JP2015532750A - System and method for multiple photo feed articles - Google Patents

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method receives a designation of one or more items of digital media, receives a communication regarding one or more items of digital media, and communicates one or more items of digital media based on the designation. Associating and setting a privacy level for the communication and one or more items of the digital media in the social networking system based on the privacy settings of the user of the social networking system.

Description

  The present invention relates to the field of social networking. More particularly, the present invention provides a technique for selecting multiple images within a social networking system user interface.

  Internet social networks are becoming a big phenomenon. Social networks allow users on the Internet to create accounts and user profiles and interact with other users of the social network, often free of charge. A user of a social network gains access to the user's profile by requesting that other users of the social network be added as friends. Once approved, “friendship” generally gives both users access to each other's profile and content posted to these users. Friend posts can be displayed as news articles in each other's news feeds, and typically friends can comment on each other's news articles. Social network users typically seek to collect and organize groups of friends or followers to interact with. In many cases, most information on the user's profile is accessible only to the user's friends.

  Social networks provide users with increasingly sophisticated features. Early social networks offered a simple interface for users to communicate and post messages. Now, on many social networks, users share many different types of content and interact with each other's content in various ways. Content shared on social networks includes digital media such as images. The user collects photos and other content, organizes them into albums, and shares the user's album with the user's friends. Because of its collaborative nature, social networks are now a common means for many people to share content with photos and other media.

  In addition, as technology has evolved, social networks have introduced tools for accessing social networking systems from a variety of growing technology platforms. Initially, most users had access to the Internet exclusively from desktop computers, so the user interface of social networking systems was designed with a desktop web browser in mind. However, the exponential growth of mobile computing has facilitated internet access from a variety of devices and platforms. Because each technology platform has different technology capabilities and limitations, a social network interface customized for the particular platform is required.

1 is a network diagram of a system for selecting a plurality of images in a user interface of a social networking system, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram of a social networking system user copying a picture taken with a user's digital camera to the user's computer, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a user accessing a user interface and uploading a photo to a social networking system, according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a photograph uploaded to a social networking system and displayed in a user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram in which a user has applied several edits to a photo to obtain a modified photo according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a camera view in an interface of a camera application on a mobile device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a gallery view in an interface of a camera application on a mobile device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a message creation view within an interface of a social networking application on a mobile device, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a home screen view within an interface of a social networking application on a mobile device according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a camera view in an interface of a social networking application on a mobile device, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a message creation view within an interface of a social networking application on a mobile device, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a gallery view in an interface of a social networking application on a mobile device, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a thumbnail view in an interface of a social networking application on a mobile device, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a message creation view within an interface of a social networking application on a mobile device, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 illustrates a process for selecting a plurality of images according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a camera view in an interface of a social networking application on a mobile device, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a gallery view in an interface of a social networking application on a mobile device, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a thumbnail view in an interface of a social networking application on a mobile device, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a reduction effect in a gallery view within an interface of a social networking application on a mobile device, according to one embodiment of the invention. The figure which shows the process for displaying the animation which shows the user designation | designated of the image for a share. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a computer system used to implement one or more of the embodiments described herein. FIG. 4 illustrates a gallery view in which a person in a social networking system is tagged in an image, according to one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a thumbnail view with a plurality of images designated according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. FIG. 7 illustrates a message composition view in which multiple images tagged with multiple people in a social networking system are associated with a communication in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. FIG. 4 illustrates a privacy settings view in which a privacy level of communication and associated images is selected by a user according to one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.

To facilitate navigation within a photo browsing interface of a social networking system, embodiments of the present invention include systems, methods, and computer readable media that facilitate selection of multiple photos within the interface of a social networking system. . A first image designation is received from at least one of the single image view and the camera view. Based on the designation, the first image is added to the communication.

  In one embodiment, the first image is received from a camera. The first image is received from within a social networking application or from a dedicated camera application. The single image view may be a gallery view.

  In one embodiment, the communication is provided to a social networking system. The communication includes text associated with the first image. In another embodiment, a de-designation of the first image for sharing is received. The first image is removed from the communication. A designation of a second image to share is received. The second image is added to the communication.

  In one embodiment, receiving the designation of the first image to share is based on a user selection of a checkmark option. Receiving the designation of the first image for sharing is based on a user selection of a shared shutter option. Receiving the designation of the first image to share is based on a voice command. Receiving the designation of the first image to share is based on interaction with the input mechanism. The input mechanism may be a touch screen or a pointing device.

In one embodiment, a reference indicating the number of images designated for sharing is displayed. The number for display is increased when additional images are designated for sharing.
In another embodiment, the privacy level of the communication and specified image is based on the privacy settings selected by the user. The privacy level of communication and specified images will be the same as in the social networking system. The user selects privacy settings so that only the user himself / herself can access the images that are communicated and specified. Alternatively, the user selects privacy settings so that the friends of the user of the social networking system can communicate and access the specified image.

  In an alternative embodiment, the communication and designated images include tag data that identifies one or more people on the social networking system. The privacy level of the communication and the designated image is adjusted according to one or more persons identified by the tag data. Based on the privacy level selected by the user, the tagged person can access the communication and specified images. Alternatively, a tagged person's friends can access the communication and designated images as well.

Many other features and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the following detailed description.
The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only, and the figures use like reference numerals to identify like elements. From the following description, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods shown in the figures can be used without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.

Social Networking System-Overview FIG. 1 is a network diagram of a system 100 for selecting a plurality of images in a mobile user interface of a social networking system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 includes one or more user devices 110, one or more external systems 120, a social networking system 130, and a network 150. For illustration purposes, the embodiment of the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a single external system 120 and a single user device 110. However, in other embodiments, the system 100 may include more user devices 110 and / or more external systems 120, and in one embodiment, the social networking system 130 is operated by a social network provider. However, the external system 120 is decoupled from the social networking system 130 in that they are operated by different entities. However, in various embodiments, social networking system 130 and external system 120 operate in concert to provide social networking services to users (members) of social networking system 130. In this case, social networking system 130 provides a platform or backbone that other systems, such as external system 120, use to provide social networking services and functionality to users across the Internet.

  User device 110 includes one or more computing devices that receive input from a user and send and receive data over network 150. In one embodiment, the user device 110 is, for example, a conventional computer system running a Microsoft Windows® compatible operating system (OS), Apple OS X, and / or Linux® distribution. In another embodiment, the user device 110 may be a device having a computer function, such as a smartphone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a mobile phone. User device 110 is configured to communicate over network 150. User device 110 executes an application, eg, a browser application that allows a user of user device 110 to interact with social networking system 130. In another embodiment, the user device 110 interacts with the social networking system 130 through an application programming interface (API) provided by the native operating system of the user device 110, such as iOS4 and ANDROID®. User device 110 is configured to communicate with external system 120 and social networking system 130 through network 150, which may be a local area network and / or a wide area network using a wired and / or wireless communication system. Including any combination.

