Method and system for social network analysis

Abstract

Methods and system for social network analysis are described. In one embodiment, user interaction data of a time period for a plurality of users in a social network may be accessed. Network analysis may be performed on the user interaction data. A necktie-shaped graph may be generated from the user interaction data in accordance with the performing of the network analysis. The necktie-shaped graph may be utilized for analysis of the social network.

1 . A method comprising:
 accessing user interaction data of a time period for a plurality of users in a social network;   performing network analysis on the user interaction data;   generating a necktie-shaped graph from the user interaction data in accordance with the performing of the network analysis; and   utilizing the necktie-shaped graph for analysis of the social network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing reputation information associated with the plurality of users; and   applying a texture to the necktie-shaped graph in accordance with the reputation information.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing interaction frequency data associated with the plurality of users; and   applying a texture to the necktie-shaped graph in accordance with the interaction frequency data.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing transactional financial data associated with the plurality of users; and   applying a texture to the necktie-shaped graph in accordance with the transactional financial data.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating comprises:
 generating a strongly connected component of the necktie-shaped graph in accordance with the performing of the network analysis;   generating an in-component of the necktie-shaped graph in accordance with the performing of the network analysis; and   generating an out-component of the necktie-shaped graph in accordance with the performing of the network analysis; and   using a tube to connect the in-component to the out-component,   wherein the in-component of the necktie-shaped graph is smaller than the out-component of the necktie-shaped graph.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 generating one or more tendrils in accordance with the performing of the network analysis, a particular tendril of the one or more tendrils connected to the in-component or the out-component.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 generating a disconnected part in accordance with the performing of the network analysis, the disconnected part being disconnected from the strongly connect component, the in-component, and the out-component in the necktie-shaped graph.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the utilizing comprises:
 analyzing the necktie-shaped graph;   making a decision regarding the social network in accordance with the analyzing of the necktie-shaped graph; and   altering an aspect of the social network in accordance with the making of the decision.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the utilizing comprises:
 providing the necktie-shaped graph for presentation.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the utilizing comprises:
 accessing additional user interaction data associated with the social network during a different time period;   performing the network analysis on the additional user interaction data;   generating an additional necktie-shaped graph from the additional user interaction data in accordance with the performing of the network analysis; and   using the necktie-shaped graph and the additional necktie-shaped graph for analysis of the social network.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the using comprises:
 providing a difference between the necktie-shaped graph and the additional necktie-shaped graph for presentation.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interaction data is associated with a single transaction category. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 accessing user interaction data associated for a plurality of users for a time period in a social network;   performing network analysis on the user interaction data;   selecting a plurality of example users within the social network, each of the example users being associated with reputation information;   generating a motif for the plurality of example users for the time period in accordance with the performing of the network analysis, a node of the motif being associated with a particular example user of the example users, the motif defining an expected relationship between the plurality of example users in the social network;   distinguishing the node of the plurality of example users in accordance with the reputation information of a respective example user; and   utilizing the motif with a plurality of distinguished nodes for analysis of the social network.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the utilizing comprises:
 providing the motif with the plurality of distinguished nodes for presentation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the utilizing comprises:
 analyzing a template including the motif and a plurality of additional motifs; and   making a decision regarding the social network in accordance with the analyzing of the template.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 accessing interaction frequency data associated with the plurality of users; and   applying a texture to at least one connecting line of the motif in accordance with the interaction frequency data.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 accessing transactional financial data associated with the plurality of users; and   applying a texture to at least one connecting line of the motif in accordance with the transactional financial data.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the distinguishing comprises:
 colorizing the node of the plurality of example users in accordance with the reputation information.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the social network is a social commerce network. 
     
     
         20 . A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations:
 access user interaction data of a time period for a plurality of users in a social network;   perform network analysis on the user interaction data;   generate a necktie-shaped graph from the user interaction data in accordance with the performing of the network analysis; and   utilize the necktie-shaped graph for analysis of the social network.   
     
     
         21 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more operations to generate the necktie-shaped graph include:
 generate a strongly connected component of the necktie-shaped graph in accordance with the performing of the network analysis;   generate an in-component of the necktie-shaped graph in accordance with the performing of the network analysis; and   generate an out-component of the necktie-shaped graph in accordance with the performing of the network analysis; and   use a tube to connect the in-component to the out-component;   wherein the in-component of the necktie-shaped graph is smaller than the out-component of the necktie-shaped graph.   
     
     
         22 . A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations:
 access user interaction data associated for a plurality of users for a time period in a social network;   perform network analysis on the user interaction data;   select a plurality of example users within the social network, each of the example users being associated with reputation information;   generate a motif for the plurality of example users for the time period in accordance with the performing of the network analysis, a node of the motif being associated with a particular example user of the example users, the motif defining an expected relationship between the plurality of example users in the social network;   distinguish the node of the plurality of example users in accordance with the reputation information of a respective example user; and   utilize the motif with a plurality of distinguished nodes for analysis of the social network.   
     
     
         23 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 22  further comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations:
 access interaction frequency data associated with the plurality of users; and   apply a texture to at least one connecting line of the motif in accordance with the interaction frequency data.   
     
     
         24 . A system comprising:
 a transaction relationship data access module to access user interaction data of a time period for a plurality of users in a social network;   a network analysis performance module to perform network analysis on the user interaction data accessed by the transaction relationship data access module;   a graph generation module to generate a necktie-shaped graph from the user interaction data in accordance with the performing of the network analysis by the network analysis performance module; and   a graph provider module to provide the necktie-shaped graph generated by the graph generation module for presentation.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a reputation information access module to access reputation information associated with the plurality of users; and   a texture application module to apply a texture to the necktie-shaped graph generated by the graph generation module in accordance with the reputation information.