Dynamic event detection system and method

Abstract

A method for dynamic event detection based on content from a set of social networking systems including receiving content from the set of social networking systems, identifying a plurality of content associated with a geofence, the content that was generated within a predetermined time period, determining feature values from the plurality of content for each of a set of features, determining an event probability for the geofence based on the feature values, and detecting an event within the geofence in response to the event probability exceeding a threshold event probability.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for dynamic event extent determination, comprising:
 receiving content from a set of social networking systems;   identifying a plurality of content, from the received content, associated with a first geofence;   determining a plurality of feature values from the plurality of content;   reducing the plurality of feature values to a reduced plurality of feature values based on an event detection model;   using the event detection model, automatically detecting an event within a second geofence based on the reduced plurality of feature values;   in response to detecting the event within the second geofence, including the second geofence in an event region associated with the event;   iteratively analyzing a plurality of additional geofences proximal to the event region; and   based on detecting the event in at least one of the plurality of additional geofences proximal to the event region, modifying the event region to include the at least one additional geofence proximal to the event region.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a baseline value for a feature from historic content associated with the second geofence;
 wherein automatically detecting the event comprises: detecting the event in response to the feature value for the feature deviating from the baseline value for the second geofence.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the baseline value comprises a baseline feature frequency for the second geofence, wherein detecting the event comprises detecting the event in response to the feature frequency exceeding the baseline feature frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the content comprises posts, wherein the baseline feature frequency comprises a baseline posting frequency for the second geofence, wherein detecting the event comprises detecting the event in response to the posting frequency within the second geofence exceeding the baseline posting frequency for the second geofence. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the baseline feature frequency comprises a baseline keyword frequency for the second geofence, wherein detecting the event comprises detecting the event in response to a keyword frequency within the second geofence exceeding the baseline keyword frequency for the second geofence by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined amount for the second geofence is determined based on a size of the event region. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical region of the first geofence is different than the physical region of the second geofence; and
 the physical region of the first geofence and the physical region of the second physical region have a common unit area.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one additional geofence proximal to the event region is contiguous with the geofence within the event region. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting content associated with the event from the plurality of content;   aggregating the selected content into a content feed; and   sending the content feed, in association with an identifier for the event region, to a remote user device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein selecting the content and aggregating the selected content into a content feed is repeatedly performed as new content is received from the set of social networking systems; and
 the method further comprising:
 after detecting the event within the second geofence: 
 determining a second set of feature values for the second geofence from the new content; 
 detecting an event termination based on the second set of feature values; and 
 ceasing content selection associated with the event. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein detecting the event termination comprises:
 determining an event probability from the second set of feature values; and   detecting the event termination in response to determination of the event probability falling below a threshold event probability.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising maintaining the event probability for a predetermined period of time after determination that the event probability fell below the threshold event probability. 
     
     
         13 . A method for dynamic event extent determination, comprising:
 receiving content from a set of social networking systems;   identifying a plurality of content, from the received content, associated with a first geofence;   determining a plurality of feature values from the plurality of content;   reducing the plurality of feature values to a reduced plurality of feature values based on an event detection model;   based on the event detection model, detecting a first event within the first geofence in response to the respective feature value deviating from a baseline value for the first geofence;   within a predetermined time-window of detecting the first event, detecting a second event within a second geofence;   determining that the first and second event are a common event;   determining a third geofence encompassing the first and second geofences; and   associating the third geofence with the common event.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the baseline value comprises a baseline keyword frequency for the first geofence, wherein detecting the first event comprises detecting the first event in response to a keyword frequency exceeding the baseline keyword frequency by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the content comprises posts, wherein the baseline value comprises a baseline posting frequency for the first geofence, wherein detecting the event comprises detecting the event in response to the posting frequency within the geofence exceeding the baseline posting frequency for the geofence. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising categorizing the first and second events with event categories, based on the respective feature values. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining that the first and second event are a common event comprises determining that the first and second events are categorized with a common event category. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 selecting content associated with the event from the plurality of content;   aggregating the selected content into a content feed;   sending the content feed, in association with an identifier for the event region, to a remote user device in response to receipt of a request from the remote user device;   receiving new content from the set of social networking systems; and   after detecting the first and second events within the first and second geofences, respectively:
 determining a second set of feature values for the third geofence from the new content; 
 detecting an event termination based on the second set of feature values; and 
 ceasing content selection associated with the event. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein detecting the event termination comprises:
 determining an event probability from the second set of feature values; and   detecting the event termination in response to determination of the event probability falling below a threshold event probability.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising maintaining the event probability for a predetermined period of time after determination that the event probability fell below the threshold event probability.