US20130055099A1 - Unified Messaging System with Integration of Call Log Data - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods and systems directed to a user interface having a conversations view that aggregates all the communications a given users has with his or her contacts across multiple communication means and protocols. Messages between a user and a particular contact are threaded together, regardless of their format or protocol in order to provide the user with a quick history of all communications with his or her contacts.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present disclosure relates generally to integration of multiple communication protocols between a user and a plurality of contacts into a single conversation view for each of the plurality of contacts, and, in particular, integrating the conversations view with interactions and communications on a social networking system.
BACKGROUND
• The advent of social networking, instant messaging, and ubiquitous wireless data networks allows individuals to select from a plurality of methods to communicate with their contacts. In the past, communications between individuals were limited to physical mail, wired telephones, fax, and wireless telephones. However, with the expansion of the Internet, coupled with mobile devices capable of maintaining a data connection to the Internet, users may select from a plethora of communications means, such as: cellular phone calls, e-mail to multiple accounts, multiple instant messaging protocols, twitter messages, voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls, video chats, SMS and MMS messages, social networking messages, voicemail, push-to-talk (PTT), and dedicated notification-based message clients such as the Blackberry Messenger and Kik Messenger. Typically, users are less concerned by the actual communications method used with their contacts, and more concerned with the content of the communication and to or from whom it was conveyed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 illustrates an example social networking environment.
• FIG. 2 illustrates an example interface implementing a conversations view.
• FIG. 3 illustrates an example interface for viewing a particular conversation
• FIG. 4 illustrates an example method of synchronizing offline conversation data with a social networking system.
• FIG. 5 illustrates an example network environment
• FIG. 6 illustrates an example computing system.
• FIG. 7 illustrates an example mobile device.
• The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT(S)Overview
• Particular embodiments relate to a “conversations view” presented to the user of a computing device. The conversations view aggregates all interactions between a particular user and one of his contacts over all communications media, and presents the history of the conversation in a single temporally-arranged thread.
• Implementations of the present invention extend these concepts by allowing an application, whether local to the user's device or residing at a server hosted by a social networking site, to synchronize all the user's actions on the social networking site with the local application, or all the user's device-local communications with the application residing on the social networking site. Thus the application provides a fully integrated conversation log of any communication between the user and one or more contacts.
• FIG. 1 is a high-level block diagram of an integrated messaging system according to one embodiment.FIG. 1 illustrates asocial networking system100,client devices180aand180b, wirelesscellular network300, third-party website190, third-party IM service210, third-partysocial media site220,VoIP service230,Video Service240, and other third-arty services providers250.FIG. 1 also includesoffline storage200 that is local toclient devices180aand180b.Client devices180aand180bare depicted as amobile phone180aanddesktop computer180b, but client devices180 may comprise any type of computing device, including mobile phone, laptop, netbook tablet, cable box, television, etc. The distinction between180aand180bis merely thatclient device180aconnects tonetwork170 through a wirelesscellular network300, such as GPRS-based and CDMA-based wireless networks, as well as 802.16 WiMax and long-range wireless data networks.Client devices180aand180bhave memories capable of storing call, text, and other messaging data, depicted inFIG. 1 asoffline storage200. For the purposes of this disclosure, “client device180” includes bothclient devices180aand180b.
• Client devices180aand180binteract withexternal websites190 andother service providers210,220,230,240, and250 through a web browser residing on the client device, or a dedicated application local toclient devices180aand180b. For example,client devices180aand180bmay interact with third-partyinstant messaging service210, such as Google Chat, by visiting and logging into their Gmail account via a web browser, or by installing and running a dedicated Google Talk application. Similarly,client devices180aand180bmay interact with a third-party social media site, such as Twitter, via a browser or through a dedicated Twitter application. The same follows forVoIP service230, such as Skype,Video service240, such as FaceTime or Tango, andother service providers250.Other service providers250 may include, but is not limited to, e-mail servers, other social-networking websites, shopping sites, review sites such as Yelp!, and any third-party website on which a user maintains an account to interact with content or other users. This disclosure contemplates any type of third-party service provider250 connected tonetwork170.
• A user of theclient devices180aand180binteracts with thesocial networking system100 via an application, such as a web browser or a native application, to perform operations such as browsing content, posting and sending messages, retrieving and sorting messages received from other users, and the like. Messages can be in any electronic message format such as electronic mail (“e-mail”) messages, chat messages, comments left on a user's webpage, and short message service (SMS) text messages. Messages can contain plain text, or they can contain other content such as pictures, videos, and attachments. Each user has a mailbox that includes messages that are both sent and received by the user.
• Client device180a, connected throughwireless network300, may also interact with other client devices through the circuit-switched, or non-data, portion ofwireless network300. For example, a user atclient device180amay transmit and receive a non-VoIP call to a cellular phone or landline, transmit and receive a text or multi-media message through the SMS or MMS channels, or receive push notifications through the SMS control channel.
• Additionally, thethird party website190 can also interact with thesocial networking system100 via a system-provided application programming interface (API)150. For example, the third party website can perform operations supported by the API, such as delivering messages to thesocial network system100, retrieving messages stored by thesocial networking system100, and obtaining social information about users of thesocial networking system100.
• Thesocial networking system100 comprises anobject store110, agraph information store120, and amailbox module170. Theobject store110 stores information on objects, such as users, represented in or by thesocial networking environment100. Thegraph information store120 stores information on the relationships of the objects in theobject store110. Themailbox module170 provides functionality for powering the messaging system.
