SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING CONTEXT SENSITIVE USER

• US 20100088607A1
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pinterest, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dumpeti, Vishweshwar Rao, Lyden, Sean, Figueroa, Maria Isabel, Gamboa, Santiago, Moeller, Christopher Patrick, Domenech, Enrique R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,601,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/739
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A system and method for resolving topically relevant contacts for a user is provided. One example embodiment provides for a method including acts of presenting, within a web page, a communication list with content that is presented to various user based at least in part on the users being associated with another user and the topical content of the web page. Another example embodiment provides or a system that serves web pages including a communication list with content that is presented to various users based at least in part on the user to user and user to topic associations.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating communication among users of a website, the website including pages pertaining to a plurality of topics, the method comprising:

presenting a first page to a first user of the website, the first page pertaining to a first topic of the plurality of topics;

receiving a first communication from the first user;

determining at least one second user based at least in part on the first topic; and

presenting the first communication to the at least one second user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein presenting the first communication includes presenting a list of communications to the first user and the at least one second user.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein presenting the first communication includes presenting a list of communications that is operable to establish an interactive communication session between the first user and the at least one second user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining at the least one second user includes determining at least one second user based at least in part on the expertise of the first user within the first topic.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein presenting the first communication includes presenting a list of communications that is operable to post information on the list of communications, the posted information being viewable by the first user and the at least one second user.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein presenting the list of communications that is operable to post information on the list of communications includes presenting a list of communications that is operable to post information included on the first page.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving an association between the first user and the at least one second user from the first user.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving an association between the at least one second user and the first topic from the at least one second user.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining an association between the first user and the at least one second user based at least in part on the first user'"'"'s website usage and the at least one second user'"'"'s website usage.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining an association between the at least one second user and the first topic of the plurality of topics based at least in part on the at least one second user'"'"'s website usage.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a second page to the first user of the website, the second page pertaining to a second topic of the plurality of topics;

receiving a second communication from the first user;

determining at least one third user based at least in part on the second topic; and

presenting the second communication to the at least one third user.

12. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, as a result of being executed by a controller, instruct the controller to perform a method comprising:

presenting a first page to a first user of the website, the first page pertaining to a first topic of the plurality of topics;

receiving a first communication from the first user;

determining at least one second user based at least in part on the first topic; and

presenting the first communication to the at least one second user.

13. A web server for facilitating communication among users of a website, the web server comprising:

a network interface; and

a controller coupled to the network interface and configured to serve, to a first user via the network interface, a plurality of pages including;

a first page pertaining to a first topic, the first page comprising a first list of communications including at least one communication from at least one second user, the at least one second user associated with the first user and associated with the first topic; and

a second page pertaining to a second topic, the second page comprising a second list of communications including at least one communication from at least one third user, the at least one third user associated with the first user and associated with the second topic.

14. The web server according to claim 13, wherein the first list of communications is operable to establish an interactive communication session between the first user and the at least one second user.

15. The web server according to claim 13, wherein the first list of communications is operable to initiate an email between the first user and the at least one second user.

16. The web server according to claim 13, wherein the first list of communications is operable to post information on the list of communications, the posted information being viewable by the first user and the at least one second user.

17. The web server according to claim 13, wherein the first list of communications is operable to post information included on the website.

18. The web server according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to receive, from the first user via the network interface, an association between the first user and the at least one second user.

19. The web server according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to receive, from the at least one second user, an association between the at least one second user and the first topic.

20. The web server according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to determining an association between the first user and the at least one second user based at least in part on the first user'"'"'s website usage and the at least one second user'"'"'s website usage.

21. The web server according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an association between the at least one second user and the first topic based at least in part on the at least one second user'"'"'s website usage.

22. The web server according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to receive, from the first user, a request to include the first list in a third web page and to serve the first list as part of the third web page.