relationships through their own settings for following.

[0066] Once the follow settings using the recommended account are complete, the processor 220 may provide a timeline service screen 800 to which the follow-based registration relationships have been applied.

[0067] The processor 220 can perform follow migration to the timeline by changing friend-based registration relationships to follow-based registration relationships, and can provide a timeline feed based on follow-based registration relationships.

[0068] Referring to Figure 8, the timeline service screen 800 displays the list of posts registered by the user in a timeline format, and the posts 80 of the accounts that the user follows may be displayed in order of most recent time.

[0069] Furthermore, the timeline service screen 800 may include a list 801 of accounts that the user is currently following, and if a specific account is selected from the following account list 801, a list of posts from the selected account may be provided.

[0070] The timeline screen 800 may further include a menu 802 for adding followed accounts, a menu 803 for checking various notifications related to the timeline service, and a menu 804 for checking accounts related to the user, such as followed accounts and follower accounts.

[0071] Therefore, the processor 220 can recommend influencer accounts of the user's interests, or general accounts or official accounts with which the user has established a friendship relationship, so that the user can find new followers and set up registration relationships.

[0072] In addition to the routes described with reference to Figures 5-8, account recommendations for follow settings may be made through various routes taken while using the timeline service.

[0073] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the process of providing a friend recommendation list in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] The process shown in Figure 9 is included in step 410, but depending on the embodiment, some of the steps may be executed on server 150.

[0075] Referring to Figure 9, in step 901, the account recommendation unit 310 may calculate a friendliness score with the user for accounts (at least one of general accounts and official accounts) (hereinafter referred to as "friend accounts") with which a relationship has been established with the user through the process of adding friends using a phone number or ID in the messenger.

[0076] The intimacy score is a numerical representation of the level of closeness between a friend's account and a user, and may be divided into intimacy within the timeline service (timeline intimacy) and intimacy within the chat service (chat intimacy).

[0077] The account recommendation unit 310 may use log data generated within the timeline service within a certain period of time recently (for example, two weeks) to calculate a user's timeline affinity to a friend's account. For example, the account recommendation unit 310 may set the initial value of the affinity score to a default value (for example, 0) and update the initial value based on the user's reactions to the friend's account. A score may be defined for each reaction, and the affinity score may be updated by applying the score from the reaction. For example, a positive reaction such as "like" may be given a +1, and a negative reaction such as hiding a post may be given a -2.

[0078] The account recommendation unit 310 may calculate a user's chat intimacy with a friend's account using log data generated within the chat service within a certain period of time recently (for example, two weeks). As an example, the account recommendation unit 310 may calculate chat intimacy using the number and frequency of messages exchanged in the messenger chat room, the types of messages exchanged frequently, the time of the last message exchange, and the number of friends who belong to the same network.

[0079] In step 902, the account recommendation unit 310 recommends friend accounts from among the messenger accounts within the timeline service, and may provide a friend recommendation list consisting of friend accounts that have a history of creating a timeline post within a certain period recently (for example, 30 days) (hereinafter referred to as "recently active friends"). In other words, the account recommendation unit 310 may select recently active friends from among the friend accounts and form a friend recommendation list.

[0080] In this case, the account recommendation unit 310 may display a friend recommendation list composed of recently active friends, sorted based on their closeness score. In particular, the friend recommendation list for the timeline service may be sorted by timeline closeness, and displayed from highest to lowest timeline closeness.

[0081] The account recommendation unit 310 may select a predetermined maximum number of accounts from among recently active friends, based on their timeline intimacy level, and assemble them into a friend recommendation list.

[0082] The account recommendation unit 310 may select additional accounts to recommend from among the friend accounts if the number of recently active friends for forming the friend recommendation list is below a threshold set as the minimum number.

[0083] To explain in more detail, as shown in Figure 10, the account recommendation unit 310 determines whether the number of recently active friends is below a threshold (S1001). If the number of recently active friends is not below the threshold, that is, if the number of recently active friends is above the threshold, the friend recommendation list may be composed only of recently active friends (S1002).

[0084] On the other hand, if the number of recently active friends is below a threshold, the account recommendation unit 310 may additionally select accounts from among the friend accounts that the user has reacted to within the timeline service (hereinafter referred to as "interested friends"). At this time, the account recommendation unit 310 will determine whether the total number of recently active friends and interested friends is below a threshold (S1003). If the total number of recently active friends and interested friends is not below a threshold, i.e., if it is above the threshold, the account recommendation unit 310 may construct a friend recommendation list with recently active friends and interested friends (S1002).

