Computer implemented methods and apparatus for automatically following entities in an online social network
First Claim
1. A method for causing a user of an online social network implemented on behalf of an enterprise using a database system to automatically follow records in the online social network, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the database system, location data identifying a location of the user, the user having a user profile in the online social network;
determining, using the database system, that an automatic follow rule is applicable to the user, the automatic follow rule causing the user to begin following a record when one or more conditions including a designated spatial proximity of the user to a business or organization associated with the record is satisfied, the record being an identifiable one of a plurality of customer relationship management (CRM) records stored in a database of the database system, the following causing feed items associated with the record to be shared with the user via one or more feeds of the online social network, the feed items being stored in a database of the database system, the sharing causing the feed items to be displayed in a presentation of a record feed on a display of a device associated with the user, the record feed being dedicated to the record;
determining, in accordance with the automatic follow rule, that the one or more conditions are satisfied including that the user is within the designated spatial proximity to the business or organization associated with the record;
updating one or more data objects in the database system to indicate that the user follows the record in response to the determination that the one or more conditions are satisfied;
determining that a first time range defined by the automatic follow rule to follow the record is exceeded, the first time range being an amount of time that the user is not within the designated spatial proximity of the business or organization; and
updating, responsive to determining that the first time range defined by the automatic follow rule is exceeded, the one or more data objects in the database system to indicate that the user does not follow the record.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable storage media for causing an entity to automatically follow other entities in an online social network. Location information of an entity can be received, and an automatic follow rule applicable to the entity can be determined. The automatic follow rule may cause the entity to follow other entities when one or more conditions including a designated spatial proximity of the entity to the other entities is satisfied. When it is determined that one or more conditions is satisfied, data associated with the entity can be updated to indicate that the first entity follows the other entities. In some implementations, when the entity is associated with a temporal follow status and a trigger event specified by the automatic follow rule is satisfied, data associated with the entity can be updated to indicate that the entity does not follow the other entities.
196 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for causing a user of an online social network implemented on behalf of an enterprise using a database system to automatically follow records in the online social network, the method comprising:
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receiving, at the database system, location data identifying a location of the user, the user having a user profile in the online social network; determining, using the database system, that an automatic follow rule is applicable to the user, the automatic follow rule causing the user to begin following a record when one or more conditions including a designated spatial proximity of the user to a business or organization associated with the record is satisfied, the record being an identifiable one of a plurality of customer relationship management (CRM) records stored in a database of the database system, the following causing feed items associated with the record to be shared with the user via one or more feeds of the online social network, the feed items being stored in a database of the database system, the sharing causing the feed items to be displayed in a presentation of a record feed on a display of a device associated with the user, the record feed being dedicated to the record; determining, in accordance with the automatic follow rule, that the one or more conditions are satisfied including that the user is within the designated spatial proximity to the business or organization associated with the record; updating one or more data objects in the database system to indicate that the user follows the record in response to the determination that the one or more conditions are satisfied; determining that a first time range defined by the automatic follow rule to follow the record is exceeded, the first time range being an amount of time that the user is not within the designated spatial proximity of the business or organization; and updating, responsive to determining that the first time range defined by the automatic follow rule is exceeded, the one or more data objects in the database system to indicate that the user does not follow the record. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. One or more computing devices for causing a user of an online social network implemented on behalf of an enterprise using a database system to automatically follow records in the online social network, the one or more computing devices comprising:
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one or more memories storing instructions, and one or more processors operable to execute the instructions to cause a database system to; process, at the database system, location data identifying a location of the user, the user having a user profile in the online social network; determine, using the database system, that an automatic follow rule is applicable to the user, the automatic follow rule causing the user to begin following a record when one or more conditions including a designated spatial proximity of the user to a business or organization associated with the record is satisfied, the record being an identifiable one of a plurality of customer relationship management (CRM) records stored in a database of the database system, the following causing feed items associated with the record to be shared with the user via one or more feeds of the online social network, the feed items being stored in a database of the database system, the sharing causing the feed items to be displayed in a presentation of a record feed on a display of a device associated with the user, the record feed being dedicated to the record; determine, in accordance with the automatic follow rule, that the one or more conditions are satisfied including that the user is within the designated spatial proximity to the business or organization associated with the record; update one or more data objects in the database system to indicate that the user follows the record in response to the determination that the one or more conditions are satisfied; determine that a first time range defined by the automatic follow rule to follow the record is exceeded, the first time range being an amount of time that the user is not within the designated spatial proximity of the business or organization; and update, responsive to determining that the first time range defined by the automatic follow rule is exceeded, the one or more data objects in the database system to indicate that the user does not follow the record. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product comprising program code to be executed by at least one processor when retrieved from a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the program code comprising instructions configured to cause a method to be performed for causing a user of an online social network implemented on behalf of an enterprise using a database system to automatically follow records in the online social network, the method comprising:
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receiving, at the database system, location data identifying a location of the user, the user having a user profile in the online social network; determining, using the database system, that an automatic follow rule is applicable to the user, the automatic follow rule causing the user to begin following a record when one or more conditions including a designated spatial proximity of the user to a business or organization associated with the record is satisfied, the record being an identifiable one of a plurality of customer relationship management (CRM) records stored in a database of the database system, the following causing feed items associated with the record to be shared with the user via one or more feeds of the online social network, the feed items being stored in a database of the database system, the sharing causing the feed items to be displayed in a presentation of a record feed on a display of a device associated with the user, the record feed being dedicated to the record; determining, in accordance with the automatic follow rule, that the one or more conditions are satisfied including that the user is within the designated spatial proximity to the business or organization associated with the record; updating one or more data objects in the database system to indicate that the user follows the record in response to the determination that the one or more conditions are satisfied determining that a first time range defined by the automatic follow rule to follow the record is exceeded, the first time range being an amount of time that the user is not within the designated spatial proximity of the business or organization; and updating, responsive to determining that the first time range defined by the automatic follow rule is exceeded, the one or more data objects in the database system to indicate that the user does not follow the record. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification