Indicating recent content publication activity by a user

• US 7,987,198 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Agrawal, Rakesh, Granito, Jennifer, Glover, Carol A., Greenberg, Steven, Armstrong, Christopher, Sommers, Michael, Dunham, Lark, Keister, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): AL HASHEMI, SANA A
• Application Number:
  US12/707,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20100146054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 707/781, 707/782, 707/784, 707/786
• US Class Current: 707/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• 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 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

Collecting and distributing information related to recent content publication activity of an instant messaging (IM) user provides other users in a network with timely, relevant information about people known to the user or within the same social network. A user participating in a social network can quickly and efficiently perceive new information related to other users (referred to as co-users) in a social network by reviewing the co-users'"'"' recent content publication activity. A user may be made able to do so without requiring the co-user to send a communication directly to the user regarding the new facts or new content, and also without requiring the user to actively browse or request information about the co-user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for indicating recent content publication activity, the method comprising:

receiving from a publishing online identity an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity;

accessing, from a storage device, co-user online identifiers that are associated with the publishing online identity and that are included by the publishing online identity in a co-user list;

determining an identifier for a second online identity which is included in the co-user list;

determining, from publication preference information associated with the publishing online identity, whether the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity engaged in by the publishing online identity with the second online identity; and

based on having determined that the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity engaged in by the publishing online identity with the second online identity, transmitting to the second online identity an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in the recent content publication activity.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving information that indicates an activity type associated with the recent content publication activity; and

selecting a display representation of the activity type for transmitting to the second online identity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity with the second online identity includes:

determining that the publication preference information includes an indication that the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity with a particular class of online identities to which the second online identity belongs.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity engaged in by the publishing online identity includes:

determining that the publication preference information includes a content publication activity type that is the same as the type engaged in by the publishing online identity;

or

comparing content associated with the recent content publication activity with content stored in the publication preference information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of at least one of a digital asset, a communication tool, and a community-related asset.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has performed an addition, deletion, or change to a digital asset, a communication tool, or a community-related asset.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of, or an update to, a third party service provider account owned by the publishing online identity.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling other online identities to search for recent content publication activity associated with the publishing online identity by providing at least one of a desired type of recent content publication activity, an identifier associated with recent content publication activity, and a keyword associated with the recent content publication activity.

22. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity type associated with the recent content publication activity includes creation of at least one of a user profile, an online journal, a blog, a playlist, a photograph album, and an account associated with a third party service provider.

23. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity type associated with the recent content publication activity includes an update to at least one of a user profile, an online journal entry, a blog entry, a playlist, a photograph album, and an account associated with a third party service provider.

24. The method of claim 6 wherein the particular class includes online identities other than the second online identity that are identified in a selection by the publishing online identity.

25. The method of claim 6 wherein the particular class includes particular online identities identified in a selection by the publishing online identity.

26. The method of claim 8 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a digital asset that includes an electronic file associated with the publishing online identity.

27. The method of claim 8 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a communication tool that includes an electronic implement used by the publishing online identity to communicate with other online identities and engage in social networking,

wherein social networking occurs if the publishing online identity communicates with other online identities, views digital assets associated with other online identities, or shares digital assets with other online identities.

28. The method of claim 8 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a community-related asset that includes content shared among the publishing online identity and other online identities.

32. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

transmitting to the second online identity a display representation of the activity type, including at least one of an image, an animation, a sound, a pop-up, text, scrolling text, and a scrolling image.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising selectively enabling other online identities to view the recent content publication activity by manipulating the display representation.

2. A computer-implemented method for indicating recent content publication activity, the method comprising:

receiving from a publishing online identity an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity, and an indication of an activity type associated with the recent content publication activity;

accessing, from a storage device, co-user online identifiers that are associated with the publishing online identity and that are included by the publishing online identity in a co-user list;

determining an identifier for a second online identity which is included in the co-user list;

determining, from publication preference information associated with the publishing online identity, whether the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity of the activity type engaged in by the publishing online identity with the second online identity; and

based on having determined that the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity of the activity type engaged in by the publishing online identity with the second online identity, transmitting to the second online identity an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in the recent content publication activity of the activity type.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity with the second online identity includes:

determining that the publication preference information includes an indication that the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity with a particular class of online identities to which the second online identity belongs.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein determining whether the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity engaged in by the publishing online identity includes:

determining that the publication preference information includes a content publication activity type that is the same as the type engaged in by the publishing online identity;

or

comparing content associated with the recent content publication activity with content stored in the publication preference information.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of at least one of a digital asset, a communication tool, and a community-related asset.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has performed an addition, deletion, or change to a digital asset, a communication tool, or a community-related asset.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of, or an update to, a third party service provider account owned by the publishing online identity.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein the activity type associated with the recent content publication activity includes creation of at least one of a user profile, an online journal, a blog, a playlist, a photograph album, and an account associated with a third party service provider.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein the activity type associated with the recent content publication activity includes an update to at least one of a user profile, an online journal entry, a blog entry, a playlist, a photograph album, and an account associated with a third party service provider.

19. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

transmitting to the second online identity a display representation of the activity type, including at least one of an image, an animation, a sound, a pop-up, text, scrolling text, and a scrolling image.

20. The method of claim 2 further comprising selectively enabling other online identities to view the recent content publication activity by manipulating the display representation.

21. The method of claim 2 further comprising enabling other online identities to search for recent content publication activity associated with the publishing online identity by providing at least one of a desired type of recent content publication activity, an identifier associated with recent content publication activity, and a keyword associated with the recent content publication activity.

29. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a digital asset associated with the publishing online identity.

30. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a communication tool that includes an electronic implement used by the publishing online identity to communicate with other online identities and engage in social networking,

wherein social networking occurs if the publishing online identity communicates with other online identities, views digital assets associated with other online identities, or shares digital assets with other online identities.

31. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity includes:

receiving an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in creation of a community-related asset that includes content shared among the publishing online identity and other online identities.

3. A system for indicating recent content publication activity, the system comprising:

one or more processing elements; and

a computer memory storage system storing instructions that, when executed by one or more of the processing elements, cause the processing elements to;

receive from a publishing online identity an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity;

access co-user online identifiers that are associated with the publishing online identity and that are included by the publishing online identity in a co-user list;

determine an identifier for a second online identity which is included in the co-user list;

determine, from publication preference information associated with the publishing online identity, whether the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity engaged in by the publishing online identity with the second online identity; and

based on having determined that the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity engaged in by the publishing online identity with the second online identity, transmit to the second online identity an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in the recent content publication activity.

4. A system for indicating recent content publication activity, the system comprising:

one or more processing elements; and

a computer memory storage system storing instructions that, when executed by one or more of the processing elements, cause the processing elements to;

receive from a publishing online identity an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in recent content publication activity, and an indication of an activity type associated with the recent content publication activity;

access co-user online identifiers that are associated with the publishing online identity and that are included by the publishing online identity in a co-user list;

determine an identifier for a second online identity which is included in the co-user list;

determine, from publication preference information associated with the publishing online identity, whether the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity of the activity type engaged in by the publishing online identity with the second online identity; and

based on having determined that the publishing online identity desires to share recent content publication activity of the activity type engaged in by the publishing online identity with the second online identity, transmit to the second online identity an indication that the publishing online identity has engaged in the recent content publication activity of the activity type.