[0085] On the other hand, if the account recommendation unit 310 determines that the total number of recently active friends and interested friends is below a threshold, it may additionally select accounts from among the friend accounts whose timeline intimacy with the user is above a predetermined value (hereinafter referred to as "timeline friends"). At this time, the account recommendation unit 310 will determine whether the total number of recently active friends and timeline friends is below a threshold (S1004). If the total number of recently active friends and timeline friends is not below a threshold, that is, if it is above a threshold, the friend recommendation list may be formed with recently active friends and timeline friends (S1002).

[0086] Depending on the embodiment, it is also possible to configure the friend recommendation list to include recently active friends, friends of interest, and timeline friends.

[0087] If the total number of recently active friends and timeline friends is below a threshold, the account recommendation unit 310 may additionally select accounts from among the friend accounts whose chat intimacy with the user is above a predetermined value (hereinafter referred to as "chat friends"). At this time, the account recommendation unit 310 will determine whether the total number of recently active friends and chat friends is below a threshold (S1005). If the total number of recently active friends and chat friends is not above the threshold, i.e., above the threshold, the account recommendation unit 310 may construct a friend recommendation list with recently active friends and chat friends (S1002).

[0088] Depending on the embodiment, it is also possible to configure a friend recommendation list that includes recently active friends, friends of interest, timeline friends, and chat friends.

[0089] The account recommendation unit 310 may skip the friend account recommendation process if the total number of recently active friends and chat friends is below a threshold (S1006).

[0090] Therefore, in this embodiment, a user can recommend a friend account on the messenger as an account for setting up a follow relationship in order to register for the timeline service within the messenger, and in this case, the friend account can be displayed in order based on the closeness score with the user.

[0091] The above-described apparatus may be implemented by hardware components, software components, and / or combinations of hardware and software components. For example, the apparatus and components described in the embodiments may be implemented using one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers, such as processors, controllers, ALUs (arithmetic logic units), digital signal processors, microcomputers, FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), PLUs (programmable logic units), microprocessors, or various devices capable of executing and responding to instructions. The processing unit may execute an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications running on the OS. The processing unit may also respond to software execution, access data, record, manipulate, process, and generate data. For convenience of understanding, it may be described as if a single processing unit is used, but those skilled in the art will understand that the processing unit may include multiple processing elements and / or multiple types of processing elements. For example, the processing unit may include multiple processors or one processor and one controller. Other processing configurations, such as parallel processors, are also possible.

[0092] Software may include computer programs, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more of these, which may configure a processing unit to operate as desired, or which may instruct the processing unit independently or collectively. Software and / or data may be embodied in any kind of machine, component, physical device, computer recording medium, or device for interpretation based on the processing unit or for providing instructions or data to the processing unit. Software may be distributed across a networked computer system, and may be recorded or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media.

[0093] The methods according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program instructions executable by various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable medium. Here, the medium may be one that continuously records computer-executable programs or one that temporarily records for execution or download. Furthermore, the medium may be a variety of recording or storage means in the form of one or more hardware combined, and is not limited to a medium directly connected to a computer system, but may be distributed on a network. Examples of mediums include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, and ROMs, RAMs, flash memories, etc., which may be configured to record program instructions. Another example of a medium is a recording medium or storage medium managed by an application store that distributes applications or other sites, servers that supply or distribute various software.

[0094] As described above, embodiments have been explained based on limited embodiments and drawings, but those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications and variations from the above description. For example, the described technique may be performed in a different order than described, and / or the components of the described system, structure, apparatus, circuit, etc. may be combined or assembled in a different manner than described, or opposed or replaced by other components or equivalents, and still achieve suitable results.

[0095] Therefore, even if the embodiment is different, if it is equivalent to the claims, it falls within the scope of the attached claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 220: Processor 310: Account Recommendation Department 320: Registration-related settings section 330: Postal Service Department

Claims

1. A friend recommendation method performed on a computer device, The computer device includes at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions contained in memory, A timeline service is provided as a feature included in a community that utilizes a friendship-based social graph. The aforementioned timeline service provides a timeline based on follower-based registration relationships, separate from the social graph. The aforementioned friend recommendation method is: The steps include: the at least one processor calculating an affinity score for each friend account in which a friendship relationship has been established with the user; and The step in which at least one processor recommends at least some of the friend accounts as recommended accounts for setting up the registration relationship within the timeline service, using the closeness score. Includes, The aforementioned calculation step is, A step of calculating the user's timeline intimacy with the friend account based on a score calculated using log data generated within the timeline service, which is the history of the user's positive or negative reactions to the friend account, and A step of calculating the chat intimacy level of the user with the friend account, using a score calculated based on log data generated within the community's chat service, specifically the number of messages exchanged or the frequency of sending and receiving messages with the friend account, the type of message, the time of the last message exchange with the friend account, or the number of friends who share a common network with the friend account. Includes, The aforementioned recommendation stage is A friend recommendation method, comprising the step of forming a friend recommendation list of at least some of the friend accounts determined based on at least one of the calculated timeline intimacy and the calculated chat intimacy.