In one embodiment, network 150 uses communication standard techniques and protocols. Accordingly, the network 150 includes Ethernet (registered trademark), 802.11, world wide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), 3G, 4G, CDMA, GSM (registered trademark), LTE, digital Includes links that use technologies such as subscriber line (DSL). Similarly, the networking protocols used in network 150 are Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Simple Includes mail transfer protocol (SMTP), file transfer protocol (FTP), and the like. Data exchanged over the network 150 is represented using technologies and / or formats including Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Extensible Markup Language (XML). In addition, all or some of the links may include secure socket layer (SSL), transport layer security (TLS), and Internet protocol security (
It is encrypted using conventional encryption techniques such as IPsec).

  In one embodiment, the user device 110 may process the markup language document 114 received from the external system 120 and from the social networking system 130 using the browser application 112, from the external system 120, and / or social. The content is displayed from the networking system 130. The markup language document 114 identifies one or more instructions that describe the content and the type or presentation of the content. By executing the instructions contained in the markup language document 114, the browser application 112 displays the content identified using the format or appearance described by the markup language document 114. For example, markup language document 114 includes instructions for generating and displaying a web page having a plurality of frames containing text and / or image data retrieved from external system 120 and social networking system 130. In various embodiments, the markup language document 114 includes a data file that includes extended markup language (XML) data, extended hypertext markup language (XHTML) data, or other markup language data. Further, the markup language document 114 includes a JavaScript (registered trademark) object notation: JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) data, JSONP (JSON with padding), and JavaScript data between the external system 120 and the user device 110. Facilitates data exchange. The browser application 112 on the user device 110 decodes the markup language document 114 using a JavaScript compiler.

  The markup language document 114 also includes or links to an application or application framework, such as a FLASH ™ application or a Unity ™ application, a SilverLight ™ application framework.

  In one embodiment, the user device 110 also includes one or more cookies 116 that include data indicating whether the user of the user device 110 is logged into the social networking system 130, thereby, in one embodiment, Customization of data communicated from the social networking system 130 to the user device 110 is enabled. In one embodiment, user device 110 also includes an image processing module 118, a camera 124, and a storage module 126.

  The external system 120 includes one or more web servers that include one or more web pages 122 a, 122 b that are communicated to the user device 110 using the network 150. The external system 120 is disconnected from the social networking system 130. For example, external system 120 is associated with a first domain and social networking system 130 is associated with a separate social networking domain. Web pages 122a, 122b included in external system 120 include a markup language document 114 that includes instructions for identifying content and specifying the format or appearance of the identified content.

The social networking system 130 includes one or more computing devices for a social network that includes multiple users and provides the social network users with the ability to communicate and interact with other users of the social network. In one example, a social network is represented by a data structure that includes graphs, ie edges and nodes. Other data structures such as, but not limited to, databases, objects, classes, meta elements, files, or other data structures are used to represent social networks.

  A user joins the social networking system 130 and then adds connections to any number of other users of the social networking system 130 that the user wishes to connect to. As used herein, the term “friend” refers to any other user of the social networking system 130 with whom the user has connected, associated, or formed a relationship through the social networking system 130. For example, in one embodiment, if a user in the social networking system 130 is represented as a node in the social graph, the term “friend” is formed between two user nodes and defines an edge that directly connects them. Point to.

  The connection may be explicitly added by the user or may be automatically created by the social networking system 130 based on the user's common characteristics (eg, a user who is a graduate of the same educational institution). For example, specifically, the first user selects a specific other user to be a friend. The connection in the social networking system 130 is usually bi-directional, but need not be bi-directional, so the terms “user” and “friend” depend on the reference structure. Connections between users of social networking system 130 are typically bi-directional (“two-way”) or “mutual”, but the connections may be one-way or “one-way”. For example, if Bob and Joe are both users of social networking system 130 and are connected to each other, Bob and Joe are connected to each other. On the other hand, if Bob wants to connect with Joe to view the data communicated to social networking system 130, but does not want Joe to form a connection, a one-way connection is established. . While connections between users may be direct connections, one embodiment of social networking system 130 allows connections to be indirect, depending on one or more levels or degrees of separation of connections.

  In addition to establishing and maintaining connections between users and enabling interaction between users, social networking system 130 has the ability to perform actions on various types of items supported by social networking system 130. Provide to users. These items include the group or network to which the user of social networking system 130 belongs (ie, social networks of people, entities, and concepts), events or calendar entries that may be of interest to the user, Computer-based applications for use through the networking system 130, transactions that allow the user to buy and sell items through or through services provided through the social networking system 130, and users on or on the social networking system 130 Including an interaction with an advertisement away from 130. These are just a few examples of items that a user acts on the social networking system 130, and many other items are envisioned. The user interacts with anything represented at social networking system 130 or at external system 120 that is separate from social networking system 130 or coupled to social networking system 130 through network 150.

The social networking system 130 can also link various entities. For example, the social networking system 130 allows users to interact with each other and with external systems 120 and other entities through APIs, web services, or other communication channels. Social networking system 130 generates and maintains a “social graph” that includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by a plurality of edges. Each node in the social graph represents an entity that acts on and / or can be acted upon by another node. Social graphs include various types of nodes. Examples of node types include users, non-human entities, content items, web pages, groups, activities, messages, concepts, and others represented by objects in the social networking system 130. An edge between two nodes in a social graph can represent a particular type of connection, or association, between the two nodes, which is done from the node relationship or by one of the nodes to the other node. Resulting from the action. In some cases, edges between nodes are weighted. The edge weight represents an attribute associated with the edge, such as the strength of the connection or association between nodes. Different types of edges are provided with different weights. For example, an edge created when a user asserts “Like” to another user can be given a certain weight, and an edge created when the user becomes a friend with another user Are given different weights.

  As an example, when a first user identifies a second user as a friend, an edge in the social graph is generated by connecting a node representing the first user and a second node representing the second user. . As the various nodes relate to or interact with each other, the social networking system 130 modifies the edges connecting the various nodes to reflect the relationships and interactions.

