Indicating Recent Content Publication Activity By A User

• US 20070174389A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Agrawal, Rakesh, Granito, Jennifer, Greenberg, Steven, Sommers, Michael, Dunham, Lark, Keister, Alan, Armstrong, Christopher, Glover, Carol
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• 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 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

Collecting and distributing information related to recent content publication activity of an instant messaging (IM) user provides other users in a network with timely, relevant information about people known to the user or within the same social network. A user participating in a social network can quickly and efficiently perceive new information related to other users (referred to as co-users) in a social network by reviewing the co-users'"'"' recent content publication activity. A user may be made able to do so without requiring the co-user to send a communication directly to the user regarding the new facts or new content, and also without requiring the user to actively browse or request information about the co-user.

Claims

1. A system for indicating recent content publication activity by a publishing online identity, the system comprising:

a remote server configured to;

determine that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity,

determine a type of recent content publication activity associated with the recent content publication activity, and

provide an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity, the indication including an identifier corresponding to the publishing online identity and information that enables display of the type of recent content publication activity engaged in by the publishing online identity; and

a client configured to;

receive the indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity,

access co-user online identifiers that are associated with a second online identity and that are included by the second online identity in a co-user list that reveals to the second online identity an online availability of co-user online identities corresponding to the co-user online identifiers within the co-user list,

determine that the identifier corresponding to the publishing online identity is included among the co-user online identifiers included in the co-user list,

access publication preference information associated with the publishing online identity,

based on the publication preference information, determine whether the publishing online identity desires to make the recent content publication activity accessible to at least one other online identity,

access co-user list preference information associated with the second online identity,

based on the preference information, determine whether the second online identity desires to receive an indication of recent content publication activity, and

render a representation of the type in association with the identifier in the co-user list to indicate to the second online identity that the publishing online identity has engaged in the recent content publication activity.

2. A method for indicating recent content publication activity by a publishing online identity, the method comprising:

receiving, at a client, an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity, wherein an identifier is provided to identify the publishing online identity;

receiving information that enables the client to display a representation of a type associated with the recent content publication activity; and

displaying the representation of the type in association with the identifier to indicate that the publishing online identity has engaged in the recent content publication activity.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving information that enables the client to display a representation of a type associated with the recent content publication activity includes receiving the representation of the type associated with the recent content publication activity.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving information that enables the client to display a representation of a type associated with the recent content publication activity includes:

receiving information that indicates the type associated with the recent content publication activity; and

selecting a representation of the type for display.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving information that enables the client to display a representation of a type associated with the recent content publication activity includes:

receiving information that describes the recent content publication activity;

determining a type associated with the recent content publication activity based on the received information; and

selecting a representation of the type for display.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

accessing co-user online identifiers that are associated with a second online identity and that are included by the second online identity in a co-user list that reveals to the second online identity an online availability of co-user online identities corresponding to the co-user online identifiers within the co-user list;

determining that the publishing online identity is included among the co-user identifiers;

accessing publication preference information associated with the publishing online identity;

based on the publication preference information, determining whether the publishing online identity desires to share the recent content publication activity;

accessing co-user list preference information associated with the second online identity;

based on the preference information, determining whether the second online identity desires to receive an indication of recent content publication activity;

rendering the representation of the type in association with the identifier based on the determinations.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein determining that the publishing online identity desires to share the recent content publication activity includes determining that the publication preference information includes an indication that the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity with the second online identity.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein determining that the publication preference information includes an indication that the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity with the second online identity includes determining that the publication preference information includes an indication that the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity with a particular class of online identities to which the second online identity belongs.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the particular class includes online identities other than the second online identity that are identified in a selection by the publishing online identity.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the particular class includes particular online identities identified in a selection by the publishing online identity.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein determining that the publishing online identity desires to share the recent content publication activity includes determining that the publication preference information includes an indication that the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity having a type that is the same as the identified type, or based on content associated with the recent content publication activity.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein rendering a representation of the type in association with the identifier includes rendering the representation of the type in association with the identifier in a co-user list.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein rendering a representation of the type in association with the identifier includes rendering the representation of the type in a profile associated with the co-user.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein rendering a representation of the type in association with the identifier includes rendering a representation of the type in association with the identifier in a co-user information ticker.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising rendering only representations of types of recent content publication activity and associated identifiers in the co-user information ticker.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising rendering less than a threshold amount of information in the co-user information ticker, wherein the threshold amount of information is related to at least one of a number of co-users about which recent content publication activity information is provided, an amount of recent content publication activity information provided for a particular co-user, and a total amount of information related to recent content publication activity rendered during a particular time period.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes receiving an indication that the publishing online identity engaged in activity directed to an intermediary for access by other online identities.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of at least one of a digital asset, a communication tool, and a community-related asset.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a digital asset that includes an electronic file stored in an electronic data store and associated with the publishing online identity.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a communication tool that includes an electronic implement used by the publishing online identity to communicate with other online identities and engage in social networking, wherein social networking occurs if the publishing online identity communicates with other online identities, views digital assets associated with other online identities, or shares digital assets with other online identities.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a community-related asset that includes content shared among the publishing online identity and other online identities.

22. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has performed an addition, deletion, or change to a digital asset, a communication tool, or a community-related asset.

23. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of, or an update to, a third party service provider account owned by the publishing online identity.

24. The method of claim 2 wherein determining a type associated with the recent content publication activity includes receiving an indication of a type associated with the recent content publication activity from a remote server.

