KR101331552B1 - System and method for displaying information about personal networking - Google Patents

Abstract

Network information display system according to an aspect of the present invention is a first node corresponding to a first user of a social network service, and at least one connected to the first node in a friend setting relationship or an information providing relationship with the first user A hierarchical analysis unit configured to generate a network group including at least one second node corresponding to a second user of the network; And a network map providing unit configured to provide a network map in which at least one of the first and second nodes is mapped and displayed on a cell unit area in which a specific area is divided into cells.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING INFORMATION ABOUT PERSONAL NETWORKING}

The present invention relates to a network information display system, and more particularly, to a network information display system for displaying users connected on a social network service.

In everyday life, people build social relationships through social activities. A social network is someone who has built a sense of trust as a result of sharing a certain amount of information, experience, and community affiliation.

Recently, with the development and dissemination of the network such as the Internet, people have formed these social relationships online, and provide personal spaces such as blogs, mini homepages, Twitter, Facebook, etc. to actively form social networks online. Social network services are on the rise.

These services form a network of contacts in the virtual space by inviting their acquaintances or friends to their own blog or minihompy in a variety of ways, such as invitation or first village request.

Social network analysis aims to discover new social connections through informational connections based on the social connections that exist on social network services. However, the current social network analysis results are expressed only in the form of a list of links or a simple tree, so that it is difficult for a service user to check the network at a glance.

The present invention provides a network information display system and method that a user can easily check at a glance by expressing a network formed on a social network in a cell unit area.

The present invention provides a network information display system and method capable of visualizing a hierarchical structure of a network by representing a cell group region including one or more cell unit regions.

Network information display system according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a first node corresponding to a first user of a social network service, and the first node and connected to the first user and the friendship setting relationship Or a hierarchical analysis unit generating a social group including at least one second node corresponding to at least one second user in an information providing relationship; And a network map providing unit configured to provide a network map in which at least one of the first and second nodes is mapped and displayed on a cell unit region in which a specific region is divided into cells.

Network information display method according to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, the K-th node corresponding to the K-th user of the social network service, and the friend connection relationship to the K-th node and connected to the K-th node Or creating a network group including at least one K + 1 node corresponding to at least one K + 1 user in an information providing relationship; And providing a network map in which one of the first to K + 1 nodes is mapped and displayed on a cell unit area obtained by dividing a specific area by cell units, wherein K corresponds to a natural number. .

As described above, the network information display system and method according to the present invention has an effect of providing a network map having excellent visual effect to the user by expressing the network as a cell unit area or a cell group area.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network information providing system.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the network information display system of FIG. 1.
3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a network map providing unit of FIG. 2.
4 is a view for explaining an embodiment of a social group.
5 is a view for explaining an embodiment of a cell unit region.
6 is a view for explaining an embodiment of a network map.
7 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a network information display method.
8 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for creating a network group.
9 is a flow chart describing one embodiment of a method for providing a network map.

The description of the disclosed technique is merely an example for structural or functional explanation and the scope of the disclosed technology should not be construed as being limited by the embodiments described in the text. That is, the embodiments are to be construed as being variously embodied and having various forms, so that the scope of the disclosed technology should be understood to include equivalents capable of realizing technical ideas. Also, the purpose or effect of the disclosed technology should not be construed as being limited thereby, as it does not mean that a particular embodiment must include all such effects or merely include such effects.

Meanwhile, the meaning of the terms described in the present application should be understood as follows.

The terms "first "," second ", and the like are intended to distinguish one element from another, and the scope of the right should not be limited by these terms. For example, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component.

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected to the other element, but there may be other elements in between. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between. On the other hand, other expressions describing the relationship between the components, such as "between" and "immediately between" or "neighboring to" and "directly neighboring to", should be interpreted as well.

