Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to improvements in the design of a messaging inbox. The inbox may display different units or “modules” for providing a user with quick access to different inbox functionalities. Content may be ranked and ordered within a module, and modules may be ranked and ordered with respect to each other. Inter-module ranking may be based on elements such as individual activity and the activity of the messaging service's user base, the value of the module to the messaging service, and offline models. Intra-module ranking may be defined by individual modules (e.g., based on recency, importance to user, affinity, etc.). Intra-module ranking may affect inter-module ranking, such as when individual content in a low-rated module is particularly exciting or pertinent (causing the entire module to receive a higher inter-module ranking).

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to improvements in the design of a messaging inbox. The inbox may display different units or “modules” for providing a user with quick access to different inbox functionalities. Content may be ranked and ordered within a module, and modules may be ranked and ordered with respect to each other. Inter-module ranking may be based on elements such as individual activity and the activity of the messaging service's user base, the value of the module to the messaging service, and offline models. Intra-module ranking may be defined by individual modules (e.g., based on recency, importance to user, affinity, etc.). Intra-module ranking may affect inter-module ranking, such as when individual content in a low-rated module is particularly exciting or pertinent (causing the entire module to receive a higher inter-module ranking).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes one or more computing devices ranking multiple users of a social-networking system based on one or more criteria associated with a spotlight content item, wherein the spotlight content item is associated with a node in a social graph associated with the social-networking system, and wherein at least one of the criteria is based on social-networking information for each of the user, verifying the ranked users, wherein the verifying comprises confirming or eliminating each of the ranked users based on recent interactions by the ranked users with social-networking information corresponding to the node associated with the spotlight content item, and sending a notification about the spotlight content item to each of the confirmed users in accordance with a batching protocol, wherein the batching protocol is determined based at least in part on rankings for each of the confirmed users.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for notifying existing users when a new user joins a messaging service (or returns from a period of inactivity). A top n number of existing users acquainted with the new user may be selected and may be encouraged to message the new user. The existing users may be selected using a messaging coefficient that indicates a likelihood that a message will result in a meaningful conversation, and a number of other factors that prevent the existing users from becoming inundated with notifications. The number n may be selected based on an amount of display space available to the new user in a messaging application. When inviting the existing users to contact the new user, a new thread may be automatically created and bumped to the top of the new user's thread list.