  The social networking system 130 also includes user generated content to improve user interaction with the social networking system 130. User generated content includes anything that the user adds, uploads, sends or “posts” to the social networking system 130. For example, the user communicates a post from the user device 110 to the social networking system 130. Posts include data such as status updates or other text data, location information, images such as photos, videos, links, music, or similar data and / or media. Content can also be added to the social networking system 130 by a third party. The content “item” is represented as an object in the social networking system 130. As such, users of social networking system 130 are encouraged to communicate with each other by posting text and content items of various types of media through various communication channels. Such communication increases user interaction with each other and increases the frequency with which the user interacts with the social networking system 130.

  The social networking system 130 includes a web server 132, an API request server 134, a user profile store 136, a connection store 138, an action logger 140, an activity log 142, an authorization server 144, and an image processing module 146. . In one embodiment of the invention, social networking system 130 includes additional components, fewer components, or different components for various applications. Other components such as network interfaces, security mechanisms, load balancers, failover servers, management and network operations consoles are not shown so as not to obscure the details of the system.

User account store 136 includes background, demographics, and other types of descriptive information, such as work history, educational background, hobbies or preferences, location, etc., published by the user or inferred by social networking system 130. Maintain information about user accounts. This information is stored in the user account store 136 so that each user is uniquely identified. Social networking system 130 also stores data in connection store 138 describing one or more connections between various users. The connection information indicates users who have similar or common work history, group membership, hobbies, or educational background. In addition, the social networking system 130 includes user-defined connections between various users, allowing the user to specify relationships with other users. For example, user-defined connections can allow a user to create relationships with other users, such as friends, colleagues, partners, etc., that are comparable to the user's real-life relationships. The user selects from predefined connection types or defines his own connection type as needed. Connections with other nodes of the social networking system 130, such as non-human entities, buckets, cluster centers, images, interests, pages, external systems, concepts, etc. are also stored in the connection store 138.

  Social networking system 130 maintains data about the objects with which the user interacts. To maintain this data, user account store 136 and connection store 138 store corresponding types of instances of objects maintained by social networking system 130. Each object type has an information field suitable for storing information appropriate to the type of object. For example, the user account store 136 includes a data structure having fields suitable for describing the user's account and information related to the user's account. When a new object of a particular type is created, the social networking system 130 initializes a new data structure of the corresponding type, assigns it a unique object identifier, and begins adding data to the object as needed. This can be done, for example, when the user becomes a user of the social networking system 130, which creates a new instance of the user profile in the user account store 136 and a unique identifier for the user account. And begin initializing user account fields with information provided by the user.

  Connection store 138 includes a data structure suitable for describing user connections to other users, connections to external system 120, or connections to other entities. The connection store 138 can also associate a connection type with the user's connection, which is used in conjunction with the user's privacy settings to regulate access to information about the user. In one embodiment of the invention, user account store 136 and connection store 138 are implemented as a federated database.

  With the data stored in the connection store 138, the user account store 136, and the activity log 142, the social networking system 130 uses the nodes that identify the various objects and the edges that connect the nodes to connect the various objects. Generate a social graph that identifies the relationship. For example, in the social networking system 130, when a first user establishes a connection with a second user, the first user and the second user's user account from the user account store 136 are represented as nodes in the social graph. Take a role. The connection between the first user and the second user stored by the connection store 138 is an edge between nodes associated with the first user and the second user. Continuing with this example, in the social networking system 130, the second user then sends a message to the first user. The action of sending a message (which may be stored) is another edge between two nodes in the social graph representing the first user and the second user. Furthermore, the message itself is identified and included in the social graph as another node connected to the node representing the first user and the second user.

In another example, a first user tags a second user in an image maintained by social networking system 130 (alternatively in an image maintained by another system external to social networking system 130). The image itself to be represented is represented as a node in the social networking system 130. This tagging action creates an edge between the first user and the second user and an edge between each of the users that are nodes in the social graph and the image. In yet another example, when confirming that a user participates in an event, the user and event are nodes obtained from the user account store 136, and event participation is between nodes retrieved from the activity log 142. It is an edge. By generating and maintaining social graphs, the social networking system 130 includes data describing many different types of objects, and interactions and connections between those objects, which are socially related. Provide a rich source of information.

  Web server 132 links social networking system 130 to one or more user devices 110 and / or one or more external systems 120 through network 150. The web server 132 supplies other web-related contents such as Java (registered trademark), JavaScript, Flash, and XML as well as the web page. Web server 132 includes other messaging functions for receiving and routing messages between mail server or social networking system 130 and one or more user devices 110. The message may be an instant message, a queued message (eg, email), a text and SMS message, or any other suitable messaging format.

  The API request server 134 causes one or more external systems 120 and user devices 110 to call access information from the social networking system 130 by calling one or more API functions. The API request server 134 may cause the external system 120 to send information to the social networking system 130 by calling an API. In one embodiment, the external system 120 sends an API request over the network 150 to the social networking system 130, and the API request server 134 receives the API request. The API request server 134 processes the request by invoking the API associated with the API request and generates an appropriate response, which is communicated to the external system 120 via the network 150. For example, in response to an API request, the API request server 134 collects data associated with the user, such as a connection of a user who has logged into the external system 120, and transmits the collected data to the external system 120. In another embodiment, user device 110 communicates with social networking system 130 through an API in a manner similar to external system 120.

Action logger 140 receives communications from web server 132 regarding user actions on and / or external to social networking system 130. The action logger 140 sets the activity log 142 with information about user actions, and the social networking system 130 explores various actions performed by the user within and outside the social networking system 130. It can be so. Any action a particular user performs on another node on social networking system 130 is associated with each user's account through information maintained in activity log 142 or in a similar database or other data repository. It is done. Examples of actions taken by a user in social networking system 130 that are identified and stored include, for example, adding a connection to another user, sending a message to another user, from another user Read messages, view content associated with another user, participate in an event posted by another user, post an image, try to post an image, or another user or another Includes other actions that interact with other objects. When a user performs an action within the social networking system 130, the action is recorded in the activity log 142. In one embodiment, social networking system 130 maintains activity log 142 as a database of entries. When an action is performed within the social networking system 130, an entry for that action is added to the activity log 142. The activity log 142 may be referred to as an action log.

  Further, user actions are associated with concepts and actions that occur within entities outside social networking system 130, such as external system 120 other than social networking system 130. For example, the action logger 140 receives data describing a user interaction with the external system 120 from the web server 132. In this example, external system 120 reports user interactions in response to structured actions and objects in the social graph.

  Other examples of actions with which the user interacts with the external system 120 include that the user is interested in the external system 120 or another entity, that the user is in the social networking system 130, the web page 122 a in the external system 120 or in the external system 120. Posting a comment that describes the user, posting a uniform resource locator (URL) or other identifier associated with the external system 120 to the social networking system 130, and participating in an event associated with the external system 120 Or other actions by a user associated with the external system 120. Accordingly, the activity log 142 includes actions that describe interactions between a user of the social networking system 130 and an external system 120 other than the social networking system 130.

