WO2012117397A2

WO2012117397A2 - System and method for social network platform

Info

Publication number: WO2012117397A2
Application number: PCT/IL2012/000105
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dalya ARAZI
Original assignee: Arazi Dalya
Priority date: 2011-03-01
Filing date: 2012-03-01
Publication date: 2012-09-07
Also published as: WO2012117397A3

Abstract

The present invention discloses, a social network platform for organizing and sharing information items over data communication network. The platform is comprised of: information collecting application enabling to aggregate information items from social multiple sources relating at least one user and at least one context, wherein the context is identified from at least one information selected by the user and a client organizing and sharing application including a design module for organizing aggregate information items and arranging their display in at least one presentation format. According to some embodiments of the present invention the platform further comprising a video module for automatically converting in real-time all input information into real-time video movie which is composed of combination of all information items.

Description

System and method for social network platform

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of social network platform and more specifically organization and for sharing information items . BACKGROUND

Known is the art platforms of social networks provides the users with static presentation of user messages and other relevant social information. The information is organized in flat structure at a network page of the social network. Such static presentation and organization limits the user capabilities to retrieve relevant information by context and have dynamic interactive experience when viewing the social related information.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention discloses , a social network platform for organizing and sharing information items over data communication network. The platform is comprised of:

information collecting application enabling to aggregate information items from social multiple sources relating at least one user and at least one context, wherein the context is identified from at least one information selected by the user; and a client organizing and sharing application including a design module for organizing aggregate information items and arranging their display in at least one presentation format.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the information items are aggregated for different multiple context subjects, where for each subject the context is identified separately on the basis of user selection. According to some embodiments of the present invention the information items including text ,images sound recording, video recording, which where inserted by typing ,drawing , touching or recording.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the information collecting application includes an object selection module enabling the user to select a first object, wherein the at least one context is determined by analyzing the selected object information and properties.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the information collecting application includes filtering information module enabling a user to exclude information items by selecting one information item from the organized list of aggregated information items.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the filtering information module enables to exclude multiple information items based on user selections by identifying properties of the selected items and selecting for exclusion information items having at least one common property with the identified properties.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the presentation format is a network page.

According to some embodiments of the present invention client sharing application includes video creation module generating video from at least part of the collected information items.

According to some embodiments of the present invention client sharing application includes book creation module generating a digital or printed book from at least part of the collected information According to some embodiments of the present invention the client sharing application includes update module for search updated information items related to at least one determined context.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the platform further comprising a video module for automatically converting in real-time all input information into real-time video movie which is composed of combination of all information items

According to some embodiments of the present invention the streaming module for continuously displaying the video movie after or while the movie is generated According to some embodiments of the present invention the a video interactive module for inserting information item by a user while the video movie is displayed and integrating the information item into the played video;

According to some embodiments of the present invention the a video interactive module for inserting information item while the video movie is stream by enabling to user to pause the movie playing.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the video interactive module enables to insert user information items at any point along the movie timeline or at any position in the video images. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more readily understood from the detailed description of embodiments thereof made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: Figs. 1 is block diagram illustrating the social network platform according to some embodiments of the invention; Figs. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the process of Object selection module according to some embodiments of the invention;

Figs. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the processing of information retrieval module according to some embodiments of the invention;

Figs. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the processing of Filtering information module according to some embodiments of the invention;

Figs. 5 a flowchart illustrating the Design & display module processing according to some embodiments of the invention;

Figs. 6A is a flowchart illustrating the Video creation module processing according to some embodiments of the invention;

Figs. 6B is a flowchart illustrating the clip creation module processing according to some embodiments of the invention.

Figs. 6c is a flowchart illustrating the real time video creation module processing according to some embodiments of the invention

Figs. 7 A is a flowchart illustrating the Video interaction module processing according to some embodiments of the invention.

Figs. 7B is a flowchart illustrating the Clip interactive playback module processing according to some embodiments of the invention.

Figs. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the book creation module processing according to some embodiments of the invention.

