U.S. patent application number 14/815144 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-26 for location aware shared spaces.
The applicant listed for this patent is Facebook, Inc.. Invention is credited to Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau.
Application Number | 20150341369 14/815144 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48427992 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150341369 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bosworth; Andrew Garrod ; et
al. |
November 26, 2015 |
Location Aware Shared Spaces
Abstract
In one embodiment, a geo-social networking system maintains a
data store of shared space, wherein each shared space comprises one
or more content objects, a location, and one or more privacy
settings. The geo-social networking system allows a user
read-access to a shared space based on privacy settings associated
with the shared space. The geo-social networking system allows a
user write-access to a shared space if the user is at the location
associated with the shared space.
Inventors: |
Bosworth; Andrew Garrod;
(San Mateo, CA) ; Garcia; David Harry; (Sunnyvale,
CA) ; Lau; Kenneth M.; (Campbell, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Facebook, Inc. |
Menlo Park |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48427992 |
Appl. No.: |
14/815144 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13301210 |
Nov 21, 2011 |
9098720 |
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14815144 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
726/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 21/6218 20130101;
H04L 51/32 20130101; G06F 2221/2111 20130101; H04L 63/107 20130101;
G06Q 50/01 20130101; H04L 63/20 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 29/06 20060101
H04L029/06 |
Claims
1. A method, by one or more computing devices, comprising:
maintaining a data store of shared spaces, wherein each shared
space comprises one or more content objects and is associated with
a location; allowing, a first user, read-access to the shared
spaces based on one or more read access controls with the shared
spaces; and allowing the first user write-access to a shared space
as long as the first user is within a threshold distance of the
location associated with the shared space.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowing, a first user,
read-access to the shared spaces based on respective privacy
settings associated with the shared spaces, further comprises:
accessing data indicating a current location of the first user;
accessing the data store of shared spaces; identifying one or more
nearby shared spaces wherein each of the nearby shared spaces has a
location within a threshold distance from the first user's current
location; selecting at least one shared space from the one or more
nearby shared spaces based on respective read-access controls
associated with the one or more nearby shared spaces; and
transmitting one or more content objects of the selected shared
space to the first user.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein read-access controls associated
with a nearby shared space comprise one or more privacy settings
associated with the nearby shared space.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowing the first user
write-access to a shared space as long as the first user is within
a threshold distance of the location associated with the shared
space, further comprises: receiving, from the first user, a message
comprising one or more new content objects; accessing data
indicating a current location of the first user; determining the
first user's write-accessibility to the shared space based at least
in part on one or more write-access controls associated with the
shared space and a determination whether the first user's current
location is within the threshold distance of the location
associated with the shared space; and updating the shared space
stored in the data store of shared spaces with the one or more new
content objects, if the first user has write-access to the shared
space.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more write-access
controls associated with the shared space comprise one or more
privacy settings associated with the shared space.
6. A system comprising: a memory; one or more processors; and a
non-transitory storage medium storing computer-readable
instructions operative, when executed, to cause the one or more
processors to: maintain a data store of shared spaces, wherein each
shared space comprises one or more content objects and is
associated with a location; allow, a first user, read-access to the
shared spaces based on one or more read access controls with the
shared spaces; and allow the first user write-access to a shared
space as long as the first user is within a threshold distance of
the location associated with the shared space.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein to allow, a first user,
read-access to the shared spaces based on respective privacy
settings associated with the shared spaces, further comprises
instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to:
access data indicating a current location of the first user; access
the data store of shared spaces; identify one or more nearby shared
spaces wherein each of the nearby shared spaces has a location
within a threshold distance from the first user's current location;
select at least one shared space from the one or more nearby shared
spaces based on respective read-access controls associated with the
one or more nearby shared spaces; and transmit one or more content
objects of the selected shared space to the first user.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein read-access controls associated
with a nearby shared space comprise one or more privacy settings
associated with the nearby shared space.
9. The system of claim 6, wherein to allow the first user
write-access to a shared space as long as the first user is within
a threshold distance of the location associated with the shared
space, further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or
more processors to: receive, from the first user, a message
comprising one or more new content objects; access data indicating
a current location of the first user; determine the first user's
write-accessibility to the shared space based at least in part on
one or more write-access controls associated with the shared space
and a determination whether the first user's current location is
within the threshold distance of the location associated with the
shared space; and update the shared space stored in the data store
of shared spaces with the one or more new content objects, if the
first user has write-access to the shared space.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more write-access
controls associated with the shared space comprise one or more
privacy settings associated with the shared space.
11. One or more computer-readable tangible storage media embodying
software operable when executed by one or more computing devices
to: maintain a data store of shared spaces, wherein each shared
space comprises one or more content objects and is associated with
a location; allow, a first user, read-access to the shared spaces
based on one or more read access controls with the shared spaces;
and allow the first user write-access to a shared space as long as
the first user is within a threshold distance of the location
associated with the shared space.
12. The media of claim 11, wherein to allow, a first user,
read-access to the shared spaces based on respective privacy
settings associated with the shared spaces, further comprises
software operable when executed by one or more computing devices
to: access data indicating a current location of the first user;
access the data store of shared spaces; identify one or more nearby
shared spaces wherein each of the nearby shared spaces has a
location within a threshold distance from the first user's current
location; select at least one shared space from the one or more
nearby shared spaces based on respective read-access controls
associated with the one or more nearby shared spaces; and transmit
one or more content objects of the selected shared space to the
first user.
13. The media of claim 12, wherein read-access controls associated
with a nearby shared space comprise one or more privacy settings
associated with the nearby shared space.
14. The media of claim 11, wherein to allow the first user
write-access to a shared space as long as the first user is within
a threshold distance of the location associated with the shared
space, further comprises software operable when executed by one or
more computing devices to: receive, from the first user, a message
comprising one or more new content objects; access data indicating
a current location of the first user; determine the first user's
write-accessibility to the shared space based at least in part on
one or more write-access controls associated with the shared space
and a determination whether the first user's current location is
within the threshold distance of the location associated with the
shared space; and update the shared space stored in the data store
of shared spaces with the one or more new content objects, if the
first user has write-access to the shared space.
15. The media of claim 14, wherein the one or more write-access
controls associated with the shared space comprise one or more
privacy settings associated with the shared space.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/301,210, filed 21 Nov.
