Link swarming in an open overlay for social networks and online services

• US 20070282887A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Clark, Bryan, Fischer, Donald, Taylor, Owen, Walters, Colin, Penington, Havoc
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• 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 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and system for dynamically sharing multimedia content information. In particular, embodiments of the present invention provide a “live social context” in which users can share multimedia content information, such as a website, a stream, a music file, and the like. Upon finding multimedia content that a user would like to share with others, the user may select a “share” function, for example, by selecting a button on their browser that initiates a dialog window and permits the user to invite other users into a discussion. The invitations may then be sent to these users across different services. In addition, the invitation may include content, such as a text comment or file that the user has added. The recipient users receive a live notification of the invitation and may then participate in an online discussion with the user. Furthermore, other users may be provided a live notification that activity has been initiated or in-progress about the multimedia content. These users may then request to join in the online discussion.

Claims

1. A method of providing a live context of discussion in a social network, said method comprising:

receiving a request from a user to share a discussion with one or more recipient users in the social network;

determining a set of recipients for the request;

sharing a live context of feedback from the recipient users about the other users; and

synchronizing, in real time, information that indicates the feedback to the social network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request from the user comprises detecting when the user has selected a share function of a browser.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a set of recipients for the request comprises receiving one or more identifiers of recipient users from the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a set of recipients for the request comprises receiving one or more identifiers of recipient users from the user and content input from the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a set of recipients for the request comprises receiving one or more identifiers of recipient users from the user and a message from the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a set of recipients for the request comprises dynamically determining the set of recipients based on an activity level of the live context.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically determining the set of recipients based on an activity level of the live context comprises inviting additional recipients when the activity level of the live context reaches a threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein sharing the live context of feedback from the recipient users about the other users comprises providing a notification message to each of the recipients when feedback has been received.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing, in real time, information that indicates the feedback to the social network comprises providing a pop-up notification to users in the social network.

10. An apparatus comprising means that are configured to perform the method of claim 1.

11. A computer readable medium comprising executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

12. A method of providing a live context of discussion in a social network, said method comprising:

receiving a request from a user to share a discussion with one or more groups in the social network;

determining a set of recipient users in the groups for the request;

sharing a live context of feedback from the recipient users about the other users; and

synchronizing, in real time, information that indicates the feedback to the social network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the request from the user comprises detecting when the user has selected a share function of a browser.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein determining a set of recipients for the request comprises receiving one or more identifiers of groups from the user.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein determining a set of recipients for the request comprises receiving one or more identifiers of groups from the user and content input from the user.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein determining a set of recipients for the request comprises receiving one or more identifiers of recipient users from the user and a message from the user.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein determining a set of recipients for the request comprises dynamically determining the set of recipients based on an activity level of the live context.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein dynamically determining the set of recipients based on an activity level of the live context comprises inviting additional recipients when the activity level of the live context reaches a threshold.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein sharing the live context of feedback from the recipient users about the other users comprises providing a notification message to each of the recipients when feedback has been received.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein synchronizing, in real time, information that indicates the feedback to the social network comprises providing a pop-up notification to users in the social network.

21. An apparatus comprising means that are configured to perform the method of claim 12.

22. A computer readable medium comprising executable instructions for performing the method of claim 12.