Identifying users sharing common characteristics

• US 9,369,411 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Granito, Jennifer, Greenberg, Steve, Wick, Andy, Jarmolowski, Tom, Keister, Alan, Rephlo, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Hua
• Application Number:
  US13/615,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20130066993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Displaying electronic information in an instant-messaging application includes accessing a first electronic message providing information describing a first user that has an identifier included in a set of identifiers of users of an instant messaging application. A second electronic message providing information describing a second user that has an identifier included in the set of identifiers of users of an instant messaging application is accessed. Content contained within the first and second messages is analyzed to determine that at least a portion of content is common to the first and second electronic messages. Based upon the content analysis, an indication that the first and second messages include common content is provided to the user. Alternatively or additionally, an indication that two users are in physical proximity to a geographic location may be provided in response to detecting that the two users are within a threshold distance from the geographic location.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

aggregating, by at least one processor, information about a first user of a communication system, wherein the information about the first user comprises a first set of one or more electronic messages from one or more friends of the first user sent to the first user, and a second set of one or more electronic messages from the first user sent to at least one friend of the first user;

aggregating, by the at least one processor, information about a second user of the communication system, wherein the information about the second user comprises a third set of one or more electronic messages from one or more friends of the second user sent to the second user, and a fourth set of one or more electronic messages from the second user sent to at least one friend of the second user;

analyzing a first plurality of electronic messages from the aggregated information about the first user and a second plurality of electronic messages from the aggregated information about the second user to determine that at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages and at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages have common location content, wherein the at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages comprises location content composed by the first user and the at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages comprises location content composed by the second user; and

providing a notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or a third user that at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages and at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages include common location content.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or the third user comprises a mobile device associated with the first user presenting an interface indicating that the first and second users share a common attribute.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or the third user comprises sending an electronic message to the third user of the communications system.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the electronic message comprises an instant message.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or the third user comprises sending an electronic message to one or more of the first user, the second user, or the third user of the communications system.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein sending the electronic messages to one or more of the first user, the second user, or the third user comprises sending the electronic message to a mobile device associated with the first user.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or the third user comprises posting an electronic message in one or more of a first information feed provided to the first user or a second information feed provided to the second user.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the common location content is an indication that the first user and the second user are at a common location.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the common location content is an indication that the first user and the second user are participating in a similar activity.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the common location content is an indication that the first user and the second user are attending the same event.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising aggregating the electronic messages from the first and second sets of electronic messages into a first information feed associated with the first user.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first information feed comprises one or more communications sent by the first user.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing only a subset of the one or more friends of the first user access to the electronic messages of the first and second sets of electronic messages.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the common location content is an indication that the first user and the second user will be at a common location at a future time.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages comprises a selection by the first user of a description of a geographic location of the first user, and the at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages comprises a selection by the second user of a description of a geographic location of the second user.

16. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

aggregate information about a first user of a communication system, wherein the information about the first user comprises a first set of one or more electronic messages from one or more friends of the first user sent to the first user, and a second set of one or more electronic messages from the first user sent to at least one friend of the first user;

aggregate information about a second user of the communication system, wherein the information about the second user comprises a third set of one or more electronic messages from one or more friends of the second user sent to the second user, and a fourth set of one or more electronic messages from the second user sent to at least one friend of the second user;

analyze a first plurality of electronic messages from the aggregated information about the first user and a second plurality of electronic messages from the aggregated information about the second user to determine that at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages and at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages have common location content, wherein the at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages comprises location content composed by the first user and the at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages comprises location content composed by the second user; and

provide a notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or a third user that at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages and at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages include common location content.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to provide the notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or a third user by sending an electronic message to a mobile device associated with the first user.

18. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to provide the notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or a third user by sending an electronic message to a mobile device associated with the third user.

19. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to provide the notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or a third user by posting an electronic message in a first information feed associated with the first user, wherein the first information feed comprises the first and second sets of electronic messages.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the common location content is an indication that the first user and the second user are at a common location or attending the same event.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to perform the steps comprising:

aggregating information about a first user of a communication system, wherein the information about the first user comprises a first set of one or more electronic messages from one or more friends of the first user sent to the first user, and a second set of one or more electronic messages from the first user sent to at least one friend of the first user;

aggregating information about a second user of the communication system, wherein the information about the second user comprises a third set of one or more electronic messages from one or more friends of the second user sent to the second user, and a fourth set of one or more electronic messages from the second user sent to at least one friend of the second user;

analyzing a first plurality of electronic messages from the aggregated information about the first user and a second plurality of electronic messages from the aggregated information about the second user to determine that at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages and at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages have common location content, wherein the at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages comprises location content composed by the first user and the at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages comprises location content composed by the second user; and

providing a notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or a third user that at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages and at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages include common location content.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to perform the step of providing the notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or the third user by presenting an interface to a mobile device associated with the first user, wherein the interface indicates that the first and second users share a common attribute.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to perform the step of providing the notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or the third user by sending an electronic message to the third user of the communications system.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to perform the step of providing the notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or the third user by sending an electronic message to one or more of the first user, the second user, or the third user of the communications system.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the computer system to send the electronic message to a mobile device associated with the first user.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to perform the step of providing the notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or the third user by posting an electronic message in one or more of a first information feed associated with the first user or a second information feed associated with the second user.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the common location content is an indication that the first user and the second user are at a common location.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the common location content is an indication that the first user and the second user are attending the same event.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the computer system to aggregate the electronic messages from the first and second sets of electronic messages into a first information feed associated with the first user, wherein the first information feed comprises the first and second sets of electronic messages.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 29, wherein the first information feed comprises one or more communications sent by the first user.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 29, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the computer system to provide a subset of the friends of the first user access to the electronic messages of the first and second sets of electronic messages.

32. A mobile device comprising:

a display;

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause that at least one processor to perform the steps of;

aggregating information about a first user of a communication system, wherein the information about the first user comprises a first set of one or more electronic messages from one or more friends of the first user sent to the first user, and a second set of one or more electronic messages from the first user sent to at least one friend of the first user;

accessing information about a second user of the communication system, wherein the information about the second user comprises a third set of one or more electronic messages from one or more friends of the second user sent to the second user, and a fourth set of one or more electronic messages from the second sent to at least one friend of the second user;

analyzing a first plurality of electronic messages from the aggregated information about the first user and a second plurality of electronic messages from the aggregated information about the second user to determine that at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages and at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages have common location content, wherein the at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages comprises location content composed by the first user and the at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages comprises location content composed by the second user; and

providing a notification to one or more of the first user, the second user, or a third user that at least one electronic message from the first plurality of electronic messages and at least one electronic message from the second plurality of electronic messages include common location content.

33. The mobile device as recited in claim 32, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, cause the mobile device to indicate that the first and second electronic messages have common content by sending an electronic message to the third user.