Passive Network Connection Scoring via Contact Instance Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Complex social networks pose challenges in understanding and leveraging connections between individuals across various technological platforms, making it difficult to identify relevant relationships and contacts efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that receive data descriptors identifying instances of contact between persons, determine connections based on these contacts, calculate a contact count, and assign a connection score, enabling the identification of connection paths and relative relationship strengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If passive network data is collected and analyzed to map social connections, then connection identification capability is improved, but system complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection identification capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex social network analysis into distinct functional modules: data collection from passive sources, contact instance identification, connection determination, contact count calculation, and connection score calculation. Each module processes specific aspects of the network data independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive analysis capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate data structures and processing layers between raw passive network data and final connection insights. Contact instances serve as intermediaries between raw data and connections, while contact counts and connection scores provide intermediate metrics between connections and final network understanding. These intermediaries simplify the analysis pipeline.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive contact data is collected from multiple sources, then network understanding accuracy is improved, but data processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork understanding accuracyVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary processing of contact data by identifying and storing contact instances as discrete, reusable units before connection analysis. This preliminary action allows the system to efficiently reuse contact information across multiple connection determinations without reprocessing raw data, reducing overall processing time while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms raw contact data into structured parameters including contact instances, contact counts, and connection scores. This parameter transformation organizes comprehensive data into standardized formats that enable efficient querying and analysis, improving processing speed without sacrificing measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If connection scores are calculated based on multiple contact instances, then relationship strength measurement is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelationship strength measurementVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service calculation approach where the system automatically determines contact counts and connection scores by aggregating contact instances without requiring external intervention or complex manual analysis. The computational process serves itself by using previously identified contact instances to automatically generate connection metrics, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses contact instances as reusable templates that can be copied and aggregated to determine connection characteristics. Instead of重新 analyzing raw data for each connection assessment, the system copies and counts existing contact instance records, significantly reducing computational complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8572242B2Leveraging passive networks
Publication Date: 2013.10.29 BANK OF AMERICA CORP
  • US8572242B2 patent drawing
  • US8572242B2 patent drawing
  • US8572242B2 patent drawing

AI summary

System and methods for leveraging passive networks are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a first data source, a first data descriptor, wherein the first data descriptor identifies an instance of contact between at least two persons. The method also includes determining a connection between the at least two persons, wherein the connection is based on an instance of contact between the at least two persons identified in the first data descriptor. The method further includes determining, with a processor, a first contact count for the connection, the first contact count based on a number of instances of contact between the at least two persons associated with the connection. The method also includes calculating, with the processor, a connection score for the connection, wherein the connection score is based at least in part on the first contact count.