Communication systems and methods

• US 9,794,203 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2012
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kleppmann, Martin, Vohra, Rahul, Irwin, Conrad, Mallabone, Lee, Stokes, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tammy
• Application Number:
  US13/708,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20140164478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 709206, 709225, 709205, 705318, 707737, 715733, 715833, 715720, 715750
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Example communication systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives a message from a message server and identifies a network link contained in the received message. The network link is associated with shareable content. The received message is modified to indicate, to a user of a client device, an option to share the network link with at least on recipient. The modified message is then communicated to the client device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

establishing a connection to a proxy server, the proxy server configured to receive messages from a message server;

receiving a message from the proxy server;

identifying a network link contained in the received message, the network link associated with shareable content;

modifying, in response to identifying the network link, using one or more processors, the received message to indicate, to a user of a client device, an option to share the network link with at least one recipient via a social network, wherein sharing the network link via the social network includes posting the network link on an update feed of the user for at least one recipient to view the network link, the option to share the network link presented without following the network link; and

communicating the modified message to the client device; and

receiving an indication from the client device that the user selected the option to share the network link with at least one recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication from the client device that defines how to share the network link with the at least one recipient.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising sharing the network link with the at least one recipient.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising communicating to the client device an identification of a plurality of available communication media to share the network link.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising communicating to the client device an option to comment on the network link.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication from the client device that identifies the at least one recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating to the client device an option to mark the network link for future access by the user.

8. The method of claim 1, the received message including at least one of an email message, a social media message, a newsgroup message, a calendar synchronization message, a voicemail message, a text message, an address book entry, an audio message, and a video message.

9. The method of claim 1, the identifying of the network link contained in the received message including determining whether the network link is associated with shareable content.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a device type associated with the client device; and

adjusting a display size of the modified message based on the device type.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a device type associated with the client device; and

adjusting a formatting of the modified message based on the device type.

12. The method of claim 1, the at least one recipient including at least one of an individual user, a group of users, connections on the social network, and all public users.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

establishing a connection to a proxy server, the proxy server configured to receive messages from a message server;

receiving a message from the proxy server;

identifying an indication of an option to share a network link contained in the received message;

causing display of the option to share the network link via a social network to a user without following the network link wherein sharing the network link via the social network includes posting the network link on an update feed of the user for at least one recipient to view the network link;

determining, using one or more processors, whether the user selected the option to share the network link; and

responsive to determining that the user selected the option to share the network link, communicating the determination to the proxy server; and

receiving an indication from the client device that the user selected the option to share the network link with at least one recipient.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a second user with which the network link will be shared.

15. The method of claim 14, the second user being identified by the user.

16. The method of claim 13, the option to share a network link including identification of a plurality of available communication media to share the network link.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

identifying an indication of an option to comment on the network link contained in the received message; and

causing display of the option to comment on the network link to a user.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

identifying an indication of an option to mark the network link for future access by the user; and

causing display of the option to mark the network link to a user.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a memory to store data associated with messages received from a proxy server; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to;

receive a message from the proxy server;

identify a network link contained in the received message, the network link associated with shareable content;

modify the received message to indicate, to a user of a client device, an option to share the network link with at least one recipient via a social network, wherein sharing the network link via the social network includes posting the network link on an update feed of the user for at least one recipient to view the network link, the option to share the network link presented without following the network link; and

communicate the modified message to the client device; and

receive an indication from the client device that the user selected the option to share the network link with at least one recipient.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, the one or more processors further configured to share the network link with the at least one recipient.