REAL TIME SHARING OF USER UPDATES

• US 20110239131A1
• Filed: 06/08/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dov Koren
• Original Assignee: Dov Koren
• Inventors: Koren, Dov
• Granted Patent: US 8,984,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

Techniques for sharing user updates in real time are disclosed. A user can type in a text view related to a specific view and that text can be shared with other users that take part in sharing of that view. Other users can specify interest in user application events and be automatically alerted to the occurrence of the events. A user can effectively share content with a group of users in one action by using sharing controls associated with the content. Sharing controls can be implemented as links or voice activated commands.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising steps of:

providing a computer-based service over a network to a set of users;

receiving, by the computer-based service, from each user from a plurality of second users, a specification of interest in being notified about interactions of a first user;

wherein the first user and the plurality of second users belong to the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to receiving first text that was input by the first user, the computer-based service performs steps of;

sending a first alert, in real-time, to each user from the plurality of second users, about input of the first text; and

adding the first text to first content that is maintained by the computer-based service;

selecting, by the computer-based service, to whom to send the first alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest; and

wherein the first alert includes the first text and a link that provides access to the first content.

2. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein:

sending the first alert to each of the plurality of second users includes causing, at least a portion of the first text to be displayed, in a respective application display, of each of the plurality of second users;

the method further comprises, prior to sending the first alert to a particular second user of the plurality of second users, the computer-based service sending another alert to the particular second user to cause display of the other alert in the respective application display of the particular second user;

the other alert includes at least a portion of second text that was input by another user, from the set of users;

the particular second user is a different user than the first user;

the other user is a different user than the first user and the particular second user; and

the other alert was sent to the particular second user based on receiving a specification of interest, from the particular second user, in being notified, about interactions of the other user.

3. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 2 wherein the method further comprises:

the computer-based service receiving from the particular second user a request to share the first alert with other users from the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to the request, causing sharing of the first alert with a plurality of third users from the set of users;

wherein the plurality of second users is different from the plurality of third users;

wherein the first alert is shared with the plurality of third users without having received, from the particular second user, an indication with whom to share the first alert; and

based, at least in part, on the first alert being shared with the plurality of third users, causing at least a portion of the first text to be displayed to the plurality of third users.

4. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 3 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an indication in response to activation, by the particular second user, of a the sharing control that is associated with the first alert; and

sending the request in response, at least in part, to receiving the indication.

5. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4 wherein activation of the sharing control is performed by one action.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 3 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by the computer-based service, from each user from the plurality of third users, prior to the request, a specification of interest in being notified about interactions of the particular second user; and

selecting, by the computer-based service, with whom to share the first alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest in being notified about interactions of the particular second user.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 3 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by the computer-based service, prior to the request, a comment entered in relation to the first alert, from the particular second user; and

in response, at least in part, to the request, causing sharing of the comment and first alert with the plurality of third users.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 3 wherein the computer-based service receiving the request includes the computer-based service receiving the request, in response to the particular second user selecting a link.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 3 wherein the plurality of third users includes only those users with whom the particular second user has a history of sharing of at least one other alert.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 3 wherein the plurality of third users includes only those users with whom the particular second user had shared information prior to sharing the first alert.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises enabling only the first user to engage in a particular kind of interaction with the first content.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises causing display of the first alert in an application display, of a particular second user of the plurality of second users, that is generated by a locally installed client-based program that is not a web browser, wherein the locally installed client-based program is a program that is downloaded to a wireless PDA from an application storage that is remote relative to the wireless PDA, wherein the wireless PDA displays the application display of the particular second user, and wherein the application storage is maintained remote from said computer-based service.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein activation is performed by selecting a link.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein activation is performed by voice command.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the link is a URL.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the computer-based service receiving input, from the first user, that controls which users belong to the plurality of second users.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises enabling the first user to control whether the first alert can be further shared by any user from the plurality of second users with other users from the set of users.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein receiving the first text comprises receiving text that was input in a text entry interface that is related to the first content.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18 wherein the text entry interface is a text view.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the first content is an application display that is associated with the first user.

21. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the link points to the first content.

22. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 the method further comprises the computer-based service enabling the plurality of third users to access the respective application display of the particular second user.

23. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

in response, at least in part, to receiving a request from the first user to share a view that corresponds to at least a portion of a file, sending a second alert, in real-time, to each user from the plurality of second users, about sharing the view;

selecting, by the computer-based service, to whom to send the second alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest;

wherein the second alert is shared with the plurality of second users without having received, from the first user, an indication with whom to share the second alert; and

wherein the second alert includes a link that provides access to the at least a portion of the file.

24. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 23 wherein the method further comprises the computer-based service maintaining the file.

25. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 23 wherein the file comprises at least one table.

26. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 23 wherein:

sending the first alert to each of the plurality of second users includes causing, at least a portion of the first text to be displayed, in a respective application display, of each of the plurality of second users;

sending the second alert to each of the plurality of second users includes causing the link that provides access to the at least a portion of the file to be displayed, in the respective application display, of each of the plurality of second users;

the method further comprises, prior to sending the first alert and the second alert to a particular second user of the plurality of second users, the computer-based service sending another alert to the particular second user to cause display of the other alert in the respective application display of the particular second user;

the other alert includes at least a portion of second text that was input by another user, from the set of users;

the particular second user is a different user than the first user;

the other user is a different user than the first user and the particular second user; and

the other alert was sent to the particular second user based on receiving a specification of interest, from the particular second user, in being notified, about interactions of the other user.

27. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising steps of:

providing a computer-based service over a network to a set of users;

receiving, from each user from a plurality of second users, a specification of interest in being notified about interactions of a first user with the computer-based service;

wherein the first user and the plurality of second users belong to the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to receiving first text that was input by the first user, the computer-based service performs steps of;

sending a first alert, in real-time, to each user from the plurality of second users, about input of the first text; and

adding the first text to first content that is maintained by the computer-based service;

selecting, by the computer-based service, to whom to send the first alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest;

wherein the first alert includes the first text and a link that provides access to the first content;

sending the first alert to each of the plurality of second users includes causing, at least a portion of the first text to be displayed, in a respective application display, of each of the plurality of second users;

prior to sending the first alert to a particular second user of the plurality of second users, the computer-based service sending another alert to the particular second user to cause display of the other alert in the respective application display of the particular second user;

the other alert includes at least a portion of second text that was input by another user, from the set of users;

the particular second user is a different user than the first user;

the other user is a different user than the first user and the particular second user; and

the other alert was sent to the particular second user based on specification of interest, by the particular second user, in being notified, about interactions of the other user with the computer-based service;

wherein receiving the first text comprises receiving text that was input in a text entry interface that is related to the first content; and

wherein the link is a URL.

28. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 27 wherein causing display of the at least a portion of the first text includes causing display of the at least a portion of the first text in the respective application display, of the particular second user, that is generated by a locally installed client-based program that is not a web browser, wherein the locally installed client-based program is a program that is downloaded to a wireless PDA from an application storage that is remote relative to the wireless PDA, wherein the wireless PDA displays the application display of the particular second user, and wherein the application storage is maintained remote from said computer-based service.

29. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 27 wherein the method further comprises:

the computer-based service receiving from the particular second user a request to share the first alert with other users from the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to the request, causing sharing of the first alert with a plurality of third users from the set of users;

wherein the plurality of second users is different from the plurality of third users;

wherein the first alert is shared with the plurality of third users without having received, from the particular second user, an indication with whom to share the first alert;

based, at least in part, on the first alert being shared with the plurality of third users, causing at least a portion of the first text to be displayed to the plurality of third users.

30. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 29 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an indication in response to activation, by the particular second user, of a the sharing control that is associated with the first alert;

sending the request in response, at least in part, to receiving the indication; and

wherein activation of the sharing control is performed by one action.

31. A method of sharing in real-time interactions of users with a computer-based service, comprising:

providing the computer-based service over a network to a set of users;

receiving, by the computer-based service, from each user from a plurality of second users, a specification of interest in being notified about interactions of a first user;

wherein the first user and the plurality of second users belong to the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to receiving first text that was input by the first user, the computer-based service performs steps of;

sending a first alert, in real-time, to each user from the plurality of second users, about input of the first text; and

adding the first text to first content that is maintained by the computer-based service;

selecting, by the computer-based service, to whom to send the first alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest; and

wherein the first alert includes the first text and a link that provides access to the first content.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein:

sending the first alert to each of the plurality of second users includes causing, at least a portion of the first text to be displayed, in a respective application display, of each of the plurality of second users;

the method further comprises, prior to sending the first alert to a particular second user of the plurality of second users, the computer-based service sending another alert to the particular second user to cause display of the other alert in the respective application display of the particular second user;

the other alert includes at least a portion of second text that was input by another user, from the set of users;

the particular second user is a different user than the first user;

the other user is a different user than the first user and the particular second user; and

the other alert was sent to the particular second user based on receiving a specification of interest, from the particular second user, in being notified, about interactions of the other user.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

the computer-based service receiving from the particular second user a request to share the first alert with other users from the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to the request, causing sharing of the first alert with a plurality of third users from the set of users;

