Method for calculating distances between users in a social graph

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for calculating distances between users in a social graph. The relations in the social graph are assigned weighting factors. The distances between two users are calculated from the weighted relations on the paths connecting the two users. In addition, the propagation of relations across neighboring users may be attenuated according to a propagation coefficient. Using the calculated distances, the social search may be performed in the order of non-decreasing distances from the source users. Moreover, clusters may be created from a social graph based on the calculated distances. The search in a dense social graph may be converted to a search in the generated clusters. Therefore the performance of social search across neighbors is improved.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.