• In one embodiment, themailbox module170 receives, organizes, and presents messages to/from users in thesocial networking system100 via an interactive user interface. The user interface can be, for example, a webpage that is viewed by a user with a web browser. The interactive user interface may be an application residing on the user'scomputing device180aor180b. In particular embodiments, the interactive user interface may be a combination of server and client side rendering, depending on processing and bandwidth capacity. The functionality provided by themailbox module170 includes organizing messages into conversations, quick reply, categorizing conversations, conversation states, conversation searching, new message notification, formatting of e-mails, forwarding messages between conversations, and invitation based conversion, among others. In particular embodiments, messages occurring off the social network are synchronized withmailbox module170 when theclient devices180aand180bperform a synchronize operation. In particular embodiments, all data-related messages or communications, i.e., communications requiring interaction with network-connectedentities190 and210-250 are pulled automatically through one ormore APIs50 and stored atmailbox module170. In particular embodiments, a mixture of client-push and server-pulls are used to aggregate all communications atmailbox module170. In particular embodiments, a local application onclient devices180aand180bperforms the operations ofmailbox module170 and pulls data fromsocial network100 and third-party entities190 and210-250 to mobile device180.
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of aggregating all the messages inmailbox module170. Atstep401,mobile device180aor180btransmits or receives a communication. The communication, as described above, can be over a data network, voice network, or SMS channels. The communication may be a voice call, instant message, email, SMS or MMS message, PTT message, VoIP session, video call, voicemail, message from a social media or third-party social networking site (twitter, dating web sites, web forums with private messages, etc.). Typically, where the communication does not contain any text, such as in a voice call, VoIP session, PTT message, voicemail, or video chat, client device180 generates log data after the communication session has completed. Typically the log file includes an identification of the other parties, the time and duration of the communication session, whether it was an incoming, outgoing, or missed communication, and the like. In particular embodiments, voice transcription software converts the message into text, in particular, received half-duplex communications such as PTT messages and voicemails, although transcription of full-duplex voice calls and video chats is also contemplated.
• Atstep402, theclient device180aor180bchecks whether a data connection is available. This is more pertinent to client devices oftype180aconnected tonetwork170 through a wirelesscellular network300. Often, mobile devices have limited data coverage due to interference or poor cellular reception. Thus, it is not always possible to connect tosocial networking system100 via wirelesscellular network300 andnetwork170. Although less of an issue forclient device180b, it is conceivable that a connection tonetwork170 is not immediately available, as well.
• In the case a data connection is unavailable, inStep403client devices180aand180bstore a copy of the message, or a copy of the text transcribed from a communication lacking text, or the log data for a communication lacking text, in an offline storage. Offline storage is typically the memory of client device180 itself, but this disclosure contemplates any storage means accessible by client180.
• AtStep404, client device180 waits until a data connection is available. In particular embodiments, client device180 waits a predetermined period of time before checking for a data connection. In particular embodiments, an application residing on client device180 monitors the connection betweenclient device180aand wirelesscellular network300 and notifies other applications when a data connection is available.
• AtStep405, after detecting a data connection, client device180 transmits the message, text transcribed from a communication lacking text, or log data for a communication lacking text tosocial networking system100 vianetwork170. Client device180 may connect tosocial networking system100 via a dedicated API, or though standard web protocols. In particular embodiments, only a portion of messages containing text, such as emails, are transmitted in order to save bandwidth and battery life.
• AtStep406,social networking system100 receives the communication, and inStep407, stores it in theobject store110 to be managed bymailbox module170. As stated earlier, the communication transmitted or received inStep401 may be of any suitable type, and utilize either the packet-switched data network of wirelesscellular network300, the circuit-switched (voice) channels of wirelesscellular network300, or the SMS channel of wirelesscellular network300. In particular embodiments, all data transmissions utilizing the packet-switched data network are pulled from their respective third-party servers viamailbox module170. For example, themailbox module170 could periodically transmit a request to a user's Yahoo! mail server, providing authentication credentials for the user, and pull new mail tomailbox170 before transmitting it to the user's client device180. In particular embodiments,mailbox module170 acts as a messaging gateway through which all data messages pass.
• In one embodiment, themailbox module170 aggregates messages into “conversations.” Each conversation includes messages associated with a set of users (“participants”) and includes all messages sent between users in the set. For example, assume that Adam is a user ofsocial networking system100 and Bob is one of his contacts. If Adam sends communicates with Bob, the message creates a new conversation associated with Adam and Bob. Each time Adam communicates with Bob, that new communication (whether the message itself, transcribed text, or log data) is added to the existing conversation. A conversation thus becomes a historical record of all correspondence between a set of users.
• A set of users can include two or more users. For example, if Adam sends an e-mail message to Bob and copies Charles, this message creates a new three-way conversation between Adam, Bob, and Charles. This three-way conversation is distinct from the one on one conversation between Adam and Bob that was created in the prior example. In other words, communications in the Adam-Bob conversation are not included in the Adam-Bob-Charles conversation, and vice versa.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a list of conversations according to an embodiment. Shown is an interface for browsing the conversations for a user namedDrew Hamlin205. Drew has selected to view his communications by launching the a dedicated conversations application, or accessing a link on a web page ofsocial networking system100. For didactic purposes,FIG. 2 illustrates the interface of a dedicated application, such as on a touchscreen-operated mobile phone. In particular embodiments, the interface includes an option for selecting the conversations view201, an option for browsing a list ofcontacts202, and option to browse contacts marked asfavorites203, and an option to launch thekeypad204. In particular embodiments, the interface also includes asearch bar205, which allows the user to search both contact names and the content of conversations.
