Implicit group formation around feed content for mobile devices

• US 8,620,385 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2012
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Counts, Scott J., Farnham, Shelly D., Schwartz, Jordan L K
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US13/543,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20120276883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 455417-420, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/566, 709204-207
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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. A user interface that integrates an external feed with a user-generated communication on a display of a first mobile device, the user interface comprising:

a first portion that displays the user-generated communication including a communication received from a second mobile device, wherein the first mobile device and the second mobile device belong to a group of mobile devices to which the communication is directed; and

a second portion that displays a plurality of external feeds received from one or more external-feed sources not running on any of the mobile devices included in the group of mobile devices, wherein the plurality of external feeds and the user-generated communication are displayed in line.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the user-generated communication includes a text message.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the user-generated communication includes media.

4. The user interface of claim 3, wherein the media includes video media.

5. The user interface of claim 3, wherein the media includes image media.

6. The user interface of claim 1 further comprising, a feed search control that searches for external feeds to be syndicated to the group, wherein the feed search control searches using search terms entered by a user.

7. A method of integrating an external feed with a user-generated communication on a display of a first mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving by a first mobile device a user-generated communication that is received from a second mobile device, wherein the first mobile device and the second mobile device belong to a group of mobile devices to which the user-generated communication is directed;

displaying by the first mobile device the user-generated communication on a group content page displaying content associated with the group of mobile devices;

receiving by the first mobile device a plurality of external feeds that are directed to the group of mobile devices and that are received from one or more external-feed sources, which are running on a computing device not included in the group of mobile devices; and

transforming the group content page to display the plurality of external feeds in line with the user-generated communication.

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

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the user-generated communication includes media.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the media includes video media.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the media includes image media.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising, executing a feed search control that searches for external feeds to be syndicated to the group, wherein the feed search control searches using search terms entered by a user.

13. A computer readable memory device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, perform a method of integrating an external feed with a user-generated communication on a display of a first mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving by a first mobile device a user-generated communication that is received from a second mobile device, wherein the first mobile device and the second mobile device belong to a group of mobile devices to which the user-generated communication is directed;

displaying by the first mobile device the user-generated communication on a group content page displaying content associated with the group of mobile devices;

receiving by the first mobile device a plurality of external feeds that are directed to the group of mobile devices and that are received from one or more external-feed sources subscribed to by a mobile device included in the group of mobile devices; and

transforming the group content page to display the plurality of external feeds in line with the user-generated communication.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the user-generated communication includes a text message.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the user-generated communication includes media.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the media includes video media.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the media includes image media.

18. The device of claim 13 further comprising, executing a feed search control that searches for external feeds to be syndicated to the group, wherein the feed search control searches using search terms entered by a user.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the external-feed content is a blog-entry update.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the external-feed content is a Real Simple Syndication (RSS) feed.