Systems and methods for relaying messages in a communications system

• US 9,948,596 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2017
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Monica
• Primary Examiner(s): Hussain, Imad
• Application Number:
  US15/434,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20170163593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 709206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for relaying messages in a communications system. In one aspect, a method is performed at a server having one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes: (1) obtaining a plurality of incoming messages; (2) identifying one or more messages having popularity above a first threshold of popularity from among the plurality of incoming messages, the one or more messages obtained from a first user; (3) receiving a feedback message from a second user about at least one of: the first user and a first message of the one or more messages; and (4) sending the feedback message from the second user to a plurality of users, where the plurality of users track at least one of: the first user and the first message.

Claims

1. A method for relaying messages in a communication system, comprising:

at a server having one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors;

obtaining a plurality of incoming messages via a messaging application of the communication system;

identifying one or more messages having popularity above a first threshold of popularity from among the plurality of incoming messages in the communication system, the one or more messages obtained from a first user;

receiving via the messaging application of the communication system a feedback message from a second user of the communication system about at least one of;

the first user and a first message of the one or more messages; and

sending via the messaging application of the communication system the feedback message from the second user to a plurality of users of the communication system, wherein the plurality of users track at least one of;

the first user and the first message, and wherein the sending is performed independent of any specific request from any of the plurality of users.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more additional feedback messages from at least a subset of the plurality of users about at least one of;

the first user and the first message; and

sending to the plurality of users at least a subset of the one or more additional feedback messages.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second feedback message from the second user about a second message of the one or more messages, distinct from the first message; and

sending to the plurality of users the second message and the second feedback message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more messages comprise a first set of messages, and the method further comprises:

identifying a second set of one or more messages having popularity above the first threshold of popularity from among the plurality of incoming messages, the second set of one or more messages obtained from a third user;

receiving a second feedback message from the second user about at least one of;

the third user and a first message of the second set of messages; and

sending to the plurality of users the first message of the second set of messages and the second feedback message from the second user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more messages comprise a first set of messages, and the method further comprises:

identifying a second set of one or more messages having popularity above the first threshold of popularity from among the plurality of incoming messages, the second set of one or more messages obtained from a third user;

receiving a feedback message from a fourth user about at least one of;

the third user and a second message of the second set of messages; and

sending to the plurality of users the second message and the feedback message from the fourth user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more responses to the first message or the feedback message from at least a subset of the plurality of users; and

sending the one or more responses to the plurality of users.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a message having popularity above the first threshold of popularity comprises determining whether the message exceeds the first threshold of popularity based on feedback from users of the communication system for the message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback message includes message content from the second user, and wherein sending the feedback message includes sending the message content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of incoming messages includes a second message having a popularity below the first threshold of popularity;

and

the method further comprises;

receiving a second feedback message from a third user of the communication system about the second message; and

forgoing sending the feedback message from the third user to the plurality of users.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of incoming messages are real-time messages.

11. A computer system of a communication system, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more computer programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more computer programs including instructions for;

obtaining a plurality of incoming messages via a messaging application of the communication system;

identifying one or more messages having popularity above a first threshold of popularity from among the plurality of incoming messages in the communication system, the one or more messages obtained from a first user;

receiving via the messaging application of the communication system a feedback message from a second user of the communication system about at least one of;

the first user and a first message of the one or more messages; and

sending via the messaging application of the communication system the feedback message from the second user to a plurality of users of the communication system, wherein the plurality of users track at least one of;

the first user and the first message, and wherein the sending is performed independent of any specific request from any of the plurality of users.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving one or more additional feedback messages from at least a subset of the plurality of users about at least one of;

the first user and the first message; and

sending to the plurality of users at least a subset of the one or more additional feedback messages.

13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving a second feedback message from the second user about a second message of the one or more messages, distinct from the first message; and

sending to the plurality of users the second message and the second feedback message.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more messages comprise a first set of messages, and wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

identifying a second set of one or more messages having popularity above the first threshold of popularity from among the plurality of incoming messages, the second set of one or more messages obtained from a third user;

receiving a feedback message from a fourth user about at least one of;

the third user and a second message of the second set of messages; and

sending to the plurality of users the second message and the feedback message from the fourth user.

15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving one or more responses to the first message or the feedback message from at least a subset of the plurality of users; and

sending the one or more responses to the plurality of users.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a computer system of a communication system, the one or more programs including instructions for:

obtaining a plurality of incoming messages via a messaging application of the communication system;

identifying one or more messages having popularity above a first threshold of popularity from among the plurality of incoming messages in the communication system, the one or more messages obtained from a first user;

receiving via the messaging application of the communication system a feedback message from a second user of the communication system about at least one of;

the first user and a first message of the one or more messages; and

sending via the messaging application of the communication system the feedback message from the second user to a plurality of users of the communication system, wherein the plurality of users track at least one of;

the first user and the first message, and wherein the sending is performed independent of any specific request from any of the plurality of users.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving one or more additional feedback messages from at least a subset of the plurality of users about at least one of;

the first user and the first message; and

sending to the plurality of users at least a subset of the one or more additional feedback messages.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving a second feedback message from the second user about a second message of the one or more messages, distinct from the first message; and

sending to the plurality of users the second message and the second feedback message.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more messages comprise a first set of messages, and wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

identifying a second set of one or more messages having popularity above the first threshold of popularity from among the plurality of incoming messages, the second set of one or more messages obtained from a third user;

receiving a second feedback message from the second user about at least one of;

the third user and a first message of the second set of messages; and

sending to the plurality of users the first message of the second set of messages and the second feedback message from the second user.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving one or more responses to the first message or the feedback message from at least a subset of the plurality of users; and

sending the one or more responses to the plurality of users.