Real-Time Notifications and Sharing of Photos

• US 20140059139A1
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Freund, Martin Brandt, Filev, Momchil Dimitrov
• Granted Patent: US 9,230,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A system and method for sending a notification to a user in a social network is disclosed. A controller receives a first photo from a first user. The first user is associated with a social network. A identification module determines a first location of the first photo. The identification module determines a second location of a second user. The second user has a connection with the first user in the social network. The identification module determines that the first location matches the second location. A notification module sends a first notification to the second user. The first notification identifies the first photo. The controller receives a second photo taken at the second location. A determining engine determines to share the second photo with the first user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first photo from a first user, the first user being associated with a social network;

determining, with one or more computing devices, a first location of the first photo;

determining a second location of a second user, the second user having a connection with the first user in the social network;

determining that the first location matches the second location;

sending a first notification to the second user, the first notification identifying the first photo;

receiving a second photo taken at the second location; and

sharing the second photo with the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether to share the second photo with the first user based on an affinity score between the first user and the second user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether to share the second photo with the first user based on a threshold amount of interactions between the first user and the second user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a first category to the first photo;

receiving a second category from the second user; and

filtering the first photo based on whether the first category matches the second category, wherein sending the first notification to the second user is responsive to the first category matching the second category.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a first category to the first photo; and

generating graphical data for displaying a heat map associated with the first category that includes an indicator to signify that the first photo is related to the first category.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first location comprises extracting metadata from the first photo.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first location comprises receiving a user input from the first user about the first location.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a second notification to the first user; and

receiving a reaction from the first user responsive to receiving the second notification.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a second notification to a group associated with the first user in the social network, the second notification identifying the second photo.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining timestamps associated with the first photo and the second photo and wherein the second notification includes an indication of a time that elapsed between taking the first photo and the second photo.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the second notification to the first user further comprises at least one of putting the second notification in a stream of the social network and displaying a direct message in a notification box.

12. A system comprising:

one or more processors, the processors being configured to;

receive a first photo from a first user, the first user being associated with a social network;

determine a first location of the first photo;

determine a second location of a second user, the second user having a connection with the first user in the social network;

determine that the first location matches the second location;

send a first notification to the second user, the first notification identifying the first photo;

receive a second photo taken at the second location; and

share the second photo with the first user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether to share the second photo with the first user based on an affinity score between the first user and the second user.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether to share the second photo with the first user based on a threshold amount of interactions between the first user and the second user.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

apply a first category to the first photo;

receive a second category from the second user; and

filter the first photo based on whether the first category matches the second category, wherein sending the first notification to the second user is responsive to the first category matching the second category.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

apply a first category to the first photo; and

generate graphical data for displaying a heat map associated with the first category that includes an indicator to signify that the first photo is related to the first category.

17. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive a first photo from a first user, the first user being associated with a social network;

determine a first location of the first photo;

determine a second location of a second user, the second user having a connection with the first user in the social network;

determine that the first location matches the second location;

send a first notification to the second user, the first notification identifying the first photo;

receive a second photo taken at the second location; and

share the second photo with the first user.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer readable program when executed on the computer further causes the computer to determine whether to share the second photo with the first user based on an affinity score between the first user and the second user.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer readable program when executed on the computer further causes the computer to determine whether to share the second photo with the first user based on a threshold amount of interactions between the first user and the second user.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer readable program when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:

send a second notification to the first user; and

receive a reaction from the first user responsive to receiving the second notification.