Sponsored-stories-unit creation from organic activity stream

• US 8,676,894 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schoen, Kent, Li, Ning, Jin, Robert Kang Xing, Zigoris, Philip Anastasios, Gronski, Jessica, Walke, Jordan, Giovanola, Eric Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN, FRANTZ B
• Application Number:
  US13/619,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20130014030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/203, 455/518, 455/3.01, 455/66.1
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first selection of an entity associated with a user of a social-networking system; receiving a second selection of a type of user interaction with the entity; and providing the first and second selections for use in a sponsored-story specification. The use of the first and second selections in the sponsored-story specification facilitate entries in an organic activity stream of the social-networking system that match the sponsored-story specification being provided for display in pre-determined areas of web pages.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a user of a social-networking system to define a sponsored story, the sponsored story for display to a viewing user and comprising information about an interaction performed by a second user connected to the viewing user in the social networking system;

receiving a first user selection of an entity;

receiving a second user selection of a type of user interaction with the entity;

by a computing device, storing the first and second user selections for use in a sponsored-story specification; and

by the computing device, generating a sponsored story using the sponsored-story specification, the sponsored story comprising one or more entries in an organic activity stream of the social-networking system with entities and interaction types that match the sponsored-story specification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction with the entity comprises a user liking the entity within the social-networking system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction with the entity comprises a user checking in on the social-networking system at a geo-location associated with the entity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction with the entity comprises a user commenting on the entity within the social-networking system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction with the entity comprises a user posting within the social-networking system a link to a web page with content associated with the entity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction with the entity comprises a user action performed on a third-party website hosted by a third-party system that is separate from the social-networking system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more entries in the organic activity stream of the social-networking system with entities and interaction types that match the sponsored-story specification are provided for display in one or more news feeds received by users of the social-networking system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a third user selection indicating areas where the entries in the organic activity stream of the social-networking system with entities and interaction types that match the sponsored-story specification are to be displayed in pre-determined areas of web pages.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a computing device of the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a computing device of the social-networking system.

11. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request from a user of a social-networking system to define a sponsored story, the sponsored story for display to a viewing user and comprising information about an interaction performed by a second user connected to the viewing user in the social networking system;

receiving a first user selection of an entity;

receiving a second user selection of a type of user interaction with the entity;

storing the first and second user selections for use in a sponsored-story specification; and

generating a sponsored story using the sponsored-story specification, the sponsored story comprising one or more entries in an organic activity stream of the social-networking system with entities and interaction types that match the sponsored-story specification.

12. The media of claim 11, wherein the user interaction with the entity comprises a user liking the entity within the social-networking system.

13. The media of claim 11, wherein the user interaction with the entity comprises a user checking in on the social-networking system at a geo-location associated with the entity.

14. The media of claim 11, wherein the user interaction with the entity comprises a user commenting on the entity within the social-networking system.

15. The media of claim 11, wherein the user interaction with the entity comprises a user posting within the social-networking system a link to a web page with content associated with the entity.

16. The media of claim 11, wherein the user interaction with the entity comprises a user action performed on a third-party website hosted by a third-party system that is separate from the social-networking system.

17. The media of claim 11, wherein the one or more entries in the organic activity stream of the social-networking system with entities and interaction types that match the sponsored-story specification are provided for display in one or more news feeds received by users of the social-networking system.

18. The media of claim 11, wherein the instructions are is further configured when executed for receiving a third user selection indicating areas where the entries in the organic activity stream of the social-networking system with entities and interaction types that match the sponsored-story specification are to be displayed in pre-determined areas of web pages.

19. The media of claim 11, wherein a computing device of the user comprises the media.

20. The media of claim 11, wherein a computing device of the social-networking system comprises the media.