• Upon selecting theconversations button201, the application opens a list of conversations220-235, arranged in this example, temporally with the most recently active conversation first. The conversations are separated into two tabs, “friends”255 and “others”260.Friends tab255 displays conversations with contacts that are also members ofsocial network100. Others tab266 displays conversations with participants who are not members ofsocial network100. For example, Drew Hamlin may have a contact stored as “Mom” in their client device180 that does not correspond to a user onsocial network100. The conversation between Drew and his mom will be displayed inothers tab260. As another example, Drew may receive a call from a telemarketer dialing from 650-555-5555, who is neither a member ofsocial network100 nor a stored contact of Drew's. However, because call log data is generated for this incoming call, the conversation between Drew and 650-555-5555 will be displayed inothers tab260.
• Thefirst conversation220 represents a conversation between six users (all members of social network100)—Drew Hamlin, Joel Seligstein, Dan Hsiao, Will Bailey, and 2 others.Conversations225,230, and235 represent conversations with individual contacts, in these examples, Grace O'Malley, Alex Chang, and James White.
• For each conversation, a brief summary of the conversation is presented in the interface. In one embodiment, the summary includes thenames240 of the conversation participants,pictures245 of the conversation participants, and anexcerpt250 from the most recent message in the conversation. In one embodiment, conversations including multiple participants do not havepictures245 to save space. The summaries are organized by time/date so that conversations with the most recent messages are placed higher in the interface. The name and/or picture of the user that the mailbox belongs to (the “mailbox owner”) is not displayed in the summary because it is understood that the mailbox only includes conversations in which the mailbox owner is a participant. In this figure,Drew Hamlin205 is the mailbox owner, so his name/picture are not shown in the summaries.
• When a conversation has a large number of participants, in one embodiment only a sub-set of the names are presented to simplify the summary. The sub-set can be any number of participants from the conversation. For example,conversation220 has six participants. In one embodiment, only the names of a sub-set of conversation participants are displayed. The name of the mailbox owner is not shown in the summary. The names of the other participants are grouped together and presented as “2 others.” Themailbox module170 can select the sub-set of names in any of a number of ways. For example, the sub-set may include the names of the participants who created the most recent messages in the conversation, the name of the participant who started the conversation, or the names of the participants that the mailbox owner has the strongest affinity for or social relationship with.
• In one embodiment, thebrief excerpt250 may be extracted from the content of the most recent message in the conversation. For example, inconversation220, theexcerpt240 includes the text “But do you always have to match your shoes . . . ” which is the most recent message from thisconversation220. In other embodiments, the brief excerpt is extracted from other information that is not message content, such as metadata associated with the essage. For example, the brief excerpt could be the title of the most recent e-mail message in the conversation.
• Users are objects in the social networking system.Object store110 includes a profile for each user that comprises a profile name, an e-mail address, a profile picture, and other identifying information. In one embodiment, the name of a participant as displayed in the summary is identified from the participant's profile. For example, an e-mail received from Dan.Hsiao@yahoo.com can be identified from information in theobject store110 as being an e-mail from the user Dan Hsiao. For example,conversation225 between Drew Hamlin and Grace O'Malley includes a video chat taking place at 11:40 PM the previous day. In particular embodiments, video chat is facilitated through third-party video service240, such as Tango. Each Tango user has a specific user ID. Thus when Drew has a video call between his Tango account and Grace O'Malley's Tango account, the application automatically identifies Grace O'Malley's Tango account associal network100 user Grace O'Malley from information stored inobject store110.
• In one embodiment, themailbox module170 aggregates messages of different formats (e-mail, SMS text, instant message) and communication protocols (voice, VoIP, video, etc.) into conversations. Each conversation thus becomes a historical record of all correspondence between a set of users regardless of the format of the messages or log data. For example, if Adam sends an online instant message to Bob and also separately sends an e-mail to Bob, both of these messages are placed into the same conversation. Similarly, if Bob leaves Adam a voicemail, an indicator of the voicemail (such as the date and time it was left), or, alternatively, transcribed text from the voicemail, will be placed into the conversation. As another example, if Adam calls Bob, the log of the call will be placed in the conversation as well.
• As an example,conversation245 between Drew Hamlin and Alex Chang includes a summary of the last communication, the text string “Dude, where'd you go?”, received the previous night at 11:30 PM. Whether this communication is a text message, e-mail, instant message, direct message from match.com, re-tweet or direct message on twitter, or voicemail is less relevant, at first glance, to Drew Hamlin compared to the actual content of the message and when it was received. Thus the conversations window groups all communications, irrespective of format or protocol, in a single history for each of the user's real-world contacts.
• To accomplish this, for each message or log data received bymailbox module170 inStep406, themailbox module170 identifies the sender and recipient of the message by comparing identifiers for the message to information in a social networking database. Once the sender and recipient are identified, the message is placed into the appropriate conversation that is associated with these two users.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a conversation that aggregates different message formats according to an embodiment. The user can reach this display by selecting one of the conversations in the interface ofFIG. 2. Optionally, information pulled fromuser store111 may populate aninformation panel350 for a user. In particular embodiments, the interface includes buttons tomessage355, via a default messaging protocol (for example, SMS to the contact's primary phone number), and call360, via a primary phone number, the contact. In particular embodiments, themore actions button365 launches a sub-menu with various other methods of communicating with the contact, such as e-mail addresses, alternative phone numbers, IM handles, etc.
• Shown is a one on one conversation between user Drew Hamlin and James White that comprises of a series ofmessages315 of different formats. Icons within each message indicate the format that the message was delivered in.Icon320 indicates that the first message is an e-mail.Icon325 indicates the e-mail was marked by James as “urgent.”Icon340 is an icon of a paperclip, representing that the email includes an attachment.Icon325 indicates that the second message is a text message sent from a phone.Icon330 indicates that the third group of messages are instant messages, in particular from the American Online Instant Messenger (AIM) service.Icon335 indicates that there was an incoming phone call from James White, and the entry associated withicon335 indicates that the call was received yesterday at 11:00 AM and lasted 4 minutes, 53 seconds.