2. The community is a messenger service, and the social graph is formed based on friendships between users set up in the messenger service. The friend recommendation method according to claim 1, wherein the timeline service provides the timeline according to follow-based registration relationships between users, which are relationships set up separately from the friendship relationships between users set up in the messenger service.

3. The friend recommendation method according to claim 1, wherein the friend recommendation list includes recently active friends, which are accounts that have made a post within a certain period of time recently.

4. The aforementioned recommendation stage is The friend recommendation method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of sorting and providing the friend recommendation list based on the intimacy score, which is based on at least one of the calculated timeline intimacy and the calculated chat intimacy.

5. The above-mentioned configuration steps are: The friend recommendation method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of selecting some additional accounts from among the friend accounts based on the number of recently active friends.

6. The above-mentioned configuration steps are: The friend recommendation method according to claim 3, characterized in that additional accounts whose calculated timeline intimacy or calculated chat intimacy is above a certain value are selected from among the friend accounts, and these accounts are combined with the recently active friends to form the friend recommendation list.

7. The steps of the above configuration are: The friend recommendation method according to claim 6, characterized in that additional accounts whose calculated timeline intimacy level is above a certain value are selected from among the friend accounts, and these are combined with the recently active friends to form the friend recommendation list.

8. The steps of the above configuration are: The friend recommendation method according to claim 6, characterized in that additional accounts whose calculated chat intimacy level is above a certain value are selected from among the aforementioned friend accounts, and these accounts are combined with the recently active friends to form the friend recommendation list.

9. A computer program that causes a computer device to execute the friend recommendation method described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A computer device, It includes at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions contained in memory, The aforementioned processor provides a timeline service as a feature included in a community that utilizes a friendship-based social graph. The aforementioned timeline service provides a timeline based on follower-based registration relationships, separate from the social graph. The aforementioned at least one processor is The process of calculating a closeness score with the user for each friend account with which a friend relationship has been established, and Within the timeline service, the process of recommending at least some of the friend accounts using the friendship score as a recommended account for setting up the registration relationship is performed. The processor calculates the intimacy score in the following way: A process for calculating the user's timeline intimacy with a friend account based on a score calculated using log data generated within the timeline service, which is the history of the user's positive or negative reactions to the friend account, and The process of calculating the chat intimacy level of the user with the friend account is performed using a score calculated based on at least one of the following log data generated within the community's chat service: the number of messages exchanged with the friend account or the frequency of sending and receiving messages, the type of message, the time when the last message was sent or received with the friend account, or the number of friends who belong to the same network as the friend account. The processor is a computer device that performs the process of configuring at least a portion of the friend accounts, determined based on at least one of the calculated timeline intimacy and the calculated chat intimacy, as a friend recommendation list for the purpose of the recommendation.

11. The community is a messenger service, and the social graph is formed based on friendships between users set up in the messenger service. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the timeline service provides the timeline according to follow-based registration relationships between users, which are relationships set up separately from the friendship relationships between users set up in the messenger service.

12. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the friend recommendation list includes recently active friends, which are accounts that have made a post within a certain period of time recently.

13. The aforementioned at least one processor is The computer device according to claim 12, characterized in that it sorts and provides the friend recommendation list based on the intimacy score, which is based on at least one of the calculated timeline intimacy and the calculated chat intimacy.

14. The aforementioned at least one processor is The computer device according to claim 12, characterized in that it selects some additional accounts from among the friend accounts based on the number of recently active friends.

15. The aforementioned at least one processor is The computer device according to claim 12, characterized in that it additionally selects accounts from among the friend accounts whose calculated timeline intimacy or calculated chat intimacy is above a certain value, and combines them with the recently active friends to form the friend recommendation list.

16. The aforementioned at least one processor is The computer device according to claim 14, characterized in that it additionally selects accounts from among the friend accounts whose calculated timeline intimacy level is above a certain value, and combines them with the recently active friends to form the friend recommendation list.

17. The aforementioned at least one processor is The computer device according to claim 14, characterized in that it additionally selects accounts from among the friend accounts whose calculated chat intimacy level is above a certain value, and combines them with the recently active friends to form the friend recommendation list.

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