2011.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to location-based
services, and more particularly, to systems that provide users
shared, interactive virtual spaces associated with locations.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A social networking system, such as a social networking
website, enables its users to interact with it and with each other
through the system. The social networking system may create and
store a record, often referred to as a user profile, in connection
with the user. The user profile may include a user's demographic
information, communication channel information, and personal
interests. The social networking system may also create and store a
record of a user's relationship with other users in the social
networking system (e.g., social graph), as well as provide services
(e.g., wall-posts, photo-sharing, or instant messaging) to
facilitate social interaction between users in the social
networking system. A geo-social networking system is a social
networking system in which geographic services and capabilities are
used to enable additional social interactions. User-submitted
location data or geo-location techniques (e.g., mobile phone
position tracking) can allow a geo-social network system to connect
and coordinate users with local people or events that match their
interests. For example, users can check-in to a place using a
mobile client application by providing a name of a place (or
selecting a place from a pre-established list of places). The
geo-social networking system, among other things, can record
information about the user's presence at the place and possibly
provide this information to other users of the geo-social
networking system.
SUMMARY
[0004] Particular embodiments relate to maintaining a data store of
shared spaces, wherein each shared space comprises one or more
content objects and is associated with a location and one or more
privacy settings. In some embodiments, a shared space system
manages a user's read-access and write-access to a shared space
based on the user's current location and/or privacy settings
associated with the shared space. These and other features,
aspects, and advantages of the disclosure are described in more
detail below in the detailed description and in conjunction with
the following figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates an example social networking system.
[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates an example method of managing
location-specific shared spaces.
[0007] FIG. 2A illustrates an example news feed entry for a newly
created shared space.
[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates an example method of managing read-access
for a shared space.
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates an example method of managing
write-access to a shared space.
[0010] FIG. 4A illustrates an example news feed entry for newly
added content objects.
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates an example computer system.
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates an example mobile device platform.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The invention is now described in detail with reference to a
few embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details
are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
present disclosure. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the
art, that the present disclosure may be practiced without some or
all of these specific details. In other instances, well known
process steps and/or structures have not been described in detail
in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure. In
addition, while the disclosure is described in conjunction with the
particular embodiments, it should be understood that this
description is not intended to limit the disclosure to the
described embodiments. To the contrary, the description is intended
to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be
included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined
by the appended claims.
[0014] A social networking system, such as a social networking
website, enables its users to interact with it, and with each other
through, the system. Typically, to become a registered user of a
social networking system, an entity, either human or non-human,
registers for an account with the social networking system.
Thereafter, the registered user may log into the social networking
system via an account by providing, for example, a login ID or
username and password. As used herein, a "user" may be an
individual (human user), an entity (e.g., an enterprise, business,
or third party application), or a group (e.g., of individuals or
entities) that interacts or communicates with or over such a social
network environment.
[0015] When a user registers for an account with a social
networking system, the social networking system may create and
store a record, often referred to as a "user profile", in
connection with the user. The user profile may include information
provided by the user and information gathered by various systems,
including the social networking system, relating to activities or
actions of the user. For example, the user may provide his name,
profile picture, contact information, birth date, gender, marital
status, family status, employment, education background,
preferences, interests, and other demographical information to be
included in his user profile. The user may identify other users of
the social networking system that the user considers to be his
friends. A list of the user's friends or first degree contacts may
be included in the user's profile. Connections in social networking
systems may be in both directions or may be in just one direction.
For example, if Bob and Joe are both users and connect with each
another, Bob and Joe are each connections of the other. If, on the
other hand, Bob wishes to connect to Sam to view Sam's posted
content items, but Sam does not choose to connect to Bob, a one-way
connection may be formed where Sam is Bob's connection, but Bob is
not Sam's connection. Some embodiments of a social networking
system allow the connection to be indirect via one or more levels
of connections (e.g., friends of friends). Connections may be added
explicitly by a user, for example, the user selecting a particular
other user to be a friend, or automatically created by the social
networking system based on common characteristics of the users
(e.g., users who are alumni of the same educational institution).
The user may identify or bookmark websites or web pages he visits
frequently and these websites or web pages may be included in the
user's profile.
[0016] The user may provide information relating to various aspects
of the user (such as contact information and interests) at the time
the user registers for an account or at a later time. The user may
also update his or her profile information at any time. For
example, when the user moves, or changes a phone number, he may
update his contact information. Additionally, the user's interests
may change as time passes, and the user may update his interests in
his profile from time to time. A user's activities on the social
networking system, such as frequency of accessing particular
information on the system, may also provide information that may be
included in the user's profile. Again, such information may be
updated from time to time to reflect the user's most-recent
activities. Still further, other users or so-called friends or
contacts of the user may also perform activities that affect or
cause updates to a user's profile. For example, a contact may add
the user as a friend (or remove the user as a friend). A contact
may also write messages to the user's profile pages typically known
as wall-posts. A user may also input status messages that get
posted to the user's profile page.
[0017] A social network system may maintain social graph
information, which can generally model the relationships among
groups of individuals, and may include relationships ranging from
casual acquaintances to close familial bonds. A social network may
be represented using a graph structure. Each node of the graph
corresponds to a member of the social network. Edges connecting two
nodes represent a relationship between two users. In addition, the
degree of separation between any two nodes is defined as the
minimum number of hops required to traverse the graph from one node
to the other. A degree of separation between two users can be
considered a measure of relatedness between the two users
represented by the nodes in the graph.
[0018] A social networking system may support a variety of
applications, such as photo sharing, on-line calendars and events.
For example, the social networking system may also include media
sharing capabilities. For example, the social networking system may
allow users to post photographs and other multimedia files to a
user's profile, such as in a wall post or in a photo album, both of
which may be accessible to other users of the social networking
system. Social networking system may also allow users to configure
events. For example, a first user may configure an event with
attributes including time and date of the event, location of the
event and other users invited to the event. The invited users may
receive invitations to the event and respond (such as by accepting
the invitation or declining it). Furthermore, social networking
system may allow users to maintain a personal calendar. Similarly
to events, the calendar entries may include times, dates, locations
and identities of other users.
[0019] The social networking system may also support a privacy
model. A user may or may not wish to share his information with
other users or third-party applications, or a user may wish to
share his information only with specific users or third-party
applications. A user may control whether his information is shared
with other users or third-party applications through privacy
settings associated with his user profile. For example, a user may
select a privacy setting for each user datum associated with the
user and/or select settings that apply globally or to categories or
types of user profile information. A privacy setting defines, or
identifies, the set of entities (e.g., other users, connections of
the user, friends of friends, or third party application) that may
have access to the user datum. The privacy setting may be specified
on various levels of granularity, such as by specifying particular
entities in the social network (e.g., other users), predefined
groups of the user's connections, a particular type of connections,
all of the user's connections, all first-degree connections of the
user's connections, the entire social network, or even the entire
Internet (e.g., to make the posted content item index-able and
searchable on the Internet). A user may choose a default privacy
setting for all user data that is to be posted. Additionally, a
user may specifically exclude certain entities from viewing a user
datum or a particular type of user data.
