Computer implemented methods and apparatus for sharing data of an information feed of an online social network

• US 9,591,090 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Bedi, Prantap
• Primary Examiner(s): Algibhah, Hamza
• Application Number:
  US13/455,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20130054714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for sharing data of an online social network. In some implementations, a selection of data of an information feed is received. The information feed includes a plurality of feed items configured to be stored on one or more storage mediums and capable of being displayed in a presentation on a display device. The selected data includes at least a portion of one or more of the feed items. A first network communication including the selected data is generated. The generated first network communication is sent to a designated network address via a network.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a database system for sharing data of a feed of a social networking system having a plurality of users, each user having a distinct user designator stored in the database system, and for publication of one or more social network feeds, the method comprising:

receiving user input selecting at least a portion of data of a social network feed, the social network feed including a plurality of feed items configured to be stored in the database system, the social network feed accessible via the social networking system and configured to be displayed in a presentation on a display device permitting a user to interact with other users of the social networking system regarding the feed items by inputting information for incorporation to the social network feed for viewing by at least one other user, the selected data including at least a portion of one or more of the feed items;

receiving, from the display device, user input identifying a person having a designated network address for receiving electronic communications, the designated network address being other than a user designator of the social networking system and being external to the social networking system, the person not being a member of the social networking system;

generating a first network communication in a format other than a feed format of social network feeds of the social networking system, the first network communication including the selected data and the designated network address;

sending the generated first network communication to the designated network address, wherein the first network communication is delivered, at least partly, through a communications network other than the social network feeds of the social networking system;

receiving, from the designated network address, a second network communication, the second network communication being a response to the first network communication; and

updating the social network feed to include data of the second network communication as one of the feed items.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the social network feed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the social network feed includes:

determining that the second network communication identifies the designated network address.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the social network feed includes:

determining that the second network communication identifies the first network communication.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein determining that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the feed includes:

identifying a sender of the second network communication, wherein the sender of the second network communication has a designated network address other than a user designator of the social networking system and external to the social networking system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated first network communication further includes user input data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated first network communication is sent from a sender'"'"'s network address.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more storage mediums are included in a multi-tenant database accessible to a plurality of entities in an on-demand computing services environment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the social network feed is part of an online social network of an organization.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the designated network address is not associated with the online social network.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the designated network address is not associated with the organization.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected data includes one or more of:

a file, a link, a data object, a post, a comment, an indication of a personal preference, and a status update.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected data includes one or more messages defining at least a portion of a conversation.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected data includes an information update.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected data includes one or more records.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected data includes a state representation of one or more records.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected data is a rendering of at least a portion of the social network feed.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network communication is an attachment of the portion of the data of the social network feed.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the network communication is an email, and the designated network address is an email address.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the network communication is an instant message (“

IM”

), and the designated network address is an IM address.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the network communication is a text message, and the designated network address is a phone number.

22. One or more computing devices for use in a database system for sharing data of a feed of a social networking system having a plurality of user, each user having a distinct user designator stored in the database system, and for publication of one or more social network feeds, the one or more computing devices comprising:

one or more processors operable to;

receive user input selecting at least a portion of data of a social network feed, the social network feed including a plurality of feed items configured to be stored in the database system, the social network feed accessible via the social networking system and configured to be displayed in a presentation on a display permitting a user to interact with other users of the social networking system regarding the feed items by inputting information for incorporation to the social network feed for viewing by at least one other user, the selected data including at least a portion of one or more of the feed items,

receive, via the display, user input identifying a person having a designated network address for receiving electronic communications, the designated network address being other than a user designator of the social networking system and being external to the social networking system, the person not being a member of the social networking system,

cause to be generated a first network communication in a format other than a feed format of social network feeds of the social networking system, the first network communication including the selected data and the designated network address,

cause the generated first network communication to be sent to the designated network address, wherein the first network communication is delivered, at least partly, through a communications network other than the social network feeds of the social networking system,

receive, from the designated network address, a second network communication, the second network communication being a response to the first network communication; and

update the social network feed to include data of the second network communication as one of the feed items.

23. The one or more computing devices of claim 22, the one or more processors further operable to:

determine that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the social network feed.

