BACKGROUND

Within a messaging platform, messages regarding all sorts of topics may be exchanged between users. Exposing a user to all of the messages would likely overwhelm the user and make it nearly impossible for the user to find content that is of interest to the user.

SUMMARY

In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method of operating a messaging platform. The method comprises: obtaining, for a first profile of the messaging platform, a first topic of interest, a first intra-profile (IP) weight for the first topic of interest, a second topic of interest, and a second IP weight for the second topic of interest; obtaining a first plurality of trending entities for the first topic and a first plurality of intra-topic (IT) weights for the first plurality of trending entities; obtaining a second plurality of trending entities for the second topic and a second plurality of IT weights for the second plurality of trending entities; selecting a subset of the first plurality of trending entities and the second plurality of trending entities based on the first IP weight, the second IP weight, the first plurality of IT weights, and the second plurality of IT weights; and sending content associated with the subset for display to a user of the first profile.

In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a messaging platform system. The messaging platform comprises: a processor; a topic repository storing: a first topic and a first profile known for a first topic and a second topic; and a second topic and a second profile known for the second topic; a trends repository storing: a first plurality of trending entities for the first topic and a first plurality of intra-topic (IT) weights for the first plurality of trending entities; and a second plurality of trending entities for the second topic and a second plurality of IT weights for the second plurality of trending entities; a connection graph identifying a third profile following the first profile and following the second profile; and a trends personalization engine executing on the processor and configured to: determine, by accessing the topic repository, that the third profile is interested in the first topic and the second topic in response to the third profile following the first profile and the second profile; obtain, for the third profile, a first intra-profile (IP) weight for the first topic and a second IP weight for the second topic; select, for the third profile, a subset of the first plurality of trending entities and the second plurality of trending entities based on the first IP weight, the second IP weight, the first plurality of IT weights, and the second plurality of IT weights; and send content associated with the subset for display to a user of the third profile.

In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) storing a plurality of instructions for operating a messaging platform. The instructions comprise functionality for: obtaining, for a first profile of the messaging platform, a first topic of interest, a first intra-profile (IP) weight for the first topic of interest, a second topic of interest, and a second IP weight for the second topic of interest; obtaining a first plurality of trending entities for the first topic and a first plurality of intra-topic (IT) weights for the first plurality of trending entities; obtaining a second plurality of trending entities for the second topic and a second plurality of IT weights for the second plurality of trending entities; selecting a subset of the first plurality of trending entities and the second plurality of trending entities based on the first IP weight, the second IP weight, the first plurality of IT weights, and the second plurality of IT weights; and sending content associated with the subset for display to a user of the first profile.

Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

