Method and system for communication in instant messaging application

• US 10,581,770 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2016
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Inventors: Yu, Liying, Guo, Chenlu, Wu, Zhenhao, Luo, Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalinowski, Alexander G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bunker, William B.
• Application Number:
  US15/383,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20170178094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/386 using messaging services or messaging apps using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS G06Q20/3255
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a method and system for for performing an allocation operation. During operation, the system may receive an object allocation request from a computing device associated with an allocation source. The system may determine the allocation source, one or more allocation targets, one or more notification targets, and a quantity of objects to be allocated based on the object allocation request. The system may extract objects to be allocated corresponding to the quantity of objects to be allocated from an object set corresponding to the allocation source. The system may then allocate the objects to be allocated to the allocation targets. The system may notify the notification targets of messages related to the allocation operation.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for performing an allocation operation, comprising:

receiving a gift object allocation request from a first computing device of a user, wherein the user comprises an allocation source;

determining the allocation source, one or more allocation targets, one or more notification targets to whom no gift objects are to be allocated based on the allocation request, and a quantity of gift objects to be allocated based on the gift object allocation request,

wherein the allocation source sends the gift object allocation request for a group in an instant messaging application,

wherein members of the group include the allocation source, first members which are the allocation targets, and second members which are the notification targets, wherein the notification targets comprise a subset of the members of the group which are not allocation targets,

wherein the allocation source selects the first members and the second members from among the group;

extracting gift objects to be allocated corresponding to the quantity of gift objects to be allocated from a gift object set corresponding to the gift object allocation request by the allocation source;

allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the allocation targets; and

notifying, via the instant messaging application, the first members and the second members of the group of the allocation of the gift objects in a gift object message from the allocation source, wherein notifying the second members comprises;

displaying, on a screen of a second computing device executing the instant message application and associated with a notification target, a first preset trigger icon; and

in response to receiving a user action associated with the first preset trigger icon, displaying on the screen of the second computing device a superimposed message over a current message window, wherein the superimposed message indicates the allocation source, the allocation targets, and the quantity of the allocated gift objects.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the allocation source, the allocation targets, the notification targets, and the quantity of gift objects to be allocated based on the gift object allocation request comprises:

determining that a sender of the gift object allocation request is the allocation source; and

extracting data indicating the allocation targets, the notification targets, and the quantity of gift objects to be allocated specified by the allocation source from the gift object allocation request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the allocation source, the allocation targets, the notification targets, and the quantity of gift objects to be allocated based on the gift object allocation request comprises:

determining that a sender of the gift object allocation request is the allocation source; and

extracting data indicating the allocation targets and the quantity of gift objects to be allocated from the gift object allocation request;

wherein the notification targets are members of the group excluding the allocation source and excluding the allocation targets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the allocation targets comprises:

pushing a session message to a third computing device that an allocation target is logged onto, wherein the third computing device responds to receiving the session message by displaying a second preset trigger icon; and

in response to receiving a preset trigger request sent from the third computing device, allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the allocation target, wherein the preset trigger request is sent by the third computing device in response to detecting that the allocation target performs a trigger operation on the second preset trigger icon.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the allocation targets comprises:

allocating a corresponding quantity of gift objects to each allocation target according to at least one of a default object allocation rule and a particular object allocation rule included in the gift object allocation request.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the particular object allocation rule included in the gift object allocation request specifies at least one of allocating uniformly, allocating randomly, and allocating according to a quantity allocated for each allocation target as specified by the allocation source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the allocation targets comprises:

establishing voice calls with the allocation targets and broadcasting a method for receiving allocated gift objects, wherein a particular allocation target performs at least one of inputting a character string via a call interface and establishing a voice call; and

in response to receiving at least one of the character string and the voice call, determining that the character string or a content of the voice call is consistent with a predetermined content, and allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the particular allocation target.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying the second members further comprises:

extracting data indicating a notification method specified by the allocation source from the gift object allocation request; and

notifying the notification targets of messages related to the allocation operation according to the notification method.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying the second members further comprises:

pushing a notification message to a fourth computing device that a particular notification target is logged onto,

wherein the fourth computing device detects a predefined trigger operation, and displays a message related to the allocation operation in response to detecting the predefined trigger operation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predefined trigger operation includes the computing device receiving user input opening a message session window of the group.

11. A computing system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the one or more processors storing instructions stored that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform a method for an allocation operation, the method comprising;

receiving a gift object allocation request from a first computing device of a user, wherein the user comprises an allocation source;

determining the allocation source, one or more allocation targets, one or more notification targets to whom no gift objects are to be allocated based on the allocation request, and a quantity of gift objects to be allocated based on the gift object allocation request,

wherein the allocation source sends the gift object allocation request for a group in an instant messaging application,

wherein members of the group include the allocation source, first members which are the allocation targets, and second members which are the notification targets, wherein the notification targets comprise a subset of the members of the group which are not allocation targets,

wherein the allocation source selects the first members and the second members from among the group;

extracting gift objects to be allocated corresponding to the quantity of gift objects to be allocated from a gift object set corresponding to the gift object allocation request by the allocation source;

allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the allocation targets; and

notifying, via the instant messaging application, the first members and the second members of the group of the allocation of the gift objects in a gift object message from the allocation source, wherein notifying the second members comprises;

