CN107111828B

CN107111828B - Prioritization of messages

Info

Publication number: CN107111828B
Application number: CN201580070593.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: T·M·塞恩; J·D·博雷罗; M·兰达尔; B·艾姆斯
Original assignee: Snap Inc
Current assignee: Snap Inc
Priority date: 2014-10-24
Filing date: 2015-10-22
Publication date: 2021-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-22
Also published as: KR20200033999A; WO2016065131A1; EP3210179A1; CN107111828A

Abstract

In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method of processing messages may include creating a gallery using messages received from a user device; scanning the messages to identify selected ones of the messages; receiving a prioritization of the selected message from an owner of the brand; prioritizing the selected messages in the gallery in response to the prioritization; and providing the gallery for display to a user of the user device.

Description

Prioritization of messages

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application No.14/523,728, filed 24/10/2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to exchanging electronic messages in a computer network. And more particularly to prioritization of messages in a set of geo-location based event messages.

Background

Mobile devices such as smart phones are used to generate messages. The message may be a text message, a photograph (with or without enhanced text), and a video. Users may share these messages with individuals in their social networks. However, there is no mechanism for sharing messages with strangers who participate in public events.

Disclosure of Invention

A computer-implemented method includes creating a set of event messages associated with an event using messages received from a device located within a geo-location fence (geo-location event). The message is scanned to identify a particular brand in the message. An acceptance (authorization) of the message is received from the owner of the particular brand. In response to the approval, the placement of the messages is prioritized in the set of event messages. In response to a request from a user, a set of event messages is provided.

Drawings

The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates server-side processing associated with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates client-side processing associated with an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4-8 illustrate graphical user interfaces that may be associated with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates server-side processing associated with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The system 100 includes a set of client devices 102_1 through 102_ N, and at least one server 104 connected via a network 106. The network 106 may be any combination of wired or wireless networks.

Each client device 102 has standard components such as a central processing unit 110 and an input/output device 112 connected via a network 114. Input/output devices 112 may include touch displays, dedicated control keys, physical connectors, speakers, and the like. A network interface circuit 116 is also connected to the bus 114 and provides a connection to the network 106. A memory 120 is also connected to the bus 114. The memory 120 stores a communication application 122. Communication applications 122 include instructions executed by CPU 110 to coordinate communications with server 104 and/or other client devices. The client device may be in the form of a tablet, smart phone, wearable technology, portable computer, or desktop computer.

The server 104 also includes standard components such as a central processing unit 130, a bus 132, input/output devices 134, and network interface circuits 136. A memory 140 is connected to bus 132. The memory 140 stores a communication module 142. The communication module 142 includes instructions executed by the CPU 130 to coordinate communications with the client device 102. The memory 140 also stores an event message aggregation module 144. The event message aggregation module 144 includes instructions executed by the CPU 130 to store messages from participants in a live event. The messages form a set of event messages that may be provided to the client device 102 in response to a request from the client device 102.

Fig. 2 illustrates operations associated with an embodiment of the event message aggregation module 144. The top of the figure shows a set of message senders, sender _1 to sender _ N. Each message sender is associated with a client device 102. The communication application 122 is configured to accompany a message with geographical location information. Typically, the geographic location information will be collected from a GPS chip resident in the client device. However, other geographical location information may also be used, such as cellular network geographical location information, self-reported (self-reported) geographical location information, and the like.

The event message aggregation module 144 includes a management interface that allows individuals to define events. For example, the management interface may prompt the event planner for the event name, event description, event date, event time, and event location. The event location is specified in physical coordinates (e.g., GPS coordinates) that define a geo-location fence associated with the event.

As previously described, the message from the sender includes geographic location information. Server 104 receives messages and geographic location data 200 from any number of senders. For each message, the geo-location data is compared to the geo-location fence. If the message is not sent from within the geo-location fence, it is not from an allowed location, so the message is discarded (202: NO). If the message is from an allowed location (202: Yes), the message is submitted to the event message set 204.