25. The method of claim 2 wherein determining a type associated with the recent content publication activity includes:

accessing recent content publication activity type information;

comparing the recent content publication activity with the accessed information; and

based on the comparison, identifying a type associated with the recent content publication activity.

26. The method of claim 2 wherein the type associated with the recent content publication activity includes creation of at least one of a user profile, an online journal, a blog, a playlist, a photograph album, and an account associated with a third party service provider.

27. The method of claim 2 wherein the type associated with the recent content publication activity includes an update to at least one of a user profile, an online journal entry, a blog entry, a playlist, a photograph album, and an account associated with a third party service provider.

28. The method of claim 2 wherein rendering a representation of the type includes rendering at least one of an image, an animation, a sound, a pop-up, text, scrolling text, and a scrolling image.

29. The method of claim 2 further comprising selectively enabling other online identities to view the recent content publication activity by manipulating the representation.

30. The method of claim 2 further comprising enabling other online identities to search for recent content publication activity associated with the publishing online identity by providing at least one of a desired type of recent content publication activity, an identifier associated with recent content publication activity, and a keyword associated with the recent content publication activity.

31. The method of claim 2 further comprising enabling other online identities to sort indications of recent content publication activity based on at least one of a type of recent content publication activity, an identifier associated with the recent content publication activity, and a keyword associated with the recent content publication activity.

32. The method of claim 2 further comprising rendering an indication of the recent content publication activity by the publishing online identity within at least one of a co-user list, a user profile associated with the publishing online identity, a pop-up window that is rendered when the identifier associated with the publishing online identity is selected from within a co-user list, and a co-user information ticker.

33. The method of claim 2 further comprising rendering an indication of the recent content publication activity by the publishing online identity in association with indications of recent content publication activity by other publishing online identities.

34. A method for indicating recent content publication activity by a publishing online identity, the method comprising:

determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity, wherein an identifier is provided to identify the publishing online identity;

determining a type associated with the recent content publication activity; and

providing information to a client that enables the client to display a representation of the type in association with the identifier in order to indicate that the publishing online identity has engaged in the recent content publication activity.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein providing information that enables the client to display a representation of the type in association with the identifier includes providing the representation of the type associated with the recent content publication activity to the client.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein providing information that enables the client to display a representation of the type in association with the identifier includes:

providing information that indicates the type associated with the recent content publication activity; and

enabling the client to select a representation of the type for display.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein providing information that enables a client to display a representation of the type in association with the identifier includes:

providing information that describes the recent content publication activity;

enabling the client to determine a type associated with the recent content publication activity based on the received information; and

enabling the client to select a representation of the type for display.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity in connection with a third party service account from a third party service provider associated with the account.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

monitoring at least one of digital assets, communication tools, and community-related assets associated with the publishing online identity;

detecting that the publishing online identity has created, or updated, at least one of the monitored digital assets, communication tools, or community-related assets; and

based on the detecting, determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity.

41. The method of claim 34 wherein determining a type associated with the recent content publication activity includes receiving an indication of a type associated with the recent content publication activity in association with determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity.

42. The method of claim 34 wherein determining a type associated with the recent content publication activity includes:

accessing recent content publication activity type information;

comparing the recent content publication activity with the accessed information; and

based on the comparison, identifying a type associated with the recent content publication activity.

43. The method of claim 34 wherein determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in activity directed to an intermediary for access by other online identities.

44. The method of claim 34 wherein determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of at least one of a digital asset, a communication tool, and a community-related asset.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a digital asset that includes an electronic file stored in an electronic data store and associated with the publishing online identity.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a communication tool that includes an electronic implement used by the publishing online identity to communicate with other online identities and engage in social networking, wherein social networking occurs if the publishing online identity communicates with other online identities, views digital assets associated with other online identities, or shares digital assets with other online identities.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a community-related asset that includes content shared among the publishing online identity and other online identities.

48. The method of claim 34 wherein determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity that includes an addition, deletion, or change to a digital asset, a communication tool, or a community-related asset.

49. The method of claim 34 wherein determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity that includes creation of, or an update to, a third party service provider account owned by the publishing online identity.

50. The method of claim 34 wherein determining a type associated with the recent content publication activity includes determining a classification for the recent content publication activity.

51. The method of claim 34 wherein determining a type associated with the recent content publication activity includes determining a characterization for the recent content publication activity.

52. A method for indicating recent content publication activity by a publishing online identity, the method comprising:

determining that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity;

determining a type of recent content publication activity associated with the recent content publication activity;

generating an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity, the indication including an identifier corresponding to the publishing online identity and information that enables display of the type of recent content publication activity engaged in by the publishing online identity;

accessing co-user online identifiers that are associated with a second online identity and that are included by the second online identity in a co-user list that reveals to the second online identity an online availability of co-user online identities corresponding to the co-user online identifiers within the co-user list;

determining that the identifier corresponding to the publishing online identity is included among the co-user online identifiers included in the co-user list;

accessing publication preference information associated with the publishing online identity;

based on the publication preference information, determining whether the publishing online identity desires to make the recent content publication activity accessible to at least one other online identity;

accessing co-user list preference information associated with the second online identity;

based on the preference information, determining whether the second online identity desires to receive an indication of recent content publication activity; and

rendering a representation of the type in association with the identifier in the co-user list to indicate to the second online identity that the publishing online identity has engaged in the recent content publication activity.