CHAT SYSTEM WITHOUT TOPIC-SPECIFIC ROOMS

• US 20120311061A1
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Monica Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Monica
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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

Abstract

A method, system and graphical user interface for a chat system is disclosed. One aspect of certain embodiments includes sending target messages to users based on the respective selection and filtering criteria selected by the respective users instead of having users enter topic specific rooms.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a server system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the computer-implemented method comprising;

receiving and storing a plurality of messages;

identifying respective message selection criteria of a plurality of users;

based on the message selection criteria, identifying a subset of the messages as popular messages, the popular messages matching the selection criteria of a number of the plurality of users; and

sending to client systems of a second plurality of users at least a subset of the popular messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the popular messages match the selection criteria of a number of the plurality of the user in excess of a predefined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message selection criteria of the plurality of users comprise respective search queries associated with the plurality of users.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the message selection criteria of the plurality of users comprise one or more focus specifications associated with the plurality of users.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the message selection criteria of the plurality of users comprise identification of a message author.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the message selection criteria of the plurality of users comprise identification of a message source.