Automatic User Group Assignment in Social Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Social networks face challenges in efficiently managing electronic messages between users and entities, with existing systems lacking effective targeting and control mechanisms, leading to undesired communications.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method that allows entities to automatically assign users to groups based on profile attributes, using defined properties and privacy settings, enabling targeted message distribution while maintaining user control and minimizing unwanted messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If entities send messages to all followers without segmentation, then message distribution is simple and fast, but users receive unwanted messages and communication efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage distribution efficiencyVSAvoidunwanted messages to users
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the follower base into distinct groups based on profile attributes (location, age, gender, language, country, region, interests). Entities can create multiple groups with defined properties and automatically assign followers to appropriate groups, enabling targeted message distribution that reduces unwanted messages while maintaining distribution efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables entities to send different messages to different groups based on local characteristics. Each group receives customized content relevant to its specific attributes, improving message relevance and reducing unwanted communications while maintaining overall distribution efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If entities manually manage user groups, then message targeting is precise, but system complexity and operational effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage targeting accuracyVSAvoidgroup management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automatic group assignment based on predefined properties and user profile attributes. When a follower's profile matches group criteria, they are automatically assigned to appropriate groups without manual intervention, maintaining precise targeting while reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service group management where followers are automatically categorized based on their own profile information. The automatic assignment mechanism reduces manual management effort while maintaining accurate message targeting through attribute-based segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If users have full control over their profile attributes, then user privacy is protected, but entities cannot effectively target messages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser privacy controlVSAvoidmessage targeting capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial disclosure where users share only specific profile attributes with entities for messaging purposes. Users maintain full control over their complete profile while entities receive access to relevant attributes needed for targeted messaging, balancing privacy protection with effective targeting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables differential privacy control where different attributes are shared with entities based on user preferences. Users can selectively disclose location, age, interests, or other attributes to entities, allowing targeted messaging on disclosed attributes while protecting privacy on undisclosed attributes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10560461B1Automatic group assignment of users in a social network
Publication Date: 2020.02.11 GOOGLE LLC
  • US10560461B1 patent drawing
  • US10560461B1 patent drawing
  • US10560461B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for managing electronic messages of users in a social network. One method includes an operation for receiving attributes of a profile of a person with a person account that has started following an entity with an entity account, in the social network. Further, the person is added to one or more groups in the entity account based on the attributes. Each of the groups is associated with defined properties for adding persons to each group. Furthermore, messages, created by the entity and addressed to the one or more groups, are distributed to a stream of the person account.