Automatic publication of a user's application installation events

• US 9,148,399 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sadovsky, Adam, Chan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Gillis, Brian J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Keller, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US13/529,152
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A system and a method for notifying users of the installation of applications using social networks. An application broadcaster automatically publishes a user'"'"'s application installation events on one platform to the user'"'"'s activity streams on external social platforms. This way, a message regarding the application appears in the user'"'"'s activity streams within social networks, resulting in the application becoming popular among the user'"'"'s friends. In one embodiment, the application broadcaster determines whether user activity associated with the installed application meets a criterion before broadcasting information about the application. The application broadcaster also suggests applications that the user might find interesting.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for using social networks for spreading an application, executing on one or more computing devices, the method comprising:

receiving, with the one or more computing devices, a notification indicating that a user has installed the application on a user device;

receiving user activity associated with the installed application, the user activity including at least one of a frequency of usage of the installed application and a time spent by the user with the installed application;

determining, with the one or more computing devices, an importance of the installed application based on the user activity;

determining, with the one or more computing devices, whether the importance of the installed application meets a criterion for broadcasting information about the installed application by determining at least one of the user'"'"'s interaction with the installed application, the user'"'"'s rating for the installed application, and a number of applications installed by the user; and

by determining that the installed application has not been removed from the user device;

composing, with the one or more computing devices, a message including the user activity and information regarding the installed application responsive to determining that the user activity meets the criterion;

determining, with the one or more computing devices, one or more social networks to which to broadcast the message regarding the installed application, the one or more social networks determined at least in part based on information related to the user; and

broadcasting, with the one or more computing devices, the message to the one or more social networks associated with the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the message to the user; and

receiving an approval from the user for broadcasting the message to the one or more social networks associated with the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the message based on a setting associated with each of the one or more social networks associated with the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving feedback from the one or more social networks, the feedback including an interaction of a friend of the user with the message.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising analyzing reviewing the feedback to determine an interest of the friend of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the installed application includes at least one of a summary of the installed application, a reference to the installed application, a photo, a video, a review and a rating.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification further indicates an installation of an update to the installed application.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprises:

receiving, from the one or more social networks, information about applications installed by a friend of the user; and

suggesting the applications installed by the friend of the user to the user.

9. A system for using social networks for spreading an application, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to;

receive a notification indicating that a user has installed the application on a user device;

receive user activity associated with the installed application, the user activity including at least one of a frequency of usage of the installed application and a time spent by the user with the installed application;

determine an importance of the installed application based on the user activity;

determine whether the importance of the installed application meets a criterion for broadcasting information about the installed application by determining at least one of the user'"'"'s interaction with the installed application, the user'"'"'s rating for the installed application, and a number of applications installed by the user; and

by determining that the installed application has not been removed from the user device;

compose a message including the user activity and information regarding the installed application responsive to determining that the user activity meets the criterion;

determine one or more social networks to which to broadcast the message regarding the installed application, the one or more social networks determined at least in part based on information related to the user; and

broadcast the message to the one or more social networks associated with the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors further transmits the message to the user and receives an approval from the user for broadcasting the message to the one or more social networks associated with the user.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors receive feedback from the one or more social networks, the feedback including an interaction of a friend of the user with the message.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors review the feedback to determine an interest of the friend of the user.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors request the user to perform at least one of rating and reviewing the installed application.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors transmit the notification that indicates at least one of the installation of the application and an installation of an update to the installed application.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform steps comprising:

receiving a notification indicating that a user has installed the application on a user device;

receiving user activity associated with the installed application, the user activity including at least one of a frequency of usage of the installed application and a time spent by the user with the installed application;

determining an importance of the installed application based on the user activity;

determining whether the importance of the installed application meets a criterion for broadcasting information about the installed application by determining at least one of the user'"'"'s interaction with the installed application, the user'"'"'s rating for the installed application, and a number of applications installed by the user; and

by determining that the installed application has not been removed from the user device;

composing a message including the user activity and information regarding the installed application responsive to determining that the user activity meets the criterion;

determining one or more social networks to which to broadcast the message regarding the installed application, the one or more social networks determined at least in part based on information related to the user; and

broadcasting the message to the one or more social networks associated with the user.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further causes the computer to modify the message based on a setting associated with each of the one or more social networks associated with the user.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further causes the computer to receive, from the one or more social networks, information about applications installed by a friend of the user and suggesting the applications installed by the friend of the user to the user.