Causal profile

Abstract

According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method to graphically represent a history of a user includes mapping history information of a user to multiple indicators. The method also includes generating a profile object based on the indicators. The profile object graphically represents a history of the user across multiple age ranges of the user with respect to multiple categories. The method also includes making the profile object visible as part of a profile of the user in a social network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to graphically represent a history of a user, the method comprising:
 mapping history information of a user to a plurality of indicators;   generating a profile object based on the plurality of indicators, wherein the profile object graphically represents a history of the user across a plurality of age ranges of the user with respect to a plurality of categories; and   making the profile object visible as part of a profile of the user in a social network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the history information comprises information representing, during each of the plurality of age ranges, at least one of: preferences of the user within at least one of the plurality of categories, interests of the user within at least one of the plurality of categories, or influential events within at least one of the plurality of categories. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating the profile object comprises generating a three-dimensional object made up of a plurality of block segments;   each of the plurality of block segments corresponds to a different one of the plurality of categories;   each of the plurality of block segments has an exposed surface that makes up an exterior of the three-dimensional object;   the exposed surface of each of the plurality of block segments is divided into a plurality of areas;   each of the plurality of areas corresponds to a different one of the plurality of age ranges and includes an indicator associated with the age range of the area that includes the indicator and associated with the category of the block segment that includes the indicator.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein generating the three-dimensional object comprises generating a dodecagon-based cylinder and wherein the plurality of block segments comprises twelve block segments. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein generating the three-dimensional object comprises generating a cylinder and wherein the plurality of block segments comprises a plurality of block segments of equal shape and size. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating the profile object comprises generating an array of two-dimensional objects;   each of the two-dimensional objects corresponds to a different one of the plurality of categories;   each of the two-dimensional objects is divided into a plurality of areas each corresponding to a different one of the plurality of age ranges; and   each of the plurality of areas includes an indicator associated with the age range of the area that includes the indicator and associated with the category of the two-dimensional object that includes the indicator.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating the profile object comprises generating a plurality of three-dimensional objects;   each of the three-dimensional objects corresponds to a different one of the plurality of categories;   each of the three-dimensional objects has a plurality of surfaces each corresponding to a different one of the plurality of age ranges; and   each of the plurality of surfaces includes an indicator associated with the age range of the surface that includes the indicator and associated with the category of the three-dimensional object that includes the indicator.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of indicators comprises any combination of a color and a fill pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user comprises a first user, the method further comprising:
 receiving a search request from the first user;   in response to the search request, searching a plurality of profile objects, each associated with a different one of a plurality of users; and   based on the search, identifying a second user as having a similar history as the first user with respect to at least one of the plurality of categories and in at least one of the plurality of age ranges that is the same for the first user and the second user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the search request identifies a particular category as having a greater importance to the first user than other categories; and   identifying the second user as having a similar history as the first user with respect to at least one of the plurality of categories comprises determining that at least one indicator of the second user that is associated with an age range and the particular category matches at least one indicator of the first user that is associated with the same age range and the particular category.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of categories includes at least one of politics, outlook, finances, food, physical health, sports, or global events and trends. 
     
     
         12 . A system, comprising:
 a processor device; and   a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processor device to perform operations comprising:
 mapping history information of a user to a plurality of indicators; 
 generating a profile object based on the plurality of indicators, wherein the profile object graphically represents the history of the user across the plurality of age ranges of the user with respect to the plurality of categories; and 
 making the profile object visible as part of a profile of the user in a social network. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the history information comprises information representing, during each of the plurality of age ranges, at least one of: preferences of the user within at least one of the plurality of categories, interests of the user within at least one of the plurality of categories, or influential events within at least one of the plurality of categories. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 generating the profile object comprises generating a three-dimensional object made up of a plurality of block segments;   each of the plurality of block segments corresponds to a different one of the plurality of categories;   each of the plurality of block segments has an exposed surface that makes up an exterior of the three-dimensional object;   the exposed surface of each of the plurality of block segments is divided into a plurality of areas;   each of the plurality of areas corresponds to a different one of the plurality of age ranges and includes an indicator associated with the age range of the area that includes the indicator and associated with the category of the block segment that includes the indicator.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 generating the profile object comprises generating an array of two-dimensional objects;   each of the two-dimensional objects corresponds to a different one of the plurality of categories;   each of the two-dimensional objects is divided into a plurality of areas each corresponding to a different one of the plurality of age ranges; and   each of the plurality of areas includes an indicator associated with the age range of the area that includes the indicator and associated with the category of the two-dimensional object that includes the indicator.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 generating the profile object comprises generating a plurality of three-dimensional objects;   each of the three-dimensional objects corresponds to a different one of the plurality of categories;   each of the three-dimensional objects has a plurality of surfaces each corresponding to a different one of the plurality of age ranges; and   each of the plurality of surfaces includes an indicator associated with the age range of the surface that includes the indicator and associated with the category of the three-dimensional object that includes the indicator.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of indicators comprises any combination of a color and a fill pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user comprises a first user, the operations further comprising:
 receiving a search request from the first user;   in response to the search request, searching a plurality of profile objects, each associated with a different one of a plurality of users; and   based on the search, identifying a second user as having a similar history as the first user with respect to at least one of the plurality of categories and in at least one of the plurality of age ranges that is the same for the first user and the second user.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the search request identifies a particular category as having a greater importance to the first user than other categories; and   identifying the second user as having a similar history as the first user with respect to at least one of the plurality of categories comprises determining that at least one indicator of the second user that is associated with an age range and the particular category matches at least one indicator of the first user that is associated with the same age range and the particular category.   
     
     
         20 . A method of graphically representing a history of a first user, the method comprising:
 mapping history information of a first user to a plurality of indicators;   generating a profile object based on the plurality of indicators, wherein the profile object graphically represents the history of the first user across the plurality of age ranges of the first user with respect to the plurality of categories;   making the profile object visible as part of a profile of the first user in a social network.   receiving a search request from the first user;   in response to the search request, searching a plurality of profile objects, each associated with a different one of a plurality of users of the social network; and   based on the search, identifying a second user as having a similar history as the first user with respect to at least one of the plurality of categories and in at least one of the plurality of age ranges that is the same for the first user and the second user.