[0020] The social networking system may maintain a database of
information relating to geographic locations or places. Places may
correspond to various physical locations, such as restaurants,
bars, train stations, airports and the like. In one implementation,
each place can be maintained as a hub node in a social graph or
other data structure maintained by the social networking system, as
described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/763,171, which is
incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Social
networking system may allow users to access information regarding
each place using a client application (e.g., a browser) hosted by a
wired or wireless station, such as a laptop, desktop or mobile
device. For example, social networking system may serve web pages
(or other structured documents) to users that request information
about a place. In addition to user profile and place information,
the social networking system may track or maintain other
information about the user. For example, the social networking
system may support geo-social networking system functionality
including one or more location-based services that record the
user's location. For example, users may access the geo-social
networking system using a special-purpose client application hosted
by a mobile device of the user (or a web- or network-based
application using a browser client). The client application may
automatically access Global Positioning System (GPS) or other
geo-location functions supported by the mobile device and report
the user's current location to the geo-social networking system. In
addition, the client application may support geo-social networking
functionality that allows users to check-in at various locations
and communicate this location to other users. A check-in to a given
place may occur when a user is physically located at a place and,
using a mobile device, access the geo-social networking system to
register the user's presence at the place. A user may select a
place from a list of existing places near to the user's current
location or create a new place. The social networking system may
automatically checks in a user to a place based on the user's
current location and past location data, as described in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/042,357 filed on Mar. 7, 2011, which
is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. An entry
including a comment and a time stamp corresponding to the time the
user checked in may be displayed to other users. For example, a
record of the user's check-in activity may be stored in a database.
Social networking system may select one or more records associated
with check-in activities of users at a given place and include such
check-in activity in web pages (or other structured documents) that
correspond to a given place. The check-in activity may also be
displayed on a user profile page and in news feeds provided to
users of the social networking system.
[0021] Still further, a special purpose client application hosted
on a mobile device of a user may be configured to continuously
capture location data of the mobile device and send the location
data to social networking system. In this manner, the social
networking system may track the user's location and provide various
recommendations to the user related to places that are proximal to
the user's location or current trajectory or that are frequented by
the user. In one implementation, a user may opt in to this
recommendation service, which causes the client application to
periodically post location data of the user to the social
networking system.
[0022] A social networking system may support a news feed service.
A news feed is a data format typically used for providing users
with frequently updated content. A social networking system may
provide various news feeds to its users, where each news feed
includes content relating to a specific subject matter or topic.
Various pieces of content relating to a particular topic may be
aggregated into a single news feed. The topic may be broad such as
various events related to users within a threshold degree of
separation of a subject user, and/or updates to pages that a user
has liked or otherwise established a subscriber relationship.
Individual users of the social networking system may subscribe to
specific news feeds of their interest. U.S. Pat. No. 7,669,123,
incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes,
describes a system that can be used to dynamically provide a news
feed in a social networking system. A group of related actions may
be presented together to a user of the social networking system in
the same news feed. For example, a news feed concerning an event
organized through the social networking system may include
information about the event, such as its time, location, and
attendees, and photos taken at the event, which have been uploaded
to the social networking system. U.S. application Ser. No.
12/884,010, incorporated by reference in its entirety for all
purposes, describes a system that can be used to construct a news
feed comprising related actions and present the news feed to a user
of the social networking system.
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an example social networking system. In
particular embodiments, the social networking system may store user
profile data and social graph information in user profile database
101. In particular embodiments, the social networking system may
store user event data in event database 102. For example, a user
may register a new event by accessing an application to define an
event name, a time and a location, and cause the newly created
event to be stored in event database 102. For example, a user may
register with an existing event by accessing a client application
to confirming attending the event, and cause the confirmation to be
stored in event database 102. In particular embodiments, the social
networking system may store user privacy policy data in privacy
policy database 103. In particular embodiments, the social
networking system may store geographic and location data in
location database 104. In particular embodiments, databases 101,
102, 103, and 104 may be operably connected to the social
networking system's front end 120 and news feed engine 110. In
particular embodiments, the front end 120 may interact with client
device 122 through network cloud 121. For example, the front end
120 may be implemented in software programs hosted by one or more
server systems. For example, each database such as user profile
database 101 may be stored in one or more storage devices. Client
device 122 is generally a computer or computing device including
functionality for communicating (e.g., remotely) over a computer
network. Client device 122 may be a desktop computer, laptop
computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), in- or out-of-car
navigation system, smart phone or other cellular or mobile phone,
or mobile gaming device, among other suitable computing devices.
Client device 122 may execute one or more client applications, such
as a web browser (e.g., Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer,
Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Google Chrome, and Opera, etc.) or
special-purpose client application (e.g., Facebook for iPhone,
etc.), to access and view content over a computer network. Front
end 120 may include web or HTTP server functionality, as well as
other functionality, to allow users to access the social networking
system. Network cloud 121 generally represents a network or
collection of networks (such as the Internet, a corporate intranet,
a virtual private network, a local area network, a wireless local
area network, a wide area network, a metropolitan area network, or
a combination of two or more such networks) over which client
devices 122 may access the social network system.
[0024] In particular embodiments, location database 104 may store
an information base of places, where each place includes a name, a
geographic location and meta information (such as the user that
initially created the place, reviews, comments, check-in activity
data, and the like). Places may be created by administrators of the
system and/or created by users of the system. For example, a user
may register a new place by accessing a client application to
define a place name and provide a geographic location and cause the
newly created place to be registered in location database 104. As
discussed above, a created place may correspond to a hub node,
which an administrator can claim for purposes of augmenting the
information about the place and for creating ads or other offers to
be delivered to users. In particular embodiments, system front end
120 may construct and serve a web page of a place, as requested by
a user. In some embodiments, a web page of a place may include
selectable components for a user to "like" the place or check in to
the place. In particular embodiments, location database 104 may
store geo-location data identifying a real-world geographic
location of a user associated with a check-in. For example, a
geographic location of an Internet connected computer can be
identified by the computer's IP address. For example, a geographic
location of a cell phone equipped with cellular, Wi-Fi and/or GPS
capabilities can be identified by cell tower triangulation, Wi-Fi
positioning, and/or GPS positioning. In particular embodiments,
location database 104 may store a geographic location and
additional information of a plurality of places. For example, a
place can be a local business, a point of interest (e.g., Union
Square in San Francisco, Calif.), a college, a city, or a national
park. For example, a geographic location of a place (e.g., a local
coffee shop) can be an address, a set of geographic coordinates
(latitude and longitude), or a reference to another place (e.g.,
"the coffee shop next to the train station"). For example,
additional information of a place can be business hours, photos, or
user reviews of the place. In particular embodiments, location
database 104 may store a user's location data. For example, a user
can create a place (e.g., a new restaurant or coffee shop) and the
social networking system can store the created place in location
database 104. For example, location database 104 may store a user's
check-in activities. For example, location database 104 may store a
user's geographic location provided by the user's GPS-equipped
mobile device.
