Activity-Based Relationship System

Abstract

A method of representing relationships among a plurality of entities based on analysis of on-line activity of the entities is provided. A computer system receives identity information for at least one entity for determining activity-based relationships. The computer system captures on-line activity data of the at least one entity. The computer system analyzes the activity data to identify other entities and subjects of interest. The computer system determines relationship activity metrics. The computer system presents, on a graphical display system based on the relationship activity metrics, the at least one entity, the other entities, and the subjects of interest as a set of nodes in an Activity-based connection diagram with relationship activity metrics. The computer system then presents, on a graphical display system based on the relationship activity metrics, connections among the nodes in the activity-based connection diagram.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of determining connections among a set of entities, the method comprising:
 receiving identity information for at least one entity in the set of entities for determining activity-based relationships;   capturing on-line activity data of the at least one entity;   analyzing the activity data of the at least one entity to identify others entities among a set of entities and subjects of interest for the at least one entity;   determining relationship activity metrics for the at least one entity, the relationship activity metrics comprising metrics for interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities among a set of entities, and metrics for interactions between the at least one entity and the subjects of interest; and   presenting, based on the relationship activity metrics, the at least one entity, the other entities, and the subjects of interest as a set of nodes in an activity-based connection diagram with relationship activity metrics, and   presenting, based on the relationship activity metrics, connections among the nodes in the activity-based connection diagram.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the on-line activity data of the at least one entity comprises on-line activities selected from a list consisting of sending and receiving email, sending and receiving meeting invitations, storing and retrieving data files, accessing URLs, VoIP calls, on-line meeting activity, travel activity, on-line postings, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying connections the at least one entity and the others entities among a set of entities by data mining records of the at least one entity, the records selected from a list consisting of one or more of emails and email records, phone records, phone calls, conferences, posts, messages, chats, tweets, appointments, meetings, calendars, organizational charts, job positions, project teams, meetings, memos, social network sites, published literature, HR databases, maps, price sheets, product data sheets, and combinations thereof   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the relationship activity metrics are selected from a list consisting of comprising frequency interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, quantity interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, duration of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying a set of resolution filters to the relationship activity metrics; and wherein the step of presenting the other entities and the subjects of interest further comprises:   presenting only ones of the other entities and ones of the subjects of interest in the Activity-based connection diagram that have relationship activity metrics with the at least one entity that meets the set of resolution filters; and   presenting only connections between the at least one entity and ones of the other entities, and connections between the at least one entity and ones of the subjects of interest in the Activity-based connection diagram that have relationship activity metrics that meets the set of resolution filters.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the set of resolution filters is selected from the group consisting of a connection strength threshold and a specified connection type. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the connection strength threshold is a threshold that represent at least one of frequency of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, quantity of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, duration of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein specified connection type is selected from the group consisting of one or more of email, phone calls, messages, chats, tweets, posts, contacts, conferences, meetings, projects, committees, organizations, skills, features, specifications, costs, distances, timing, products, markets, filings, legal actions, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 capturing on-line activity data for the others entities; and wherein the step of determining relationship activity metrics for the at least one entity further comprises:   determining relationship activity metrics for the at least one entity, the relationship activity metrics further comprising metrics for interactions between the others entities among a set of entities and the at least one entity, and metrics for interactions between the subjects of interest and the at least one entity, wherein on-line activity for the other entities is captured prior to determining relationship activity metrics for the at least one entity.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating the relationship activity metrics for the at least one entity in near real-time based on capturing new on-line activity of the entity, the other entities, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a manipulation of an interactive network connection diagram; and   in response to receiving the manipulation, a data relationship module altering the connections between nodes; and   presenting, based on the relationship activity metrics, updated connections among the nodes in the interactive network connection diagram based on the alteration.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein objects of interest may include at least one of people, organizations, enterprises, government entities, regulatory entities, markets, projects, routes, and products. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining relationship activity metrics for the at least one entity further comprises:
 calculating a strength of the connections based on a rule set.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the rule set includes one or more rules selected from the group consisting of a rule using a number of connections, a rule using a frequency of interactions, a rule using a length of interactions, a rule using a tone of interactions, a rule using a density of interaction, a rule using a geographic proximity, a rule using pricing sheets, a rule using a feature and technical specification, a rule leveraging social media information, and a rule leveraging expected interaction compared to measured interaction 
     