  The authorization server 144 ensures one or more privacy settings for the user of the social networking system 130. The user's privacy settings determine how specific information associated with the user is shared. Privacy settings include specifying specific information associated with the user and specifying one or more entities that share the information. Examples of entities that share information include other users, applications, external systems 120, or entities that may potentially access that information. Information shared by the user includes profile pictures, phone numbers associated with the user, user connections, connections added, actions performed by the user such as changing user profile information, and other user account information.

Specification of privacy settings is provided at various levels of granularity. For example, a privacy setting can identify specific information shared with other users, such as a work phone number or personal information including a profile photo, home phone number, and status, etc. Identifies a specific set of relationship information. Alternatively, privacy settings apply to all information associated with the user. The specification of a set of entities that access specific information can also be specified at various levels of granularity. Various collections of entities that share information include, for example, all friends of a user, all friends of friends, all applications, or all external systems 120. One embodiment allows for the specification of a set of entities that includes an enumeration of entities. For example, the user provides a list of external systems 120 that are allowed to access specific information. Another embodiment allows for a specification that includes a set of entities with exceptions that are not allowed to access the information. For example, the user may specify a list of external systems 120 that allows all external systems 120 to access the user's work information, but is not allowed to access the work information. One embodiment refers to a list of exceptions that are not allowed to access specific information as a “block list”. External systems 120 belonging to the block list specified by the user are prevented from accessing the information specified in the privacy settings. Various combinations of specified granularity of information and specified granularity of entities sharing information are possible. For example, all personal information is shared with friends, whereas all work information is shared with friends of friends.

  The authorization server 144 includes logic that determines whether certain information associated with the user is accessed by the user's friends, the external system 120, and / or other applications and entities. External system 120 requires authorization from authorization server 144 to access the user's more private and sensitive information, such as the user's work phone number. Based on the user's privacy settings, the authorization server 144 may allow another user, external system 120, application, or another entity to access information associated with the user, including information about actions performed by the user. Decide if it is allowed or not.

The image processing module 146 of the social networking system 130 and the image processing module 118 of the user device 110 provide image management functions. In one embodiment, the image processing module 118 receives images captured by the camera 124 in the user device 110 or provided to the user device 110 from another source. The image is stored in the storage module 126 in the user device 110. With user input applied to the user device 110, the image stored in the storage module 126 is designated for sharing, added to the message, and provided to the social networking system 130. The function of designating an image for sharing will be described in further detail below.
Multiple Photo Selection Users take advantage of the collaborative features and functions of social networking system 130 to upload and share digital images. A user of the social networking system 130 uploads a profile photo that becomes a prominent feature on the user's profile and identifies the user to friends and other users. The user can also upload a cover image that is displayed as a banner across the top of the user's profile. In addition to profile photos and cover images, users upload images to share with other users, such as event photos, illustrations, professional photo books, photos from nature, or other types of digital images.

2A-2D illustrate the online photo sharing function of the social networking system 130 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2A, a user, Brady Kerr, has just copied a photograph 202 taken with his digital camera 203 to his computer 201. In FIG. 2B, Brady Kerr has accessed user interface 204 to upload photo 202 to social networking system 130. The brady car is prompted to select the upload option 205 in the user interface 204, thereby browsing to the location of the photo on the local storage of his computer 201. Brady Kerr finds the photo 202 and selects the “OK” option 206. In FIG. 2C, the photo 202 has been uploaded to the social networking system 130 and is displayed in the user interface 204. The user interface 204 of FIG. 2C includes a photo editing panel 207 with an options toolbar 208. In FIG. 2D, Brady Kerr has applied some edits to photo 202, resulting in a modified photo 209. Such edits include a 90 degree rotation indicated by a “rotate” button 210, a crop indicated by a “crop” button 211, and a blur indicated by a “blur” button. Brady Car finishes and submits these edits by selecting the “Save” option.

  With the advent of mobile devices, including built-in cameras and connectivity to wireless data networks, photo sharing has become an increasingly prominent feature of social networking systems. In FIGS. 2A-2D, Brady Car captures photo 202 with digital camera 203, transfers photo 202 from digital camera 203 to computer 201 using a wired connection, and photo 202 from computer 201 to social networking system 130. Photo 202 was shared by uploading. However, camera-enabled mobile devices have made the process of sharing photos easier. The operator of social networking system 130 provides a social networking application for mobile devices that allows users to easily upload photos directly from the user's mobile device. In addition, because people may carry mobile devices such as smartphones more frequently than carrying a dedicated camera, people have more opportunities to capture and share photos.

  The camera of the mobile device is used to capture images in a dedicated camera application or in a social networking application on the mobile device. Images captured by the camera are stored in a local storage module in the mobile device, such as storage module 126, for later use. Images captured by the camera or other images stored in a local storage module within the mobile device are uploaded to the social networking system 130 using a social networking application. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the camera application can be initialized independently of the social network application and for uploading images to the social networking system 130 using the social networking application. Options are selected in the camera application. According to another embodiment, the camera is accessed from a social networking application. Images captured using the camera or otherwise stored on the mobile device can be displayed in a single image view, with one image shown in the interface of the mobile device . A single image view may indicate a gallery view. Alternatively, images captured using the camera or otherwise stored on the mobile device can be displayed in a multi-image view, with multiple images within the mobile device interface Are displayed simultaneously in a small format. The multi-image view may indicate a thumbnail view.

  FIG. 3A shows a camera view 311 within the interface 300 of the camera application on the mobile device 301 according to one embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, the user is capturing a tree image 310 in the camera view 311 using the camera of the mobile device 301. When the shutter button 302 is pressed, an image 310 is captured and stored in a local storage module within the mobile device 301, such as the storage module 126. The user can select the gallery option 303 in the interface 300 to display the image 310 or other images stored on the mobile device 301 in a single image view. Alternatively, the single image view is automatically initialized when the image is captured and the image 310 is shown in the single image view. According to one embodiment, the single image view may be a gallery view.

FIG. 3B shows a gallery view 312 in the interface 300 of the camera application on the mobile device 301 according to one embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, the user is displaying an image 310 in the gallery view 312. The user selects an option 304 for sharing an image, which causes a sharing option menu 305 to be displayed. Among the sharing options is an option 306 for sharing an image through a social network. The user selects this option and initializes the social networking application to provide the image 310 to the social networking system 130.

