Computer implemented methods and apparatus for sharing data of an information feed of an online social network

• US 10,069,841 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Bedi, Prantap
• Primary Examiner(s): Algibhah, Hamza N
• Application Number:
  US15/674,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20170339161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 709206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for sharing data of an online social network. In some implementations, a selection of data of an information feed is received. The information feed includes a plurality of feed items configured to be stored on one or more storage mediums and capable of being displayed in a presentation on a display device. The selected data includes at least a portion of one or more of the feed items. A first network communication including the selected data is generated. The generated first network communication is sent to a designated network address via a network.

Claims

1. A system for sharing social network messages using a social networking system, the system comprising:

a database system implemented using a server system comprising one or more hardware processors, the database system configurable to cause;

processing a request received from a user device of a first user of the social networking system, the first user being connected with a first network of users of the social networking system;

generating, using a database and based on the request, a first social network message to be included in a conversation between the first user and a future or existing participant in the conversation, the participant being external to the first network of users, the conversation being electronic and comprising a plurality of social network messages accessible via the social networking system and configured to be displayed in a user interface on a display of the user device, the user interface configured to permit submission of a reply to a social network message of the conversation;

generating a network communication comprising content of the first message, the network communication being in a format other than a conversation format of the conversation;

sending the generated network communication to a network address of the participant, the generated network communication configured to be sent, at least partly, through a communications network external to the professional social networking system;

processing a response network communication received from the network address, the response network communication being in response to the generated network communication;

generating, using the database, a second social network message to be included in the conversation, the second message comprising content of the response network communication; and

displaying, in the user interface on the display of the user device, at least a portion of the second message in association with an identification of the participant.

2. The system of claim 1, the database system further configurable to cause:

determining that a contact associated with the first user is not a member of the social networking system.

3. The database system of claim 2, the database system further configurable to cause:

generating, responsive to determining that the contact associated with the first user is not a member of the social networking system, a further network communication comprising an invitation to join the social networking system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the participant is included in a list of participants authorized to participate in the conversation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the social networking system is LinkedIn®

.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated network communication comprises a selectable link operable to allow the participant to block the first user from sending further network communications to the participant.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the network communication comprises an identifier of a professional organization associated with the first user and/or the participant.

14. The database system of claim 1, wherein the network communication comprises an identifier of a professional organization associated with the first user and/or the participant.

8. A computer program product for sharing social network messages using a social networking system, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable program code to be executed by one or more processors when retrieved from the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code comprising instructions configurable to cause:

processing a request received from a user device of a first user of the social networking system, the first user being connected with a first network of users of the social networking system;

generating, using a database and based on the request, a first social network message to be included in a conversation between the first user and a future or existing participant in the conversation, the participant being external to the first network of users, the conversation being electronic and comprising plurality of social network messages accessible via the social networking system and configured to be displayed in a user interface on a display of the user device, the user interface configured to permit submission of a reply to a social network message of the conversation;

generating a network communication comprising content of the first message, the network communication being in a format other than a conversation format of the conversation;

sending the generated network communication to a network address of the participant, the generated network communication configured to be sent, at least partly, through a communications network external to the social networking system;

processing a response network communication received from the network address, the response network communication being in response to the generated network communication;

generating, using the database, a second social network message to be included in the conversation, the second message comprising content of the response network communication; and

displaying, in the user interface on the display of the user device, at least a portion of the second message in association with an identification of the participant.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, the instructions further configurable to cause:

determining that a contact associated with the first user is not a member of the social networking system.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, the instructions further configurable to cause:

generating, responsive to determining that the contact associated with the first user is not a member of the social networking system, a further network communication comprising an invitation to join the social networking system.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the participant is included in a list of participants authorized to participate in the conversation.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the social networking system is LinkedIn®

.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the generated network communication comprises a selectable link operable to allow the participant to block the first user from sending further network communications to the participant.

15. A method for sharing social network messages using a social networking system, the method comprising:

processing a request received from a user device of a first user of the social networking system, the first user being connected with a first network of users of the social networking system;

generating, using a database and based on the request, a first social network message to be included in a conversation between the first user and a future or existing participant in the conversation, the participant being external to the first network of users, the conversation being electronic and comprising a plurality of social network messages accessible via the social networking system and configured to be displayed in a user interface on a display of the user device, the user interface configured to permit submission of a reply to a social network message of the conversation;

generating a network communication comprising content of the first message, the network communication being in a format other than a conversation format of the conversation;

sending the generated network communication to a network address of the participant, the generated network communication configured to be sent, at least partly, through a communications network external to the social networking system;

processing a response network communication received from the network address, the response network communication being in response to the generated network communication;

generating, using the database, a second social network message to be included in the conversation, the second message comprising content of the response network communication; and

displaying, in the user interface on the display of the user device, at least a portion of the second message in association with an identification of the participant.

16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

determining that a contact associated with the first user is not a member of the social networking system.

17. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising:

generating, responsive to determining that the contact associated with the first user is not a member of the social networking system, a further network communication comprising an invitation to join the social networking system.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the participant is included in a list of participants authorized to participate in the conversation.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the social networking system is LinkedIn®

.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the generated network communication comprises a selectable link operable to allow the participant to block the first user from sending further network communications to the participant.