Figs. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the text enrichment module processing according to some embodiments of the invention; and

Figs. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the social network management module processing according to some embodiments of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is applicable to other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The present invention provides a new platform for sharing information using social network utilities.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the new platform provide real time video information sharing through social network, the real time video is update in real time and enables interactive feedback with the user.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the new platform enables to collect information items from at least one social network which relate one context or item defined by the user and provide the user with single presentation of all relevant information items, the presentation may be formatted as a dedicated web page , a video or a in a printed or digital book format. The presentation can be edited filtered or updated by a user.

Fig. 1 discloses one embodiment of the present invention of creating presentation of collected information items from social networks of a specific user. The platform includes collecting module 100 for aggregating information from user's personal data appearing in his social network activities , client sharing application 122 which enables to present the user with all collected information items in different formats such a webpage, video or printed book. The collecting module 100 and client sharing application communicates through data communication network 1 10, such as the Internet. The collecting module can be implemented as a plug-in of a browsing application, or an application installed on a computer device, TV terminal or mobile device such as smart phone or a PDA device. The client sharing application 122 can be implemented as a dedicated web site or an application installed on a computer device or mobile device such as smart phone or a PDA device. Optionally the application can be integrated as part of a specific social network platfonn such as Facebook or Google+.

According to some embodiments the collecting module 100 is comprised of a an objection selection module 1 12 enabling the user to select one object from his personal social information such an information item from the wall page in his Facebook network. Based on user selection the information retrieval module 1 14 search and collect all user's personal information data related to the selected object. After collecting all relevant information the filtering module 1 16 provides the user with the option of extracting non related information. The filtered information is organized by type and category according to predefined rules.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the collecting module further includes text enrichment module enabling users associate between selected information items of different type , such add audio item to text item.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the collecting module is associated with multimedia object repository, for associating between selected information items and predefined multimedia objects such as audio file.

The client sharing application 122 includes a design and display module 124 for organizing the collected information items in a dedicated web page platfonn, video creation module 126 for generating video module based all collected information item the video may be generated offline or in real-time, social network management 128 enabling the user to share all or part of collected information items using all known sharing utilities, and book creation module 130 for formatting the organized collected information into printed or digital book format.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the client sharing application includes a video interactive module enabling real-time user interaction with the video enabling to insert new messages while the video is playing.

Fig. 2 illustrates a flowchart of Object selection module processing according to some embodiments of the invention. The user is enabled to select on object such as text, image, video or any multimedia item (step 212), when browsing through personal information of social network service such a Wall page in Facebook network. The selection can be achieved by clicking on an object and choosing a pre-defined option in menu bar which is displayed on top of the webpage , by marking the objects using a mouse utility or by graphically framing the object. Optionally all objects are presented to the user and the user selects from a presentation list. The module identifies user selection (step 214) and retrieves the object from its original source (step216). The retrieval can be achieved by downloading or maintaining hyperlink. The selected object may include status definition in a social network, such selection define the context to include all information items related to the status. Figs. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the processing of information retrieval module according to some embodiments of the invention. At the first step the selected object is analyzed for identifying the related context in the user world such as special occasion (birthday party traveling event) , the analyzing may include parsing and identifying text which is associated or is part of the object or image recognition (such as face or any identifiable object such as famous building ) of images appearing in a an image or video object type. For example identifying a specific person may hint the required context relates to this person, or identifying a geographic location may hint the related context relate to travel event related to the identified location. The context may be identified from associated items appearing in this page where the object was originally located. The analyzing may include identifying all relevant information of the object, such as the object source, creation time of the object, type of object etc.

At the next step, is identified and defined the context to be searched based on identified context of the object(step 314). All the identified hint information is analyzed in correlation with user profile data and user preferences to determine the search context. The profile data may include status, family relations, work

environment related information, friends, geographical location, age etc. The user preferences may include user defined preferences , learned preferences from user behavior in past of object selection and filtering actions. The module may create a DNA formula which reflects user preferences by defining weights for each context related subject such as time periods, relevant friends , location, image type ,etc.