displaying, on a screen of a second computing device executing the instant messaging application and associated with a notification target, a first preset trigger icons; and

in response to receiving a user action associated with the first preset trigger icon, displaying on the screen of the second computing device a superimposed message over a current message window, wherein the superimposed message indicates the allocation source, the allocation targets, and the quantity of the allocated gift objects.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein determining the allocation source, the allocation targets, the notification targets, and the quantity of gift objects to be allocated based on the gift object allocation request comprises:

determining that a sender of the gift object allocation request is the allocation source; and

extracting data indicating the allocation targets, the notification targets, and the quantity of gift objects to be allocated specified by the allocation source from the gift object allocation request.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein determining the allocation source, the allocation targets, the notification targets, and the quantity of gift objects to be allocated based on the gift object allocation request comprises:

determining that a sender of the gift object allocation request is the allocation source; and

extracting data indicating the allocation targets and the quantity of gift objects to be allocated from the gift object allocation request;

wherein the notification targets are members of the group excluding the allocation source and excluding the allocation targets.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the allocation targets comprises:

pushing a session message to a third computing device that an allocation target is logged onto, wherein the third computing device responds to receiving the session message by displaying a second preset trigger icon; and

in response to receiving a preset trigger request sent from the third computing device, allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the allocation target, wherein the preset trigger request is sent by the third computing device in response to detecting that the allocation target performs a trigger operation on the second preset trigger icon.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the allocation targets comprises:

allocating a corresponding quantity of gift objects to each allocation target according to at least one of a default object allocation rule and a particular object allocation rule included in the gift object allocation request.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the particular object allocation rule included in the gift object allocation request specifies at least one of allocating uniformly, allocating randomly, and allocating according to a quantity allocated for each allocation target as specified by the allocation source.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the allocation targets comprises:

establishing voice calls with the allocation targets over a network and broadcasting a method for receiving allocated gift objects, wherein a particular allocation target performs at least one of inputting a character string via a call interface and establishing a voice call; and

in response to receiving at least one of the character string and the voice call, determining that the character string or a content of the voice call is consistent with a predetermined content, and allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the particular allocation target.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein notifying the second members further comprises:

extracting data indicating a notification method specified by the allocation source from the gift object allocation request; and

notifying the notification targets of messages related to the allocation operation according to the notification method.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for performing an allocation operation, the method comprising:

receiving a gift object allocation request from a first computing device of a user, wherein the user comprises an allocation source;

determining the allocation source, one or more allocation targets, one or more notification targets to whom no gift objects are to be allocated based on the allocation request, and a quantity of gift objects to be allocated based on the gift object allocation request,

wherein the allocation source sends the gift object allocation request for a group in an instant messaging application,

wherein members of the group include the allocation source, first members which are the allocation targets, and second members which are the notification targets, wherein the notification targets comprise a subset of the members of the group which are not allocation targets,

wherein the allocation source selects the first members and the second members from among the group;

extracting gift objects to be allocated corresponding to the quantity of gift objects to be allocated from a gift object set corresponding to the gift object allocation request by the allocation source;

allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the allocation targets; and

notifying, via the instant messaging application, the first members and the second members of the group of the allocation of the gift objects in a gift object message from the allocation source, wherein notifying the second members comprises;

displaying, on a screen of a second computing device executing the instant messaging application and associated with a notification target, a first preset trigger icon; and

in response to receiving a user action associated with the first preset trigger icon, displaying on the screen of the second computing device a superimposed message over a current message window, wherein the superimposed message indicates the allocation source, the allocation targets, and the quantity of the allocated gift objects.

20. A computer-implemented method for communication in an instant messaging group having multiple members, the method comprising:

displaying, at a first computing device of a user, a graphical user interface having at least a first lucky money mode option and a second lucky money mode option,

wherein the first lucky money Triode option is selectable by the user to send a first-type lucky money message to a group-chat window so that each member of the instant messaging group has an opportunity to obtain at least a gift object associated with the first-type lucky money message,

wherein the second lucky money mode option is selectable by the user to send a second-type lucky money message to the group-chat window so that only a first set of the members can obtain one or more gift objects associated with the second-type lucky money message,

wherein the first set of the members comprises one or more members predefined with the second-type lucky money message, and

wherein a second set of the members comprises one or more members who are not predefined with the second-type lucky money message;

receiving user input to select the second lucky money mode option;

receiving user selection of the first set of the members to each receive one or more gift objects associated with the second-type lucky money message;

receiving user input indicating a quantity of gift objects to be allocated to each of the selected first set of the members;

extracting gift objects to be allocated corresponding to the quantity of gift objects to be allocated from a gift object set corresponding to the user;

allocating the gift objects to be allocated to the one or more members of the first set; and

notifying, in the instant messaging group, the first set of the members and the second set of the members of the allocation of the gift objects in a gift object message from the allocation source, wherein notifying the second set of the members comprises;

displaying, on a screen of a second computing device executing in the instant messaging group and associated with a member of the second set, a preset trigger icon; and

in response to receiving a user action associated with the preset trigger icon, displaying on the screen of the second computing device a superimposed message over a current message window, wherein the superimposed message indicates the user, the first set of the members, and the quantity of the allocated gift objects.