[0025] In particular embodiments, news feed engine 110 may access
user profile database 101, event database 102, and location
database 104 for data about a particular user of the social
networking system, and assemble a list of one or more activities as
news items about the particular user. In particular embodiments,
news feed engine 110 may access privacy policy database 103 and
determine a subset of news items based on one or more privacy
settings by the particular user. In particular embodiments, news
feed engine 110 may compile a dynamic list of a limited number of
news items about the particular user in a preferred order (i.e., a
news feed). In particular embodiments, news feed engine 110 may
provide links related to one or more activities in the news items,
and links providing opportunities to participate in the activities.
For example, a news feed about a user can comprise the user's wall
posts, status updates, comments on other users' photos, and a
recent check-in to a place (with a link to a web page of the
place). In other embodiments, news feed engine 110 may access user
profile database 101, event database 102, and location database 104
and compile a dynamic list of a number of news items about a group
of related actions received from users of the social networking
system (i.e., a news feed). For example, a news feed can comprise
an event that a user may schedule and organize through the social
networking system (with a link to participate the event), check-ins
at a specific geographical location of the event by the user and
other participants of the event, messages about the event posted by
the user and other participants of the event, and photos of the
event uploaded by the user and other participants of the event.
[0026] A location-aware service can provide users access to a
shared virtual space including one or more content objects (e.g., a
post or comment, a photo, a video clip, an application, etc.) that
are associated with a particular location. For example, a user with
a Google Account can post a photo associated with a particular
location to Google Maps service provided by Google, Inc. Another
user can access the posted photo in a map incorporating the
particular location displayed in a graphical user interface for
Google Maps service (e.g., in a web browser window). However, a
user that posts (or accesses) a photo associated with a particular
location using Google Maps service is not necessarily at or near
the particular location while posting (or accessing) the photo. In
other instances, location-specific content objects provided by a
location-aware service is accessible only to users at a location
associated with the content objects. However, the location-specific
content objects often can only be modified by an operator or a
system administrator of the location-aware service. For example, a
museum (e.g., Musee du Louvre) can provide handheld guide devices
for visitors. A handheld guide device carried by a user may
determine a current location of the user by a location signal
specific to a particular exhibit (or a particular room), or by a
location key displayed adjacent to a particular exhibit (and
entered into the device by the user). The handheld guide device
can, based on the current location, provide the user multimedia
content (e.g., comments from curators, photos and video clips of
related arts) specifically related to an exhibit at the user's
current location. However, the location-specific content can only
be updated by a system administrator of the museum. A visitor
cannot leave a comment about an exhibit at a particular location of
the museum while being at the particular location of the
museum.
[0027] Particular embodiments herein describe methods of
maintaining a data store of sets of location-specific virtual
spaces associated with content objects, wherein each virtual space
is associated with a location and own privacy settings. A user can
add to a virtual space of location-specific content objects, only
when the user is at the location associated with the set of
location-specific content objects. By limiting the circumstances
under which a user can add new content objects to a virtual space,
particular embodiments can facilitate creation of shared spaces
where the content objects are more relevant to an associated
location. Meanwhile, read/write-access to a location-specific
virtual space may also be limited based on privacy settings
associated with the virtual space generally or associated with
particular location-specific content objects (e.g., based on social
proximity between uploading and viewing users, common interests,
etc.). Thus, particular embodiments of the virtual shared space
system can provide different content objects to different users at
the same location depending on social connections, group membership
and/or user interests. Furthermore, particular embodiments can
provide to a user content objects that are more relevant to the
user (e.g., as the content objects are provided by the user's
social contacts).
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates an example method of managing
location-specific, shared virtual spaces. The example method of
FIG. 2 can be implemented by a location-aware, shared space process
hosted by one or more computing devices of the social networking
system. In particular embodiments, the location-triggered shared
space process may maintain a data store of shared virtual spaces,
wherein each shared virtual space comprises one or more content
objects and is associated with a location and, optionally, one or
more privacy settings (201). The one or more content objects may
comprise a photo, a video clip, an audio clip, a text string (e.g.,
a user comment, a restaurant review), a structured document, an
Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link, an application, or any
combination of the foregoing. The one or more privacy settings may
comprise read-access and/or write-access permissions for the shared
space. For example, a shared space can be a collection of photos
associated with a geographic location (or region) corresponding to
the Golden Gate Bridge north of San Francisco, Calif. Privacy
settings associated with the shared space may comprise read-access
and write-access being set to allow various users of the social
networking system to access the shared virtual space. For example,
the shared virtual space may be a public space with read-access to
all users. In other implementations, read-access can be limited by
group membership or by degrees of separation between a first user
that created the virtual space and other users. In some
implementations, read access can be limited based on degrees of
separation between the user that created or initiated the shared
virtual space, as well as those users that commented or added to
the shared virtual space. In one implementation, a shared space can
be maintained as a hub node in a social graph or other data
structure maintained by the social networking system, as described
in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/763,171.