• The conversation can be updated live as new messages are received that update the conversation. As discussed above, a conversation is akin to a historical record of all correspondence between a set of users. Through the interface, a mailbox owner can scroll backwards in time to view the entire history of the messages in the conversation. In one embodiment, some of the messages can have attachments such as pictures, videos, documents, etc. The pictures and video can be shown in the interface with a preview of the attachment instead of just a link to the attachment. For example, an attached picture can be shown in the interface with a thumbnail of the picture. For the mailbox owner, the conversation appears to include both outgoing and incoming messages and log data.
• In one embodiment, conversations that have more than two participants behave like chat rooms. A conversation participant can send a message to the conversation, which is then distributed by themailbox module170 to all conversation participants. In particular embodiments, conference calling, multi-participant VoiP sessions, and multi-participant video chat sessions are represented as chat rooms using log data in lieu of messages.
• In one embodiment, themailbox module170 may arrange conversations based on importance rather than temporally. By default, the system determines the placement for a conversation based on a number of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to:
• The nature of a social relationship between a mailbox owner and an object that is linked to the messages in the conversation. This includes a social relationship (e.g., friends, friends of friends, liking a page) between the mailbox owner and any of the participants in the conversation.
• Whether the e-mail is signed, such as through Sender Policy Framework (SPF) or Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM).
• Whether any messages in the conversation contain a known virus.
• Whether any messages in the conversation contain known spam.
• Whether the conversation is initiated by a sender with a bad reputation (e.g., have other users blocked the sender?).
• Whether the conversation is initiated by an object (e.g., user, page, event, or group) of thesocial networking system100.
• Whether the conversation includes messages with attachments.
• Whether the conversation is initiated by an e-mail address that the mailbox owner has white-listed or black-listed.
• Mailbox module170 may also adjust the importance of a conversation based on the degree of “closeness” between the mailbox owner and the conversation participant or participants. For example, two users who frequently exchange communications may indicate that messages from the frequently engaged user is more important than a message from a less-frequently engaged user. In particular embodiments, users who interact on the social network (through pokes, likes, comments, etc.) more frequently are deemed to be more important. In particular embodiments, users who have longer communication duration (such as calls, video, etc.) are deemed to be more important. In particular embodiments, the user may specify groups, such as “family”, “work”, and the like, and rank the groups' relative importance.
• While the foregoing embodiments may be implemented in a variety of network configurations, the following illustrates an example network environment for didactic, and not limiting, purposes.FIG. 5 illustrates anexample network environment500.Network environment500 includes anetwork510 coupling one ormore servers520 and one ormore clients530 to each other.Network environment500 also includes one ormore data storage540 linked to one ormore servers520. Particular embodiments may be implemented innetwork environment500. For example, socialnetworking system frontend120 may be written in software programs hosted by one ormore servers520. For example, event database102 may be stored in one ormore storage540. In particular embodiments,network510 is an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, or anothernetwork510 or a combination of two or moresuch networks510. The present disclosure contemplates anysuitable network510.
• One ormore links550 couple aserver520 or aclient530 tonetwork510. In particular embodiments, one ormore links550 each includes one or more wired, wireless, oroptical links550. In particular embodiments, one ormore links550 each includes an intranet, an extranet, a VPN, a LAN, a WLAN, a WAN, a MAN, a portion of the Internet, or anotherlink550 or a combination of two or moresuch links550. The present disclosure contemplates anysuitable links550coupling servers520 andclients530 tonetwork510.
• In particular embodiments, eachserver520 may be a unitary server or may be a distributed server spanning multiple computers or multiple datacenters.Servers520 may be of various types, such as, for example and without limitation, web server, news server, mail server, message server, advertising server, file server, application server, exchange server, database server, or proxy server. In particular embodiments, eachserver520 may include hardware, software, or embedded logic components or a combination of two or more such components for carrying out the appropriate functionalities implemented or supported byserver520. For example, a web server is generally capable of hosting websites containing web pages or particular elements of web pages. More specifically, a web server may host HTML files or other file types, or may dynamically create or constitute files upon a request, and communicate them toclients530 in response to HTTP or other requests fromclients530. A mail server is generally capable of providing electronic mail services tovarious clients530. A database server is generally capable of providing an interface for managing data stored in one or more data stores.
• In particular embodiments, one or more data storages540 may be communicatively linked to one ormore servers520 via one ormore links550. In particular embodiments, data storages540 may be used to store various types of information. In particular embodiments, the information stored indata storages540 may be organized according to specific data structures. In particular embodiment, eachdata storage540 may be a relational database. Particular embodiments may provide interfaces that enableservers520 orclients530 to manage, e.g., retrieve, modify, add, or delete, the information stored indata storage540.
• In particular embodiments, eachclient530 may be an electronic device including hardware, software, or embedded logic components or a combination of two or more such components and capable of carrying out the appropriate functions implemented or supported byclient530. For example and without limitation, aclient530 may be a desktop computer system, a notebook computer system, a netbook computer system, a handheld electronic device, or a mobile telephone. The present disclosure contemplates anysuitable clients530. Aclient530 may enable a network user atclient530 to accessnetwork530. Aclient530 may enable its user to communicate with other users atother clients530.
• Aclient530 may have aweb browser532, such as MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, GOOGLE CHROME or MOZILLA FIREFOX, and may have one or more add-ons, plug-ins, or other extensions, such as TOOLBAR or YAHOO TOOLBAR. A user atclient530 may enter a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or other address directing theweb browser532 to aserver520, and theweb browser532 may generate a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request and communicate the HTTP request toserver520.Server520 may accept the HTTP request and communicate toclient530 one or more Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) files responsive to the HTTP request.Client530 may render a web page based on the HTML files fromserver520 for presentation to the user. The present disclosure contemplates any suitable web page files. As an example and not by way of limitation, web pages may render from HTML files, Extensible Hyper Text Markup Language (XHTML) files, or Extensible Markup Language (XML) files, according to particular needs. Such pages may also execute scripts such as, for example and without limitation, those written in JAVASCRIPT, JAVA, MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT, combinations of markup language and scripts such as AJAX (Asynchronous JAVASCRIPT and XML), and the like. Herein, reference to a web page encompasses one or more corresponding web page files (which a browser may use to render the web page) and vice versa, where appropriate.