  FIG. 3C illustrates a message creation view 314 within the interface 313 of the social networking application on the mobile device 301 according to one embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, the user has created a message that includes an image 310 and text 307 within the message creation view 314. The text 307 “Look at this tree!” Is attached to the image 310 as a title or annotation. The user may add additional images to the message by selecting the add option 309. The user selects the “Post” option 308 and the image is uploaded to the social networking system 130.

  According to another embodiment of the invention, the camera is accessed from a social networking application so that images captured by the camera are more easily selected for upload to the social networking system 130. FIG. 4A illustrates a home screen view 402 within the social networking application interface 400 on the mobile device 401 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the user has just initialized a social networking application and displays a news feed in the home screen view 402. From the options menu 403, the user selects an option 404 to access functions for capturing images using the camera of the mobile device 401. Option 404 allows the user to use the camera from the social networking application interface 400.

  FIG. 4B illustrates a camera view 414 within the social networking application interface 400 on the mobile device 401 according to one embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, the user captures an image 405 in which the airplane is taking off in the camera view 414. When the standard shutter button 406 or the shared shutter button 407 is pressed, an image 405 is captured and stored in a local storage module within the mobile device 401, such as the storage module 126. When the user selects the share shutter button 407, the image 405 is automatically designated for sharing and is automatically added to the message or communication, and an additional input command or from the user to prepare an image to share with the message There is no need to receive orders. A single selection prepares an image to be shared in connection with the message. The camera view 414 remains in the interface 400 so that the user can capture additional images. The number of captured images that have been added to the message so far is displayed in a badge 408 attached to the message creation icon 409. In the example shown, so far two images have been added to the message. When the user finishes capturing the shared image, the user selects the create message icon 409 and accesses a message that includes all of the images that the user has captured using the shared shutter button 407.

FIG. 4C illustrates a message creation view 415 within the interface 400 of the social networking application on the mobile device 401 according to one embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, the user has created a message that includes three images 418 and text 410 in the message creation view 415. The text 410 “Look at this plane!” Is attached to the three images 418 as a title or annotation. The user may add additional images to the message by selecting the add option 412.
The user selects the “Post” option 411 and three images 418 are uploaded to the social networking system 130.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, the user selects the gallery option 413 in the interface 400 to display the image stored on the mobile device 401 in a single image view. The single image view may be a gallery view. FIG. 5A illustrates a gallery view 502 within the social networking application interface 500 on the mobile device 501 according to one embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, the gallery view 502 displays a sunset image 503. The image 503 may be captured using the camera of the mobile device 501 or otherwise stored in the mobile device 501. The user selects the checkmark option 504 to specify an image 503 to share and add it to the message. The user continues to view images in the gallery view 503 and selects the checkmark option 504, for example, by sliding (swiping) the finger across the screen of the mobile device 501 with the user's finger. To specify additional images to share and add them to the message. According to one embodiment, the user applies edits to the currently displayed image by selecting an edit option 507 that enables a photo editing interface similar to the photo editing panel 207 (shown in FIG. 2C). .

  The number of captured images that have been added to the message so far is displayed in a badge 505 attached to the message creation icon 506. In the example shown, so far four images have been added to the message. To remove an image from the message, ie, “undesignate” the image from sharing, the user browses the image specified in the gallery view 502 and deselects the checkmark option 504. The user deletes the image by selecting the delete option 520.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the user selects the thumbnail view option 508 in the interface 500 to display an image stored on the mobile device in a multi-image view. The multi-image view may be a thumbnail view. FIG. 5B illustrates a thumbnail view 509 within the social networking application interface 500 on the mobile device 501 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The gallery view 509 displays images 510, 511, 512, 513, and 514. Each of the images 510, 511, 512, 513 has a check mark option for designating the image for sharing and adding it to the message. The check mark option is checked for an image designated for sharing and is displayed without being checked for an image not designated for sharing. In the illustrated example, images 510, 511, 512, and 513 are designated for sharing, and image 514 is not designated for sharing. According to one embodiment, if the number of images exceeds the available space in the thumbnail view 509, additional images can be viewed on the next page (not shown) and the user can, for example, move the user's finger on the mobile The next page is accessed by swiping across the screen of device 501. The number of images so far added to the message is displayed in a badge 505 attached to the message creation icon 506. In the example shown, so far four images have been added to the message. The user returns to gallery view 502 by selecting return option 515.

When the user finishes specifying the image for sharing, the user selects the message creation icon 506 in the gallery view 502 or the thumbnail view 509 and accesses a message including the image specified by the user for sharing. If the user selects the message creation icon 506 from the gallery view 502 without specifying any image for sharing, the currently displayed image is implicitly specified for sharing and automatically added to the message Is done. When the user selects the message creation icon 506 from the thumbnail view 509 without designating any image for sharing, the first image in the upper left of the thumbnail view 509 is implicitly designated for sharing and is automatically Added to the message.

  FIG. 5C illustrates a message creation view 521 within the social networking application interface 500 on the mobile device 501 according to one embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, the user has created a message that includes four images 518 and text 516 within the message creation view 521. The text 516 “This is a great photo!” Is attached to the four images 518 as a title or annotation. The user may add additional images to the message by selecting an add option 519. The user selects the “Post” option 517 and three images 518 are uploaded to the social networking system 130.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a process 600 for selecting multiple images according to one embodiment of the present invention. At block 601, user device 110 receives an image. The images may be captured in a dedicated camera application or social networking application using a camera built into the user device 110. Alternatively, the image may have been received by user device 110 from another source. The image is stored in the storage module 126 in the user device 110. In block 602, the user device 110 receives an image designation for sharing. The designation is received from the camera view based on, for example, a user selection of a shared shutter option. Alternatively, the designation is received from a single image view, such as a gallery view, for example based on a user selection of a checkmark option. At block 603, the user device 110 does not need to receive further input or instructions from the user of the user device 110 and automatically adds the image to the communication. A single selection can associate an image with a communication. At block 604, the user device 110 provides communication to the social networking system 130. Process 600 may be performed in whole or in part by image processing module 118, storage module 126, or other module of user device 110.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the user receives a visual indicator when the image is designated for sharing. The number of images designated for sharing is displayed in a badge icon attached to the message creation option, but users may not notice an increase in the number of badges when designating images for sharing. There is sex. Many mobile devices accept user input through a touch screen, so it is sometimes difficult to determine whether the touch screen has detected a selection. This is because if the user's finger accidentally touches the touch screen and the touch screen detects a selection that the user did not intend, or the user is trying to make a selection, but the user's finger is in full contact with the touch screen. This is the case if the touch screen does not detect the selection because it was not touched. Therefore, it is desirable to provide the user with confirmation of the user's selection of the image in an animation format.

FIG. 7A illustrates a camera view 702 within an interface 700 of a social networking application on a mobile device 701 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. For ease of explanation, an arrow 704 is shown that goes from the center of the camera view 702 indicated by the focus frame 703 to the message creation option 705. Arrow 704 is a visual animation that includes movement from the center of camera view 702 to message creation option 705 when the user captures image 717 and designates image 717 for sharing by selecting share shutter button 716. Is displayed. The number in the badge 706 attached to the message creation option 705 is increased to reflect the addition of the image 717 to the message.

  FIG. 7B illustrates a gallery view 714 within the social networking application interface 700 on the mobile device 701 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. For ease of explanation, an arrow 708 is shown that goes from the center of the gallery view 714 to a message creation option 709. Arrow 708 indicates that when the user designates image 718 for sharing by selecting checkmark option 707, a visual animation is displayed that includes movement from the center of gallery view 714 to message creation option 709. Show. The number in the badge 710 attached to the message creation option 709 increases to reflect the addition of the image 718 to the message.

  FIG. 7C illustrates a thumbnail view 715 within the social networking application interface 700 on the mobile device 701 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. For ease of explanation, an arrow 711 is shown that goes from the image 710 to the message creation option 712. An arrow 711 indicates that when the user designates the image 710 for sharing by selecting the check mark option 710 in the image 710, a visual animation including movement from the image 710 to the message creation option 712 is displayed. Indicates. The number in the badge 713 attached to the message creation option 712 increases to reflect the addition of the image 710 to the message.

  The animation indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C is displayed in many forms. According to one embodiment, the animation is displayed as a copy of the image designated for sharing, which appears progressively smaller as it progresses from the first location on the screen to the second location on the screen. Includes a miniaturization effect. FIG. 7D illustrates the reduction effect in the gallery view 722 within the interface 720 of the social networking application on the mobile device 721 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the user designates the image 723 for sharing by selecting the check mark option 724. When the user selects the checkmark option 724, a copy 725 of the image 723 is displayed. The copy 725 is initially centered over the gallery view 722, but gradually becomes smaller or smaller and proceeds toward the compose message icon 726. When the animation is complete, the copy 725 is reduced to the point where it disappears, creating a visual effect indicating that the image 723 has been designated for sharing and added to the message. Further, the number in the badge 727 attached to the message creation icon 726 increases from zero to one. When the animation ends, the image 723 is displayed in its original format as shown in the figure.

FIG. 8 shows a process 800 for displaying an animation to indicate user designation of an image for sharing. At block 801, the user device 110 receives an image. The images may be captured in a dedicated camera application or social networking application using a camera built into the user device 110. Alternatively, the image may have been received by user device 110 from another source. The image is stored in the storage module 126 in the user device 110. At block 802, the user device 110 receives an image designation for sharing from the view. The designation is received from within the camera view, for example, by user selection of a shared shutter option. Alternatively, the designation is received from within a single image view, such as a gallery view, eg, by user selection of a checkmark option. Alternatively, the designation is received from a multi-image view, such as a thumbnail view, eg, by user selection of a shared image. At block 803, the user device displays an animation indicating that the image has been designated for sharing. Animation includes a reduction effect or other visual effect. The reduction effect includes displaying a copy of the image and gradually reducing or reducing it as the copy progresses from a first location in the view to a second location in the view. The first location may be an icon representing an option used to designate an image for sharing. The second location may be an icon representing a message creation option. At block 804, user device 110 provides the image to social networking system 130. Process 800 is performed in whole or in part by image processing module 118, storage module 126, or other module of user device 110.

  Although the previous example has been described with reference to a mobile device, the embodiments described herein may be implemented on any type of user device 110. On devices with a touch screen, such as a mobile device or tablet device, an optional user selection is received by the user touching a location on the touch screen corresponding to an icon representing the option the user is trying to select. In a device with an input mechanism, such as a pointing device, a user operates a mechanism that moves a pointer or other visual element to a location corresponding to an icon representing an option that the user is trying to select, and a button By pressing, an optional user selection is received. A pointing device refers to any mechanism for operating a mouse, trackball device, or pointer on the screen. In addition, selection of options may be triggered by other forms of user input to the user device 110, such as voice commands.

  FIG. 10A illustrates a gallery view 1002 within the interface 1000 of a social networking application on the mobile device 1001 according to one embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, the gallery view 1002 displays an image 1010 of a person surfing in the sea. In another embodiment, the gallery view displays any form of digital media, such as an image, video, illustration, or document. The user selects the checkmark option 1004 to designate the image 1010 for sharing and add it to the message. The user may continue to browse the images in the gallery view 1002 by swiping across the screen of the mobile device 1001, for example, using the user's finger, and select the checkmark option 1004 for sharing. Specify additional images and add them to the message.

  The number of captured images that have been added to the message so far is displayed in a badge 1005 attached to the message creation icon 1006. In the example shown, so far four images have been added to the message. To remove an image from the message, the user browses the image specified in the gallery view 1002 and deselects the check mark option 1004. The user can also use the “tag” button 1020 to tag the image with a person. In image 1010, the user is tagging the image with another user on the social networking system, friend A. The user tags additional users to the image 1010 using the tagging button 1020. The user can also continue browsing images in the gallery view 1020 and tag additional users to additional images using the tagging button 1020. The user can also remove tag data that already exists in the image 1010 using a tagging button.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the user selects the thumbnail view option 1008 in the interface 1000 to display the image stored on the mobile device in the multi-image view. FIG. 10B illustrates a thumbnail view 1009 within the social networking application interface 1000 on the mobile device 1001 according to one embodiment of the invention. The thumbnail view 1009 displays images 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, and 1014. Each of the images has a check mark option to designate the image for sharing and add it to the message. The check mark option is checked for an image designated for sharing, and is not checked for an image not designated for sharing, and is displayed with a message. In the illustrated example, images 1010, 1011, 1012, and 1013 are designated for sharing, and image 1014 is not designated for sharing. The number of images so far added to the message is displayed in a badge 1005 attached to the message creation icon 1006. In the example shown, so far four images have been added to the message. The user returns to gallery view 1002 by selecting return option 1015.

  When the user finishes specifying the image to be shared, the user selects the message creation icon 1006 in the gallery view 1002 or the thumbnail view 1009 and edits the message including the image specified by the user for sharing. FIG. 10C illustrates a message composition view 1021 within the social networking application interface 1000 on the mobile device 1001 according to one embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, the user has created a message that includes four images 1018 and text 1016 in the message creation view 1021. The text 1016 “This is a great photo!” Is associated with four images 1018. The message includes a tagged display area 1023 that enumerates all people tagged in either the message itself or an associated image. In the illustrated embodiment, each of images 1010, 1011, 1012, and 1013 has one unique person tagged in the image. For example, FIG. 10A shows that friend A is tagged with image 1010 (similarly, friend B is tagged with image 1011, friend C is tagged with image 1012, and friend D is tagged with image 1013). It shows that. Accordingly, the tagging display area 1023 indicates that there are four tagged people, that is, friend A, friend B, friend C, and friend D. In addition, the user uses the “Tag” button 1020 to tag additional people in the message itself. The user may add additional images to the message by selecting the add button 1019. The user selects the “Post” option 1017 and the message 1016 and four images 1018 are uploaded for sharing on the social networking system. The user also selects privacy settings icon 1022 to determine the privacy level of messages and images associated with messages when shared on social networking systems.

  In one embodiment, the privacy level of a message and the privacy level of all media associated with that message will always be the same. Thus, if a person in a social networking system can access a message, he can also access all media associated with the message. Similarly, if a person in a social networking system can access any of the associated media, that person can also access the message and the remaining media of the associated medium. FIG. 10D shows the privacy setting view 1026 when the user selects the privacy setting icon 1022. Privacy level 1025 includes self, friends, public, and custom. The privacy setting view 1025 indicates that the privacy level is currently set to the “self” setting. The privacy level selected by the user determines who has access to the message and associated media. The privacy level is also adjusted based on the message and the person tagged in the associated media, as described in the next two examples.

  In one example, the user creates a message 1016 with four associated images 1018. The user has not tagged the message 1016 or the associated image 1018 with anyone. If the user selects the “self” privacy setting, message 1016 and associated image 1018 are shared only to the user. If the user selects the “friend” privacy setting, message 1016 and associated image 1018 are shared with the user's friends. If the user selects the “public” privacy setting, message 1016 and associated image 1018 are shared with everyone on the social networking system. Finally, the user can select a “custom” privacy setting for message 1016 and associated image 1018.

  In the second example, the user creates a message 1016 with four associated images 1018. The user tags each image with one person so that four different people are tagged with four images 1018. The privacy level of the message and associated media is adjusted according to the person tagged on the message and associated media. If the user sets the privacy level of the message to the “self” setting, the user and the four tagged persons can access the message 1016 and the associated image 1018. If the user sets the privacy level of the message to the “friends” setting, the message 1016 and associated image 1018 are shared with the user's friends and all four tagged people's friends. In the “friends” setting, the message and associated image are accessible to both the user's friends and all four tagged person friends on the social networking system.

  Referring again to FIG. 10C, the message 1016 has four associated images 1018 and four tagged users in the tagged display area 1023. If the user selects the “self” setting for the privacy level of the message 1016, the message 1016 and the image 1018 are the user and the person tagged with the message 1016 and the image 1018 (ie, user, friend A, friend B, friend C And shared only with friends D). If the user selects the “friends” setting for the privacy level of message 1016, message 1016 and image 1018 are shared with both the user and the tagged person's friends. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, if the user selects the “friends” privacy setting, message 1016 and image 1018 are displayed for five friend networks (ie, user, friend A, friend B, friend C, and friend D's friend). Network).

  In another embodiment of the invention, the message 1016 and the tag in the associated image 1018 are fully dynamic with respect to each other. Thus, if a user deletes a tag for a person in message 1016, the tag for that person is also deleted in both message 1016 itself and all associated images 1018. Similarly, if a user deletes a tag for a person in one of the associated messages 1018, the tag for that person is also deleted in both the message 1016 and all other associated images 1018. For example, a user creates a message with the same person tag in two associated images. If the user deletes one person's tag, the same person's tag in both images is automatically deleted. In other words, if one of the tags for a person is removed in message 1016 or associated image 1018, all of the tags for the same person are removed from message 1016 and associated image 1018.

In an alternative embodiment, if the user changes the privacy level of the message, the privacy level of the image associated with the message is also changed dynamically. Similarly, if the user changes the privacy level of any of the associated images, the privacy level of the message and all other associated images is also changed. In one example, the user has selected the “self” privacy setting for message 1016 and associated image 1018. If a tag for a person is removed from one of message 1016 or image 1018, access to message 1016 and image 1018 is automatically adjusted to limit access to the person removed from the tag. In a second example, the user has selected a “friend” privacy setting for message 1016 and associated image 1018. If a tag for a person is removed from one of message 1016 or image 1018, access to message 1016 and image 1018 is automatically adjusted to limit access to the friend of the person removed from the tag. The Thus, the privacy level of the message and associated image always remains the same, even when changes are made to either the message or the associated image.

Hardware Implementation The aforementioned processes and features are implemented in a wide variety of networks and computing environments by a wide variety of machines and computer system architectures. FIG. 9 illustrates an example computer system 900 that may be used to implement one or more of the embodiments described herein. Computer system 900 includes a set of instructions that cause computer system 900 to perform the processes and features described herein. The computer system 900 is connected to other machines (eg, networked). In a networked deployment, the computer system 900 operates as a server machine or client machine capability in a client-server network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. In one embodiment of the present invention, computer system 900 may be social networking system 130, user device 110, external system 120, or a component thereof. In one embodiment of the invention, the computer system 900 may be one of many servers that make up all or part of the social networking system 130.

  Computer system 900 includes a processor 902, a cache 904, and one or more executable modules and drivers stored on a computer-readable medium and directed to the processes and features described herein. In addition, computer system 900 includes a high performance input / output (I / O) bus 906 and a standard I / O bus 908. Host bridge 910 couples processor 902 to high performance I / O bus 906, whereas I / O bus bridge 912 couples two buses 906 and 908 together. System memory 914 and one or more network interfaces 916 are coupled to high performance I / O bus 906. Computer system 900 further includes a video memory and a display device (not shown) coupled to the video memory. Mass storage 918 and I / O port 920 are coupled to standard I / O bus 908. Computer system 900 optionally includes a keyboard and pointing device, display device, or other input / output device (not shown) coupled to standard I / O bus 908. Collectively these elements are x86 compatible processors manufactured by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California, and x86 compatible processors manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Corporation of Sunnyvale, California, and other suitable processors. It is intended to represent a broad category of computer hardware systems, including but not limited to computer systems based on.

The operating system manages and controls the operation of the computer system 900, including the input of data to a software application (not shown) and the output of data from the software application. The operating system provides an interface between software applications running on the system and the hardware components of the system. LINUX operating system, Apple Macintosh operating system available from Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, California, UNIX (R) operating system, Microsoft (R) Windows (R) operating system, BSD operating system, etc. A suitable operating system is used. Other implementations are possible.

  Elements of computer system 900 are described in more detail below. In particular, the network interface 916 provides communication between the computer system 900 and any of a wide variety of networks, such as an Ethernet (eg, IEEE 802.3) network, a backplane, and the like. Mass storage 918 provides persistent storage for data and programming instructions for performing the processes and features described above implemented by each of the identified computing systems described above, whereas system memory 914. (E.g., DRAM) provides temporary storage of data and programming instructions when executed by processor 902. I / O port 920 may be one or more serial and / or parallel communication ports that provide communication between additional peripheral devices coupled to computer system 900.

  The computer system 900 can include a variety of system architectures, and the various components of the computer system 900 are rearranged. For example, the cache 904 may be on-chip with the processor 904. Alternatively, cache 904 and processor 902 may be grouped together as a “processor module” and processor 902 may be referred to as a “processor core”. Further, an embodiment of the invention does not require or include all of the above components. For example, a peripheral device coupled to a standard I / O bus 908 is coupled to a high performance I / O bus 906. Further, in one embodiment, there is only a single bus and the components of the computer system 900 are coupled to this single bus. In addition, computer system 900 includes additional components, such as additional processors, storage, or memory.

  In general, the processes and features described herein are implemented as part of an operating system or a particular application, component, program, object, module, or set of instructions called a “program”. For example, one or more programs are used to perform a particular process described herein. A program typically includes one or more instructions in various memory and storage in the computer system 900 that, when read and executed by one or more processors, causes the computer system 900 to perform operations. To implement the processes and features described herein. The processes and features described herein are implemented in software, firmware, hardware (eg, application specific integrated circuits), or any combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the processes and features described herein are implemented as a series of executable modules executed by computer system 900 individually or collectively in a distributed computing environment. The aforementioned modules are implemented by hardware, executable modules stored on computer readable media (or machine readable media), or a combination of both. For example, a module includes a plurality or series of instructions that are executed by a processor in a hardware system, such as processor 902. Initially, the sequence of instructions is stored in a storage, such as mass storage 918. However, the sequence of instructions is stored on any suitable computer readable storage medium. Further, the sequence of instructions does not need to be stored locally, but is received through a network interface 916 from a remote storage, such as a server on the network. The instructions are copied from storage, such as mass storage 918, to system memory 914 and then accessed and executed by processor 902.

Examples of computer readable media include volatile and non-volatile memory devices, solid state memory, floppy and other removable disks, hard disk drives, magnetic media, optical disks (eg, compact disk read only memory (CD).
ROMS), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)), other similar non-transitory (or temporary), tangible (non-tangible) storage media, or any one or more of the processes and features described herein Including, but not limited to, recordable types of media, such as any type of media suitable for storing, encoding, or carrying a sequence of instructions for execution by computer system 900 to perform .

  For purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the description. However, it is possible that the disclosed embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. Will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In one example, modules, structures, processes, features, and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the description. In other examples, functional block diagrams and flowcharts are shown to represent data and logic flows. Block diagram and flowchart components (eg, modules, blocks, structures, devices, features, etc.) may be variously combined, separated, or removed in ways other than those explicitly described and shown herein. Reordered, and rearranged.

  References herein to "one embodiment", "one embodiment", "other embodiments", "series of embodiments", etc. are specific features described in connection with this embodiment, A design, structure, or characteristic is meant to be included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, and different embodiments. Alternate embodiments do not necessarily exclude other embodiments from each other. Further, regardless of whether there is a clear reference to “embodiment” or the like, various combinations and inclusions are included in one embodiment, but may be omitted variously in other embodiments. Various features are described. Similarly, various features are described which may be preferred or required for one embodiment but not for other embodiments.

  The language used herein is selected primarily for readability and description purposes and may not be selected to describe or limit the subject matter of the invention in detail. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims issued upon filing an application based on this specification. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments of the invention is intended to illustrate the scope of the invention, but is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is covered by the following claims. Indicated in the range.

Claims (20)

A computer-implemented method comprising:
Receiving a designation of one or more items of digital media;
Receiving communication regarding the one or more items of digital media;
Associating the one or more items of digital media with the communication based on the designation;
Setting a privacy level for the communication and the one or more items of digital media in the social networking system based on a privacy setting of a user of the social networking system.   The method of claim 1, wherein the privacy level allows only the user in the social networking system to access the communication and the one or more items of digital media.   The method of claim 1, wherein the privacy level allows the user and the user's friends in the social networking system to access the communication and the one or more items of digital media.   The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving tag data regarding the one or more items of the communication or digital media, wherein the tag data identifies one or more people in the social networking system.   5. The method of claim 4, further comprising a privacy level adjustment step of adjusting the privacy level for the communication and the one or more items of digital media based on the one or more people identified by the tag data. the method of.   6. The privacy level adjusting step includes the step of further allowing the one or more persons identified by the tag data to access the communication and the one or more items of digital media. the method of.   The privacy level adjusting step includes the step of further allowing the one or more friends identified by the tag data to access the communication and the one or more items of digital media. The method described in 1.   The privacy level adjustment step includes restricting access to the communication and the one or more items of digital media when the tag data identifying one or more people in the social networking system is removed. The method according to claim 5.   The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media comprises a digital image.   The method of claim 1, wherein the communication includes text content. A computer-readable storage medium,
Receiving a designation of one or more items of digital media;
Receiving communication regarding the one or more items of digital media;
Associating the one or more items of digital media with the communication based on the designation;
Setting a privacy level for the communication and the one or more items of digital media in the social networking system based on a privacy setting of a user of the social networking system;
A medium containing computer program code for.   The medium of claim 11, wherein the privacy level allows only the user in the social networking system to access the communication and the one or more items of digital media.   The medium of claim 11, wherein the privacy level allows the user and the user's friends in the social networking system to access the communication and the one or more items of digital media.   12. The medium of claim 11, further comprising receiving tag data regarding the one or more items of the communication or digital media, wherein the tag data identifies one or more people in the social networking system.   15. The privacy level adjustment step of adjusting the privacy level for the communication and the one or more items of digital media based on the one or more people identified by the tag data. Medium.   16. The privacy level adjusting step includes the step of further allowing access to the communication and the one or more items of digital media by the one or more people identified by the tag data. Medium.   17. The privacy level adjusting step includes the step of further allowing the one or more friends identified by the tag data to access the communication and the one or more items of digital media. The medium described in 1.   The privacy level adjustment step includes restricting access to the communication and the one or more items of digital media when the tag data identifying one or more people in the social networking system is removed. The medium according to claim 15.   The medium of claim 11, wherein the digital media comprises a digital image.   The medium of claim 11, wherein the communication includes text content.