The event message collection module 144 may include a curation interface that allows an event planner to optionally curate the event message collection 206. For example, the curation interface may allow event planners to delete inappropriate or redundant messages. The final operation of fig. 2 is to provide a set of event messages in response to a request 208 from any number of users.

Fig. 3 illustrates processing associated with a communication application 122 residing on a client device 102. The communication application 122 sends a registration request 300. The registration request may be an explicit request to join an event or event of interest. Alternatively, the registration request may be triggered by sending geographic location data to the server 104. The event message aggregation module 144 determines whether the geo-location data corresponds to a geo-location fence associated with the event. In response to the request, event message set reminder information 302 is received. The event message set reminder information may be indicia of the event, such as a brand, a textual description, and the like. The event message set cue may be accompanied by a message welcoming the user to the event. The message may have additional information and description about the event. The event message set reminder information is added to the optional target list 304. The selectable target list 304 includes individuals in the user's social network. In this case, the selectable target list is enhanced with a marker of the event.

If the user generates a message (306: YES), a list of targets 308 is provided. The target list includes tags for individuals in the user's social network as well as for a set of events and/or event messages. If an event message set is selected (310), the user is added as a follower 312 of the event. Thus, for example, where a user receives an event message set prompt in response to simply communicating geo-location data, the user may formally focus on the event by submitting a message (shared story) to the event message set. That is, the event message aggregation module 144 adds the user to the list of event followers in response to the user submitting a message to the event message aggregation. Finally, the message is sent to the recipient 314 specified on the optional target list. These recipients are typically individuals in the user's social network.

Fig. 4 is an example of generating a message in an event. In this example, the message is a photograph, which may be enhanced with text. Fig. 5 shows an optional target list 500. The selectable target list 500 includes entries for live (live) events 502 and entries for individuals in the social network 504. Selecting a live event 502 from the selectable targets list 500 may generate a prompt as shown in fig. 6. The prompt may explain terms associated with submitting content to the set of event messages. FIG. 7 illustrates an interface that lists friends in a social network and one or more events that are being attended.

Fig. 8 is an example of a set of event messages 800. The event message collection 800 includes messages 802 submitted by individuals. The message may be a photograph, video or text message. The set of event messages may be used for a particular ephemeral period. For example, the specified short duration may be the duration of the event. The indicia of the event message set may appear in a list of friends (e.g., a target list) during the duration of the event. In one embodiment, the set of event messages has individual short-time messages (ephemeral messages) displayed in sequence. For example, the first image is displayed for five seconds, then the second image is displayed for three seconds, and so on.

The set of event messages may be open to all event participants. Alternatively, the event message set may also be formed for a subset of participants selected from a target list or some other list (e.g., a list of co-workers in the event). Embodiments of the present invention maintain an ongoing set of event messages (shared stories) for geographic locations. For example, the shared story may last for months. Alternatively, the shared story may be updated every twenty-four hours at the specified geographic location.

FIG. 9 illustrates processing operations associated with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The first processing operation of this embodiment is the receipt of a message of the event message set 900 from one or more users for the purpose of distribution to recipients as described above. For example, the user may send a message to the communication module 142 via any number of websites or mobile channels. Again, the message may be a text message, a photograph (with or without enhanced text or graphics), and a video (with or without enhanced text or graphics). For example, events may include concerts, music festivals, awarding ceremonies, live sporting events, and the like. Similarly, examples of expected geographic locations include college campuses, schools, corporate offices, private homes, parks, and so forth. The message may or may not be associated with a particular event or geographic location. As described above, an event message set is a list or sequence of messages available to a group of users. The user group may be a group designated by the user or an event sponsor or the like. In other embodiments, the user group may be an entire social network, a user located within a geo-location fence, a member of a club or organization, and so forth.

Although many messages received from a user may be assigned to locations within the set of event messages based on the order of receipt or randomly, other messages (e.g., advertisements or sponsored messages) may also be assigned a priority 904 based on other criteria described below. These messages may then be presented in the event message set 906 according to their assigned priorities.

The priority may be based on sponsored content. Thus, a sponsor or advertiser can insert a message within a set of event messages for display to users registered with a particular set of event messages. For example, a particular brand or product may pay for the inclusion (or advantageous presentation) of messages of the event message set. Advantageous presentations may result from weights assigned to messages, where the weights are a function of the amount of consideration (consequential) provided by the sponsor. For example, an advertisement may need to pay a certain minimum before it is included in a given set of event messages. Longer or earlier placements (with respect to the set of event messages) may specify higher minimum values. Sponsored content may be displayed based on a fixed fee or per-view fee. Further, video or enhanced advertisements (including text, graphics, GIF, animation, etc.) may similarly specify a premium. Other factors considered in message weighting may include similarity in subject matter between advertisements and events. For example, a toy advertisement may receive greater weight in a children's concert than in an alcohol advertisement. Thus, in some embodiments, messages that are not sponsored may not have a weight and may be simply organized on a short-term or other basis.

As mentioned above, the advantageous presentation may be in the form of messages placed early in the sequence of messages. Alternatively, the advantageous presentation may be in the form of messages of relatively long duration in a sequence of short messages. In other embodiments, there may be instances where the message cannot be rendered (e.g., the minimum bid cannot be met, an advertisement listing (inventoriy) is exceeded, etc.).

Received messages may also be assigned a priority based on the content that is approved. For example, a user may approve a particular brand or product. In this case, the set of event messages controlled by the user may advantageously present messages of brands or products within the set of event messages. Weighting and presentation techniques discussed with respect to sponsored content may also be used with respect to approved content.

The priority may be assigned based on an evaluation of any number of content. For example, the content of the message may be evaluated for indicia of sponsored content. The indicia may be in the form of brands or products observed in the content. Evaluation may be accomplished by optical character recognition, machine vision, and similar techniques.

Another way to evaluate content is to evaluate the sender of the message. For example, if the sender of the message is a sponsor or transferor, the priority parameter is assigned according to a favorable weighting attributed to the sponsor or transferor. Other factors that may be considered in determining the priority parameter include the sender being a celebrity, or an "influencer" (e.g., an individual who is admirable within a community).

The final processing operation of fig. 9 is to provide a set of event messages 908 in response to the request. For example, the client device 102 may access the server 104. The event message aggregation module 144 may include executable code to maintain an event message aggregation. The set of event messages may be serviced from the server 104 to any number of users associated with the client device 102.

Referring back to fig. 1, in some embodiments, memory 140 of server 104 may be configured to include an advertising module 148 and a priority module 150. Advertisement module 148 includes instructions executable by CPU 130 to receive messages or advertisements from advertisers, and otherwise manage and implement features of advertisements or sponsored messages of particular embodiments. In some embodiments, the advertiser accesses (or sends) the message to advertising module 148 through a channel that is different from other channels used by non-advertiser users. For example, an advertiser may access advertisement module 148 through a web page via a web browser or through a mobile application feature accessible for advertisement submission purposes.

The priority module 150 includes instructions executable by the CPU 130 to receive weighting and weighting information submitted by a user (i.e., advertiser) and to determine a priority of the message. In some embodiments, the priority module 150 may also be configured to insert advertisements into "streams" of other messages within the set of event messages. In addition to these operations, the priority module 150 may also be configured to receive a bid amount from an advertiser associated with the advertisement message submission. Thus, in these embodiments, the priority module 150 may compare the bid amounts (and other priority information, if any) to determine a priority by which the advertisement message may be displayed within the set of event messages.

The advertising module 148 may include a scanning module for scanning the content of messages of a particular brand. For example, in the case of text-based messages (e.g., words or text labels in a message), the scanning may be in the form of a word recognition or matching process. Any recognized words, phrases or text may be compared to the set of brand data messages for matching. In the case of photos or video, light may be usedLearning a character recognition module to recognize a brand, symbol, or pattern associated with the brand (e.g., registered brand identification)

Swoosh, etc.).

In identifying the brand, a message may be sent by the communication module 142 to the brand owner, providing the brand owner with an opportunity to prioritize messages in the event message set. Thus, brand owners may be given the opportunity to pay for inserting information showing their brands into and/or at a favorable location in the event message collection.