• FIG. 6 illustrates anexample computer system600, which may be used with some embodiments of the present invention. This disclosure contemplates any suitable number ofcomputer systems600. This disclosure contemplatescomputer system600 taking any suitable physical form. As example and not by way of limitation,computer system600 may be an embedded computer system, a system-on-chip (SOC), a single-board computer system (SBC) (such as, for example, a computer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module (SOM)), a desktop computer system, a laptop or notebook computer system, an interactive kiosk, a mainframe, a mesh of computer systems, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a server, or a combination of two or more of these. Where appropriate,computer system600 may include one ormore computer systems600; be unitary or distributed; span multiple locations; span multiple machines; or reside in a cloud, which may include one or more cloud components in one or more networks. Where appropriate, one ormore computer systems600 may perform without substantial spatial or temporal limitation one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. As an example and not by way of limitation, one ormore computer systems600 may perform in real time or in batch mode one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. One ormore computer systems600 may perform at different times or at different locations one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein, where appropriate.
• In particular embodiments,computer system600 includes aprocessor602,memory604,storage606, an input/output (I/O)interface608, acommunication interface610, and abus612. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular computer system having a particular number of particular components in a particular arrangement, this disclosure contemplates any suitable computer system having any suitable number of any suitable components in any suitable arrangement.
• In particular embodiments,processor602 includes hardware for executing instructions, such as those making up a computer program. As an example and not by way of limitation, to execute instructions,processor602 may retrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internal register, an internal cache,memory604, orstorage606; decode and execute them; and then write one or more results to an internal register, an internal cache,memory604, orstorage606. In particular embodiments,processor602 may include one or more internal caches for data, instructions, or addresses. The present disclosure contemplatesprocessor602 including any suitable number of any suitable internal caches, where appropriate. As an example and not by way of limitation,processor602 may include one or more instruction caches, one or more data caches, and one or more translation look-aside buffers (TLBs). Instructions in the instruction caches may be copies of instructions inmemory604 orstorage606, and the instruction caches may speed up retrieval of those instructions byprocessor602. Data in the data caches may be copies of data inmemory604 orstorage606 for instructions executing atprocessor602 to operate on; the results of previous instructions executed atprocessor602 for access by subsequent instructions executing atprocessor602 or for writing tomemory604 orstorage606; or other suitable data. The data caches may speed up read or write operations byprocessor602. The TLBs may speed up virtual-address translation forprocessor602. In particular embodiments,processor602 may include one or more internal registers for data, instructions, or addresses. The present disclosure contemplatesprocessor602 including any suitable number of any suitable internal registers, where appropriate. Where appropriate,processor602 may include one or more arithmetic logic units (ALUs); be a multi-core processor; or include one ormore processors602. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular processor, this disclosure contemplates any suitable processor.
• In particular embodiments,memory604 includes main memory for storing instructions forprocessor602 to execute or data forprocessor602 to operate on. As an example and not by way of limitation,computer system600 may load instructions fromstorage606 or another source (such as, for example, another computer system600) tomemory604.Processor602 may then load the instructions frommemory604 to an internal register or internal cache. To execute the instructions,processor602 may retrieve the instructions from the internal register or internal cache and decode them. During or after execution of the instructions,processor602 may write one or more results (which may be intermediate or final results) to the internal register or internal cache.Processor602 may then write one or more of those results tomemory604. In particular embodiments,processor602 executes only instructions in one or more internal registers or internal caches or in memory604 (as opposed tostorage606 or elsewhere) and operates only on data in one or more internal registers or internal caches or in memory604 (as opposed tostorage606 or elsewhere). One or more memory buses (which may each include an address bus and a data bus) may coupleprocessor602 tomemory604.Bus612 may include one or more memory buses, as described below. In particular embodiments, one or more memory management units (MMUs) reside betweenprocessor602 andmemory604 and facilitate accesses tomemory604 requested byprocessor602. In particular embodiments,memory604 includes random access memory (RAM). This RAM may be volatile memory, where appropriate Where appropriate, this RAM may be dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). Moreover, where appropriate, this RAM may be single-ported or multi-ported RAM. The present disclosure contemplates any suitable RAM.Memory604 may include one ormore memories602, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates particular memory, this disclosure contemplates any suitable memory.
• In particular embodiments,storage606 includes mass storage for data or instructions. As an example and not by way of limitation,storage606 may include an HDD, a floppy disk drive, flash memory, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, magnetic tape, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or a combination of two or more of these.Storage606 may include removable or non-removable (or fixed) media, where appropriate.Storage606 may be internal or external tocomputer system600, where appropriate. In particular embodiments,storage606 is non-volatile, solid-state memory. In particular embodiments,storage606 includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate, this ROM may be mask-programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), electrically alterable ROM (EAROM), or flash memory or a combination of two or more of these. This disclosure contemplatesmass storage606 taking any suitable physical form.Storage606 may include one or more storage control units facilitating communication betweenprocessor602 andstorage606, where appropriate. Where appropriate,storage606 may include one ormore storages606. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates particular storage, this disclosure contemplates any suitable storage.
