Neural Network-based Recommender Method and System

Abstract

A neural network-based recommender method and system applies computer-implemented neural networks to match information within computer-implemented content objects that contain, for example, text and/or images. The matching of the information is combined with an evaluation of the computer-implemented objects based upon user behaviors to generate computer-implemented topics. Affinities among the topics or among users and the topics are generated based on the matching of the information and the evaluation of the computer-implemented objects. Recommendations are generated for delivery to users based upon the generated topics and affinities. The topics and/or affinities may be based upon inferences of expertise levels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 matching automatically information that is within a plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the matching is performed by application of a computer-implemented neural network;   evaluating automatically the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the evaluating is based upon user behavioral information;   generating automatically a plurality of computer-implemented topics in accordance with the matching of the information and the evaluating of the plurality of computer-implemented content objects;   generating automatically affinities among the computer-implemented topics in accordance with the matching of the information and the evaluating of the plurality of computer-implemented content objects; and   generating automatically a recommendation for delivery to a user, wherein the recommendation is based on the plurality of computer-implemented topics and the affinities among the computer-implemented topics.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 matching automatically the information that is within the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the information comprises text.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 matching automatically the information that is within a plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the information comprises images.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 matching automatically the information that is within the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the matching is based upon an inference of an expertise level.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 evaluating automatically the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the evaluating is based upon an expertise level that is inferred from the user behavioral information.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating automatically the recommendation for delivery to the user, wherein the recommendation is further based on affinities among the plurality of the computer-implemented topics and the plurality of content objects.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a communication that comprises an explanation for the recommendation, wherein the explanation references an expertise level.   
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented system comprising one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 match automatically information that is within a plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the match is performed by application of a computer-implemented neural network;   evaluate automatically the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the evaluation is based upon user behavioral information;   generate automatically a plurality of computer-implemented topics in accordance with the match of the information and the evaluation of the plurality of computer-implemented content objects;   generate automatically affinities among the computer-implemented topics in accordance with the match of the information and the evaluation of the plurality of computer-implemented content objects; and   generate automatically a recommendation for delivery to a user, wherein the recommendation is based on the plurality of computer-implemented topics and the affinities among the computer-implemented topics.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising the one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 match automatically the information that is within the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the information comprises text.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising the one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 match automatically the information that is within the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the information comprises images.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising the one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 match automatically the information that is within the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the information comprises the images, wherein the images are elements of videos.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising the one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 evaluate automatically the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the evaluation is based upon an expertise level that is inferred from the user behavioral information.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising the one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 generate automatically the recommendation for delivery to the user, wherein the recommendation is further based on affinities among the plurality of the computer-implemented topics and the plurality of content objects.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising the one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 generating a communication that comprises an explanation for the recommendation, wherein the explanation references an expertise level.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented system comprising one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 match automatically information that is within a plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the match is performed by application of a computer-implemented neural network;   evaluate automatically the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the evaluation is based upon user behavioral information;   generate automatically a plurality of computer-implemented topics in accordance with the match of the information and the evaluation of the plurality of computer-implemented content objects;   generate automatically affinities among a plurality of users of the computer-implemented system and the computer-implemented topics in accordance with the match of the information and the evaluation of the plurality of computer-implemented content objects; and   generate automatically a recommendation for delivery to a user, wherein the recommendation is based on the plurality of computer-implemented topics and the affinities among the plurality of users of the computer-implemented system and the computer-implemented topics.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising the one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 match automatically the information that is within the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the information comprises text.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising the one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 match automatically the information that is within the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the information comprises images.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising the one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 match automatically the information that is within the plurality of computer-implemented content objects, wherein the information comprises content that is published by users of the computer-implemented system.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising the one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 generate automatically the affinities among the plurality of users of the computer-implemented system and the computer-implemented topics based upon automatic inferences of user preferences from the user behavioral information.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising the one or more processor-based devices configured to:
 generate automatically the affinities among the plurality of users of the computer-implemented system and the computer-implemented topics based upon automatic inferences of expertise levels from the user behavioral information.