Automated aging of contacts and classifying relationships

Abstract

One or more interactions between a first user and a second user of a social networking system are identified. Each respective interaction of the one or more interactions is scored based on a group score and a time penalty. The group score is based on the number of users in the respective interaction and the time penalty is based on a time between a current time and a time of a last interaction between the first user and the second user. A relationship ranking that measures the first user's affinity towards the second user is determined, where the relationship ranking comprises one or more interaction scores. An indicator representing the relationship ranking is sent to a client for display.

We claim: 
     
       1. A computer implemented method comprising:
 identifying one or more interactions between a first user and a second user within a social networking system; 
 calculating, for each of the identified interactions, an interaction score based on a group score and a time penalty, the group score based on a number of users involved in the interaction and the time penalty based on a time between a current time and a time of a last interaction between the first user and the second user; 
 determining, based on one or more of the interaction scores, a relationship ranking that corresponds to a measure of affinity of the first user towards the second user; and 
 sending to a client for display an indicator representing the relationship ranking. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein an identified interaction comprises a message including a user identifier for the first user and a user identifier for the second user. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the identified interaction indicates that the first user is with the second user. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the identified interaction includes one or more images or videos. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assigning an expiration parameter to the second user, wherein the expiration parameter indicates when the second user should be disassociated from the first user, the assignment of the expiration parameter being based on a frequency of interaction between the first user and the second user; and 
 modifying the expiration parameter for the second user based on the identified one or more interactions between the first user and the second user. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising determining that the expiration parameter has expired and disassociating the second user from the first user. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein modifying the expiration parameter comprises extending when the expiration parameter expires. 
     
     
       8. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer program instructions for:
 identifying one or more interactions between a first user and a second user within a social networking system; 
 calculating, for each of the identified interactions, an interaction score based on a group score and a time penalty, the group score based on a number of users involved in the interaction and the time penalty based on a time between a current time and a time of a last interaction between the first user and the second user; 
 determining, based on one or more of the interaction scores, a relationship ranking that corresponds to a measure of affinity of the first user towards the second user; and 
 sending to a client for display an indicator representing the relationship ranking. 
 
     
     
       9. The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein an identified interaction comprises a message including a user identifier for the first user and a user identifier for the second user. 
     
     
       10. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the identified interaction indicates that the first user is with the second user. 
     
     
       11. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the identified interaction includes one or more images or videos. 
     
     
       12. The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer program instructions are further for:
 assigning an expiration parameter to the second user, wherein the expiration parameter indicates when the second user should be disassociated from the first user, the assignment of the expiration parameter being based on a frequency of interaction between the first user and the second user; and 
 modifying the expiration parameter for the second user based on the identified one or more interactions between the first user and the second user. 
 
     
     
       13. The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the computer program instructions are further for determining that the expiration parameter has expired and disassociating the second user from the first user. 
     
     
       14. The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein modifying the expiration parameter comprises extending when the expiration parameter expires. 
     
     
       15. A system comprising:
 one or more computer processors; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer program instructions executed by the one or more computer processors for:
 identifying one or more interactions between a first user and a second user within a social networking system; 
 calculating, for each of the identified interactions, an interaction score based on a group score and a time penalty, the group score based on a number of users involved in the interaction and the time penalty based on a time between a current time and a time of a last interaction between the first user and the second user; 
 determining, based on one or more of the interaction scores, a relationship ranking that corresponds to a measure of affinity of the first user towards the second user; and 
 sending to a client for display an indicator representing the relationship ranking. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein an identified interaction comprises a message including a user identifier for the first user and a user identifier for the second user. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the identified interaction indicates that the first user is with the second user. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the identified interaction includes one or more images or videos. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 assigning an expiration parameter to the second user, wherein the expiration parameter indicates when the second user should be disassociated from the first user, the assignment of the expiration parameter being based on a frequency of interaction between the first user and the second user; and 
 modifying the expiration parameter for the second user based on the identified one or more interactions between the first user and the second user. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the computer program instructions are further executed for determining that the expiration parameter has expired and disassociating the second user from the first user.