Once the search context is defined the module explores all social services of the user (step 316) : including social network WebPages, messaging service data such as mails or Twitter , cloud based sharing applications such as Picasa blogs or chatting services . All data items of the relevant information sources are analyzed for identifying their context , all items identified to relevant context are aggregated into a single collection of information items. Each relevant information item is retrieved from its source, by downloading or saving it's hyperlink location (step 318).

Figs. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the processing of the filtering information module according to some embodiments of the invention. The user is provided with a presentation of collected information items (step 412), the presentation may be formed in a table searchable format or webpage format , enabling the user to select a specific object (step 414). Optionally the user may define filtering rules parameters (step 414) such as time, location, image type etc. according to some embodiments the selected object for deletion is analyzed for identifying properties and characteristics for applying filtering rules based on the identified properties and characteristics. For example in case a selected image relates to a specific person, the filtering rules may define all images of the specific person. Based on the user selection all irrelevant data items are extracted (step 416). As results of the user filtering selection the definition of the searched context may be changed, implementing deducted filtering rules. Optionally the collecting module activates a search for new information items according to corrected context definitions(step 418). Optionally the user may ad new information items according to his selections.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the Design & display module processing, according to some embodiments of the invention. The design module prepares all collected information items to be adapted to video/web/book format by adjusting objects formats , resizing or applying any design effects according to pre-defined designs rules (step 512). AT the next step the objects are organized in graphical layout according to predefined rules, the layout design may adapted according to required presentation format. One basic format may be a web page which requires specific layout parameters.

Figs. 6A is a flowchart illustrating the Video creation module processing according to some embodiments of the invention. At the first step, are determined the objects to be used for the video editing, the determination may be automatically according predefined rules or manually selected by the user (step 612A). Optionally the module associate between the original authors of the objects (step 614A) which inserted the object to user personal information medium , such the wall page in Facebook network, and retrieve the relevant image or other relevant data(step 616A). At the next step, the order of inserting the objects along a time line of the video is determined (step 618A) according to predefined rules based on objects properties and related information such as the person related to the objects , the time order in which the object was added, etc. For example, when producing a video movie related a social event, the order of objects such as messages or images, may be changed according strength of user relations with the person associated with the object ( family members may appear before friends, or checking the frequency of the member interactive messaging with the user). All the objects are interlaced into one video movie according to the defined time line ( step 620A), optionally text message are combined with related images of the persons , which have written the messages. Optionally the user may choose between predefine video templates(step 621 A). According to some embodiments of the present invention, the user may add audio pieces to the video (step 622A) according to his selection, or optionally he may select video effects (step 624A).

Figs. 6B is a flowchart illustrating the clip creation module processing according to some embodiments of the invention. The present invention provide the user with a new service of creating a video clip which combine series of images representing series of messages originated by different users in relation to one common topic. The messages may relate to status change in social network by group members, messages in chat service relating a common topic or feedback of different users to one common topic appearing in a website. The clip is created on basis of given template (step 61 OB) optionally enabling a user to select relevant content page and leading topic of a target network page (step 612B) (e.g. Face book user's page and status as topic). Once a leading topic in a target network page , are determine , the module supports the selection of relevant messages (step 614B) of different users which appear at the target network page in relation to the leading topic. The selection can be made by the user or automatically, for example when creating a video clip relating a status of a group member, automatically extracting all message relating a change in the status. At the next step (step 616B) are retrieved all multimedia objects associated to the selected texts. For messages which are not associated with multimedia objects, the module can select default multimedia objects according to predefined rules. The text message , the associated multimedia objects and optionally pictures which relate to originators users of the messages are all interlaced into series of images (step 618B). Automatically, on the basis the interlaced images, is produced a video clip (step 620B) which combines sequence of the interlaced images. The video clip can be updated automatically upon receiving a new message which relate to same leading topic. Optionally a user may react to the messages as appearing in the video clip, enabling automatically to ad reaction into video clip (step 622B). The reaction may be inserted any location along the clip time line at any position in clip images according the user choice.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the user is provided with editing capabilities of clip. These capabilities include changing the order of the message according to sorting rules (such as an alphabet order), or manually according to user choice , grouping messages according to common property such as the originating user. Each group can be associated with mood type such as happiness, funny , sad, angry stressed etc. Based on associated mood type the video clip is edited with relevant multimedia effects which are played along with the message , such effects may include audio pieces, animations, image, colors etc. The clip may be edited to include any multimedia item from different social sources such as Linkedln, YouTube, blogs etc. The clip may optionally include the logo indicating of the social network source when displaying each message.