• In particular embodiments, I/O interface608 includes hardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces for communication betweencomputer system600 and one or more I/O devices.Computer system600 may include one or more of these I/O devices, where appropriate. One or more of these I/O devices may enable communication between a person andcomputer system600. As an example and not by way of limitation, an I/O device may include a keyboard, keypad, microphone, monitor, mouse, printer, scanner, speaker, still camera, stylus, tablet, touch screen, trackball, video camera, another suitable I/O device or a combination of two or more of these. An I/O device may include one or more sensors. This disclosure contemplates any suitable I/O devices and any suitable I/O interfaces608 for them. Where appropriate, I/O interface608 may include one or more device or softwaredrivers enabling processor602 to drive one or more of these I/O devices. I/O interface608 may include one or more I/O interfaces608, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular I/O interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitable I/O interface.
• In particular embodiments,communication interface610 includes hardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces for communication (such as, for example, packet-based communication) betweencomputer system600 and one or moreother computer systems600 or one or more networks. As an example and not by way of limitation,communication interface610 may include a network interface controller (NIC) or network adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire-based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapter for communicating with a wireless network, such as a WI-FI network. This disclosure contemplates any suitable network and anysuitable communication interface610 for it. As an example and not by way of limitation,computer system600 may communicate with an ad hoc network, a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), or one or more portions of the Internet or a combination of two or more of these. One or more portions of one or more of these networks may be wired or wireless. As an example,computer system600 may communicate with a wireless PAN (WPAN) (such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH WPAN), a WI-FI network, a WI-MAX network, a cellular telephone network (such as, for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network), or other suitable wireless network or a combination of two or more of these.Computer system600 may include anysuitable communication interface610 for any of these networks, where appropriate.Communication interface610 may include one ormore communication interfaces610, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular communication interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitable communication interface.
• In particular embodiments,bus612 includes hardware, software, or both coupling components ofcomputer system600 to each other. As an example and not by way of limitation,bus612 may include an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or other graphics bus, an Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, a front-side bus (FSB), a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT) interconnect, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an INFINIBAND interconnect, a low-pin-count (LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, a PCI-Express (PCI-X) bus, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association local (VLB) bus, or another suitable bus or a combination of two or more of these.Bus612 may include one ormore buses612, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular bus, this disclosure contemplates any suitable bus or interconnect.
• The client-side functionality described above can be implemented as a series of instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium that, when executed, cause a programmable processor to implement the operations described above. While the client device122 may be implemented in a variety of different hardware and computing systems,FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of the main components of an example computing platform702, according to various particular embodiments. Multipoint sensing devices generally include acontroller704 which may comprise a microcontroller or one or more processors configured to execute instructions and to carry out operations associated with a computing platform. In various embodiments,controller704 may be implemented as a single-chip, multiple chips and/or other electrical components including one or more integrated circuits and printed circuit boards.Controller704 may optionally contain a cache memory unit for temporary local storage of instructions, data, or computer addresses. By way of example, using instructions retrieved from memory,controller704 may control the reception and manipulation of input and output data between components of computing platform702.
• Controller704 together with a suitable operating system may operate to execute instructions in the form of computer code and produce and use data. By way of example and not by way of limitation, the operating system may be Windows-based, Mac-based, or Unix or Linux-based, or Symbian-based, among other suitable operating systems. The operating system, other computer code (including control client708 described below) and/or data may be physically stored within amemory block706 that is operatively coupled tocontroller704.
• Memory block706 encompasses one or more storage media and generally provides a place to store computer code (e.g., software and/or firmware) and data that are used by the computing platform702. By way of example,memory block706 may include various tangible computer-readable storage media including Read-Only Memory (ROM) and/or Random-Access Memory (RAM). As is well known in the art, ROM acts to transfer data and instructions uni-directionally tocontroller704, and RAM is used typically to transfer data and instructions in a bi-directional manner.Memory block706 may also include one or more fixed storage devices in the form of, by way of example, solid-state hard disk drives (HDDs), among other suitable forms of memory coupled bi-directionally tocontroller704. Information may also reside on a removable storage medium loaded into or installed in multipoint sensing devices when needed. By way of example, any of a number of suitable memory cards may be loaded into computing platform702 on a temporary or permanent basis.
• Controller704 is also generally coupled to a variety of interfaces such as graphics control, video interface, input interface, output interface, and storage interface, and network interface, and these interfaces in turn are coupled to the appropriate devices. In certain embodiment,Controller704 may connected to aninput structure714 anddisplay716 may be provided together, such an in the case of a touchscreen where a touch sensitive mechanism is provided in conjunction with thedisplay716. In such embodiments, the user may select or interact with displayed interface elements via the touch sensitive mechanism. In this way, the displayed interface may provide interactive functionality, allowing a user to navigate the displayed interface by touching thedisplay716.
• Electric signals (e.g., analog) may be produced bymicrophone710 and fed toearpiece712.Controller704 may receive instruction signals frominput structure714 and control the operation ofdisplay716. By way of example,display716 may incorporate liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED), Interferometric modulator display (IMOD), or any other suitable display technology. Audio signals may be transmitted and received by means of anantenna718 that may be connected through aradio interface720 or audio input interface such as microphone724 to codec722 configured to process signals under control ofcontroller704. Additionally, multipoint sensing devices may be poweredpower source732.
