Systems and methods for location tracking in a social network

• US 9,547,844 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cypes, Gregory Brian, Carnell, Shawn Michael Edwards, Sattar, Rizwan Abdus, Chipman, Steven Grayson, Cohen, Justin Scott, Cohen, Neil Wayne, Wick, Andrew Lee, Joannou, Amy Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Joshi, Suraj
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mesa, Joel
• Application Number:
  US13/046,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,139 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709/206, 709/222
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for location tracking and filtering or hiding electronic communications. In one implementation, a method is provided for location tracking for electronic communications. The method includes receiving a location ID for a location from a user who desires to follow the location within a social networking environment, and associating the location ID with the user. The method also includes providing instructions to display a representation of the location in a list of the user'"'"'s contacts.

Claims

1. A method of location tracking for electronic communications, the method comprising the following operations performed by one or more processors:

receiving a location ID for a location from a first user who desires to follow a location profile page within a social networking environment;

associating the location ID with an identifier of the first user in a database so that the location is added to a list of the first user'"'"'s contacts; and

generating instructions to display the list of the first user'"'"'s contacts, the generating comprising;

identifying a plurality of second users associated with the identifier of the first user in the database;

identifying recent social networking activity associated with the second users;

generating instructions to display, as part of entries in the list of the first user'"'"'s contacts, information identifying the second users and at least a subset of the social networking activity associated with the second users;

identifying the location ID associated with the identifier of the first user in the database;

identifying recent social networking activity associated with the location ID; and

generating instructions to display, as an entry in the list of the first user'"'"'s contacts, a representation of the location linking to the location profile page and at least a subset of the social networking activity associated with the location ID.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first user, a query for selected location-specific activities by the second users;

fetching activity data associated with the selected location for each of the second users; and

returning to the first user a list of the fetched activity data.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating instructions for displaying the list of the fetched activity data to the first user in a sequence consistent with the order of occurrence of the activities represented by the fetched activity data.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the fetched activity data includes:

a unique user ID associated with a user who performed a social networking activity in relation to the location;

a time associated with the social networking activity; and

an indication of the nature of the social networking activity.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the location ID in association with one or more of a location address, location name, location map, and location photograph.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a mechanism for the first user to initiate a query for viewing location-specific activities of the second users by clicking or touching the representation of the location, within the list of the first user'"'"'s contacts.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the social networking activity includes one or more of:

checking-in to the location, posting a status update for the location, and uploading multimedia content associated with the location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of the social networking activity associated with the location ID comprises a unique user ID associated with a user who performed the social networking activity.

9. A computer system for facilitating location tracking for electronic communications, the system comprising:

a database configured to store location data and user data; and

a messaging server disposed in communication with the database and comprising;

a hardware processor; and

a memory device storing instructions for configuring the processor, wherein the processor is configured by the instructions to;

receive a location ID for a location from a first user who desires to follow a location profile page;

associate the location ID with an identifier of the first user in the database so that the location is added to a list of the first user'"'"'s contacts; and

generate instructions to display the list of the first user'"'"'s contacts, the generating comprising;

identifying a plurality of second users associated with the identifier of the first user in the database;

identifying recent social networking activity associated with the second users;

generating instructions to display, as part of entries of the list of the first user'"'"'s contacts, information identifying the second users and at least a subset of the social networking activity associated with the second users;

identifying the location ID associated with the identifier of the first user in the database;

identifying recent social networking activity associated with the location ID; and

generating instructions to display, as part of an entry in the list of the first user'"'"'s contacts, a representation of the location linking to the location profile pace and at least a subset of the social networking activity associated with the location ID.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive from the first user a query for selected location-specific activities by the second users;

fetch activity data associated with the selected location for each of the second users; and

return to the first user a list of the fetched activity data.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate instructions for displaying the list of the fetched activity data to the first user in a sequence consistent with the order of occurrence of the activities represented by the fetched activity data.

12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the fetched activity data includes:

a unique user ID associated with a user who performed a social networking activity in relation to the location;

a time associated with the social networking activity; and

an indication of the nature of the social networking activity.

13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

store the location ID in association with one or more of a location address, location name, location map, and location photograph.

14. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the social networking activity includes one or more of:

checking-in to the location, posting a status update for the location, and uploading multimedia content associated with the location.

15. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the subset of the social networking activity associated with the location ID comprises a unique user ID associated with a user who performed the social networking activity.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a location ID for a location from a first user who desires to follow a location profile page within a social networking environment;

associate the location ID with an identifier of the first user in a database so that the location is added to a list of the first user'"'"'s contacts; and

generate instructions to display the list of the first user'"'"'s contacts, the generating comprising;

identifying a plurality of second users associated with the identifier of the first user in the database;

identifying recent social networking activity associated with the second users;

generating instructions to display, as part of entries of the list of the first user'"'"'s contacts, information identifying the second users and at least a subset of the social networking activity associated with the second users;

identifying the location ID associated with the identifier of the first user in the database;

identifying recent social networking activity associated with the location ID; and

generating instructions to display, as part of an entry in the list of the first user'"'"'s contacts, a representation of the location linking to the location profile page and at least a subset of the social networking activity associated with the location ID.

17. The non-transitory computer medium of claim 16, further including instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive from the first user a query for selected location-specific activities by the second users;

fetch activity data associated with the selected location for each of the second users; and

return to the first user a list of the fetched activity data.

18. The non-transitory computer medium of claim 16, wherein the subset of the social networking activity associated with the location ID comprises a unique user ID associated with a user who performed the social networking activity.