It should be understood that the singular " include "or" have "are to be construed as including a stated feature, number, step, operation, component, It is to be understood that the combination is intended to specify that it does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

All terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed technology belongs, unless otherwise defined. Commonly used predefined terms should be interpreted to be consistent with the meanings in the context of the related art and can not be interpreted as having ideal or overly formal meaning unless explicitly defined in the present application.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network information providing system.

Referring to FIG. 1, the network information providing system 100 includes a user terminal 110, a social network system 120, and a network information display system 130. Network information display system 130 may be connected to the user terminal 110 and at least one social network system 120 through the Internet.

The user terminal 110 requests a service from the network information display system 130. In one embodiment, the user terminal 110 may directly access the network information display system 130 to request a service. In another embodiment, the user terminal 110 is an application provided in advance from the network information display system 130 or a web browser, P2P, FTP or similar type of information providing system pre-installed in the user terminal 110 ( Service may be requested.

The user terminal 110 receives a service result from the network information display system 130 and displays the service result on the output device. The user terminal 110 may include an output device or may be connected to an external output device. For example, the external output device may include a monitor, a TV, a projector, a printer, and the like. In addition, the user terminal 110 may be implemented as a desktop, a notebook, a tablet PC, a PDA, or a smartphone.

Social network system 120 corresponds to a system for providing social network services. Social network services are mainly business-oriented social network sites such as LinkedIn and Linknow to form a network of professional groups. There is a social network service for the purpose of sharing.

The social network system 120 may manage information about a second user who is in a friend setting relationship with the first user of the social network service. Here, the friend setting relationship means a network relationship established by the first user.

For example, a first user of facebook may send a friend request or receive a friend request to a second user. The facebook may manage information about a second user who has accepted a friend request of the first user or who has received a friend request from the first user.

As another example, a first user of twitter may add a second user to the following list. Also, the first user may be added to the follower list by the second user. twitter may manage information about the second user included in the following list and the follower list.

The social network system 120 may manage information about a second user who is in an information providing relationship with the first user of the social network service. Here, the information providing relationship refers to a network related to the specific information provided or provided by the first user.

For example, a first user of twitter may retweet posts posted by a second user. Conversely, the second user can retweet posts posted by the first user. At this time, twitter may manage information about the user included in the retweet list.

Network information display system 130 provides a network map to the user terminal (110). The network information display system 130 may generate a network map at the request of the user terminal 110. In this case, the network information display system 130 may generate a network map displaying the network information in a cell unit area in which a predefined area is divided into cell units.

Network information display system 130 may collect the network information from the social network system 120. Here, the network information may include information about a second user who is in a friend setting relationship or an information providing relationship with the first user of the social network service. In an embodiment, the network information may further include information about a third user who is in a friend setting relationship or an information providing relationship with the second user.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the network information display system of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the network information display system 130 includes a hierarchical analyzer 220 and a network map provider 240. The network information display system 130 may further include a collector 210 and a network database 230.

In an embodiment to be described below, the collection unit 210 and the social network 230 are described as being included in the network information display system 130. In another embodiment, the collection unit 210 or the social network 230 is described. ) May be implemented as separate systems that are physically separate.

The collecting unit 210 collects social networking information from the social network system 120. The network information may include at least one of an ID, a name, an age, a gender, a thumbnail picture, and an e-mail address of the user.

The collector 210 includes a first collector 211 and a second collector 212.

The first collector 211 collects information about at least one second user who is in a friend setting relationship with the first user of the social network service. Here, the friend setting relationship refers to a network relationship established by the first user, and may include, for example, a network relationship established by the first user as a friend, a village, a fan, a following, or a follower.

In one embodiment, the first collection unit 211 may collect information about at least one third user having a friend setting relationship with the second user. For example, the first collector 211 may collect information about a user set by a second user as a friend, a village, a fan, a following, or a follower.

The second collecting unit 212 collects information about at least one second user who has an information providing relationship with the first user of the social network service. Here, the information providing relationship refers to a network related to the specific information provided or provided by the first user.

For example, the informational relationship may include a social relationship associated with the specific information cited, scraped or retweeted by the first user. As another example, the information providing relationship may include a social relationship that quotes, scraps or retweets specific information provided by the first user. The specific information may correspond to information including posts, images, music, etc. posted by the user of the social network service.

In one embodiment, at least one second user in an information providing relationship may not include a user in a friend setting relationship.

In one embodiment, the second collection unit 212 may collect information about at least one third user having an information providing relationship with the second user. For example, the second collection unit 212 may collect information about the user associated with the specific information quoted, scraped or retweeted by the second user.

The hierarchical analyzer 220 generates a social group including at least one second user who has a friend setting relationship or an information providing relationship with the first user of the social network service.

The hierarchical analyzer 220 may generate a network group by connecting a first node corresponding to a first user and at least one second node corresponding to at least one second user. In this case, the first node corresponds to an upper node of at least one second node, and the at least one second node corresponds to a lower node of the first node. And the network group may be implemented as a list or a tree.

In an embodiment, the hierarchical analyzer 220 may generate a lower social group including at least one third user who is in a friend setting relationship or an information providing relationship with the second user. That is, the hierarchical analyzer 220 may connect a second node corresponding to the second user and at least one third node corresponding to the at least one third user. At this time, the hierarchical analyzer 220 may update the social group to include the lower social group.

4 is a view for explaining an embodiment of a network group.

Referring to FIG. 4, the hierarchical analyzer 220 may include a first node 411 corresponding to a first user and at least one second node 421, 422, 423, and 424 corresponding to at least one second user. Connect to create a first network group. In this case, the first user and at least one second user may have a friend setting relationship.

The hierarchical analyzer 220 may generate a second network group by connecting the second node 421 and at least one third node 431 and 432 corresponding to the at least one third user. In this case, the second user and at least one third user may have a friend setting relationship.

The second network group corresponds to a lower network group of the first network group. Although not shown in the figure, the first network group may be updated to include the second network group.

The hierarchical analyzer 220 may generate a third network group by connecting the third node 432 and at least one fourth node 441, 442, and 443 corresponding to the at least one fourth user. At this time, the third user and at least one fourth user may have a friend setting relationship.

The third network group corresponds to a lower network group of the second network group. Although not shown in the figure, the first and second network groups may be updated to include the third network group.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the social networking database 230 stores social networking information collected from the social network system 120. In addition, the social network 230 may store information on the social network group generated by the hierarchical analyzer 220. The information on the network group may include node information included in the network group, node depth, upper node information, lower node information, lower network group information, and the like. The node depth corresponds to the path length to the first node.

Network map providing unit 240 generates a network map based on a network group to provide to the user terminal (110). In one embodiment, the network map providing unit 240 is a pre-installed application on the user terminal 110 or a web browser, P2P, FTP or similar information providing system (not shown) pre-installed on the user terminal 110 You can display the network map through.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a network map providing unit of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a cell unit area.

Referring to FIG. 3, the network map provider 240 may include a cell divider 310, a cell display 320, and a cell group display 330. In an embodiment, the network map provider 240 may further include a color determiner 340.

The cell divider 310 divides a specific area in units of cells. According to an embodiment, the cell divider 310 may divide a specific area into N cell units. Here, N corresponds to the number of second nodes. According to an embodiment, the cell dividing unit 310 may generate N points located in a specific area and divide them based thereon. The cell dividing unit 310 may search for the point closest to each point, and determine N cell unit areas by dividing each point and the searched point. In this case, the cell dividing unit 310 may generate a dividing line that is orthogonal while dividing the line connecting each point and the searched point into two parts. For example, assuming that there are three second nodes connected to the first node, the cell unit area divided by the cell divider 310 may appear as shown in FIG. 5A.