Abstract: Techniques for device configuration using messaging history information are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a contact list component operative to determine a promotion contact list for the user account; a predicted interest component operative to determine a predicted communication interest for each contact on a promotion contact list; a predicted activity component operative to determine a user predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system; determine a contact predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system for each contact; and a contact ranking component operative to determine the ranking weight for each contact based on the predicted communication interest for each contact on the promotion contact list, the user predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system, and the contact predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system for each contact on the promotion contact list.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for notifying existing users when a new user joins a messaging service (or returns from a period of inactivity). A top n number of existing users acquainted with the new user may be selected and may be encouraged to message the new user. The existing users may be selected using a messaging coefficient that indicates a likelihood that a message will result in a meaningful conversation, and a number of other factors that prevent the existing users from becoming inundated with notifications. The number n may be selected based on an amount of display space available to the new user in a messaging application. When inviting the existing users to contact the new user, a new thread may be automatically created and bumped to the top of the new user's thread list.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes one or more computing devices ranking multiple users of a social-networking system based on one or more criteria associated with a spotlight content item, wherein the spotlight content item is associated with a node in a social graph associated with the social-networking system, and wherein at least one of the criteria is based on social-networking information for each of the user, verifying the ranked users, wherein the verifying comprises confirming or eliminating each of the ranked users based on recent interactions by the ranked users with social-networking information corresponding to the node associated with the spotlight content item, and sending a notification about the spotlight content item to each of the confirmed users in accordance with a batching protocol, wherein the batching protocol is determined based at least in part on rankings for each of the confirmed users.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for the atomic switching of user accounts for a messaging client, in order to maintain constant network availability of the messaging client. The messaging client may allow the registering of multiple messaging accounts and switching between them. Switching may include validating a selecting account, logging out the currently-active account if validation is successful, and logging in the selected account. If validation or logging-in fails, the messaging client remains logged-in to, or returns to, the previously-active account. A limited token may be maintained for inactive accounts and may allow for the retrieval of information such as whether inactive accounts have unread messages, and if so how many, without allowing further access. The messaging client may therefore periodically poll the messaging system (or vice versa) and display notifications for inactive accounts, and the inactive accounts may still be listed as available via the messaging system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes one or more computing devices ranking multiple users of a social-networking system based on one or more criteria associated with a spotlight content item, wherein the spotlight content item is associated with a node in a social graph associated with the social-networking system, and wherein at least one of the criteria is based on social-networking information for each of the user, verifying the ranked users, wherein the verifying comprises confirming or eliminating each of the ranked users based on recent interactions by the ranked users with social-networking information corresponding to the node associated with the spotlight content item, and sending a notification about the spotlight content item to each of the confirmed users in accordance with a batching protocol, wherein the batching protocol is determined based at least in part on rankings for each of the confirmed users.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to improvements in the design of a messaging inbox. The inbox may display different units or “modules” for providing a user with quick access to different inbox functionalities. Content may be ranked and ordered within a module, and modules may be ranked and ordered with respect to each other. Inter-module ranking may be based on elements such as individual activity and the activity of the messaging service's user base, the value of the module to the messaging service, and offline models. Intra-module ranking may be defined by individual modules (e.g., based on recency, importance to user, affinity, etc.). Intra-module ranking may affect inter-module ranking, such as when individual content in a low-rated module is particularly exciting or pertinent (causing the entire module to receive a higher inter-module ranking).

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for notifying existing users when a new user joins a messaging service (or returns from a period of inactivity). A top n number of existing users acquainted with the new user may be selected and may be encouraged to message the new user. The existing users may be selected using a messaging coefficient that indicates a likelihood that a message will result in a meaningful conversation, and a number of other factors that prevent the existing users from becoming inundated with notifications. The number n may be selected based on an amount of display space available to the new user in a messaging application. When inviting the existing users to contact the new user, a new thread may be automatically created and bumped to the top of the new user's thread list.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for the atomic switching of user accounts for a messaging client, in order to maintain constant network availability of the messaging client. The messaging client may allow the registering of multiple messaging accounts and switching between them. Switching may include validating a selecting account, logging out the currently-active account if validation is successful, and logging in the selected account. If validation or logging-in fails, the messaging client remains logged-in to, or returns to, the previously-active account. A limited token may be maintained for inactive accounts and may allow for the retrieval of information such as whether inactive accounts have unread messages, and if so how many, without allowing further access. The messaging client may therefore periodically poll the messaging system (or vice versa) and display notifications for inactive accounts, and the inactive accounts may still be listed as available via the messaging system.

Abstract: Techniques for device configuration using messaging history information are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a contact list component operative to determine a promotion contact list for the user account; a predicted interest component operative to determine a predicted communication interest for each contact on a promotion contact list; a predicted activity component operative to determine a user predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system; determine a contact predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system for each contact; and a contact ranking component operative to determine the ranking weight for each contact based on the predicted communication interest for each contact on the promotion contact list, the user predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system, and the contact predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system for each contact on the promotion contact list.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes one or more computing devices ranking multiple users of a social-networking system based on one or more criteria associated with a spotlight content item, wherein the spotlight content item is associated with a node in a social graph associated with the social-networking system, and wherein at least one of the criteria is based on social-networking information for each of the user, verifying the ranked users, wherein the verifying comprises confirming or eliminating each of the ranked users based on recent interactions by the ranked users with social-networking information corresponding to the node associated with the spotlight content item, and sending a notification about the spotlight content item to each of the confirmed users in accordance with a batching protocol, wherein the batching protocol is determined based at least in part on rankings for each of the confirmed users.