wherein the plurality of second users is different from the plurality of third users;

wherein the first alert is shared with the plurality of third users without having received, from the particular second user, an indication with whom to share the first alert; and

based, at least in part, on the first alert being shared with the plurality of third users, causing at least a portion of the first text to be displayed to the plurality of third users.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

receiving an indication in response to activation, by the particular second user, of a the sharing control that is associated with the first alert; and

sending the request in response, at least in part, to receiving the indication.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein activation of the sharing control is performed by one action.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

receiving, by the computer-based service, from each user from the plurality of third users, prior to the request, a specification of interest in being notified about interactions of the particular second user; and

selecting, by the computer-based service, with whom to share the first alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest in being notified about interactions of the particular second user.

37. The method of claim 31 further comprising the computer-based service receiving input, from the first user, that controls which users belong to the plurality of second users.

38. The method of claim 31 further comprising enabling the first user to control whether the first alert can be further shared by any user from the plurality of second users with other users from the set of users.

39. The method of claim 31 wherein receiving the first text comprises receiving text that was input in a text entry interface that is related to the first content.

40. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

in response, at least in part, to receiving a request from the first user to share a view that corresponds to at least a portion of a file, sending a second alert, in real-time, to each user from the plurality of second users, about sharing the view;

selecting, by the computer-based service, to whom to send the second alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest;

wherein the second alert is shared with the plurality of second users without having received, from the first user, an indication with whom to share the second alert; and

wherein the second alert includes a link that provides access to the at least a portion of the file.

41. A method of sharing in real-time interactions of users with a computer-based service, comprising:

providing the computer-based service over a network to a set of users;

receiving, from each user from a plurality of second users, a specification of interest in being notified about interactions of a first user with the computer-based service;

wherein the first user and the plurality of second users belong to the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to receiving first text that was input by the first user, the computer-based service performs steps of;

sending a first alert, in real-time, to each user from the plurality of second users, about input of the first text; and

adding the first text to first content that is maintained by the computer-based service;

selecting, by the computer-based service, to whom to send the first alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest;

wherein the first alert includes the first text and a link that provides access to the first content;

sending the first alert to each of the plurality of second users includes causing, at least a portion of the first text to be displayed, in a respective application display, of each of the plurality of second users;

the method further comprises, prior to sending the first alert to a particular second user of the plurality of second users, the computer-based service sending another alert to the particular second user to cause display of the other alert in the respective application display of the particular second user;

the other alert includes at least a portion of second text that was input by another user, from the set of users;

the particular second user is a different user than the first user;

the other user is a different user than the first user and the particular second user; and

the other alert was sent to the particular second user based on receiving a specification of interest, from the particular second user, in being notified, about interactions of the other user;

wherein receiving the first text comprises receiving text that was input in a text entry interface that is related to the first content; and

wherein the link is a URL.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising:

the computer-based service receiving from the particular second user a request to share the first alert with other users from the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to the request, causing sharing of the first alert with a plurality of third users from the set of users;

wherein the plurality of second users is different from the plurality of third users;

wherein the first alert is shared with the plurality of third users without having received, from the particular second user, an indication with whom to share the first alert; and

based, at least in part, on the first alert being shared with the plurality of third users, causing at least a portion of the first text to be displayed to the plurality of third users.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

receiving an indication in response to activation, by the particular second user, of a the sharing control that is associated with the first alert;

sending the request in response, at least in part, to receiving the indication; and

wherein activation of the sharing control is performed by one action.

44. A system, comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions that cause the system to perform a method comprising steps of:

providing the computer-based service over a network to a set of users;

receiving, by the computer-based service, from each user from a plurality of second users, a specification of interest in being notified about interactions of a first user;

wherein the first user and the plurality of second users belong to the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to receiving first text that was input by the first user, the computer-based service performs steps of;

sending a first alert, in real-time, to each user from the plurality of second users, about input of the first text; and

adding the first text to first content that is maintained by the computer-based service;

selecting, by the computer-based service, to whom to send the first alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest; and

wherein the first alert includes the first text and a link that provides access to the first content.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein:

sending the first alert to each of the plurality of second users includes causing, at least a portion of the first text to be displayed, in a respective application display, of each of the plurality of second users;

the method further comprises, prior to sending the first alert to a particular second user of the plurality of second users, the computer-based service sending another alert to the particular second user to cause display of the other alert in the respective application display of the particular second user;

the other alert includes at least a portion of second text that was input by another user, from the set of users;

the particular second user is a different user than the first user;

the other user is a different user than the first user and the particular second user; and

the other alert was sent to the particular second user based on receiving a specification of interest, from the particular second user, in being notified, about interactions of the other user.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the method further comprises:

the computer-based service receiving from the particular second user a request to share the first alert with other users from the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to the request, causing sharing of the first alert with a plurality of third users from the set of users;

wherein the plurality of second users is different from the plurality of third users;

wherein the first alert is shared with the plurality of third users without having received, from the particular second user, an indication with whom to share the first alert; and

based, at least in part, on the first alert being shared with the plurality of third users, causing at least a portion of the first text to be displayed to the plurality of third users.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an indication in response to activation, by the particular second user, of a the sharing control that is associated with the first alert; and

sending the request in response, at least in part, to receiving the indication.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein activation of the sharing control is performed by one action.

49. The system of claim 46 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by the computer-based service, from each user from the plurality of third users, prior to the request, a specification of interest in being notified about interactions of the particular second user; and

selecting, by the computer-based service, with whom to share the first alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest in being notified about interactions of the particular second user.

50. The system of claim 44 wherein the method further comprises the computer-based service receiving input, from the first user, that controls which users belong to the plurality of second users.

51. The system of claim 44 wherein the method further comprises enabling the first user to control whether the first alert can be further shared by any user from the plurality of second users with other users from the set of users.

52. The system of claim 44 wherein receiving the first text comprises receiving text that was input in a text entry interface that is related to the first content.

53. The system of claim 44 wherein the method further comprises causing display of the first alert in an application display, of a particular second user of the plurality of second users, that is generated by a locally installed client-based program that is not a web browser, wherein the locally installed client-based program is a program that is downloaded to a wireless PDA from an application storage that is remote relative to the wireless PDA, wherein the wireless PDA displays the application display of the particular second user, and wherein the application storage is maintained remote from said computer-based service.

54. The system of claim 44 wherein the method further comprises:

in response, at least in part, to receiving a request from the first user to share a view that corresponds to at least a portion of a file, sending a second alert, in real-time, to each user from the plurality of second users, about sharing the view;

selecting, by the computer-based service, to whom to send the second alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest;

wherein the second alert is shared with the plurality of second users without having received, from the first user, an indication with whom to share the second alert; and

wherein the second alert includes a link that provides access to the at least a portion of the file.

55. A system, comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions that cause the system to perform a method comprising steps of:

providing the computer-based service over a network to a set of users;

receiving, from each user from a plurality of second users, a specification of interest in being notified about interactions of a first user with the computer-based service;

wherein the first user and the plurality of second users belong to the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to receiving first text that was input by the first user, the computer-based service performs steps of;

sending a first alert, in real-time, to each user from the plurality of second users, about input of the first text; and

adding the first text to first content that is maintained by the computer-based service;

selecting, by the computer-based service, to whom to send the first alert based, at least in part, on the specification of interest;

wherein the first alert includes the first text and a link that provides access to the first content;

sending the first alert to each of the plurality of second users includes causing, at least a portion of the first text to be displayed, in a respective application display, of each of the plurality of second users;

prior to sending the first alert to a particular second user of the plurality of second users, the computer-based service sending another alert to the particular second user to cause display of the other alert in the respective application display of the particular second user;

wherein the other alert includes at least a portion of second text that was input by another user, from the set of users;

wherein the particular second user is a different user than the first user;

wherein the other user is a different user than the first user and the particular second user; and

wherein the other alert was sent to the particular second user based on receiving a specification of interest, from the particular second user, in being notified, about interactions of the other user;

wherein receiving the first text comprises receiving text that was input in a text entry interface that is related to the first content; and

wherein the link is a URL.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein the method further comprises:

the computer-based service receiving from the particular second user a request to share the first alert with other users from the set of users;

in response, at least in part, to the request, causing sharing of the first alert with a plurality of third users from the set of users;

wherein the plurality of second users is different from the plurality of third users;

wherein the first alert is shared with the plurality of third users without having received, from the particular second user, an indication with whom to share the first alert; and

based, at least in part, on the first alert being shared with the plurality of third users, causing at least a portion of the first text to be displayed to the plurality of third users.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an indication in response to activation, by the particular second user, of a the sharing control that is associated with the first alert;

sending the request in response, at least in part, to receiving the indication; and

wherein activation of the sharing control is performed by one action.

58. The system of claim 55 wherein the method further comprises causing display of the first alert in an application display, of a particular second user of the plurality of second users, that is generated by a locally installed client-based program that is not a web browser, wherein the locally installed client-based program is a program that is downloaded to a wireless PDA from an application storage that is remote relative to the wireless PDA, wherein the wireless PDA displays the application display of the particular second user, and wherein the application storage is maintained remote from said computer-based service.