System and method for generating influencer scores

Abstract

Methods and systems for generating influence scores are disclosed. A plurality of opinions of a selected topic are retrieved from a database. Influencers each associated with at least one opinion from the plurality of opinions are determined using the processor. A score is automatically generated for each influencer using the processor, the score related to the selected topic.

1 . A method implemented using a processor and a database, comprising:
 retrieving a plurality of opinions of a selected topic from the database;   determining influencers based on at least one threshold parameter, each influencer associated with at least one opinion from the plurality of opinions, using the processor; and   automatically generating a score for each influencer using the processor, the score related to the selected topic.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein retrieving a plurality of opinions of a selected topic comprises:
 extracting opinions from data sources.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the data sources comprise at least one of: news sites, blogs, forums, transcripts, tweets, comments, quotes, and social network entries. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining influencers comprises:
 analyzing the opinions to determine those associated with an influencer; and   associating the opinions associated with the least one influencer identities with the influencer.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating a score for each influencer comprises:
 determining interactions by each influencer with other entities;   calculating an interaction factor for each influencer based on the interactions; and   generating the score for each influencer based on the calculated interaction factor.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the score is based on a weighted score of each influencer with respect to a data source. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving the selected topic including a set of constraints.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the set of constraints includes at least one of: keywords, date limits, definitions, and product types. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing for display, a list of each influencer including the corresponding score of each influencer with respect to the selected topic.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating a score for each influencer comprises:
 generating a score based on at least one of: quality of publications where the at least one opinion is found, a number of search engine hits for the at least one opinion, a number of mentions of the at least one opinion through social network entries, and diversity of sources for the at least one opinion.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating a score for each influencer comprises:
 generating a score based on a plurality of weighted sub-scores.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected topic may represent at least one of: consumer goods, political issues, current events issues, and brand names. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the score represents a unified score based on a plurality of sub-scores each associated with a data source. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein retrieving a plurality of opinions of a selected topic from the database comprises:
 retrieving a plurality of opinions associated with a predetermined time period.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined time period is a range of 30 through 90 days. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 automatically generating, based on the score related to the selected topic, at least one of: CPM values, details relating to demographics, and details relating to data sources.   
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a database,   a processor, and   an influence engine comprising:
 an opinion unit configured for retrieving a plurality of opinions of a selected topic from the database; 
 an influencer mapping unit configured determining influencers based on at least one threshold parameter, each influencer associated with at least one opinion from the plurality of opinions; and 
 a score generation unit configured for automatically generating a score for each influencer using the processor, the score related to the selected topic. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an opinion extraction engine configured for extracting opinions from data sources, wherein the extracted opinions may be provided to the opinion unit.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the data sources comprise at least one of: news sites, blogs, forums, transcripts, tweets, comments, quotes, and social network entries. 
     
     
         20 . A machine readable non-transitory and tangible medium having information recorded thereon, wherein the information, when read by the machine, causes the machine to perform the steps comprising:
 retrieving a plurality of opinions of a selected topic from a database;   determining influencers based on at least one threshold parameter, each influencer associated with at least one opinion from the plurality of opinions; and   automatically generating a score for each influencer using a processor, the score related to the selected topic.