Computer Implemented Methods And Apparatus For Informing A User Of Social Network Data When The Data Is Relevant To The User

• US 20130091217A1
• Filed: 09/05/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Schneider, Elena
• Granted Patent: US 9,727,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Disclosed are examples of apparatus, methods, and computer readable storage media for informing one or more users of social network data such as group data when the data is relevant to the user(s). For example, when one or more keywords are identified as being associated with both a group of an online social network and the user, a communication with information identifying the group data can be generated and provided to a display device accessible by the user. In another example, social network data is associated with an entity of the online social network, and the entity is not being followed by the user. Social network data identified as related to one or more keywords can be provided to a display device in a suitable presentation accessible by the user.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for informing a user of group data of an online social network when the group data is relevant to the user, the method comprising:

identifying, at a computing device, one or more of a plurality of keywords as being associated with both a group of the online social network and the user of the online social network;

generating a communication with information identifying the group data; and

providing the communication to a display device accessible by the user.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the communication includes content indicating the identification of the one or more keywords as being associated with both the group and the user.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more keywords are stored in one or more storage mediums in association with the group and in association with a profile of the user.

4. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second communication at the computing device from the user, the second communication requesting that the user receive information updates associated with the group.

5. The method recited in claim 4, further comprising:

determining that the user is to receive the information updates associated with the group; and

providing one or more of the information updates associated with the group for inclusion in an information feed accessible by the user.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the group is associated with an organization, and wherein the organization is one of a plurality of tenants in a multi-tenant database environment.

7. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a number of instances that the one or more keywords is included in an information feed associated with the group;

generating a second communication when the number of instances is greater than or equal to a specified number; and

providing the second communication to one or more display devices.

8. A computer implemented method for informing a first user of data of an online social network when the data is relevant to the first user, the method comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, social network data, the social network data capable of being stored on a storage medium, the social network data being associated with an entity of the online social network not being followed by the first user;

identifying the social network data as being related to one or more of a plurality of keywords; and

providing the social network data to a display device in a presentation accessible by the first user.

9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the entity includes one or more of:

a group, a second user, and a record.

10. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the social network data is associated with one or more of:

a group, a user profile, and a record.

11. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more keywords is stored in a database in association with one or more of:

a group, a profile of the first user, a job description of the first user, a profile of a second user, and a record.

12. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the social network data includes an information update capable of being included in a feed.

13. The method recited in claim 8, further comprising:

generating a communication with information identifying the social network data; and

sending the communication to a computing device associated with the first user.

14. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the keywords represent respective topics.

15. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the social network data is one of:

a record update, a post, a comment, an indications of a user'"'"'s personal preference, a status update, an uploaded file, and a hyperlink.

16. A computer implemented method for informing a user of group data of an online social network when the group data is relevant to the user, the method comprising:

associating, at one or more computing devices, one or more group keywords with a group of the online social network, the one or more group keywords being stored on a storage medium;

associating one or more user keywords with a profile of the user;

determining that the one or more group keywords includes the one or more user keywords; and

providing a communication including an identification of the group data to a display device for display to the user when it is determined that the one or more group keywords includes the one or more user keywords.

17. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a second communication at the one or more computing devices, the second communication including a new keyword; and

storing the new keyword in association with the one or more user keywords on a storage medium.

18. The method recited in claim 16 further comprising:

receiving a second communication at the one or more computing devices, the second communication including the one or more user keywords.

19. One or more computing devices for informing a user of group data of an online social network when the group data is relevant to the user, the one or more computing devices comprising:

one or more processors operable to execute one or more instructions to;

identify, at a computing device, one or more of a plurality of keywords as being associated with both a group of the online social network and the user of the online social network;

generate a communication with information identifying the group data; and

provide the communication to a display device accessible by the user.

20. The one or more computing devices of claim 19, wherein the keywords are stored in a database in association with one or more of:

a group, a profile of the user, a job description of the user, a profile of a second user, and a record.

21. The one or more computing devices of claim 19, the one or more processors operable to execute one or more instructions to:

determine a number of instances that the one or more keywords is included in an information feed associated with the group;

generate a second communication when the number of instances is greater than or equal to a specified number; and

provide the second communication to one or more display devices.

22. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a computing device to perform a method for informing a user of group data of an online social network when the group data is relevant to the user, the method comprising:

identifying, at a computing device, one or more of a plurality of keywords as being associated with both a group of the online social network and the user of the online social network;

generating a communication with information identifying the group data; and

providing the communication to a display device accessible by the user.

23. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the keywords are stored in a database in association with one or more of:

a group, a profile of the user, a job description of the user, a profile of a second user, and a record.

24. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, the method further comprising:

determining a number of instances that the one or more keywords is included in an information feed associated with the group;

generating a second communication when the number of instances is greater than or equal to a specified number; and

providing the second communication to one or more display devices.