24. The one or more computing devices of claim 23, wherein determining that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the social network feed includes:

determining that the second network communication identifies the designated network address.

25. The one or more computing devices of claim 23, wherein determining that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the social network feed includes:

determining that the second network communication identifies the first network communication.

26. The one or more computing devices of claim 23, wherein determining that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the feed includes:

identifying a sender of the second network communication, wherein the sender of the second network communication has a designated network address other than a user designator of the social networking system and external to the social networking system.

27. The one or more computing devices of claim 22, wherein the social network feed is part of an online social network of an organization.

28. The one or more computing devices of claim 27, wherein the designated network address is not associated with the online social network.

29. The one or more computing devices of claim 27, wherein the designated network address is not associated with the organization.

30. The one or more computing devices of claim 22, wherein the selected data includes one or more of:

a file, a link, a data object, a post, a comment, an indication of a personal preference, and a status update.

31. The one or more computing devices of claim 22, wherein the selected data includes one or more messages defining at least a portion of a conversation.

32. The one or more computing devices of claim 22, wherein the selected data includes a rendering of at least a portion of the social network feed.

33. The one or more computing devices of claim 22, wherein the network communication is an email, and the designated network address is an email address.

34. The one or more computing devices of claim 22, wherein the network communication is an instant message (“

IM”

), and the designated network address is an IM address.

35. The one or more computing devices of claim 22, wherein the network communication is a text message, and the designated network address is a phone number.

36. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a computing device to cause to be performed a method implemented in a database system for sharing of a feed of a social networking system having a plurality of users, each user having a distinct user designator stored in the database system, and for publication of one or more social network feeds, the method comprising:

receiving user input selecting at least a portion of data of a social network feed, the social network feed including a plurality of feed items configured to be stored in the database system, the social network feed accessible via the social networking system and configured to be displayed in a presentation on a display device permitting a user to interact with other users of the social networking system regarding the feed items by inputting information for incorporation to the social network feed for viewing by at least one other user, the selected data including at least a portion of one or more of the feed items;

receiving, from the display device, user input identifying a person having a designated network address for receiving electronic communications, the designated network address being other than a user designator of the social networking system and being external to the social networking system, the person not being a member of the social networking system;

generating a first network communication in a format other than a feed format of social network feeds of the social networking system, the first network communication including the selected data and the designated network address;

sending the generated first network communication to the designated network address, wherein the first network communication is delivered, at least partly, through a communications network other than the social network feeds of the social networking system

receiving, from the designated network address, a second network communication, the second network communication being a response to the first network communication; and

updating the social network feed to include data of the second network communication as one of the feed items.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, the method further comprising:

determining that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the social network feed.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein determining that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the social network feed includes:

determining that the second network communication identifies the designated network address.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein determining that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the social network feed includes:

determining that the second network communication identifies the first network communication.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein determining that the second network communication is authorized to be included in the social network feed includes:

identifying a sender of the second network communication.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the selected data includes one or more of:

a file, a link, a data object, a post, a comment, an indication of a personal preference, and a status update.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the selected data includes one or more messages defining at least a portion of a conversation.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the selected data includes a rendering of at least a portion of the social network feed.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the network communication is an email, and the designated network address is an email address.

45. A database system for sharing a message of a conversation in a feed of a social networking system having a plurality of users, each user having a distinct user designator stored in the database system, the database system configurable to:

receive user input selecting one of a plurality of messages of a conversation in a feed of a social networking system, the messages and the conversation identifiable using objects of the database system, the feed accessible via the social networking system and configured to be displayed in a user interface on a display device, the user interface configured to permit a user to submit a reply to a message of the conversation, the reply being incorporated as a message of the conversation for sharing with at least one other user;

receive, via the user interface, user input identifying an email address of an email participant to the conversation, the email address being other than a user designator of the social networking system and being external to the social networking system, the email participant not being a member of the social networking system;

generate an email in a format other than a feed format of feeds of the social networking system, the email including the selected message;

send the generated email to the email address, the email being delivered, at least partly, through a communications network other than the feeds of the social networking system;

receive a response email from the email address; and

incorporate at least a portion of the response email in the conversation, the incorporated portion of the response email identifying the email address and/or the external participant.