• Mobile device may also include one or more user input devices734 (other than input structure714) that are operatively coupled to thecontroller704. Generally, input devices734 are configured to transfer data, commands and responses from the outside world into multipoint sensing devices. By way of example, mobile device may include a keyboard or mouse. Input devices734 may also include one or more hard buttons.
• Display device716 is generally configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) that provides an easy to use visual interface between a user of the computing platform702 and the operating system or application(s) running on the mobile device. Generally, the GUI presents programs, files and operational options with graphical images. During operation, the user may select and activate various graphical images displayed on thedisplay716 in order to initiate functions and tasks associated therewith.
• Herein, reference to a computer-readable storage medium encompasses one or more non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage media possessing structure. As an example and not by way of limitation, a computer-readable storage medium may include a semiconductor-based or other integrated circuit (IC) (such, as for example, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific IC (ASIC)), a hard disk, an HDD, a hybrid hard drive (HHD), an optical disc, an optical disc drive (ODD), a magneto-optical disc, a magneto-optical drive, a floppy disk, a floppy disk drive (FDD), magnetic tape, a holographic storage medium, a solid-state drive (SSD), a RAM-drive, a SECURE DIGITAL card, a SECURE DIGITAL drive, or another suitable computer-readable storage medium or a combination of two or more of these, where appropriate. Herein, reference to a computer-readable storage medium excludes any medium that is not eligible for patent protection under 35 U.S.C. §101. Herein, reference to a computer-readable storage medium excludes transitory forms of signal transmission (such as a propagating electrical or electromagnetic signal per se) to the extent that they are not eligible for patent protection under 35 U.S.C. §101.
• This disclosure contemplates one or more computer-readable storage media implementing any suitable storage. In particular embodiments, a computer-readable storage medium implements one or more portions of processor602 (such as, for example, one or more internal registers or caches), one or more portions ofmemory604, one or more portions ofstorage606, or a combination of these, where appropriate. In particular embodiments, a computer-readable storage medium implements RAM or ROM. In particular embodiments, a computer-readable storage medium implements volatile or persistent memory. In particular embodiments, one or more computer-readable storage media embody software. Herein, reference to software may encompass one or more applications, bytecode, one or more computer programs, one or more executables, one or more instructions, logic, machine code, one or more scripts, or source code, and vice versa, where appropriate. In particular embodiments, software includes one or more application programming interfaces (APIs). This disclosure contemplates any suitable software written or otherwise expressed in any suitable programming language or combination of programming languages. In particular embodiments, software is expressed as source code or object code. In particular embodiments, software is expressed in a higher-level programming language, such as, for example, C, Perl, or a suitable extension thereof. In particular embodiments, software is expressed in a lower-level programming language, such as assembly language (or machine code). In particular embodiments, software is expressed in JAVA. In particular embodiments, software is expressed in Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), or other suitable markup language.
• The present disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Similarly, where appropriate, the appended claims encompass all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend.
• The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. For example, although the foregoing embodiments have been described in the context of a social network system, it will apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be used with any electronic social network service and, even if it is not provided through a website. Any computer-based system that provides social networking functionality can be used in accordance with the present invention even if it relies, for example, on e-mail, instant messaging or other form of peer-to-peer communications, and any other technique for communicating between users. The invention is thus not limited to any particular type of communication system, network, protocol, format or application.
• Some portions of this description describe the embodiments of the invention in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on information. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are commonly used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work effectively to others skilled in the art. These operations, while described functionally, computationally, or logically, are understood to be implemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits, microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient at times, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules, without loss of generality. The described operations and their associated modules may be embodied in software, firmware, hardware, or any combinations thereof
• Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may be performed or implemented with one or more hardware or software modules, alone or in combination with other devices. In one embodiment, a software module is implemented with a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code, which can be executed by a computer processor for performing any or all of the steps, operations, or processes described.
• Embodiments of the invention may also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, and/or it may comprise a general-purpose computing device selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a tangible computer readable storage medium or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and coupled to a computer system bus. Furthermore, any computing systems referred to in the specification may include a single processor or may be architectures employing multiple processor designs for increased computing capability.
• While the foregoing processes and mechanisms can be implemented by a wide variety of physical systems and in a wide variety of network and computing environments, the server or computing systems described below provide example computing system architectures for didactic, rather than limiting, purposes.
• The present invention has been explained with reference to specific embodiments. For example, while embodiments of the present invention have been described as operating in connection with a social network system, the present invention can be used in connection with any communications facility that allows for communication of messages between users, such as an email hosting site. Other embodiments will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is therefore not intended that the present invention be limited, except as indicated by the appended claims.
• Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

