Abstract: Techniques for product, service, and business recommendation are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a user context component operative to manage a user context associated with a user account for a messaging service; a user profile component operative to retrieve a user profile for the user account; and a recommendation component operative to determine one or more recommendations based on the user context and the user profile and configure a recommendation interface for a messaging endpoint on a client device based on the recommendations, the messaging endpoint associated with the user account for the messaging service. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for social messaging authorization and customization are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a commerce intermediary server operative to receive, from a network interface, an order request package from a client device, the order request specifying a user account and a commerce account, the user account associated with a user entity in a social graph data structure, the commerce account associated with a commerce entity in the social graph data structure and transmit the order request package to a commerce front-end server associated with the commerce entity; and a social graph data structure component operative to create a commerce edge in the social graph data structure between the user entity and the commerce entity in response to the commerce intermediary server receiving the order request package from the client device, the commerce edge associated with the order request package. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for facilitating anonymous communications between a user and a merchant via a social networking system, wherein the user's identifying information is obfuscated from the merchant.

Abstract: Techniques to share and remix media through a messaging system are described. Some embodiments are particularly directed to techniques to promote the sharing and remixing of media by promoting third-party sources of media content. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a media management component operative to receive a media element in a messaging application, the media element associated with a media application; and a messaging component operative to generate a message package, the message package comprising the media element, the message package comprising an attribution record for the media element, the attribution record comprising an inter-application link for the media element with the media application and transmit the message package to a messaging server. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for automated messaging are described. Some embodiments are particularly directed to techniques for automated business-to-consumer messaging leveraging social-networking information. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a user profile component operative to retrieve a user profile associated with a user account for a messaging service and a messaging automation component operative to receive a messaging initiation from a messaging endpoint on a client device; and configure an automated response based on the user profile in response to the messaging initiation. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for automated determination of form responses are described. In one embodiment, a commerce intermediary server may be operative to receive a messaging package from a messaging endpoint at a messaging service; perform a natural language processing of the messaging package to determine a response message predicted to correspond to the messaging package; determine an administrator account assigned to respond to the messaging package; and transmit a form response package to an administrator messaging endpoint for the administrator account, the form response package comprising the response message. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques to allow for ease of navigation within a photo browsing interface of a social networking system. In one embodiment, a designation of a first image for sharing is received from within at least one of a single-image view and a camera view. Based on the designation, the first image is added to a communication. The designation may be based on a user selection of an option provided by an interface of a mobile device. The first image may be received from within a social networking application or from within a dedicated camera application. In another embodiment, the privacy level of the communication and the designated images is based on the privacy setting of a user. The communication and the designated images may contain tag data identifying one or more people on a social networking system. In an alternative embodiment, the privacy level of the communication and designated images is adjusted according to the one or more people identified in the tag data.

Abstract: Techniques for securing the delivery of an audio message on a device are described. A method may include presenting a visual representation associated with an audio file in a user interface view of an application executing on a first mobile device and receiving a control directive to select the visual representation. The method may include retrieving, from a data store, an indicator of the audio file associated with the selected visual representation; constructing, by the application, a first message comprising a first field to hold an electronic message address for a recipient and a second field to hold the indicator of the audio file associated with the selected visual representation; and sending the first message to the electronic message address of the recipient for delivery to a destination second mobile device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques to manage client location detection are described. In one embodiment an apparatus may comprise a location-based services support component and a client management component. The location-based services support component may be operative to determine that a network service is scheduled for a location update from a mobile device, determine a location accuracy based on the network service, and update the network service with a received location of the mobile device. The client management component may be operative to transmit a location request to the mobile device, the location request specifying the location accuracy determined based on the network service and receive a response to the location request from the mobile device, the response comprising the location of the mobile device conforming to the specified location accuracy. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for zero rating through redirection are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a client proxy component operative to receive a proxy network packet from a local gateway application on a client device, the proxy network packet containing an application network packet for delivery to a network server device; and forward the application network packet to the network server device based on a determination that a local user application is authorized to use the proxy server device; and a proxy access component operative on the processor circuit to determine that the application network packet is associated with the local user application on the client device; and determine that the local user application is authorized to use the proxy server device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques to identify application foreground/background state based on network traffic are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a traffic monitoring component and a traffic analysis component. The traffic monitoring component may receive monitored network traffic over a monitored time period. The traffic analysis component may receive a foreground activity profile, the foreground activity profile comprising one or more signals for distinguishing between foreground activity of one or more profiled applications and background activity of the one or more profiled applications; determine one or more active foreground applications in the monitored network traffic based on the foreground activity profile, wherein determining the one or more active foreground applications comprises determining that at least a portion of the monitored network traffic comprises background activity; and log that the one or more active foreground application were active during the monitored time period.