In another embodiment, the cell divider 310 may divide a specific area into N + 1 cell units. According to an embodiment, the cell divider 310 may divide a specific area into units of cells having the same size. For example, assuming that there are three second nodes connected to the first node, the cell unit area divided by the cell divider 310 may appear as shown in FIG. 5 (b). In another exemplary embodiment, the cell divider 310 may divide the cell unit into two cell units, and may divide the cell unit region into N cell units again. For example, assuming that there are three second nodes connected to the first node, the cell unit area divided by the cell divider 310 may appear as shown in FIG. 5C.

According to another embodiment, the cell divider 310 may divide the cell by M cells. M corresponds to the number of nodes without child nodes in a network group with a maximum node depth greater than one.

The cell display unit 320 maps and displays at least one of the first node and the second node in the cell unit area. The cell display unit 320 may display information about a user corresponding to the first node or the second node. In this case, the information about the user corresponds to information for identifying the user, and may include, for example, at least one of a user ID, a name, a photo image, and a unique number.

For example, referring to FIG. 5A, the cell display unit 320 may map and display three second nodes in three cell unit areas. For another example, referring to FIG. 5C, the cell display 320 may map and display a first node and three second nodes in four cell unit areas. In this case, the cell display 320 may map the first node to the largest cell unit area.

The cell group display unit 330 maps and displays the first node in a cell group region in which at least one cell unit region is integrated. In this case, the cell group display unit 330 may display a boundary line of at least one cell unit area in the cell group area. The cell group display unit 330 may differently display the color or saturation of the boundary line between the at least one cell unit area and the cell group area.

The color determiner 340 determines the color or saturation of the cell unit area or the cell group area. The color determiner 340 may determine the color or saturation of the boundary line of the cell unit area or the cell group area.

In one embodiment, the color determiner 340 may determine the color or saturation based on the depth of the node. In another embodiment, the color determiner 340 may determine the color or saturation according to the node depth and the network group. For example, the color determiner 340 may equally determine the color or saturation of at least one cell unit area mapped to at least one node having the same node depth and higher node.

6 is a view for explaining an embodiment of a network map.

Referring to FIG. 6, the network group of FIG. 4 may be represented as a tree having a maximum node depth of five. Each node may include user information, upper node information, and lower node information.

The network information display system 130 may generate a network map based on the node depth. The node depth corresponds to the path length to the first node.

First, the network information display system 130 may divide a specific area in units of cells in order to generate a network map at the maximum node depth.

The network information display system 130 may divide a specific area into M cell units. M corresponds to the number of nodes without child nodes. In this case, nodes having no M subnodes may not have the same node depth. The specific area may correspond to a predefined area for displaying a network map.

In the network group of FIG. 4, 33 nodes are not connected to lower nodes. Accordingly, the network information display system 130 may generate 33 points located in a specific area, and generate 33 cell unit areas by dividing each point.

The network information display system 130 may map and display the 33 nodes in 33 cell unit areas. The network information display system 130 may generate a network map as shown in FIG. 6 (a).

In an embodiment, the network information display system 130 may determine and display the color or saturation of the cell unit area based on the depth of the mapped node.

Next, the network information display system 130 may map the upper node to a cell group region in which at least one cell unit region is integrated.

The network information display system 130 places the upper node 451 in a cell group region in which the node depth is 5 and the upper nodes have the same cell unit regions of the nodes 461 and 462 in the network map of FIG. Can be displayed by mapping. Accordingly, a network map having a node depth of 4 may be expressed as shown in FIG. 6 (b).

In an embodiment, the network information display system 130 may express color or saturation differently to distinguish the cell unit area and the cell group area.

In an embodiment, the network information display system 130 may display a boundary line of the cell unit area within the cell group area, and in another embodiment, may not display the border line.

6 (c) is a diagram illustrating a network map having a node depth of 3, FIG. 6 (d) is a diagram representing a network map having a node depth of 2, and FIG. 6 (e) shows a network map having a node depth of 1 It is the figure which expressed. 6 (f) is a diagram illustrating a network map in which the first node 411 corresponding to the first user is displayed in the cell group region.

