Personal preference processing in a social networking system implemented using a database system

Abstract

Disclosed are database-related systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for processing personal preferences submitted by users regarding feed items of a social network feed of a social networking system. In some implementations, personal preference data received from computing devices associated with users of the social networking system is monitored. The personal preference data indicates personal preferences submitted by the users to apply to selected feed items of the social network feed. The personal preference data indicates that each user feels positive or negative about information indicated by a selected feed item. A characteristic of the personal preference data is assessed. At least one computing action is determined to perform based on the assessed characteristic and on the personal preference data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A database system for processing personal preferences submitted by users regarding feed items of a social network feed of a social networking system implemented using the database system, the database system comprising:
 at least one database storing a plurality of objects identifying feed items of the social network feed;   at least one server having at least one processor configurable to:   monitor personal preference data received from computing devices associated with users of the social networking system, the personal preference data indicating personal preferences submitted by the users to apply to selected feed items of the social network feed, the personal preference data indicating that each user feels positive or negative about information indicated by a selected feed item;   assess a characteristic of the personal preference data;   determine at least one computing action to perform based on the assessed characteristic and on the personal preference data; and   cause performance of the at least one computing action.   
     
     
         2 . The database system of  claim 1 , the at least one processor further configurable to:
 identify a topic or a subject related to the characteristic;   determine, based on the assessed characteristic, a level of positive or negative sentiment regarding the topic or subject.   
     
     
         3 . The database system of  claim 1 , wherein the assessed characteristic indicates that at least a subset of the users feel positive or negative about a data item different from the selected feed items. 
     
     
         4 . The database system of  claim 1 , the at least one processor further configurable to:
 identify a keyword associated with the characteristic;   identify at least one feed item associated with the keyword.   
     
     
         5 . The database system of  claim 1 , the at least one processor further configurable to:
 select the at least one computing action based on at least one of: a content type of a selected feed item, status information of a user, or profile information of a user.   
     
     
         6 . The database system of  claim 1 , the at least one processor further configurable to:
 determine a quantitative characteristic representing at least a portion of the personal preference data.   
     
     
         7 . The database system of  claim 6 , wherein the quantitative characteristic is weighted based on status information of at least one user. 
     
     
         8 . The database system of  claim 1 , wherein the assessed characteristic is a relevance measure. 
     
     
         9 . The database system of  claim 1 , the at least one processor further configurable to:
 identify a further feed item as being related to a selected feed item based on at least one of: a content type of the selected feed item, whether a user follows the selected feed item, whether profile information of a user is related to the selected feed item, whether the user indicated a preference for the selected feed item, and whether historical information related to a user is related to the selected feed item.   
     
     
         10 . A method for processing personal preferences submitted by users regarding feed items of a social network feed of a social networking system implemented using a database system, the method comprising:
 monitoring, using the database system, personal preference data received from computing devices associated with users of the social networking system, the personal preference data indicating personal preferences submitted by the users to apply to selected feed items of the social network feed, the personal preference data indicating that each user feels positive or negative about information indicated by a selected feed item;   assessing, using the database system, a characteristic of the personal preference data;   determining, using the database system, at least one computing action to perform based on the assessed characteristic and on the personal preference data; and   causing performance of the at least one computing action.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 identifying a topic or a subject related to the characteristic;   determining, based on the assessed characteristic, a level of positive or negative sentiment regarding the topic or subject.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the assessed characteristic indicates that at least a subset of the users feel positive or negative about a data item different from the selected feed items. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 identifying a keyword associated with the characteristic;   identifying at least one feed item associated with the keyword.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 selecting the at least one computing action based on at least one of: a content type of a selected feed item, status information of a user, or profile information of a user.   
     
     
         15 . A system for processing personal preferences submitted by users regarding feed items of a social network feed of a social networking system implemented using a database system, the system comprising:
 database system software stored on a non-transitory data storage medium for execution by at least one server of the database system, the database system software operable to cause:
 monitoring, using the database system, personal preference data received from computing devices associated with users of the social networking system, the personal preference data indicating personal preferences submitted by the users to apply to selected feed items of the social network feed, the personal preference data indicating that each user feels positive or negative about information indicated by a selected feed item; 
 assessing, using the database system, a characteristic of the personal preference data; 
 determining, using the database system, at least one computing action to perform based on the assessed characteristic and on the personal preference data; and 
 causing performance of the at least one computing action. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , the database system software further operable to cause:
 identifying a topic or a subject related to the characteristic;   determining, based on the assessed characteristic, a level of positive or negative sentiment regarding the topic or subject.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the assessed characteristic indicates that at least a subset of the users feel positive or negative about a data item different from the selected feed items. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , the database system software further operable to cause:
 identifying a keyword associated with the characteristic;   identifying at least one feed item associated with the keyword.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , the database system software further operable to cause:
 selecting the at least one computing action based on at least one of: a content type of a selected feed item, status information of a user, or profile information of a user.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , the database system software further operable to cause:
 identifying a further feed item as being related to a selected feed item based on at least one of: a content type of the selected feed item, whether a user follows the selected feed item, whether profile information of a user is related to the selected feed item, whether the user indicated a preference for the selected feed item, and whether historical information related to a user is related to the selected feed item.