Event invitations having cinemagraphs

• US 9,356,904 B1
• Filed: 05/13/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Ho, Denise
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuyrtlien T
• Application Number:
  US13/893,321
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 715751-753
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• 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

A system and method for sending a message with a graphical theme that includes a cinemagraph to a member of a social network system are described. In one embodiment, the message includes an event invitation with a theme having a cinemagraph, where the message is sent from a member of the social network system to a group of invitees. In one embodiment, a system provides an event invitation interface that includes a theme selection through which an event invitation theme having a cinemagraph can be selected. The system sends the event invitation with the cinemagraph to a group of invitees selected by a member of the social network system, the invitees can include members or non-members of the social network system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by a processor, the method comprising:

providing, by the processor, an event invitation interface for a social network system, the event invitation interface including a theme selection through which an event invitation theme is selected from among a plurality of themes, the plurality of themes including an event invitation theme having a cinemagraph, the cinemagraph including one or more of a static image with mark-up language code for playing a video loop and an animated graphics interchange format file;

obtaining a selection of the event invitation theme having the cinemagraph via the event invitation interface; and

sending an event invitation with the event invitation theme having the cinemagraph to a group of members of the social network system, the group of members including event invitees selected by a member of the social network system, wherein the event invitation is delivered to a plurality of interfaces for the social network system, each interface corresponding to a member of the group of members, and each interface being adapted to operate on one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer and a wireless communications device, wherein sending the event invitation comprises, for each member of the group of members of the social network system;

receiving, from the interface corresponding to the member, a request for the cinemagraph to be displayed, wherein the request includes information about the interface;

determining, based at least in part on the information about the interface, one or more constraints associated with the request;

in response to the request, dynamically altering the cinemagraph based on the one or more constraints to generate an altered cinemagraph that includes two or more video frames; and

providing the event invitation to the interface corresponding to the member, the event invitation having the altered cinemagraph, wherein the altered cinemagraph is sent as a calendar item to a calendar application such that an animated portion of the cinemagraph can be viewed when the calendar item is viewed and wherein providing the event invitation comprises;

sending an event information section of the event invitation and a first frame of the two or more video frames,

receiving confirmation of receipt of the event information section and the first frame from the interface corresponding to the member, and

upon receiving the confirmation of receipt, sending other frames of the two or more video frames.

2. A computer-implemented method performed by a processor, the method comprising:

providing, by the processor, a message interface for a social network system, the message interface including a message theme selection through which a message theme is selected from among a plurality of message themes, the plurality of message themes including a message theme having a cinemagraph;

obtaining a selection of the message theme having the cinemagraph via the message interface; and

sending a message with the message theme having the cinemagraph to a group of invitees, wherein the message is delivered to a plurality of interfaces, each interface corresponding to a member of the group of invitees, wherein sending the message comprises, for each member of the group of invitees;

receiving, from the interface corresponding to the member, a request for the cinemagraph to be displayed, wherein the request includes information about the interface;

determining, based at least in part on the information about the interface, one or more constraints associated with the request;

in response to the request, dynamically altering the cinemagraph based on the one or more constraints to generate an altered cinemagraph that includes a static image and one or more video frames; and

providing the message to the interface corresponding to the member, the message having the altered cinemagraph, wherein the altered cinemagraph is sent as a calendar item to a calendar application such that an animated portion of the cinemagraph can be viewed when the calendar item is viewed and

wherein providing the message comprises;

sending a message section of the message and the static image,

receiving confirmation of receipt of the message section, and

upon receiving the confirmation of receipt, sending the one or more video frames.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the constraint is based on a communications bandwidth.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the group of invitees includes a non-member of the social network system.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein hovering over the calendar item causes the cinemagraph to be displayed.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the message interface is an event invitation interface, and wherein the message is an event invitation.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the message interface is an event invitation interface, the message is an event invitation, and the group of invitees are event invitees selected by a member of the social network system.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising providing a preview of the message theme having the cinemagraph such that an animated portion of the cinemagraph is caused to be sent for display to a member of the social network system.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the message theme having the cinemagraph includes the static image and a mark-up language code for playing a video loop.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the message theme having the cinemagraph includes an animated graphics interchange format file.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of interfaces are for the social network system, and wherein each interface is adapted to operate on one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer and a wireless communications device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein dynamically altering the cinemagraph includes modifying the cinemagraph based on a type of interface the message is being delivered to.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein modifying the cinemagraph based on the type of interface the message is being delivered to includes modifying at least one of a resolution of cinemagraph, a size of the cinemagraph, and a format of the cinemagraph.

14. A system comprising:

a hardware processor coupled to a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium having stored therein software instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including;

providing a message interface for a social network system, the message interface including a message theme selection through which a message theme is selected from among a plurality of message themes, the plurality of message themes including a message theme having a cinemagraph;

obtaining a selection of the message theme having the cinemagraph via the message interface; and

sending a message with the message theme having the cinemagraph to a group of invitees, wherein the message is delivered to a plurality of interfaces, each interface corresponding to a member of the group of invitees, wherein sending the message comprises, for each member of the group of invitees;

receiving, from the interface corresponding to the member, a request for the cinemagraph to be displayed, wherein the request includes information about the interface;

determining, based at least in part on the information about the interface, one or more constraints associated with the request;

in response to the request, dynamically altering the cinemagraph based on the one or more constraints to generate an altered cinemagraph that includes a static image and one or more video frames; and

providing the message to the interface corresponding to the member, the message having the altered cinemagraph, wherein the altered cinemagraph is sent as a calendar item to a calendar application such that an animated portion of the cinemagraph can be viewed when the calendar item is viewed and

wherein providing the message comprises;

sending a message section of the message and the static image,

receiving confirmation of receipt of the message section, and

upon receiving the confirmation of receipt, sending the one or more video frames.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the group of invitees includes one or more members of the social network system.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the group of invitees includes a non-member of the social network system.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the message interface is an event invitation interface.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the message interface is an event invitation interface, and wherein the message is an event invitation.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the message interface is an event invitation interface, the message is an event invitation, and the group of invitees are event invitees selected by a member of the social network system.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the message theme having the cinemagraph includes one of the static image and mark-up language code for playing a video loop and an animated graphics file.