Providing context for a social graph addition

• US 9,047,644 B1
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Terleski, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): DONAGHUE, LARRY D
• Application Number:
  US13/493,924
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 705/319, 706/45, 709/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

In one aspect, a method for providing context regarding an addition to a social graph is provided. The method initiates with processing a request from a first user to add a second user to a social graph of the first user. A context that identified the second user to the first user is identified, the context defined by an activity of the second user preceding the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user. A message is generated for the second user describing the processed request and containing information based on the context that identified the second user to the first user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a request from a first user to add a second user to a social graph of the first user;

identifying, by the processor, a context in which the first user initiates the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user, the context including an activity of the second user preceding the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user;

generating, by the processor, a message to be transmitted to the second user, the message including the request and information indicating the context in which the first user initiates the request; and

initiating, by the processor, transmission of the message to the second user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the context includes a location of the second user when the first user initiates the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the context defines an activity of the second user on a network-accessible property;

and

wherein the message identifies the network-accessible property or the activity of the second user on the network-accessible property.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the network-accessible property is an Internet website.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining activity of the first user from the network-accessible property to an event initiating the request to add the second user, the determined activity enabling the determination of the context.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the message includes associating the message with a social networking account of the second user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the context defines one or more of a comment posted by the second user, or a review posted by the second user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the context is defined by an activity of the first user preceding the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program instructions embodied thereon that when executed, cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request from a first user to add a second user to a social graph of the first user;

identifying a context in which the first user initiates the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user;

generating a message to be transmitted to the second user, the message including the request and information indicating the context in which the first user initiates the request; and

initiating transmission of the message to the second user.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the context includes a location of the second user when the first user initiates the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9,

wherein the context defines an activity of the second user on a network-accessible property;

and

wherein the message identifies the network-accessible property or the activity of the second user on the network-accessible property.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the network-accessible property is an Internet website.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising program instructions for determining activity of the first user from the network-accessible property to an event initiating the request to add the second user, the determined activity enabling the determination of the context.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein generating the message includes associating the message with a social networking account of the second user.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the context defines one or more of a comment posted by the second user, or a review posted by the second user.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the context is defined by an activity of the first user preceding the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user.

17. A system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, to;

receive a request from a first user to add a second user to a social graph of the first user;

identify a context in which the first user initiates the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user;

generate a message to be transmitted to the second user, the message including the request and information indicating the context in which the first user initiates the request; and

initiate transmission of the message to the second user.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the context includes a location of the second user when the first user initiates the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user.

19. The system of claim 17,

wherein the context defines an activity of the second user on a network-accessible property;

and

wherein the message identifies the network-accessible property or the activity of the second user on the network-accessible property.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the network-accessible property is an Internet website.

21. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a request from a first user to add a second user to a social graph of the first user;

identifying, by the processor, a context in which the first user initiates the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user, the context including an activity of the first user preceding the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user;

generating, by the processor, a message to be transmitted to the second user, the message including the request and information indicating the context in which the first user initiates the request; and

initiating, by the processor, transmission of the message to the second user.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the context includes a location of the first user when the first user initiates the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user.

23. The method of claim 21,

wherein the context defines an activity of the first user on a network-accessible property;

and

wherein the message identifies the network-accessible property or the activity of the first user on the network-accessible property.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the network-accessible property is an Internet website.