[0029] A user of the social networking system may create a shared
virtual space associated with the user's current location. In
particular embodiments, a creating user of a shared space may
transmit to the social networking system a request for creating a
shared space. The request may comprise or identify one or more
content objects. As part of the shared space creation process, the
creating user may configure one or more privacy settings associated
with the shared space. For example, the one or more privacy
settings may be based on social proximity (e.g., access being
limited to the creating user's first-degree contacts, access being
limited to users who are within two degrees of separation from the
creating user, access being for all users of the social networking
system), social factors such as common interest (e.g., users who
went to the same college as the creating user, users who like a
place page of a sports team), and/or individually. For example, a
user may access a special-purpose client application hosted by the
user's GPS-equipped mobile device, select one or more content
objects (e.g., a photo, a video clip) stored in the mobile device,
enters a name for a shared space, and select privacy settings
(e.g., read-access for the user's first-degree contact, and
write-access being limited to the user only), causing the
special-purpose client application to transmit to the social
networking system a request for creating a shared space, the
request including an user identifier of the user, the name of the
shared space, the one or more content objects, and the privacy
settings. For example, in response to a user's checking in to a
place, a server-side process may construct a place web page
including a selectable icon for creating a shared space (e.g.,
"Create your own shared space here."), and present the place web
page in a graphical user interface of an application hosted by the
user's computing device. The user may select the selectable icon,
and select one or more content objects (e.g., a set of photos)
stored in the user's computing device and one or more privacy
settings, causing the application to transmit to the social
networking system a request for creating a shared space, including
the user's identifier for the social networking system, the one or
more content objects, and the one or more privacy settings. In
response to the creating user's request, the location-triggered
shared space process may access location database 104 for a current
location of the creating user (e.g., recorded GPS coordinates, a
recent place check-in activity), and store the shared space
including the creating user's current location, the one or more
content objects, and the privacy setting in location database 104.
In other embodiments, the social networking system may
automatically created a shared space from posting requests (e.g.,
photo upload, status update, etc.) from a plurality of users based
on social, spatial, and temporal proximity, as described in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/229,241, which is incorporated in
reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.
[0030] In one embodiment, the location-triggered shared space
process may authenticate a creating user's current location. For
example, the location-triggered shared space may transmit a message
to a creating user's mobile device, causing an application hosted
by the mobile device to obtain location information of the mobile
device (e.g., an IP address of an access point for the mobile
device's network connection, one or more identifiers of cell towers
that the mobile device is maintaining communication with, GPS
coordinates of the mobile device) and transmitting the location
information of the creating user's mobile device to the social
networking system. The location-triggered shared space process can
access one or more data stores of location information (e.g.,
location information for public wireless hot spots, location
information for cell towers) and verify the location information of
the creating user's mobile device. For example, the
location-triggered shared space process may transmit a request for
location authentication to a creating user's mobile device, causing
an application to present (in its graphical user interface) to the
creating user a request to provide information for the creating
user' current location (e.g., take a picture of a QR code nearby,
take a picture of a landmark nearby, tap the mobile device near a
Near Field Communication or NFC device or reader with a know
location if the mobile device is NFC enabled). The creating user
may provide location information as requested (e.g., the creating
user can take a picture of a landmark nearby using the mobile
device), causing the application to transmit the location
information to the social networking system. The location-triggered
shared space process can access one or more data stores of location
information (e.g., a data store of photos and respective locations
for the photos) and verify the location information provided by the
creating user.
[0031] As described above, a creating user of a shared space can
specify users who can read and/or write to the shared space based
on one or more privacy settings associated with the shared space.
For example, a user can create a shared space with a location at a
popular destination (e.g., "Golden Gate Bridge") with photos that
the user had just taken at the location. Instead of having the
photos being viewed by all users of the social networking system,
the user can specify in the one or more privacy settings that limit
read/write-access of the shared space "Golden Gate Bridge" to the
user's first-degree friends. For example, the user can specify in a
read access control that limits read access of the shared space
"Golden Gate Bridge" to users who are at the location (the Golden
Gate Bridge). For example, a system administrator of a sports team
(e.g., Oakland Athletics) can create a shared space (e.g., "A's vs.
Yankees series, July 2011") with a location corresponding to the
sports team's home stadium (e.g., Oakland Coliseum). The system
administrator of the sports team can create the shared space as a
forum for the team's fans by specifying in the one or more privacy
settings that limit read/write-access of the shared space "A's vs.
Yankees series, July 2011" to users who like a place web page of
the sports team. In one embodiment, the social networking system
may specify one or more default privacy settings for a shared space
(e.g., read/write-access limited to the creating user's
first-degree social contacts).
[0032] In some embodiments, the location-triggered shared space
process may transmit notifications to one or more users of the
social networking system when creating a shared space. For example,
the location-triggered shared space process may send a message
(e.g. "John just created a share space Light House") via a private
communication channel (e.g., an email, an Short Message Service or
SMS message), to users with read-access to the newly created shared
space specified in the privacy settings associated with the newly
created shared space. For example, location-triggered shared space
process may cause news feed engine 110 to create a news feed entry
including a selectable link to the newly created shares space, and
add the news feed entry to news feeds for profile pages of the
creating user and users with read-access to the newly created
shared space specified in the privacy settings associated with the
newly created shared space (i.e., posting the news feed entry to
walls of the creating user and users with read-access to the newly
created shared space). FIG. 2A illustrates an example news feed
entry for a newly created shared space. In the example of FIG. 2A,
a news feed entry 220 for a newly created shared space may include
a message 221 with a selectable link for the shared space 222 and a
location of the shared space 223. The news feed entry may further
include a profile picture 224 of the creating user of the shared
space, and thumbnails 225 for one or more content objects of the
newly created shared space.
[0033] In particular embodiments, the location-triggered shared
space process may allow read-access to a shared space based on
read-access controls associated with the shared space (202). FIG. 3
illustrates an example method of managing read-access of a shared
space and providing one or more content objects of the shared space
to a user of the social networking system. In particular
embodiments, the location-triggered shared space process may access
data indicating a current location of a first user (301). For
example, the location-triggered shared space process may access
location database 104 for a current location of the first user
(e.g., recorded GPS coordinates, a recent place check-in activity).
In particular embodiments, the location-triggered shared space
process may identify one or more nearby shared spaces (302). For
example, the location-triggered shared space process may access
location database 104 for one or more nearby shared spaces, wherein
each of the one or more nearby shared spaces has a location within
a threshold distance (e.g., 200 feet) from the first user's current
location. In particular embodiments, the location-triggered shared
space process may select at least one shared space from the one or
more nearby shared spaces based on respective privacy settings
associated with the one or more nearby shared spaces (303). That
is, the location-triggered shared space process may select a
particular nearby space if one or more privacy settings of the
particular nearby shared space allow first user read-access to the
particular nearby shared space.