In the above-described embodiment, the network information display system 130 generates the network map from the maximum node depth, but in another embodiment, the network map may be generated from the first node. To this end, the network information display system 130 may divide a specific area into N cell units. N corresponds to the number of subnodes. At this time, N subnodes are all equal in node depth. The specific region may correspond to the cell unit region to which the upper node is mapped.

7 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a network information display method.

Referring to FIG. 7, the network map display system 130 collects network information from the social network system 120 (S701). The social networking information may include information about a second user who has a friend setting relationship or an information providing relationship with the first user of the social network service.

The information about the second user may include at least one of an ID, a name, an age, a gender, a thumbnail picture, a hobby, and an e-mail address of the user. In an embodiment, the information about the second user may further include a post posted by the second user or a usage vocabulary analyzed by the social network system 120. Here, the frequency of use vocabulary means the frequency of vocabulary appearing in a post posted by a second user.

In an embodiment, the network map display system 130 may store and manage the network information collected from the social network system 120 in the network database 230.

Network map display system 130 generates a network group based on the network information (S702). The network map display system 130 may include a first node corresponding to the first user and a second node corresponding to at least one second user connected to the first node and having a friend setting relationship or an information providing relationship with the first user. You can create a network group that includes.

The network map display system 130 provides a network map displaying a network group in at least one cell unit area (S703). The network map display system 130 may map and display at least one of the first node and the second node in a cell unit area obtained by dividing a specific area into cell units. In this case, the network map display system 130 may provide information about a user corresponding to each node. For example, the information about the user may include at least one of a user ID, a name, a photo image, and a unique number.

8 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for creating a network group.

Referring to FIG. 8, the network map display system 130 receives a network map request for the first user from the user terminal 110 (S801). In this case, the first user corresponds to a user of a social network service.

The network map display system 130 searches for the at least one second user who has a specific relationship with the first user in the network database 230 (S802). At this time, the network database 230 may be installed in the network map display system 130, but in another embodiment may be implemented as a separate external system. The network map display system 130 may receive information about the second user from an external network database 230.

In one embodiment, the network map display system 130 may search for at least one second user who is in a friend setting relationship with the first user, and in another embodiment, at least one that is in an informational relationship with the first user. One second user may be searched. In another embodiment, the network map display system 130 may search for at least one second user who has a friend setting relationship or an information providing relationship with the first user.

The network map display system 130 connects a first node corresponding to the first user and a second node corresponding to at least one second user (S803). In this case, the first node corresponds to an upper node of the second node, and the second node corresponds to a lower node of the first node.

In one embodiment, the first node and the second node may include user information, upper node information, and lower node information.

Network map display system 130 generates a network group for each of the at least one second user (S804).

The network map display system 130 repeats S802 to S804 for the K-th user. K corresponds to a natural number. K can be increased by one from one.

Accordingly, the network map display system 130 may generate a network group having a hierarchical structure in which at least one K + 1 node is connected to the K-th node.

In an embodiment, the network map display system 130 may delete the user existing in the path from the first node to the K-th node in the at least one K + 1th user. Accordingly, the network map display system 130 may prevent the network group from expanding indefinitely.

9 is a flow chart describing one embodiment of a method for providing a network map.

Referring to FIG. 9, the network information display system 130 may generate a network map based on a network group. First, the network information display system 130 divides a specific area in units of cells (S901). Network information display system 130 may be divided into M cells. M corresponds to the number of nodes without subnodes.

Network information display system 130 maps the node to the cell unit area (S902).

Network information display system 130 may generate a network map of a specific node depth. In one embodiment, the specific node depth may be specified by the user via the user terminal 110, and in another embodiment, may be preset by the administrator.

If the specific node depth is equal to the maximum node depth, the network information display system 130 may provide the user terminal 110 with a network map indicating a node mapped to the cell unit area.