Abstract: Techniques for zero rating through web reconstruction are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a client access component operative to receive a web request from a client device, the web request for a web page hosted on a network server device; and transmit a zero-rating transformed web page to the client device in response to the web request; and a web reconstruction component operative on the processor circuit to retrieve the web page from the network server device; identify one or more non-zero-rated resource references in the retrieved web page; transform the one or more non-zero-rated resource references to form one or more zero-rated resource references; and replace the one or more non-zero-rated resource references with the one or more zero-rated resource references in the web page to form the zero-rating transformed web page. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A communications system including one or more alert gates and an alert controller. Each alert gate is configured to detect a different type of alert feed corresponding to a particular kind of alert. The alert controller is connected to the alert gates and operable to receive detected alerts from the alert gates and to deliver the detected alerts to a user of the communications system.

Abstract: A communications system including one or more alert gates and an alert controller. Each alert gate is configured to detect a different type of alert feed corresponding to a particular kind of alert. The alert controller is connected to the alert gates and operable to receive detected alerts from the alert gates and to deliver the detected alerts to a user of the communications system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, collecting a plurality of words from texts submitted by one or more users; for each of a plurality of communication categories, determining a usage frequency of each of one or more of the words within the communication category based on the texts; and constructing one or more customized dictionaries that each comprise a different blending of selected words.

Abstract: Techniques for context sensitive overlays, comprising a social networking application.

Abstract: Techniques for context sensitive overlays, comprising a social networking application.

Abstract: Techniques for prompting communication among members of a social network are described. A social server may include an interaction detection component configured to detect a user interaction of a first user with an information unit. An information component of the social server may be configured to store an association between the first user and the information unit. A correlation component of the social server may be configured to correlate the first user with one or more other users based upon one or more stored associations. A messaging server may include a display component and a messaging component. The display component may be configured to provide a prompt to the first user suggesting that the first user initiate a communication with the one or more other users, the prompt based at least in part on the correlation. The messaging component may be configured to initiate a communication with the one or more other users in response to a selection of the prompt by the first user.

Abstract: Techniques for graph based natural language processing are described. In one embodiment an apparatus may comprise a client service component operative on the processor circuit to receive a natural language user request from a device and to execute the natural language user request based on matched one or more objects and a social object relation component operative on the processor circuit to match the natural language user request to the one or more objects in an object graph, the object graph comprising token mappings for objects within the object graph, the token mappings based on data extracted from a plurality of interactions by a plurality of users of the network system, wherein the one or more objects are matched with the natural language user request based on the token mappings. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A stand-alone icon (i.e., an icon that is not part of an application interface) is provided to facilitate communications across a network between users of at least one communications program. The icon represents a contact or a set of contacts. Status information regarding the contact or set of contacts is received and displayed using the icon or in response to an operation performed on the icon. The icon additionally may provide an interface for performing actions related to the contact or set of contacts. The actions may generally include, for example, retrieving profile information about the contact, setting an alert to indicate that the contact's network/login status (e.g., login, logout, or idle) has changed, or performing communications with the contact.

Abstract: Techniques for securing the delivery of an audio message on a device are described. A method may include receiving a message encrypted with a public key from a sender at a recipient device; authenticating a recipient using an image of an ear of the recipient; retrieving a private key when the authentication succeeds; decrypting the message using the private key; and presenting the decrypted message through a speaker on the recipient device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques to automatically predict and configure payment transaction are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a prediction component operative to receive context information for a user and predict a user interest in a payment transaction based on the context information, a user interface component operative to offer to initiate the payment transaction to the user based on the predicted user interest in the payment transaction and receive a user confirmation of the user interest in the payment transaction, and a payment component operative to initiate the payment transaction in response to the received user confirmation. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for message aggregator testing and selection are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise an aggregator contact component, an aggregator selection component, and a messaging component. The aggregator contact component may receive a plurality of bids from a plurality of message aggregators. The aggregator selection component may select two or more candidate aggregators of the plurality of message aggregators, estimate a price-per-delivery rate for each of the two or more candidate aggregators, and select a contracting aggregator based on the price-per-delivery rate for each of the two or more candidate aggregators. The messaging component may submit a plurality of messages to each of the two or more candidate aggregators, receive a plurality of message confirmations in response to the plurality of messages, and determine the delivery rate for each of the two or more candidate aggregators. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a data set comprising a list of objects matching a query, a pre-determined static-rank for each object calculated based on a static-scoring algorithm, and a final-rank for each object calculated based on a final-scoring algorithm, and revising the static-scoring algorithm based on a comparison of the static-ranks and the final-ranks of each object listed in the data set, where the static-scoring algorithm is revised in order to reduce a difference between the static-ranks and final-ranks of the objects listed in the data set.

Abstract: Techniques for enhancing content on a mobile device are described. A method may include monitoring an input component for the mobile device and detecting a first control directive from the input component, the first control directive to instruct selection of a content portion from a user interface of a first application executing on the mobile device. The method may continue by receiving a second control directive to select the content portion; performing an operation on the selected content portion by a second application different from the first application; and presenting results of the operation on a display of the mobile device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for enhancing group communication on a device are described. A method may include presenting a message in a message portion of a user interface (UI) for a group communication application executing on a first device, where the group communication application communicates messages among multiple devices. The method may further include monitoring an input component for the first device and detecting a first control directive from the input component. The first control directive may select a message displayed in the message portion of the user interface. The method may further include performing a pin operation on the selected message; and presenting the pinned message in a banner portion of the UI. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for managing discussion sharing on a mobile platform, comprising a power application. The power application may include, among other components, a power monitoring component to monitor at least one component and/or at least one application of a mobile device to determine device profile information, and a power management component to provide the determined device profile information of a mobile device to a server device and receive predicted information representative of forecasted power utilization of the mobile device and/or context sensitive recommendation information representative of one or more context sensitive recommendations for the mobile device.

