Query Routing in Social Networks via Network Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Social networking platforms face challenges in efficiently routing queries from users to the most relevant members within their network, as users often struggle to identify suitable responders and may receive inadequate or excessive responses due to the complexity of connections and varying levels of familiarity.
Innovation Solution
A system that analyzes user profiles to identify a subset of members with relevant expertise and connection strength, selectively transmits queries, evaluates response sufficiency, and assigns ratings to improve the accuracy and timeliness of responses, while managing the distribution of queries to optimize response rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If queries are transmitted to all members in a user's network, then the probability of receiving a response increases, but the number of irrelevant answers and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the user's network into subsets based on connection strength and relevance metrics. Instead of transmitting queries to all members, the system divides the network into targeted groups and selectively transmits queries to appropriate subsets, reducing unnecessary communications while maintaining response probability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different connection strength values and relevance metrics to different members based on their relationship with the user. This allows the system to identify and target specific members with appropriate connection strengths for each query, rather than using a uniform approach for all network members.
2Measurement precision
If users manually select members to query, then query accuracy improves, but user time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating connection strengths, relevance metrics, and subset assignments for all network members before queries are submitted. This preprocessing allows the system to automatically identify appropriate recipients without requiring user intervention at query time, maintaining accuracy while eliminating manual selection effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing user profiles, determining connection strengths, and selecting appropriate subset members without user input. The system serves itself by autonomously making the selection decisions that would otherwise require manual user effort, preserving accuracy while saving time.
3Quantity of substance
If query distribution is unrestricted, then response coverage increases, but response quality and timeliness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making query distribution adaptive and dynamic based on real-time factors such as member availability, historical response patterns, and connection strength. The system dynamically adjusts which subsets receive queries and can modify distribution strategies based on response quality feedback, ensuring both coverage and quality are optimized.
4Productivity
If multiple queries are allowed without limits, then user productivity increases, but system load and response quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that monitor response quality metrics, system load, and member capacity in real-time. This feedback is used to dynamically adjust query distribution strategies, rate limiting, and subset selections, ensuring that high productivity is maintained while response quality and system reliability are preserved through adaptive control.
Data Source
AI summary
Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure discussed herein may be used to receive, analyze, and distribute queries about various topics from a member of an online social network to other members of the social network. The embodiments of the present disclosure may additionally assess the quality of responses to queries by members, as well as expand or narrow the distribution of the query among the social network based on various events and criteria.