Method, system, and graphical user interface for meeting-spot maps for online communications

• US 8,171,424 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Karam, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stitt, Erik
• Application Number:
  US11/323,090
• Time in Patent Office: 2,314 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/764, 715/853, 715/851, 707/100, 345/758, 345/835, 345/594, 345/636
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A method, system, and graphical user interface for meeting-spot maps for online communications are disclosed. A “meeting spot” is a specific physical location where two or more people can arrange to meet face to face. One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which a server computer sends information corresponding to a map to a client device and sends information corresponding to a plurality of icons for meeting spots to be overlaid on the map. In some embodiments, selection of an icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device initiates the display of information about other users that have also selected the icon. In some embodiments, selection of an icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device initiates online communications with one or more other users that have also selected the icon.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a server computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors,

sending information corresponding to a map to a client device; and

sending information corresponding to a plurality of icons for meeting spots to be overlaid on the map to the client device;

wherein the plurality of icons are configured such that in response to selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device, user identifiers for other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons are displayed at the client device, wherein other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons include users who have currently selected two or more meeting spot icons that are also currently selected by the user, the two or more meeting spot icons including the first meeting spot icon, and in response to selection of a second meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by the user at the client device, user identifiers for other users who have currently selected corresponding second meeting spot icons are displayed at the client device;

receiving a request from the client device to initiate online communications with one or more respective other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons, the request corresponding to selection by the user of one or more respective user identifiers for the one or more respective other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons; and

,

initiating online communications between the user at the client device and the one or more respective other users who correspond to the one or more respective user identifiers selected by the user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising,

sending information corresponding to a communication icon for the first meeting spot to the client device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

in response to the user at the client device selecting the communication icon, providing online communications between the user and a computer corresponding to the first meeting spot.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user identifiers for the other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons include user screen names.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user identifiers for the other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons include icons representing the other users.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user identifiers for the other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons include thumbnail images representing the other users.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising filtering out one or more of the other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons based on one or more filters specified by the user.

8. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a server computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors,

sending information corresponding to a map to a client device; and

sending information corresponding to a plurality of icons for meeting spots to be overlaid on the map to the client device;

receiving meeting spot data in response to a current selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device;

determining a first individual similarity score between the user and a first individual other user that has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections;

determining a second individual similarity score between the user and a second individual other user that has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections; and

sending information concerning at least one of the first other user and the second other user to the client device for display, wherein display of information concerning a respective other user depends at least in part on a respective similarity score between the user and the respective other user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a request from the user to initiate an online communication with one or more of the other users.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8,

sending information corresponding to a communication icon for the first meeting spot to the client device.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

in response to the user at the client device selecting the communication icon, providing online communications between the user and a computer corresponding to the first meeting spot.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the information concerning at least one of the first other user and the second other user includes user identification information.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the information concerning at least one of the first other user and the second other user includes one or more of:

user screen names, icons, thumbnail images, and a list of identifiers representing the other users.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising filtering out one or more other users based on one or more filters specified by the user.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the information concerning a respective other user comprises a user identifier for the respective other user.

15. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a client device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors,

displaying a map;

displaying a plurality of icons for meeting spots overlaid on the map; and

in response to a current selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device, displaying user identifiers for at least a set of other users,

wherein the set of other users is selected from a superset of other users based at least in part on respective individual similarity scores between the user and respective other individual users in the superset of other users,

wherein a first individual similarity score between the user and a first other individual user in the superset of other users is based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the first other individual user has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, and wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections; and

wherein a second individual similarity score between the user and a second other individual user in the superset of other users is based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the second other individual user has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections.

16. A graphical user interface on a computer with a memory and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

a map; and

a plurality of icons for meeting spots overlaid on the map;

wherein;

the plurality of icons are configured such that in response to a current selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the computer, user identifiers for a set of other users are displayed;

the set of other users is selected from a superset of other users based at least in part on respective individual similarity scores between the user and respective other individual users in the superset of other users;

a first individual similarity score between the user and a first other individual user in the superset of other users is based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the first other individual user has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections; and

a second individual similarity score between the user and a second other individual user in the superset of other users is based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the second other individual user has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections.

17. A system comprising at least one server, wherein the at least one server comprises:

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

sending information corresponding to a map to a client device; and

sending information corresponding to a plurality of icons for meeting spots to be overlaid on the map to the client device;

receiving meeting spot data in response to a current selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device;

determining a first individual similarity score between the user and a first other individual user that has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections;

determining a second individual similarity score between the user and a second other individual user that has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections; and

sending information concerning at least one of the first other user and the second other user to the client device for display, wherein display of information concerning a respective other user depends at least in part on a respective similarity score between the user and the respective other user.

19. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a client device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors,

displaying a map;

displaying a plurality of icons for meeting spots overlaid on the map; and

in response to a current selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device, displaying user identifiers for at least a set of other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons, wherein other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons include users who have currently selected two or more meeting spot icons that are also currently selected by the user, the two or more meeting spot icons including the first meeting spot icon;

in response to a current selection of a second meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by the user at the client device, displaying user identifiers for at least a set of other users who have currently selected corresponding second meeting spot icons; and

in response to receiving a selection by the user of one or more respective user identifiers for the one or more respective other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons, initiating online communications between the user at the client device and the one or more respective other users who correspond to the one or more respective user identifiers selected by the user.