Claims (20)

1. A method comprising, by one or more computing systems:

accessing a plurality of interaction events between a user and a plurality of contacts;

aggregating, for at least one of the plurality of the contacts, interaction events between the user and the contact, wherein at least one interaction event comprises a call log entry and at least another interaction event comprises one of an email message, a wall post, a short message service (SMS) message, and a chat message;

displaying a selectable list of contacts to the user; and

responsive to user input selecting a contact from the list of contacts, displaying a user interface including the aggregated interaction events between the user and the selected contact.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of interactions comprises voice-over-IP calls.

3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of interactions comprises video chats.

4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of interactions comprises voicemails.

5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the voicemails are transcribed to text.

6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a subset of the plurality of interactions occurs on a social network.

7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the selectable list of contacts is ordered alphabetically.

8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the selectable list of contacts is ordered chronologically.

9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the selectable list of contacts is ordered based on importance.

10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the selectable list of contact includes, for each contact, at least a portion of the user's most recent interaction with the contact.

11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the selectable list of contacts is segregated by contacts who are also connected with the user on a social network, and contacts who are not.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable media containing instructions operable, when executed by one or more processors, to:

access a plurality of interaction events between a user and a plurality of contacts;

aggregate, for at least one of the plurality of the contacts, interaction events between the user and the contact, wherein at least one interaction event comprises a call log entry and at least another interaction event comprises one of an email message, a wall post, a short message service (SMS) message, and a chat message;

display a selectable list of contacts to the user; and

responsive to a user input selecting a contact from the list of contacts, display a user interface including the aggregated interaction events between the user and the selected contact.

13. The media ofclaim 12, wherein the plurality of interactions comprises voice-over-IP calls.

14. The media ofclaim 12, wherein the plurality of interactions comprises video chats.

15. The media ofclaim 12, wherein the plurality of interactions comprises voicemails.

16. The media ofclaim 12, wherein a subset of the plurality of interactions occurs on a social network.

17. The media ofclaim 12, wherein the selectable list of contacts is ordered chronologically.

18. The media ofclaim 12, wherein the selectable list of contacts is ordered based on importance.

19. The media ofclaim 12, wherein the selectable list of contact includes, for each contact, at least a portion of the user's most recent interaction with the contact.

20. The media ofclaim 12, wherein the selectable list of contacts is segregated by contacts who are also connected with the user on a social network, and contacts who are not.

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