[0034] In particular embodiments, after the location-triggered
shared space process determines that the first user is at or near a
location of the selected shared space and has read-access to the
selected shared space, the location-triggered shared space process
may transmit one or more content objects (e.g. a photo, a video
clip, a comment) of the selected shared space to the first user
(304). For example, the location-triggered shared space process can
transmit one or more content objects of the selected shared space
to the first user's mobile device, causing the one or more content
objects to be displayed in a graphical user interface of an
application hosted by the first user's mobile device. For example,
a first user may check in to a place using a mobile client
application hosted by the user's GPS-equipped mobile device. In
response to the first user's check-in activity, the
location-triggered shared space process may identify one or more
shared space near a location corresponding to the place (302), and
select from the one or more nearby shared places at least one
shared space that allows the first user read-access (303). The
location-triggered shared space process may cause a server-side
process to construct a place web page incorporating a selectable
link of the selected shared space and selectable
snippets/thumbnails of one or more content objects of the selected
shared space, and present the place web page in a graphical user
interface of the mobile client application. The first user can
select the link and/or the snippets/thumbnails, causing the mobile
client application to retrieve from the social networking system
one or more content objects of the selected shared space and
display the content objects in its graphical user interface.
[0035] The example method of FIG. 3 may enable the social
networking system to provide a user one or more content objects
that are relevant to the user. For example, a first user may go to
a popular destination such as Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of
transmitting one or more photos of Golden Gate Bridge taken by any
users of the social networking system to the first user's
GPS-equipped mobile device, the social networking system can based
on the example method of FIG. 3, transmit to the first user one or
more photos from a shared space created by the first user's
first-degree friend (and with a location corresponding to Golden
Gate Bridge). For example, as a fan of Oakland Athletics checks in
to a place corresponding to Oakland Coliseum, the social networking
system can construct a place web page (corresponding to Oakland
Coliseum) including photos and video clips from the shared space
"A's vs. Yankees series, July 2011" set up by Oakland Athletics as
described earlier, instead of including photos and video clips from
another sports team sharing the same home stadium (e.g., Oakland
Raiders), or from a music band holding a concert at Oakland
Coliseum recently.
[0036] In particular embodiments, the location-triggered shared
space process may receive, from a first user, a request to access a
shared space. For example, a first may access a map application
hosted by the first user's GPS-equipped mobile device, causing the
map application to transmit to the social networking system GPS
coordinates of the first user's current location, and a request for
one or more shared spaces near the first user's current location.
The location-triggered shared space process may identify one or
more shared spaces near the first user's current location (302),
and select from the one or more nearby shared spaces at least one
shared space that allows first user read-access (303). The
location-triggered shared space process may transmit the location
and snippets/thumbnails of one or more content objects of the
selected shared space to the first user's mobile device, causing
the map application to display in its graphical user interface a
map including the first user's current location, with the
snippets/thumbnails of one or more content objects of the selected
shared space overlaying the map. Yet for another example, a first
user may select a selectable link of a shared space included in a
news feed entry displayed in a graphical user interface of an
application hosted by the first user's GPS-equipped mobile device,
causing the application transmit to the social networking system
the link, the first user's identifier for the social networking
system, and the first user's current GPS coordinates. The
location-triggered shared space process may determine whether the
first user's current GPS coordinates is within a threshold distance
(e.g., 200 feet) from a location associated with the shared space,
and whether the first user has read-access to the shared space
based on one or more privacy settings associated with the shared
space. If the first user is at the location associated with the
shared space and has read-access to the shared space, the
location-triggered shared space process may cause a server-side
process to construct a web page corresponding to the shared space
with one or more content objects from the shared space, and present
the web page in the graphical user interface of the
application.
[0037] In other embodiments, the location-triggered shared space
process may allow read-access to a shared space for a first user
when the first user is not near the location of the shared space,
while one or more privacy settings of the shared space allow the
first user read-access to the shared space. For example, the first
user can access a map application hosted by the first user's
computing device, and request a map of a particular location
different from the first user's current location, causing the map
application to transmit to the social networking system a request
for content objects specific to the particular location. In
response to the first user's request, the location-triggered shared
space process may access location database 104 and identify one or
more shared spaces that are near the particular location (e.g.,
within 200 feet radius). The location-triggered shared space
process may select, from the one or more shared spaces near the
particular location, at least one shared space that allow
read-access for the first user based on respective privacy settings
associated with the one or more shared spaces near the particular
location. The location-triggered shared space process may then
transmit one or more content objects of the selected shared space
to the first user's computing device, causing the map application
to display in its graphical user interface a map including the
particular location, with the one or more content objects (or their
snippets/thumbnails) overlaying the map.
[0038] In one embodiment, the location-triggered shared space
process may transmit a message to the creating user of a shared
space if another user accesses the shares space. For example, as
the location-triggered shared space process transmit content
objects of a shared space to a second user (304), the
location-triggered shared space process can also transmit a message
(e.g., "Wilson just checked out your shared space Light House") to
the creating user of the shared space via a private communication
channel (e.g., an email message, an SMS message).
[0039] In particular embodiments, the location-triggered shared
space process may allow a user write-access to a shared space if
the user is at or near the location associated with the shared
space (203). FIG. 4 illustrates an example method of managing
write-access to a shared space. In particular embodiments, the
location-triggered shared space process may receive, from a first
user, a message comprising an identifier of a shared space, and one
or more new content objects for the shared space (401). For
example, a first user can select a shared space from a place web
page presented by a mobile client application hosted by the first
user's GPS-equipped mobile device as described earlier, and select
a set of photos stored in the mobile device, causing the mobile
client application to transmit to the social networking system a
message for adding the set of photos to the selected shared space.
For example, a first user can access a web page of a shared space
in a graphical user interface of an application hosted by the first
user's computing device, and enter a comment in a dialog box in the
web page (e.g., "Post your comment here:"), causing the application
to transmit to the social networking system a message for adding
the comment to the shared space. In particular embodiments, the
location-triggered shared space process may access location
database 104 for the first user's current location data (e.g.,
based on location check-in activity, or recorded GPS coordinates).
In one embodiments, the location-triggered shared space process may
determine the first user's location based on IP address of an
access point of the first user's network connection. Other methods
for identifying the location of the first user may include data
reports from POS systems or mobile devices of other users that have
interacted with the first user's mobile phone via BlueTooth or
Near-Field Communications (NFC) protocols. In particular
embodiments, the location-triggered shared space process may access
location database 104 for a location and one or more privacy
settings associated with the shared space. In particular
embodiments, the location-triggered shared space process may
determine whether the first user have write-access of the shares
space based on the one or more privacy settings associated with the
shares space (402). In particular embodiments, the
location-triggered shares space process may determine whether the
first user is at or near the location associated with the shared
space (403). For example, the location-triggered shared space
process may determine whether the first user's current location is
within a threshold distance (e.g., 200 feet) from the location
associated with the shared space. In particular embodiments, the
location-triggered shared space process may update the shared space
stored in location database 104 with the one or more new content
objects from the first user, if the first user has write-access to
the shared space and the first user is at or near the location
associated with the shared space (404).
