Computer-implemented system and method for updating user interest profiles

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for updating user interest profiles is provided. An interest profile having a mapping of interest categories and interest scores for each interest category is obtained. User generated items are identified from online profiles and a portion of the user generated items are associated with a time stamp. A similarity mapping is performed by comparing each user generated item with each interest category. An interest index score is determined for each interest category based on one of the user generated items compared. A threshold is applied to the interest index scores for each category. The interest score associated with one such category in the mapping is replaced with the interest index score, when the interest index score for that category is above the threshold. The interest profile is adjusted by applying a decay to those interest index scores associated with time stamps determined for the categories.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented system for updating user interest profiles, comprising:
 a database to store an interest profile for a user comprising a mapping of interest categories and interest scores for each interest category; and   a server to access one or more third party servers to obtain preexisting online profiles for the user, wherein the server comprises a central processing unit, memory, input port to receive the interest profile from the database, and output port, the central processing unit configured to execute modules comprising:
 an identification module to identify user generated items from the online profiles, wherein a portion of the user generated items are associated with a time stamp; 
 a similarity module to perform a similarity mapping comprising comparing each user generated item with each interest category in the mapping; 
 a determination module to determine via the comparison an interest index score for each interest category based on one of the user generated items; 
 a threshold module to apply a threshold to the interest index scores for each category; 
 a replacement module to replace the interest score associated with one such category in the mapping with the interest index score when the interest index score for that category is above the threshold; and 
 an adjustment module to adjust the interest profile by applying a decay to those interest index scores determined for the categories and associated with time stamps.