In this regard, a copy of the image may be sent to the brand owner, allowing the owner the opportunity to view the message before deciding to prioritize the message. In other embodiments, the brand owner may be given the opportunity to edit the message. For example, a brand owner may choose to add graphics, animations, and the like. The brand owner is also given the opportunity to delete references to competing brands.

Instead, an online slate of messages is available to the brand owner. The information panel may contain each or several instances of the appearance of a logo or logo of the brand owner. The owner can compare, side-by-side, each message before deciding which messages to prioritize.

In some embodiments, multiple branded messages may be inserted into a single set of event messages. In these examples, various brand owners may be allowed to bid on advantageous placement of their messages for an event message set. In particular, the message of the highest bidder may be placed near the beginning of the set of event messages. Conversely, a lower bidder may insert his message only if there is a sufficient list of messages (inventoriy). Alternatively, the duration of the ephemeral message may be based on a bidding criteria.

The entire event may be sponsored by the brand owner. In this case, a "welcome" or "sponsored by …" message may be presented at the beginning of the event message collection, followed by several other messages containing a particular brand or message being presented throughout the message collection. Alternatively, a third party may sponsor the event and allow multiple brand owners to bid on favorable placements.

The set of event messages may have a title indicating sponsored or approved content. The set of event messages may be constructed from the messages of a single user. In this case, the set of event messages may be available to friends of the single user.

The set of event messages may be constructed from messages of a pre-selected group of users, such as a group of friends. The set of event messages is available to a pre-selected group of users. The set of event messages may be constructed by a sponsor, and the set of event messages may be made available to all individuals in the social network. In this case, the social network is a computer-implemented application that facilitates computer network communications between individuals, where the computer network communications may be posts, comments, messages, images, and the like.

The set of event messages can be constructed from messages of users within a geo-location fence associated with the event. Alternatively, the set of event messages may be available to individuals interested in the event.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a computer storage product with a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer code thereon for performing various computer-implemented operations. The media and computer code may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer readable media include, but are not limited to: magnetic media, optical media, magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program code, such as application specific integrated circuits ("ASICs"), programmable logic devices ("PLDs"), and ROM and RAM devices. Examples of computer code include machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that are executed by a computer using an interpreter. For example, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using JAVA, C + +, or other object-oriented programming language and development tools. Another embodiment of the invention may be implemented in hardwired circuitry, in place of, or in combination with, machine-executable software instructions.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. The embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of processing a message, the method comprising:

creating a message set using a plurality of messages received from a plurality of user devices;

scanning the plurality of messages to identify messages of the plurality of messages that include brands;

receiving a prioritization of the identified messages from an owner of the brand;

prioritizing the identified messages in the set of messages in response to the prioritization; and

providing the set of messages to a user device for display to a user of the user device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the set of messages is associated with an event.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user devices are located within a geofence.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identified message comprises visual content.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the visual content is at least one of a photograph or a video.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the scanning comprises identifying the identified message using optical character recognition techniques on the visual content.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the scanning comprises identifying, within the identified message, an identification or graphic associated with the brand.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the scanning comprises text-based word matching of text content of the identified message.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the prioritization includes receiving a price from an owner of the brand.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the prioritization includes receiving a selection of the identified messages from an online slate, the online slate including messages of a plurality of brands associated with the brand.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the creation of the set of messages is controlled by a party that allows multiple owners of different brands to prioritize the multiple messages.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the set of messages is available to provide a particular short period of time.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of messages is displayed in turn for a particular period of time, and wherein the set of messages can only be repeatedly displayed until the particular short period of time expires.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the prioritization comprises prioritizing placement of the identified messages within the set of messages.

15. A server for processing messages, the server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the server to:

16. The server of claim 15, wherein the set of messages is associated with an event.

17. The server of claim 15, wherein the plurality of user devices are located within a geofence.

18. The server of claim 15, wherein the scanning comprises identifying the identified message using optical character recognition techniques on visual content of the plurality of messages.

19. The server of claim 15, wherein the scanning comprises identifying, within the identified message, an identification or graphic associated with the brand.

20. The server of claim 15, wherein the scan comprises a text-based word match of text content of the identified message.