[0040] In particular embodiments, the location-triggered shared
space process may transmit notifications about newly added content
objects to other users with read-access to the shared space. For
example, the location-triggered shared space process can transmit a
notification (e.g., "Joe just added two new photos to Golden Gate
Bridge.") to each of users with read access of the shared space
"Golden Gate Bridge." via a private communication channel (e.g., an
email, an SMS message). For example, the location-triggered shared
space process may cause news feed engine 110 to create a news feed
entry for newly added content objects, and add the news feed entry
to news feeds for profile pages of the users with read-access to
the shared space. FIG. 4A illustrates an example news feed entry
for newly added content objects. In the example of FIG. 4A, a news
feed entry for newly added content objects 420 may include a
message 421 with a selectable link to the shared space 422. The
news feed entry 420 may also include a profile picture of the first
user 424, and thumbnails of newly added photos 425.
[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates an example computer system 600, which may
be used with some embodiments of the present invention. This
disclosure contemplates any suitable number of computer systems
600. This disclosure contemplates computer system 600 taking any
suitable physical form. As example and not by way of limitation,
computer system 600 may be an embedded computer system, a
system-on-chip (SOC), a desktop computer system, a mobile computer
system, a game console, a mainframe, a mesh of computer systems, a
server, or a combination of two or more of these. Where
appropriate, computer system 600 may include one or more computer
systems 600; be unitary or distributed; span multiple locations;
span multiple machines; or reside in a cloud, which may include one
or more cloud components in one or more networks. Where
appropriate, one or more computer systems 600 may perform without
substantial spatial or temporal limitation one or more steps of one
or more methods described or illustrated herein. As an example and
not by way of limitation, one or more computer systems 600 may
perform in real time or in batch mode one or more steps of one or
more methods described or illustrated herein. One or more computer
systems 600 may perform at different times or at different
locations one or more steps of one or more methods described or
illustrated herein, where appropriate.
[0042] In particular embodiments, computer system 600 includes a
processor 602, memory 604, storage 606, an input/output (I/O)
interface 608, a communication interface 610, and a bus 612. In
particular embodiments, processor 602 includes hardware for
executing instructions, such as those making up a computer program.
As an example and not by way of limitation, to execute
instructions, processor 602 may retrieve (or fetch) the
instructions from an internal register, an internal cache, memory
604, or storage 606; decode and execute them; and then write one or
more results to an internal register, an internal cache, memory
604, or storage 606. In particular embodiments, processor 602 may
include one or more internal caches for data, instructions, or
addresses. In particular embodiments, memory 604 includes main
memory for storing instructions for processor 602 to execute or
data for processor 602 to operate on. As an example and not by way
of limitation, computer system 600 may load instructions from
storage 606 to memory 604. Processor 602 may then load the
instructions from memory 604 to an internal register or internal
cache. To execute the instructions, processor 602 may retrieve the
instructions from the internal register or internal cache and
decode them. During or after execution of the instructions,
processor 602 may write one or more results (which may be
intermediate or final results) to the internal register or internal
cache. Processor 602 may then write one or more of those results to
memory 604. One or more memory buses (which may each include an
address bus and a data bus) may couple processor 602 to memory 604.
Bus 612 may include one or more memory buses, as described below.
In particular embodiments, one or more memory management units
(MMUs) reside between processor 602 and memory 604 and facilitate
accesses to memory 604 requested by processor 602. In particular
embodiments, memory 604 includes random access memory (RAM). This
RAM may be volatile memory, where appropriate Where appropriate,
this RAM may be dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM).
[0043] In particular embodiments, storage 606 includes mass storage
for data or instructions. As an example and not by way of
limitation, storage 606 may include an HDD, a floppy disk drive,
flash memory, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, magnetic
tape, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or a combination of two
or more of these. Storage 606 may include removable or
non-removable (or fixed) media, where appropriate. Storage 606 may
be internal or external to computer system 600, where appropriate.
In particular embodiments, storage 606 is non-volatile, solid-state
memory. In particular embodiments, storage 606 includes read-only
memory (ROM). Where appropriate, this ROM may be mask-programmed
ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), or flash
memory or a combination of two or more of these.
[0044] In particular embodiments, I/O interface 608 includes
hardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces for
communication between computer system 600 and one or more I/O
devices. Computer system 600 may include one or more of these I/O
devices, where appropriate. One or more of these I/O devices may
enable communication between a person and computer system 600. As
an example and not by way of limitation, an I/O device may include
a keyboard, microphone, display, touch screen, mouse, speaker,
camera, another suitable I/O device or a combination of two or more
of these. An I/O device may include one or more sensors. This
disclosure contemplates any suitable I/O devices and any suitable
I/O interfaces 608 for them. Where appropriate, I/O interface 608
may include one or more device or software drivers enabling
processor 602 to drive one or more of these I/O devices. I/O
interface 608 may include one or more I/O interfaces 608, where
appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a
particular I/O interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitable
I/O interface.
[0045] In particular embodiments, communication interface 610
includes hardware, software, or both providing one or more
interfaces for communication (such as, for example, packet-based
communication) between computer system 600 and one or more other
computer systems 600 or one or more networks. As an example and not
by way of limitation, communication interface 610 may include a
network interface controller (NIC) for communicating with an
Ethernet or other wire-based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC) for
communicating with a wireless network, such as a WI-FI network.
This disclosure contemplates any suitable network and any suitable
communication interface 610 for it. As an example and not by way of
limitation, computer system 600 may communicate with an ad hoc
network, a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN),
a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), or
one or more portions of the Internet or a combination of two or
more of these. One or more portions of one or more of these
networks may be wired or wireless. As an example, computer system
600 may communicate with a wireless PAN (WPAN) (e.g., a BLUETOOTH
WPAN), a WI-FI network (e.g., a 802.11a/b/g/n WI-FI network,), a
WI-MAX network, a cellular telephone network (e.g., a Global System
for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a Long Term Evolution
(LTE) network), or other suitable wireless network or a combination
of two or more of these.
[0046] In particular embodiments, bus 612 includes hardware,
software, or both coupling components of computer system 600 to
each other. As an example and not by way of limitation, bus 612 may
include an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or other graphics bus,
an Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, a front-side
bus (FSB), a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT) interconnect, an INFINIBAND
interconnect, a low-pin-count (LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Peripheral
Component Interconnect Express or PCI-Express bus, a serial
advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus, a Inter-Integrated
Circuit (I.sup.2C) bus, a Secure Degital (SD) memory interface, a
Secure Digital Input Output (SDIO) interface, a Universal Serial
Bus (USB) bus, a General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) bus, or
another suitable bus or a combination of two or more of these. Bus
612 may include one or more buses 612, where appropriate.