20. A system comprising at least one server, wherein the at least one server comprises:

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

sending information corresponding to a map to a client device; and

sending information corresponding to a plurality of icons for meeting spots to be overlaid on the map to the client device;

wherein the plurality of icons are configured such that in response to selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device, user identifiers for other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons are displayed at the client device, wherein other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons include users who have currently selected two or more meeting spot icons that are also currently selected by the user, the two or more meeting spot icons including the first meeting spot icon, and in response to selection of a second meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by the user at the client device, user identifiers for other users who have currently selected corresponding second meeting spot icons are displayed at the client device;

receiving a request from the client device to initiate online communications with one or more respective other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons, the request corresponding to selection by the user of one or more respective user identifiers for the one or more respective other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons; and

,

initiating online communications between the user at the client device and the one or more respective other users who correspond to the one or more respective user identifiers selected by the user.

21. A client device comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a map;

displaying a plurality of icons for meeting spots overlaid on the map; and

in response to a current selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device, displaying user identifiers for at least a set of other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons, wherein other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons include users who have currently selected two or more meeting spot icons that are also currently selected by the user, the two or more meeting spot icons including the first meeting spot icon;

in response to a current selection of a second meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by the user at the client device, displaying user identifiers for at least a set of other users who have currently selected corresponding second meeting spot icons; and

in response to receiving a selection by the user of one or more respective user identifiers for the one or more respective other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons, initiating online communications between the user at the client device and the one or more respective other users who correspond to the one or more respective user identifiers selected by the user.

22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a server computer system, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

sending information corresponding to a map to a client device; and

sending information corresponding to a plurality of icons for meeting spots to be overlaid on the map to the client device;

wherein the plurality of icons are configured such that in response to selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device, user identifiers for other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons are displayed at the client device, wherein other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons include users who have currently selected two or more meeting spot icons that are also currently selected by the user, the two or more meeting spot icons including the first meeting spot icon, and in response to selection of a second meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by the user at the client device, user identifiers for other users who have currently selected corresponding second meeting spot icons are displayed at the client device;

receiving a request from the client device to initiate online communications with one or more respective other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons, the request corresponding to selection by the user of one or more respective user identifiers for the one or more respective other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons; and

,

initiating online communications between the user at the client device and the one or more respective other users who correspond to the one or more respective user identifiers selected by the user.

23. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a client device, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

displaying a map;

displaying a plurality of icons for meeting spots overlaid on the map; and

in response to a current selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device, displaying user identifiers for at least a set of other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons, wherein other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons include users who have currently selected two or more meeting spot icons that are also currently selected by the user, the two or more meeting spot icons including the first meeting spot icon;

in response to a current selection of a second meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by the user at the client device, displaying user identifiers for at least a set of other users who have currently selected corresponding second meeting spot icons; and

in response to receiving a selection by the user of one or more respective user identifiers for the one or more respective other users who have currently selected corresponding first meeting spot icons, initiating online communications between the user at the client device and the one or more respective other users who correspond to the one or more respective user identifiers selected by the user.

24. A client device comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a map;

displaying a plurality of icons for meeting spots overlaid on the map; and

in response to a current selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device, displaying user identifiers for at least a set of other users,

wherein the set of other users is selected from a superset of other users based at least in part on respective individual similarity scores between the user and respective other individual users in the superset of other users,

wherein a first individual similarity score between the user and a first other individual user in the superset of other users is based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the first other individual user has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, and wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections; and

wherein a second individual similarity score between the user and a second other individual user in the superset of other users is based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the second other individual user has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections.

25. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a server computer system, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

sending information corresponding to a map to a client device; and

sending information corresponding to a plurality of icons for meeting spots to be overlaid on the map to the client device;

receiving meeting spot data in response to a current selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device;

determining a first individual similarity score between the user and a first individual other user that has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections;

determining a second individual similarity score between the user and a second individual other user that has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections; and

sending information concerning at least one of the first other user and the second other user to the client device for display, wherein display of information concerning a respective other user depends at least in part on a respective similarity score between the user and the respective other user.

26. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a client device, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

displaying a map;

displaying a plurality of icons for meeting spots overlaid on the map; and

in response to a current selection of a first meeting spot icon in the plurality of icons by a user at the client device, displaying user identifiers for at least a set of other users,

wherein the set of other users is selected from a superset of other users based at least in part on respective individual similarity scores between the user and respective other individual users in the superset of other users,

wherein a first individual similarity score between the user and a first other individual user in the superset of other users is based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the first other individual user has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, and wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections; and

wherein a second individual similarity score between the user and a second other individual user in the superset of other users is based at least in part on an overlap in their respective meeting spot selections, wherein the second other individual user has also currently selected the first meeting spot icon, wherein the overlap in their respective meeting spot selections includes at least two different common meeting spot selections.