Methods and apparatus for integrating social network metrics and reputation data

Abstract

A method for a computer system includes determining a first social distance for a first user with respect to a second user, determining a second social distance for a third user with respect to the second user, determining a first qualitative rating associated with the first user, determining a second qualitative rating associated with the second user, determining a first trust-metric for the first user in response to the first social distance and the first qualitative rating, determining a second trust-metric for the third user in response to the second social distance and the second qualitative rating, and prioritizing a first listing from the first user over a second listing from the third user for the second user, in response to the first trust-metric and the second trust-metric.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method to be performed in a network environment in which messages are exchanged, comprising:
 receiving, from a first user of a social network, a post in a social network forum viewable by a plurality of users of the social network;   determining a previous post in the forum was received from a second user of the social network;   accessing relationship data from a random access memory of a graphing server associated with the social network, the relationship data corresponding at least to a social network relationship between the first user and a second user of the social network;   updating the relationship data based on the first user's post and the second user's previous post to the forum;   calculating a social distance value between the first user and the second user in the social network based on the relationship data;   receiving, from the second user, a message intended for the first user; and   determining to present the message to the first user based on social distance value exceeding a threshold value designated by the first user.   
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2 , wherein updating the relationship data based on the first user's post and the second user's previous post to the forum comprises:
 updating the relationship data based on determining the first user and the second user frequently posting to the forum.   
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein updating the relationship data based on determining the first user and the second user frequently posting to the forum comprising:
 determining a first increase in a first frequency of posts to the forum by the first user;   determining a second increase in a second frequency of posts to the forum by the second user; and   increasing a relationship weight factor corresponding to the first and second user due to the first increase and the second increase.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining to present the message to the first user based on social distance value exceeding a threshold value designated by the first user comprises:
 evaluating a reliability factor value associated with the second user, wherein the reliability factor value is based at least in part on previous messages authored by the second user, and wherein the social distance value and the reliability factor value are integrated to generate a combination value; and   determining to present the message to the first user based on the combination value exceeding a combination threshold value designated by the first user.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the reliability factor value relates to feedback data collected for the first user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the reliability factor value relates to data reflective of characteristics associated with a quality of service in which the second user was involved. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the reliability factor value relates to data reflective of participation of the second user in the forum. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the reliability factor value relates to data reflective of a delivery of goods by the second user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the integrating of the social distance value and the reliability factor value includes weighting the social distance value more than the reliability factor value in generating the combination value. 
     
     
         11 . Logic encoded in non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a first user of a social network, a post in a social network forum viewable by a plurality of users of the social network;   determining a previous post in the forum was received from a second user of the social network;   accessing relationship data from a random access memory of a graphing server associated with the social network, the relationship data corresponding at least to a social network relationship between the first user and a second user of the social network;   updating the relationship data based on the first user's post and the second user's previous post to the forum;   calculating a social distance value between the first user and the second user in the social network based on the relationship data;   receiving, from the second user, a message intended for the first user; and   determining to present the message to the first user based on social distance value exceeding a threshold value designated by the first user.   
     
     
         12 . The logic encoded in non-transitory media as in  claim 11 , wherein updating the relationship data based on the first user's post and the second user's previous post to the forum comprises:
 updating the relationship data based on determining the first user and the second user frequently posting to the forum.   
     
     
         13 . The logic encoded in non-transitory media as in  claim 12 , wherein updating the relationship data based on determining the first user and the second user frequently posting to the forum comprising:
 determining a first increase in a first frequency of posts to the forum by the first user;   determining a second increase in a second frequency of posts to the forum by the second user; and   increasing a relationship weight factor corresponding to the first and second user due to the first increase and the second increase.   
     
     
         14 . The logic encoded in non-transitory media of  claim 11 , wherein determining to present the message to the first user based on social distance value exceeding a threshold value designated by the first user comprises:
 evaluating a reliability factor value associated with the second user, wherein the reliability factor value is based at least in part on previous messages authored by the second user, and wherein the social distance value and the reliability factor value are integrated to generate a combination value; and   determining to present the message to the first user based on the combination value exceeding a combination threshold value designated by the first user.   
     
     
         15 . The logic encoded in non-transitory media of  claim 14 , wherein the reliability factor value relates to feedback data collected for the first user. 
     
     
         16 . The logic encoded in non-transitory media of  claim 14 , wherein the reliability factor value relates to data reflective of characteristics associated with a quality of service in which the second user was involved. 
     
     
         17 . The logic encoded in non-transitory media of  claim 14 , wherein the reliability factor value relates to data reflective of participation of the second user in the forum. 
     
     
         18 . The logic encoded in non-transitory media of  claim 14 , wherein the reliability factor value relates to data reflective of a delivery of goods by the second user. 
     
     
         19 . The logic encoded in non-transitory media of  claim 14 , wherein the integrating of the social distance value and the reliability factor value includes weighting the social distance value more than the reliability factor value in generating the combination value. 
     
     
         20 . A computer system, comprising:
 a random access memory, and   a processor coupled to the random access memory, wherein the processor and the random access memory cooperate such that the computer system is configured for:
 receiving, from a first user of a social network, a post in a social network forum viewable by a plurality of users of the social network; 
   determining a previous post in the forum was received from second user of the social network;   accessing relationship data from a random access memory of a graphing server associated with the social network, the relationship data corresponding at least to a social network relationship between the first user and a second user of the social network;   updating the relationship data based on the first user's post and the second user's previous post to the forum;   calculating a social distance value between the first user and the second user in the social network based on the relationship data;   receiving, from the second user, a message intended for the first user; and   determining to present the message to the first user based on social distance value exceeding a threshold value designated by the first user.   
     
     
         21 . The computer system as in  claim 20 , wherein updating the relationship data based on the first user's post and the second user's previous post to the forum comprises:
 updating the relationship data based on determining the first user and the second user frequently posting to the forum.