[0047] The client-side functionality described above can be
implemented as a series of instructions stored on a
computer-readable storage medium that, when executed, cause a
programmable processor to implement the operations described above.
While the client device 122 may be implemented in a variety of
different hardware and computing systems, FIG. 6 shows a schematic
representation of the main components of an example computing
platform of a client or mobile device, according to various
particular embodiments. In particular embodiments, computing
platform 702 may comprise controller 704, memory 706, and input
output subsystem 710. In particular embodiments, controller 704
which may comprise one or more processors and/or one or more
microcontrollers configured to execute instructions and to carry
out operations associated with a computing platform. In various
embodiments, controller 704 may be implemented as a single-chip,
multiple chips and/or other electrical components including one or
more integrated circuits and printed circuit boards. Controller 704
may optionally contain a cache memory unit for temporary local
storage of instructions, data, or computer addresses. By way of
example, using instructions retrieved from memory, controller 704
may control the reception and manipulation of input and output data
between components of computing platform 702. By way of example,
controller 704 may include one or more processors or one or more
controllers dedicated for certain processing tasks of computing
platform 702, for example, for 2D/3D graphics processing, image
processing, or video processing.
[0048] Controller 704 together with a suitable operating system may
operate to execute instructions in the form of computer code and
produce and use data. By way of example and not by way of
limitation, the operating system may be Windows-based, Mac-based,
or Unix or Linux-based, or Symbian-based, among other suitable
operating systems. The operating system, other computer code and/or
data may be physically stored within memory 706 that is operatively
coupled to controller 704.
[0049] Memory 706 may encompass one or more storage media and
generally provide a place to store computer code (e.g., software
and/or firmware) and data that are used by computing platform 702.
By way of example, memory 706 may include various tangible
computer-readable storage media including Read-Only Memory (ROM)
and/or Random-Access Memory (RAM). As is well known in the art, ROM
acts to transfer data and instructions uni-directionally to
controller 704, and RAM is used typically to transfer data and
instructions in a bi-directional manner. Memory 706 may also
include one or more fixed storage devices in the form of, by way of
example, hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs),
flash-memory cards (e.g., Secured Digital or SD cards), among other
suitable forms of memory coupled bi-directionally to controller
704. Information may also reside on one or more removable storage
media loaded into or installed in computing platform 702 when
needed. By way of example, any of a number of suitable memory cards
(e.g., SD cards) may be loaded into computing platform 702 on a
temporary or permanent basis.
[0050] Input output subsystem 710 may comprise one or more input
and output devices operably connected to controller 704. For
example, input output subsystem may include keyboard, mouse, one or
more buttons, and/or, display (e.g., liquid crystal display (LCD),
or any other suitable display technology). Generally, input devices
are configured to transfer data, commands and responses from the
outside world into computing platform 702. The display is generally
configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) that
provides an easy to use visual interface between a user of the
computing platform 702 and the operating system or application(s)
running on the mobile device. Generally, the GUI presents programs,
files and operational options with graphical images. During
operation, the user may select and activate various graphical
images displayed on the display in order to initiate functions and
tasks associated therewith. Input output subsystem 710 may also
include touch based devices such as touch pad and touch screen. A
touchpad is an input device including a surface that detects
touch-based inputs of users. Similarly, a touch screen is a display
that detects the presence and location of user touch inputs. Input
output system 710 may also include dual touch or multi-touch
displays or touch pads that can identify the presence, location and
movement of more than one touch inputs, such as two or three finger
touches.
[0051] In particular embodiments, computing platform 702 may
additionally comprise audio subsystem 712, camera subsystem 712,
wireless communication subsystem 716, sensor subsystems 718, and/or
wired communication subsystem 720, operably connected to controller
704 to facilitate various functions of computing platform 702. For
example, Audio subsystem 712, including a speaker, a microphone,
and a codec module configured to process audio signals, can be
utilized to facilitate voice-enabled functions, such as voice
recognition, voice replication, digital recording, and telephony
functions. For example, camera subsystem 712, including an optical
sensor (e.g., a charged coupled device (CCD), image sensor), can be
utilized to facilitate camera functions, such as recording
photographs and video clips. For example, wired communication
subsystem 720 can include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for
file transferring, or a Ethernet port for connection to a local
area network (LAN). Additionally, computing platform 702 may be
powered by power source 732.
[0052] Wireless communication subsystem 716 can be designed to
operate over one or more wireless networks, for example, a wireless
PAN (WPAN) (e.g., a BLUETOOTH), a WI-FI network (e.g., an
802.11a/b/g/n network), a WI-MAX network, a cellular telephone
network (such as, for example, a Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM) network, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network).
Additionally, wireless communication subsystem 716 may include
hosting protocols such that computing platform 702 may be
configured as a base station for other wireless devices. Other
input/output devices may include an accelerometer that can be used
to detect the orientation of the device.
[0053] Sensor subsystem 718 may include one or more sensor devices
to provide additional input and facilitate multiple functionalities
of computing platform 702. For example, sensor subsystems 718 may
include GPS sensor for location positioning, altimeter for altitude
positioning, motion sensor for determining orientation of a mobile
device, light sensor for photographing function with camera
subsystem 714, temperature sensor for measuring ambient
temperature, and/or biometric sensor for security application
(e.g., fingerprint reader).
[0054] In particular embodiments, various components of computing
platform 702 may be operably connected together by one or more
buses (including hardware and/or software). As an example and not
by way of limitation, the one or more buses may include an
Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or other graphics bus, a front-side
bus (FSB), a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT) interconnect, an Industry Standard
Architecture (ISA) bus, an INFINIBAND interconnect, a low-pin-count
(LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect
Express PCI-Express bus, a serial advanced technology attachment
(SATA) bus, a Inter-Integrated Circuit (I.sup.2C) bus, a Secure
Degital (SD) memory interface, a Secure Digital Input Output (SDIO)
interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) bus, a General Purpose
Input/Output (GPIO) bus, an Advanced Microcontroller Bus
Architecture (AMBA) bus, or another suitable bus or a combination
of two or more of these. Additionally, computing platform 702 may
be powered by power source 732.
[0055] The present disclosure encompasses all changes,
substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the
example embodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in
the art would comprehend. Similarly, where appropriate, the
appended claims encompass all changes, substitutions, variations,
alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein
that a person having ordinary skill in the art would
comprehend.
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