Systems and methods for mapping relevant personal connections

Abstract

The technology disclosed relates to calculating interaction strengths for physical interactions, scheduled physical interactions and wireless interactions between users of online social networks. In particular, it relates to determining direct contact or likely contact between users of online social networks based in part on their mobile communication devices. This determination can be used to score interactions that take place outside the social network for interaction strengths.

1 . A system for calculating real-world user interactions between first and second users connected in an online social environment, the system including:
 a processor;   code stored in memory coupled to the processor, which when executed on a processor:
 creates a physical connection event stored in memory that represents contact or likely contact between the first and second users when first and second wireless devices carried by the first and second users establish a peer-to-peer relationship using a direct wireless channel; 
 calculates a level of physical interactions between the first and second users including at least aggregating the plurality of physical connection events; 
 updates the level of physical interactions in memory; and 
 modifies social profiles of the first and second users using an interaction strength metric based on the level of physical interactions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the physical connection event records a duration of connection via the direct wireless channel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the physical connection event records a pattern of received signal strength during the connection via the direct wireless channel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the contact or likely contact is filtered by duration of connection and strength of received signal when multiple direct wireless channels are simultaneously active. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the code stored in memory coupled to the processor, which when executed on a processor further locates a scheduled physical connection by finding a coincidence of scheduling, registration or check-in information in electronic records of the first and second users, creating a calendar connection event, and including in the calculating of the level of physical interactions between the first and second users an aggregation of the plurality of physical connection events. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the code stored in memory coupled to the processor, which when executed on a processor further confirms interaction strength of the physical connection event based on the calendar connection event, wherein the calendar connection event corresponds in at least time or location to information stored with the physical connection event. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the code stored in memory coupled to the processor, which when executed on a processor further applies a filtering mechanism to the calendar connection event to identify scheduling, registration or check-in information in electronic records of the second user that meets criteria set by the first user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the code stored in memory coupled to the processor, which when executed on a processor further receives from at least one of the first and second users a response to a query confirming connectedness of the physical connection event. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second devices are configured to automatically exchange user identity tokens that are meaningful to an interaction server cooperating with the online social environment. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the code stored in memory coupled to the processor, which when executed on a processor further receives from at least one of the first and second wireless devices at least one user identity token received in an automatic exchange. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein privacy of the user identity tokens is limited by user selectable privacy criteria. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the code stored in memory coupled to the processor, which when executed on a processor further applies a filtering mechanism to the user identity tokens to identify user identity information of the second user that meets criteria set by the first user. 
     
     
         13 . A system for calculating real-world user interactions between first and second users connected in an online social environment, the system including:
 a processor;   code stored in memory coupled to the processor, which when executed on a processor:
 creates a physical connection event stored in memory that represents contact or likely contact between the first and second users using first and second wireless devices sharing a common wireless local area network access point; 
 calculates a level of physical interactions between the first and second users including at least aggregating the plurality of physical connection events; 
 updates the level of physical interactions in memory; and 
 modifies social profiles of the first and second users using an interaction strength metric based on the level of physical interactions. 
   
     
     
         14 . A system for calculating wireless user interactions between first and second users using wireless devices, the system including:
 a processor;   code stored in memory coupled to the processor, which when executed on a processor:
 activates an observer tool to track at least an interaction between the first and second users via the first and second wireless devices across at least a video, audio, or text communication channel; 
 creates a wireless connection event stored in memory that represents wireless interactions between the first and second users via first and second wireless devices; 
 calculates a level of wireless interactions between the first and second users including at least aggregating plurality of wireless connection events; 
 updates the level of wireless interactions in memory; and 
 modifies social profiles of the first and second users using an interaction strength metric based on the level of wireless interactions. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless interactions are filtered by a duration of interaction and type of communication channel used for the interaction. 
     
     
         16 . A method of calculating real-world user interactions between first and second users connected in an online social environment, the method including:
 creating a physical connection event stored in memory that represents contact or likely contact between the first and second users when first and second wireless devices carried by the first and second users share information via a peer-to-peer direct wireless channel;   calculating a level of physical interactions between the first and second users including at least aggregating the plurality of physical connection events;   updating the level of physical interactions in memory; and   modifying social profiles of the first and second users using an interaction strength metric based on the level of physical interactions.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including locating a scheduled physical connection by finding a coincidence of scheduling, registration or check-in information in electronic records of the first and second users, creating a calendar connection event, and including in the calculating of the level of physical interactions between the first and second users an aggregation of the plurality of physical connection events. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including confirming interaction strength of the physical connection event based on the calendar connection event, wherein the calendar connection event corresponds in at least time or location to information stored with the physical connection event. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further including applying a filtering mechanism to the calendar connection event to identify scheduling, registration or check-in information in electronic records of the second user that meets criteria set by the first user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second devices are configured to automatically exchange user identity tokens that are meaningful to an interaction server cooperating with the online social environment. 
     
     
         21 . A method of calculating real-world user interactions between first and second users connected in an online social environment, the method including:
 creating a physical connection event stored in memory that represents contact or likely contact between the first and second users using first and second wireless devices sharing a common wireless local area network access point;   calculating a level of physical interactions between the first and second users including at least aggregating the plurality of physical connection events;   updating the level of physical interactions in memory; and   modifying social profiles of the first and second users using an interaction strength metric based on the level of physical interactions.   
     
     
         22 . A method of calculating wireless user interactions between first and second users using wireless devices, the method including:
 activating an observer tool to track at least an interaction between the first and second users via the first and second wireless devices across at least a video, audio, or text communication channel;   creating a wireless connection event stored in memory that represents wireless interactions between the first and second users via first and second wireless devices;   calculating a level of wireless interactions between the first and second users including at least aggregating plurality of wireless connection events;   updating the level of wireless interactions in memory; and   modifying social profiles of the first and second users using an interaction strength metric based on the level of wireless interactions.   
     
     
         23 . An article of manufacture that includes processor readable storage with processor executable code for calculating real-world user interactions between first and second users connected in an online social environment, including:
 a logic, which when executed on a processor:
 creates a physical connection event stored in memory that represents contact or likely contact between the first and second users when first and second wireless devices carried by the first and second users establish a peer-to-peer relationship using a direct wireless channel; 
 calculates a level of physical interactions between the first and second users including at least aggregating the plurality of physical connection events; 
 updates the level of physical interactions in memory; and 
 modifies social profiles of the first and second users using an interaction strength metric based on the level of physical interactions. 
   
     
     
         24 . An article of manufacture that includes processor readable storage with processor executable code for calculating real-world user interactions between first and second users connected in an online social environment, including:
 a logic, which when executed on a processor:
 creates a physical connection event stored in memory that represents contact or likely contact between the first and second users using first and second wireless devices sharing a common wireless local area network access point; 
 calculates a level of physical interactions between the first and second users including at least aggregating the plurality of physical connection events; 
 updates the level of physical interactions in memory; and 
 modifies social profiles of the first and second users using an interaction strength metric based on the level of physical interactions. 
   
     
     
         25 . An article of manufacture that includes processor readable storage with processor executable code for calculating wireless user interactions between first and second users using wireless devices, including:
 a logic, which when executed on a processor:
 activates an observer tool to track at least an interaction between the first and second users via the first and second wireless devices across at least a video, audio, or text communication channel; 
 creates a wireless connection event stored in memory that represents wireless interactions between the first and second users via first and second wireless devices; 
 calculates a level of wireless interactions between the first and second users including at least aggregating plurality of wireless connection events; 
 updates the level of wireless interactions in memory; and 
 modifies social profiles of the first and second users using an interaction strength metric based on the level of wireless interactions.