Abstract: A system and method for auction based polling is provided. Parameters related to a poll are received from a first user. Parameters related to a poll are received from a first user. A query is associated with the poll. A priority of the poll is determined based on the parameters. The poll is distributed to one or more second users according to the priority. Results to the poll are gathered. The results are reported to the first user.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to sponsored story generation from an organic activity stream in a social networking site. A user wishing to promote an entry from an organic activity stream may, using a sponsor user interface, specify the types of stories to promote to a portion of the home page displayed to a member of a social network.

Abstract: As a user of a social networking system views a page that includes information provided by the system, certain types of social interactions are monitored. If an interaction monitored for is detected, at least one recommendation unit is identified to present to user on the page. The recommendation unit is identified based on a description of the interaction. The recommendation unit suggests that the user perform a social interaction in the social networking system. The recommendation unit is transmitted to a device of the user and is presented to the user on the page without having to reload the entire page.

Abstract: When a social interaction by a user in a social networking system is detected, a description of the interaction is created. A service level auction is performed to select one or more service modules to provide recommendation units from a plurality of service modules. Each of the plurality of service modules is configured to provide recommendation units that suggest that the user engage in a social interaction in the social networking system. The description of the interaction is provided to each service module selected and recommendation units are requested. A plurality of recommendation units are received from the selected service modules. A unit level auction is performed to select one of more recommendation units to present to the user from the plurality of recommendation units. The selected recommendation units are transmitted to a device of the user for presentation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first selection of an entity associated with a user of a social-networking system; receiving a second selection of a type of user interaction with the entity; and providing the first and second selections for use in a sponsored-story specification. The use of the first and second selections in the sponsored-story specification facilitate entries in an organic activity stream of the social-networking system that match the sponsored-story specification being provided for display in pre-determined areas of web pages.

Abstract: A social network advertises to its members with engagement interfaces. An engagement interface comprises a call to action and a link to perform the action within the social network from within the engagement interface. Responsive to a user selection of the link to perform the action, the engagement interface modifies one or more objects within the social network associated with the call to action according to the selection of the link to perform the action. The engagement interface may be refreshed on the user's screen to indicate to the user that the action has been performed. An engagement interface may also be presented to a user from the social network or from an external system apart from the social network.

Abstract: A system and method for auction based polling is provided. Parameters related to a poll are received from a first user. Parameters related to a poll are received from a first user. A query is associated with the poll. A priority of the poll is determined based on the parameters. The poll is distributed to one or more second users according to the priority. Results to the poll are gathered. The results are reported to the first user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a bid to display in a predetermined area of a web page an organic-activity-stream entry matching particular story characteristics. The bid includes a bid amount and one or more targeting criteria. The method includes, n response to identifying an organic-activity-stream entry as matching the story characteristics, providing for display the organic-activity-stream entry in a predetermined area of a web page based at least in part on the bid amount and targeting criteria.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving sponsor specifications designating story characteristics; monitoring an organic activity stream for entries matching the story characteristics; and, in response to identifying an entry as matching the story characteristics, providing for display the entry in a predetermined area of a web page.

Abstract: A system and method for auction based polling is provided. Parameters related to a poll are received from a first user. Parameters related to a poll are received from a first user. A query is associated with the poll. A priority of the poll is determined based on the parameters. The poll is distributed to one or more second users according to the priority. Results to the poll are gathered. The results are reported to the first user.

Abstract: A social networking system generates socially-relevant stories for a user based on other users (e.g., based on actions taken by other users) to whom the user is connected. These socially-relevant stories, including news stories, social advertisements, etc., may be presented on a web page within a domain of an external system that is different from the domain of the social networking system. When a web page from an external system is requested for a viewing user, the social content about other users who are connected to the viewing user may be provided by the social networking system for that viewing user. This personalized social content may be presented in a frame (e.g., an iframe) of the external web page rendered and provided for display to the viewing user.