However, if the specific node depth is smaller than the maximum node depth, the network information display system 130 may further perform the steps described below.

The network information display system 130 maps the upper node to the cell group region in which the at least one cell unit region is integrated (S903). The at least one cell unit area may correspond to a cell unit area mapped to at least one node having the same node depth and a higher node.

The at least one cell unit region may include a cell group region in a broad sense. For example, assume that subnodes of node A are B and C nodes, and subnodes of node B are D and E nodes. The network information display system 130 may map a B node to a cell group region in which cell unit regions mapped to D and E nodes are integrated. In addition, the network information display system 130 may map node A to a cell group region in which cell unit regions mapped to nodes B and C are integrated. In this case, the region where the B node is mapped may correspond to the cell unit region of the A node, and may correspond to the cell group regions of the D and E nodes.

The network information display system 130 may repeat S903 until a node at a specific node depth is mapped to the cell group region.

The network information display system 130 provides a network map displaying nodes mapped to the cell unit area or the cell group area to the user terminal 110 (S904).

Although not shown in FIG. 9, in one embodiment, the network information display system 130 may further include providing the user terminal 110 with information about a user mapped to an area selected by the user. The information about the user corresponds to some of the information stored in the social network 230, and may include at least one of an ID, a name, an age, a gender, a thumbnail picture, a hobby, and an e-mail address of the user. In addition, the information about the user may include information analyzed by a social network analysis system (not shown), and may include, for example, usage vocabulary, interests, activity time, and the like.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims It can be understood that

Claims (11)

A first node corresponding to a first user of a social network service, and at least one second corresponding to at least one second user connected to the first node and having a friend setting or an information providing relationship with the first user; A hierarchical analysis unit generating a network group including nodes; And
The second region is divided into a cell group region in which a specific region is divided into cell unit regions determined by the number of the second nodes, and the second node is mapped to the cell unit region or a plurality of cell unit regions are integrated. Network information display system including a network map providing unit for providing a network map displayed by mapping the nodes. The method of claim 1,
A first collector configured to collect information about a second user who has a friend setting relationship set as a friend by the first user; And
Networking further comprising a collecting unit including a second collecting unit for providing information to the first user or collects information about the second user in the information providing relationship provided with the specific information from the first user Information display system. The method of claim 1, wherein the stratification analysis unit
Creating a child network group including a second node and at least one third node connected to the second node and corresponding to at least one third user who is in a friend setting relationship or an information providing relationship with the second user; Network information display system characterized in that. According to claim 1, wherein the network guidance provider
A cell display unit which maps and displays the second node in the cell unit area; And
And a cell group display unit for mapping and displaying the first node in the cell group region. According to claim 4, wherein the network guidance provider
And a cell dividing unit for generating as many points as the number of second nodes located in the specific area, searching for the points closest to each point, and dividing an area based on each point and the searched point. Network information display system. A network information display method provided by a network information display system including a hierarchical analysis unit and a network map providing unit,
The hierarchical analyzer may include a K-th node corresponding to a K-th user of a social network service, and at least one K + 1 user connected to the K-th node and having a friend setting relationship or an information providing relationship with the K-th user. Creating a network group comprising a corresponding at least one K + 1 node; And
The network map providing unit maps the K + 1 node to a cell unit area in which a specific area is divided into cell units equal to the number of K + 1 nodes, or in a cell group area in which a plurality of cell unit areas are integrated. Providing a network map displayed by mapping the K-th node,
The network information display method, characterized in that K corresponds to a natural number. delete delete The method of claim 6, wherein in the providing step,
The network map providing unit, the network information display method characterized in that to display the color or saturation of the boundary line between the cell unit area and the cell group area differently. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing step
The network map providing unit, the network information display method comprising the step of determining the color or saturation of the cell unit area according to the depth from the first node. The method according to claim 6,
The network map providing unit, the network information display method further comprises the step of providing information about the user corresponding to the node mapped to the cell unit area selected by the user.

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