     
         15 . A computer system comprising:
 a display system; and   a relationship auditor of an activity-based relationship system in the computer system in communication with the display system, wherein the relationship auditor:
 receives identity information for at least one entity in a set of entities for determining activity-based relationships; analyzing on-line activity data of the at least one entity to identify others entities among a set of entities and subjects of interest for the at least one entity; determines relationship activity metrics for the at least one entity, the relationship activity metrics comprising metrics for interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities among a set of entities, and metrics for interactions between the at least one entity and the subjects of interest; presents, based on the relationship activity metrics, the at least one entity, the other entities, and the subjects of interest as a set of nodes in an Activity-based connection diagram with relationship activity metrics, and presents, based on the relationship activity metrics, connections among the nodes in the activity-based connection diagram. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the on-line activity data of the at least one entity comprises on-line activities selected from a list consisting of sending and receiving email, sending and receiving meeting invitations, storing and retrieving data files, accessing URLs, VoIP calls, on-line meeting activity, travel activity, on-line postings, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the relationship auditor:
 identifies connections the at least one entity and the others entities among a set of entities by data mining records of the at least one entity, the records selected from a list consisting of one or more of emails and email records, phone records, phone calls, conferences, posts, messages, chats, tweets, appointments, meetings, calendars, organizational charts, job positions, project teams, meetings, memos, social network sites, published literature, HR databases, maps, price sheets, product data sheets, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the relationship activity metrics are selected from a list consisting of comprising frequency interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, quantity interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, duration of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the relationship auditor:
 applies a set of resolution filters to the relationship activity metrics, wherein the set of resolution filters is selected from the group consisting of a connection strength threshold and a specified connection type, wherein the connection strength threshold is a threshold that represent at least one of frequency of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, quantity of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, duration of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, and combinations thereof, wherein specified connection type is selected from the group consisting of one or more of email, phone calls, messages, chats, tweets, posts, contacts, conferences, meetings, projects, committees, organizations, skills, features, specifications, costs, distances, timing, products, markets, filings, legal actions, and combinations thereof; and wherein the step of presenting the other entities and the subjects of interest further comprises:   presenting only ones of the other entities and ones of the subjects of interest in the Activity-based connection diagram that have relationship activity metrics with the at least one entity that meets the set of resolution filters; and   presenting only connections between the at least one entity and ones of the other entities, and connections between the at least one entity and ones of the subjects of interest in the Activity-based connection diagram that have relationship activity metrics that meets the set of resolution filters.   
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the step of determining relationship activity metrics for the at least one entity further comprises:
 the relationship auditor calculating a strength of the connections based on a rule set, wherein the rule set includes one or more rules selected from the group consisting of a rule using a number of connections, a rule using a frequency of interactions, a rule using a length of interactions, a rule using a tone of interactions, a rule using a density of interaction, a rule using a geographic proximity, a rule using pricing sheets, a rule using a feature and technical specification, a rule leveraging social media information, and a rule leveraging expected interaction compared to measured interaction   
     
     
         21 . A computer program product for determining connections among a set of entities, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable storage media;   first program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for receiving identity information for at least one entity in the set of entities for determining activity-based relationships;   second program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for analyzing on-line activity data of the at least one entity to identify others entities among a set of entities and subjects of interest for the at least one entity;   third program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for determining relationship activity metrics for the at least one entity, the relationship activity metrics comprising metrics for interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities among a set of entities, and metrics for interactions between the at least one entity and the subjects of interest;   fourth program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for presenting, based on the relationship activity metrics, the at least one entity, the other entities, and the subjects of interest as a set of nodes in an activity-based connection diagram with relationship activity metrics, and   fifth program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for presenting, based on the relationship activity metrics, connections among the nodes in the activity-based connection diagram.   
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein the on-line activity data of the at least one entity comprises on-line activities selected from a list consisting of sending and receiving email, sending and receiving meeting invitations, storing and retrieving data files, accessing URLs, VoIP calls, on-line meeting activity, travel activity, on-line postings, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 sixth program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for identifying connections the at least one entity and the others entities among a set of entities by data mining records of the at least one entity, the records selected from a list consisting of one or more of emails and email records, phone records, phone calls, conferences, posts, messages, chats, tweets, appointments, meetings, calendars, organizational charts, job positions, project teams, meetings, memos, social network sites, published literature, HR databases, maps, price sheets, product data sheets, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein the relationship activity metrics are selected from a list consisting of comprising frequency interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, quantity interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, duration of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 sixth program code, stored on the computer readable storage media, for applying a set of resolution filters to the relationship activity metrics, wherein the set of resolution filters is selected from the group consisting of a connection strength threshold and a specified connection type, wherein the connection strength threshold is a threshold that represent at least one of frequency of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, quantity of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, duration of interactions between the at least one entity and the others entities, and combinations thereof, wherein specified connection type is selected from the group consisting of one or more of email, phone calls, messages, chats, tweets, posts, contacts, conferences, meetings, projects, committees, organizations, skills, features, specifications, costs, distances, timing, products, markets, filings, legal actions, and combinations thereof;   wherein the fourth program code for presenting the other entities and the subjects of interest further comprises:   program code for presenting only ones of the other entities and ones of the subjects of interest in the Activity-based connection diagram that have relationship activity metrics with the at least one entity that meets the set of resolution filters; and   wherein the fifth program code for presenting the connections among the nodes further comprises:   program code for presenting, based on the relationship activity metrics, connections among the nodes presenting only connections between the at least one entity and ones of the other entities, and connections between the at least one entity and ones of the subjects of interest in the Activity-based connection diagram that have relationship activity metrics that meets the set of resolution filters.   
     
     
         26 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein the third program code for determining relationship activity metrics for the at least one entity further comprises:
 program code for calculating a strength of the connections based on a rule set, wherein the rule set includes one or more rules selected from the group consisting of a rule using a number of connections, a rule using a frequency of interactions, a rule using a length of interactions, a rule using a tone of interactions, a rule using a density of interaction, a rule using a geographic proximity, a rule using pricing sheets, a rule using a feature and technical specification, a rule leveraging social media information, and a rule leveraging expected interaction compared to measured interaction.