Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Linkedin Corporation

Ajit Datar

June H Andrews

Xin Cai

Mitul Tiwari

A system, method, and apparatus are provided for automatically establishing an inferred ('follow') relationship between a first member and a second member of a user community. Based on passive and/or active signals indicating affinity of the first member for the second member, the system determines whether an inferred connection from the first member to the second member would improve the first member's network within the user community. A potential improvement may be observed if the potential connection would improve some aspect or characteristic of a target or ideal network identified for the first member, and/or if there is more than a threshold level of affinity between the members. The first member's network may be pruned, if necessary, to accommodate a connection to the second member if, for example, the connection would violate a constraint associated with the target or ideal network.

Inferring a social connection

A system, method, and apparatus are provided for identifying an ideal or target network of a member of a professional network or social network, or one or more characteristics of such a network. Based on a type of the member, one or more attributes of a profile of the member, and/or one or more goals of the member, characteristics may be identified that support achievement of those goals or that promote more effective use of the professional network or social network by the member. By way of illustration, an ideal or target user network of a member seeking to improve her future job opportunities may include a minimum number of connections to members employed by different organizations, while an ideal or target user network of a member seeking a mentor may include a maximum number of connections to members holding senior positions within the member's industry or functional area.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Ajit Datar