Abstract: A social networking system generates socially-relevant stories for a user based on actions taken by other users to whom the user is connected. The social networking system may receive a request for a sponsored story for a viewing user and may select information about one or more actions performed by one or more users to whom the viewing user is connected to identify one of a plurality of candidate information for a sponsored story based on one or more criteria (e.g., affinity of the viewing user for the candidates, expected value for the candidates, etc.). The social networking system may also generate the sponsored story and generate a feed comprising the sponsored story and news stories (e.g., non-sponsored stories) about one or more users of the social networking system with whom the viewing user is connected. This feed may be provided for display to the viewing user.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to sponsored story generation from an organic activity stream in a social networking site. A user wishing to promote an entry from an organic activity stream may, using a sponsor user interface, specify the types of stories to promote to a portion of the home page displayed to a member of a social network.

Abstract: A social networking system generates socially-relevant stories for a user based on actions taken by other users to whom the user is connected. The social networking system may receive a request for a sponsored story for a viewing user and may select information about one or more actions performed by one or more users to whom the viewing user is connected to identify one of a plurality of candidate information for a sponsored story based on one or more criteria (e.g., affinity of the viewing user for the candidates, expected value for the candidates, etc.). The social networking system may also generate the sponsored story and generate a feed comprising the sponsored story and news stories (e.g., non-sponsored stories) about one or more users of the social networking system with whom the viewing user is connected. This feed may be provided for display to the viewing user.

Abstract: A social networking system generates socially-relevant stories for a user based on other users (e.g., based on actions taken by other users) to whom the user is connected. These socially-relevant stories, including news stories, social advertisements, etc., may be presented on a web page within a domain of an external system that is different from the domain of the social networking system. When a web page from an external system is requested for a viewing user, the social content about other users who are connected to the viewing user may be provided by the social networking system for that viewing user. This personalized social content may be presented in a frame (e.g., an iframe) of the external web page rendered and provided for display to the viewing user.

Abstract: A social networking system generates socially-relevant ads for a user based on actions taken by other users to whom the user is connected. These may be actions taken on, and determined by, an external system, information about which actions can be received by the social networking system and used for matching to an advertisement request. The social networking system may determine a social context for advertising to a user based on the action and may generate an advertisement for the matched ad request that includes an informational message communicating the social context (i.e., an ad with the information message appended to it, a news story for the informational message, etc.). The ad may be targeted to the user based on user affinity for the ad, based on an object interacted with or an action taken by the user's connections on or external to the social networking system, among other criteria.

Abstract: A social networking website logs information about actions taken by members of the website. For a particular member of the website, the website generates socially relevant ads for the member based on the actions logged for other members on the website to whom the member is connected (i.e., the member's online friends). The advertiser associated with the social ad may compensate the social networking website for publishing the ad on the website. When presenting a member with a social ad, the website may optimize advertising revenue by selecting an ad from the received ads that will maximize the expected value of the social ad. The expected value may be computed according to a function that includes the member's affinity for the ad content and the bid amount. The technique is also applied for providing socially relevant information off the social networking website.

Abstract: A social network advertises to its members with engagement interfaces. An engagement interface comprises a call to action and a link to perform the action within the social network from within the engagement interface. Responsive to a user selection of the link to perform the action, the engagement interface modifies one or more objects within the social network associated with the call to action according to the selection of the link to perform the action. The engagement interface may be refreshed on the user's screen to indicate to the user that the action has been performed. An engagement interface may also be presented to a user from the social network or from an external system apart from the social network.

Abstract: In a method of simplifying simulation of a wireless communication network, the network may be divided into one or more neighborhoods. A neighborhood may be represented by a given cell to be evaluated and possibly one or more neighbor cells of the given cell. A desired simulation of one or more of the neighborhoods may be implemented in order to evaluate network performance. The neighborhood may be determined as a function of reverse link interference information, path loss information, or on a geographic distance between cells.

Abstract: A social networking website logs information about actions taken by members of the website. For a particular member of the website, the website generates socially relevant ads for the member based on the actions logged for other members on the website to whom the member is connected (i.e., the member's online friends). The advertiser associated with the social ad may compensate the social networking website for publishing the ad on the website. When presenting a member with a social ad, the website may optimize advertising revenue by selecting an ad from the received ads that will maximize the expected value of the social ad. The expected value may be computed according to a function that includes the member's affinity for the ad content and the bid amount. The technique is also applied for providing socially relevant information off the social networking website.