IMPLICIT GROUP FORMATION AROUND FEED CONTENT FOR MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20100137010A1
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: SCHWARTZ, JORDAN LK, FARNHAM, SHELLY D., COUNTS, SCOTT J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,219,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data

Abstract

A unique system and method that facilitates group-based mobile communication around external feed content is provided. The system and method involve adding external feed content to content generated within a group. Both types of content can be viewed on the mobile devices of the group. Updates to the feed content can be obtained and communicated to the group. When multiple feeds are subscribed to by a group, one or more group members can display such feed content in a selective manner. For example, splinter groups can be formed off of the original group for members who wish to receive a subset of feeds (feed content) to assist them in focusing on a topic of interest. Group members can also employ display filters to restrict feed content displayed on their mobile devices. Users can also search for available feeds and form new groups around such content or join an existing group.

Claims

1. Computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to perform a method of integrating an external feed with a user-generated communication, the method comprising:

transferring the external feed to a first mobile device that belongs to a group of mobile devices, wherein the external feed includes content that originates from a feed source that is external to the group of mobile devices;

determining if the first mobile device transmits the user-generated communication, which is in response to the external feed;

if the first mobile device does not transmit the user-generated communication, blocking transfer of the external feed to a second mobile device of the group of mobile devices; and

if the first mobile device transmits the user-generated communication, transferring the external feed to the second mobile device.

2. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein determining if the first mobile device transmits the user-generated communication, includes determining if the first mobile device transmits the user-generated communication within a prescribed duration of time.

3. The computer-readable media of claim 2, comprising:

if the first mobile device does not transmit the user-generated communication prior to expiration of the duration of time, blocking transfer of the feed content to a second mobile device of the group of mobile devices; and

if the first mobile device transmits the user-generated communication prior to expiration of the duration of time, transferring the feed content to the second mobile device.

4. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein a user-generated communication includes a comment.

5. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein if the first mobile device transmits the user-generated communication, the method further comprises transferring text of the user-generated communication together with the external feed.

6. A user interface that integrates an external feed with a user-generated communication, the user interface comprising:

a first portion that displays on a display of a first mobile device, which belongs to a group of mobile devices, the user-generated communication, which includes a communication received from a second mobile device that belongs to the group of mobile devices, wherein the user-generated communication is a communication that is generated by the second mobile device and that is sent to all mobile devices that belong to the group of mobile devices; and

a second portion that displays external-feed content received from an external-feed source, wherein the external-feed content and the user-generated communication are listed in an order to facilitate communication among the group of mobile devices that is related to the external-feed content.

7. The user interface of claim 6, wherein the user-generated communication includes a text message.

8. The user interface of claim 6, wherein the user-generated communication includes media.

9. The user interface of claim 8, wherein the media includes video media.

10. The user interface of claim 8, wherein the media includes image media.

11. The user interface of claim 6 further comprising, a feed search control that searches for external feeds to be included in the external-feed content, wherein the feed search control searches using search terms entered by a user.

12. A method, which is carried out using a server, a processor, and computer-readable media, of integrating an external feed with a user-generated communication, the method comprising:

transferring by the server the external feed to a first mobile device that belongs to a group of mobile devices, wherein the external feed originates from an external-feed source that is external to the group of mobile devices;

determining by the processor if the first mobile device transmits the user-generated communication, which is in response to the external feed, within a prescribed duration of time;

if the first mobile device does not transmit the user-generated communication prior to expiration of the duration of time, blocking transfer of the external feed to a second mobile device that belongs to the group of mobile devices; and

if the first mobile device transmits the user-generated communication prior to expiration of the duration of time, transferring by the server the external feed to the second mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising, monitoring the external-feed source to obtain updates to the external feed in real time and communicating any updates to the group of mobile devices.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising, communicating the updates to the group of mobile devices on a scheduled basis.

15. The method of claim 13 comprising, communicating the updates to the group of mobile devices on demand by a group member.