System and method for impromptu shared communication spaces
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for providing communications, the method comprising:
- identifying, by at least one of one or more processors, a set of users that share a common set of characteristics by determining an online status of each user in the set of users and determining that the set of users perform same or related activities within a bounded time period and a defined geographical area;
dynamically creating, by at least one of the one or more processors, a shared communication space for the set of users;
creating, by at least one of the one or more processors, shared space settings for a first user in the shared communication space, wherein the shared space settings define what communications to and from the shared communication space are permitted or prohibited for the first user, and control, on a per information item basis, what information items can be shared;
sending to the first user an invitation that invites the first user to join the shared communication space, the invitation including the shared space settings specifying on a per information item basis what can be shared by the first user; and
in response to the first user joining the shared communication space based on the invitation;
applying the shared space settings of the first user to the shared communication space;
filtering, by at least one of the one or more processors, information items provided to the first user based on the shared space settings associated with the first user including identifying a set of receivers of an information item in the shared communication space, the set of receivers including the first user, and determining whether to send the information item to the first user based on determining whether a number of receivers in the set is larger than a particular size;
outputting the filtered information items and instructions that cause display of a user interface including the filtered information items when the instructions are executed on a client device; and
receiving the communications from other users of the set of users about the filtered information items in the shared communications space.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Communications between entities who may share common interests. For entities determined to be sharing common interests (e.g., searching using the same terms or topics, browsing a page, a site or a groups of topically related sites), options for communication among the entities are provided. For example, a chat room may be dynamically created for persons who are currently searching or browsing the same or related information. As another example, a “homepage” may be created for each query and contain various types of information related to the query. A permission module controls which entities may participate, what types of information (and from what sources) an entity can (or desires to) receive, what types of information the entity may (or desires to) share.
65 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method for providing communications, the method comprising:
-
identifying, by at least one of one or more processors, a set of users that share a common set of characteristics by determining an online status of each user in the set of users and determining that the set of users perform same or related activities within a bounded time period and a defined geographical area; dynamically creating, by at least one of the one or more processors, a shared communication space for the set of users; creating, by at least one of the one or more processors, shared space settings for a first user in the shared communication space, wherein the shared space settings define what communications to and from the shared communication space are permitted or prohibited for the first user, and control, on a per information item basis, what information items can be shared; sending to the first user an invitation that invites the first user to join the shared communication space, the invitation including the shared space settings specifying on a per information item basis what can be shared by the first user; and in response to the first user joining the shared communication space based on the invitation; applying the shared space settings of the first user to the shared communication space; filtering, by at least one of the one or more processors, information items provided to the first user based on the shared space settings associated with the first user including identifying a set of receivers of an information item in the shared communication space, the set of receivers including the first user, and determining whether to send the information item to the first user based on determining whether a number of receivers in the set is larger than a particular size; outputting the filtered information items and instructions that cause display of a user interface including the filtered information items when the instructions are executed on a client device; and receiving the communications from other users of the set of users about the filtered information items in the shared communications space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A system for providing communications, the system comprising:
-
one or more processors; memory storing at least one program for execution by the one or more processors, the at least one program including instructions for; identifying a set of users that share a common set of characteristics by determining an online status of each user in the set of users and determining that the set of users perform same or related activities within a bounded time period and a defined geographical area; dynamically creating a shared communication space for the set of users; creating shared space settings for a first user in the shared communication space wherein the shared space settings define what communications to and from the shared communication space are permitted or prohibited for the first user, and control, on a per information item basis, what information items can be shared; sending to the first user an invitation that invites the first user to join the shared communication space, the invitation including the shared space settings specifying on a per information item basis what can be shared by the first user; and in response to the first user joining the shared communication space based on the invitation; applying the shared space settings of the first user to the shared communication space; filtering information items provided to the first user based on the shared space settings associated with the first user including identifying a set of receivers of an information item in the shared communication space, the set of receivers including the first user, and determining whether to send the information item to the first user based on determining whether a number of receivers in the set is larger than a particular size; outputting the filtered information items and instructions that cause display of a user interface including the filtered information items when the instructions are executed on a client device; and receiving the communications from other users of the set of users about the filtered information items in the shared communications space. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. 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:
-
identify a set of users that share a common set of characteristics by determining an online status of each user in the set of users and determining that the set of users perform same or related activities within a bounded time period and a defined geographical area; dynamically create a shared communication space for the set of users; create shared space settings for a first user in the shared communication space, wherein the shared space settings define what communications to and from the shared communication space are permitted or prohibited for the first user, and control, on a per information item basis, what information items can be shared; send to the first user an invitation that invites the first user to join the shared communication space, the invitation including the shared space settings specifying on a per information item basis what can be shared by the first user; and in response to the first user joining the shared communication space based on the invitation; apply the shared space settings of the first user to the shared communication space; filter information items provided to the first user based on the shared space settings associated with the first user including identifying a set of receivers of an information item in the shared communication space, the set of receivers including the first user, and determining whether to send the information item to the first user based on determining whether a number of receivers in the set is larger than a particular size; output the filtered information items and instructions that cause display of a user interface including the filtered information items when the instructions are executed on a client device; and receive communications from other users of the set of users about the filtered information items in the shared communications space. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification