Automatically branding topics using color

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention automatically assign colors to topics in a topic database based on a respective topic's unique identifier within the topic database. One or more functions are applied to transform each topic's unique identifier into a respective color, for example by hashing the unique identifier string, and using the hash to index into an array of colors. Thus, content items pertaining to the same topic can be consistently branded with the same color in visual presentations to the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method of automatically branding a topic with color, the method comprising:
 identifying a topic of a content item;   determining a unique identifier stored in a topic database, the unique identifier associated with the identified topic of the content item;   determining a color associated with the identified topic based on the unique identifier of the topic in the topic database; and   applying the determined color associated with the identified topic to textual objects and non-textual objects included in the content item that are associated with the identified topic.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the content item comprises a news article, a photograph, a blog posting, or a status update. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the topic comprises analyzing the content item to determine a primary topic of the content item from among multiple topics in the content item. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 identifying the textual objects and non-textual objects included in the content item;   determining for each of the textual objects and non-textual objects an associated topic; and   wherein the color associated with the identified primary topic is applied to textual objects and non-textual objects having associated topics that match the identified primary topic.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented of  claim 4 , wherein determining for each of the non-textual objects an associated topic comprises:
 analyzing at least one of metadata or tags associated with the non-textual object to determine the topic associated with the non-textual object.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented of  claim 1 , wherein non-textual objects include a background of the content item or an image included in the content item. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented of  claim 1 , wherein the topic database comprises a group of any known aliases for each topic and a unique identifier for each topic. 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions for automatically branding a topic with color, the instructions executable to perform steps comprising:
 identifying a topic of a content item;   determining a unique identifier stored in a topic database, the unique identifier associated with the identified topic of the content item;   determining a color associated with the identified topic based on the unique identifier of the topic in the topic database; and   applying the determined color associated with the identified topic to textual objects and non-textual objects included in the content item that are associated with the identified topic.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the content item comprises a news article, a photograph, a blog posting, or a status update. 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein identifying the topic comprises analyzing the content item to determine a primary topic of the content item from among multiple topics in the content item 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the computer program instructions are executable to perform further steps comprising:
 identifying the textual objects and non-textual objects included in the content item;   determining for each of the textual objects and non-textual objects an associated topic; and   wherein the color associated with the identified primary topic is applied to textual objects and non-textual objects having associated topics that match the identified primary topic.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein determining for each of the non-textual objects an associated topic comprises:
 analyzing at least one of metadata or tags associated with the non-textual object to determine the topic associated with the non-textual object.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein non-textual objects include a background of the content item or an image included in the content item. 
     
     
         14 . A system for automatically branding a topic with color, the system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing executable code, the code when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform steps comprising:
 identifying a topic of a content item; 
 determining a unique identifier stored in a topic database, the unique identifier associated with the identified topic of the content item; 
 determining a color associated with the identified topic based on the unique identifier of the topic in the topic database; and 
 applying the determined color associated with the identified topic to textual objects and non-textual objects included in the content item that are associated with the identified topic. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the content item comprises a news article, a photograph, a blog posting, or a status update. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein identifying the topic comprises analyzing the content item to determine a primary topic of the content item from among multiple topics in the content item 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the code when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform further steps comprising:
 identifying the textual objects and non-textual objects included in the content item;   determining for each of the textual objects and non-textual objects an associated topic; and   wherein the color associated with the identified primary topic is applied to textual objects and non-textual objects having associated topics that match the identified primary topic.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein determining for each of the non-textual objects an associated topic comprises:
 analyzing at least one of metadata or tags associated with the non-textual object to determine the topic associated with the non-textual object.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein non-textual objects include a background of the content item or an image included in the content item. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the topic database comprises a group of any known aliases for each topic and a unique identifier for each topic.