According to some embodiment of the present invention the clip may include rating indicator based on the user ranking utilizing rating techniques such as like in Face Book.

According to some embodiment of the present invention the clip may include advertisements interlace in real-time in-between the messages.

According to some embodiments the may enter a mood type associated with his message, according video effects may be edited along with the message and a presentation such as a scale may show the changing mood along with video playing. Figs. 6C is a flowchart illustrating the real time video creation module processing according to some embodiments of the invention. At the first step, all information input data is converted into video format (step 612C), generating series of frames which represent all information inserted by the user. All the frames are organized in a timeline according to pre-defined rules(614C), based on the order the information was received, the order can be change for certain type of information such as video, incase the user inserted a video, the integration of the movie may delayed in the sequence of the frames. Optionally audio and video effects are inserted(616C) in real-time into the video according to users definition.

Figs. 7A is a flowchart illustrating the Video interaction module processing according to some embodiments of the invention. The user feedback is received while the video is streamed (step 712A) using different interfaces for recording or inserting information, the feedback may be originated by different user sharing the same information. The feedback information is formatted into video frame format ( step 714A) to be integrated in the live video stream, by the defining the time sync for inserted feedback. The time sync can be determined according to time schedule of the inserted information, type of information, context of information. At the last step the feedback information is interlace in the video stream to be present to the user.

Figs. 7B is a flowchart illustrating the Clip interactive playback module processing according to some embodiments of the invention. Each group member can select to view the other members video clip (step 71 OB). The select video clip images and multimedia objects are streamed to the user terminal (step 712B), enabling real time displaying of the video on the user terminal (step 714B). According to some embodiments of the present invention it is suggested to enable the user to interact with the video clip and ad reaction to specific message appearing at the in video clip. Accordingly the video clip can be paused at each image (step 7 6B) enabling to insert a new message to be integrated into the video clip in a new image (step 718B).

According to these embodiments, is provided a new platform interface for social network by generating a real-time online video movie thorough a user interactive session when sharing information in a social network. In today social networks platforms the user input of text or images is displayed in static format on the user relevant network page, according to the present invention it is suggested to generate live video stream of all the information inserted by the users and display to the user, enabling interact with video stream and messages and image to be integrated in real-time into the video stream at point along the time line ad at any position on the video images. The user is enabled to record himself or/and his surrounding environment using audio video interface, each recorded piece is part of his input into the social network interactive session. The input may includes typing, drawing touching interaction for inserting information into the social interactive session.

Figs. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the book creation module processing according to some embodiments of the invention. At the first step, are determined the objects to be used for the book editing, the determination may be automatically according predefined rules or manually selected by the user (step 812). Optionally the module associate between the original authors of the objects (step 814) which inserted the object to user personal information medium , such the wall page in Facebook network, and retrieve the relevant image or other relevant data(step 816). At the next step, the order of inserting the objects in the book format is determined (step 818) according to predefined rules based on objects properties and related information such as the person related to the objects , the time order in which the object was added, etc. For example, when producing a book related a social event, the order of objects such as messages or images, may be changed according strength of user relations with the person associated with the object ( family members may appear before friends, or checking the frequency of the member interactive messaging with the user). At the next step the user selects a book template (820 and pages content is determined ( step 822), optionally text message are combined with related images of the persons , which have written the messages. At the last step is generated a digital book sample ( step 824) , ready to be distributed in digital format or printed format.

