Method and apparatus for augmented social networking messaging

• US 9,117,203 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Reilly, James Francis, Strandell, Toni Peter, Salomaa, Jyri P., Blom, Jan Otto, Aarnio, Ari Antero
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUOC H
• Application Number:
  US12/552,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20110055335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,184 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-206, 709/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

An approach is provided for augmented social networking messaging. A message is generated for posting to a social networking service. Address information is determined for a group of one or more devices associated with one or more users. At least one of the one or more users is a non-subscriber to the social networking service. The addressing information is used to send the message to the group. A reply to the message is received from one of the devices of the group. Posting of the reply to the social networking service is initiated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a message, which is initiated by a one user associated with a one device, for posting to a social networking service;

determining addressing information for a group of one or more devices associated with one or more respective device users, wherein the one or more respective device users are associated with the one user, and at least one of the one or more respective device users is a non-subscriber with respect to the social networking service, and wherein the addressing information is used to send the message to the group;

receiving a reply to the message from a first one of the devices of the group; and

initiating posting of the reply to the social networking service.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the reply is received within a threshold period to trigger the posting.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the message with a port that is configured to send and receive messages to the group of one or more devices; and

monitoring incoming data associated with the port for the reply.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the sent message with a channel that is configured to send and receive messages to the group of one or more devices.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving an identifying information associated with the first one of the devices of the group from the reply;

comparing the identifying information with the addressing information;

associating the identifying information with a first one of the one or more respective device users; and

associating the first one of the one or more respective device users with the posting of the reply.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second reply to the message from a second one of the devices of the group;

retrieving a second identifying information associated with the second one of the devices from the reply;

comparing the second identifying information with the addressing information;

associating the second identifying information with a second one of the one or more respective device users; and

associating the second one of the one or more respective device users with the posting of the second reply.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving data from one of the devices, wherein the message is generated using the data.

8. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second reply to the message from a second one of the devices of the group;

determining that the second reply is associated with a one of the respective device users that is a non-subscriber with respect to the social networking service; and

determining a set of restrictions associated with the second reply.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

generate a message, which is initiated by a one user associated with a one device, for posting to a social networking service;

determine addressing information for a group of one or more devices associated with one or more respective device users, wherein the one or more respective device users are associated with the one user, and at least one of the one or more respective device users is a non-subscriber with respect to the social networking service, and wherein the addressing information is used to send the message to the group;

receive a reply to the message from a first one of the devices of the group; and

initiate posting of the reply to the social networking service.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine that the reply is received within a threshold period to trigger the posting.

11. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

associate the message with a port that is configured to send and receive messages to the group of one or more devices; and

monitor incoming data associated with the port for the reply.

12. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

associate the sent message with a channel that is configured to send and receive messages to the group of one or more devices.

13. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

retrieve an identifying information associated with the first one of the devices of the group from the reply;

compare the identifying information with the addressing information;

associate the identifying information with a first one of the one or more respective device users; and

associate the first one of the one or more respective device users with the posting of the reply.

14. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a second reply to the message from a second one of the devices of the group;

retrieve a second identifying information associated with the second one of the devices from the reply;

compare the second identifying information with the addressing information;

associate the second identifying information with a second one of the one or more respective device users; and

associate the second one of the one or more respective device users with the posting of the second reply.

15. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a gateway.

16. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive second reply to the message from a second one of the devices of the group;

determine that the second reply is associated with a one of the respective device users that is a non-subscriber with respect to the social networking service; and

determine a set of restrictions associated with the second reply.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to perform at least the following:

generate a message, which is initiated by a one user associated with a one device, for posting to a social networking service;

determine addressing information for a group of one or more devices associated with one or more respective device users, wherein the one or more respective device users are associated with the one user, and at least one of the one or more respective device users is a non-subscriber with respect to the social networking service, and wherein the addressing information is used to send the message to the group;

receive a reply to the message from a first one of the devices of the group; and

initiate posting of the reply to the social networking service.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine that the reply is received within a threshold period to trigger the posting.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

associate the message with a port that is configured to send and receive messages to the group of one or more devices; and

monitor incoming data associated with the port for the reply.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

associate the sent message with a channel that is configured to send and receive messages to the group of one or more devices.