Fig. 9 illustrates the flow process of Text enrichment module according to some embodiment of the present invention. A group member browsing of social network browsing through personal network pages, such as the social network personal page, blog network page or chat window, is enabled through multimedia editing module to select a text sequence (step 912) such as message or status mode. At the next step (914) the member selects a relevant multimedia object from available selection, optionally the multimedia object is determined in accordance with the user selected mood type. According to user selections the text sequences are associated with corresponding multimedia object and the address of the current personal network page(step 916). The association is recorded in multimedia database to enable sharing of the multimedia objects between group members( 918), when viewing the selected text sequences at the corresponding network page of originator group member.

Fig. 10 illustrates the functions of social network management module according to some embodiments of the present invention. The term social network may relate not only to organized social network but also to ad hock relation between users sharing common discussion topic through data communication network. The sharing of the multimedia objects and video clips between social network group members is based on receiving updates of the associated multimedia objects of group members. The sharing of the multimedia objects and the video clip enable each member to play back (step 1012) the multimedia object and video clips of other group members.

The sharing between the users members can be implemented by using peer to peer communication protocol according to some embodiments of the present invention. Optionally sharing can be implemented by sharing using common server repository and streaming communication protocols for playing the multimedia object associated to the specific network page of the group members.

Each group member can rate or react by sending messages (step 1014) the multimedia object and video clips. The rating collected data can be used for statistical analysis of users' preferences. The multimedia objects and video clips can be optionally downloaded to a member computer upon user request (step 1016). The downloading of material may require to purchase the right for copyrighted works which are part of the multimedia object or the video clip.

The group members can also share the playback of video clips (step 1018).

Reference in the specification to "some embodiments", "an embodiment", "one embodiment" or "other embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only.

The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples.

It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above.

It is to be understood that the terms "including", "comprising", "consisting" and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.

If the specification or claims refer to "an additional" element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to "a" or "an" element, such reference is not to be construed that there is only one of that element. It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic "may", "might", "can" or "could" be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.

Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks.

The term "method" may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only.

Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined.

The present invention may be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein. Any publications, including patents, patent applications and articles, referenced or mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in the description of some embodiments of the invention shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the preferred embodiments. Other possible variations, modifications, and applications are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus far been described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

claimed is :

A social network platform for organizing and sharing information items over data communication network, said platform comprised of:

infonnation collecting application enabling to aggregate information items from social multiple sources relating at least one user and at least one context, wherein the context is identified from at least one information selected by the user; and

- a client organizing and sharing application including a design module for organizing aggregate information items and arranging their display in at least one presentation format.

The platform of claim 1 wherein the information items are aggregated for different multiple context subjects, where for each subject the context is identified separately on the basis of user selection.

The platform of claim 1 where said infonnation items including text .images sound recording, video recording, which where inserted by typing .drawing , touching or recording.

The platform of claim 1 wherein information collecting application includes an object selection module enabling the user to select a first object, wherein the at least one context is determined by analyzing the selected object information and properties.

The platform of claim 1 information collecting application includes filtering information module enabling a user to exclude information items by selecting one information item from the organized list of aggregated information items.

6. The platform of claim 5 wherein the filtering information module enables to exclude multiple information items based on user selections by identifying properties of the selected items and selecting for exclusion information items having at least one common property with the identified properties.

7. The platform of claim 1 wherein the presentation format is a network page.

8. The platform of claim 1 client sharing application includes video creation module generating video from at least part of the collected information items.

9. The platform of claim 1 client sharing application includes book creation module generating a digital or printed book from at least part of the collected information

10. The platform of claim 1 client sharing application includes update module for search updated information items related to at least one determined context.

1 1. The platform of claim 1 further comprising a video module for automatically converting in real-time all input information into real-time video movie which is composed of combination of all information items

12. The platform of claim 1 1 further comprising a streaming module for continuously displaying the video movie after or while the movie is generated

13. The platform of claim 1 1 further comprising a video interactive module for

inserting information item by a user while the video movie is displayed and integrating the information item into the played video;

14. The platform of claim 1 1 further comprising a video interactive module for

inserting information item while the video movie is stream by enabling to user to pause the movie playing.

15. The platform of claim 13 wherein the video interactive module enables to insert user information items at any point along the movie timeline or at any position in the video images.