Abstract: Techniques to associate user data with a mobile device are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a service support component and a storage component. The services support component may be operative to receive a data package request from a service, the data package request comprising a network identifier for a mobile device associated with a user, and exchange a data package with the service in response to the data package request. The storage component may be operative to access the data package associated with the user based on the network identifier. Other embodiments are described and claimed. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques to transform network resource requests to zero rated network requests are described. Some embodiments are particularly directed to techniques transform network resource requests on a cellular network to zero rating by replacing the destination of the request with a zero-rated source for the network resource. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a data store and a network access component. The data store may be operative to store a plurality of zero-rating rewrite rules. The network access component may be operative to receive a network request from an application component on the mobile device, the network request for access to a network resource; compare the network resource to the plurality of zero-rating rewrite rules to identify a zero-rating rewrite rule matching the network resource; transform the network request to a zero-rated network request for the network resource using the identified zero-rating rewrite rule; and perform the zero-rated network request.

Abstract: Techniques for call-based user verification are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a processor circuit and a storage component. The apparatus may further comprise a session component, an identification (ID) component, a mapping component, and a verification component. The session component may be operative on the processor circuit and configured to receive session data from a client device and store the session data in the storage component. The ID component may be operative on the processor circuit and configured to request ID data from a server, receive ID data from the server, and send the ID data to the client device. The mapping component may be operative on the processor circuit and configured to map the session data with the ID data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, constructing a set of customized dictionaries for a particular user, each of the customized dictionaries in the set comprising a different blending of one or more frequently used words collected from texts submitted by one or more users; and sending a copy of the set of customized dictionaries to each of a plurality of electronic devices associated with the particular user to be stored on the electronic device and to aid the particular user in inputting text to the electronic device.

Abstract: Techniques for managing discussion sharing on a mobile platform, comprising a mobile discussions application. The mobile discussions application may include, among other components, a discussions imaging component for recognizing a ticket associated with a resource in a social networking system and a discussions management component for enabling a user having an associated user profile information to access the resource based at least partially on the ticket associated with the resource.

Abstract: Techniques to selectively capture media using a single user interface element are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a touch controller, a visual media capture component, and a storage component. The touch controller may be operative to receive a haptic engagement signal. The visual media capture component may be operative to be configured in a capture mode based on whether a haptic disengagement signal is received by the touch controller before expiration of a first timer, the capture mode one of a photo capture mode or video capture mode, the first timer started in response to receiving the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a first preset duration. The storage component may be operative to store visual media captured by the visual media capture component in the configured capture mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for managing groups on a mobile platform, comprising a mobile groups application. The mobile groups application including a groups management component to manage at least one group for a corresponding social networking application of a social networking system; and a groups rendering component to render a groups user interface (UI) view comprising at least one selectable group user interface element representative of the at least one group, the at least one selectable group UI element comprising a first selectable group UI element, wherein the first selectable group UI element is representative of a first group of the at least one group and the first group comprises at least one group member.

Abstract: Techniques for hot snapshotting for message syncing are described. An apparatus may comprise a network component and a snapshot component. The network component may be operative to receiving an incoming update. The snapshot component may be operative to retrieve a messaging snapshot for a user associated with the incoming update; identify a messaging thread corresponding to the incoming update; apply the incoming update to the messaging thread; determining that a number of messaging threads stored in the messaging snapshot is greater than a thread storage limit for the messaging snapshot; identify a least-recently-updated messaging thread currently stored in the messaging snapshot; and remove the least-recently updated messaging thread from the messaging snapshot.

Abstract: Techniques for a sequential message reader for message syncing are described. An apparatus may comprise a network component and an inbox management component. The network component may be operative to receiving an incoming update at a messaging endpoint from a recipient update queue, the incoming update comprising an incoming recipient sequence number. The inbox management component may be operative to add the incoming update to a message inbox on the messaging endpoint, the incoming update added to the message inbox in an order determined by the incoming recipient sequence number and determine based on the incoming recipient sequence number whether one or more additional updates are missing from the message inbox on the messaging endpoint. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for a persistent queue for message syncing are described. A recipient inbound messaging component may receive an incoming update at a recipient update queue. A recipient queue management component may determine an incoming recipient sequence number for the recipient update queue. A recipient outbound messaging component may transmit the incoming update to the recipient messaging endpoint. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for intelligent messaging for message syncing are described. An apparatus may comprise a recipient inbound messaging component, a recipient queue management component, a recipient update customization component, and a recipient outbound messaging component. The recipient inbound messaging component may be operative to receive an incoming update at a recipient update queue, the recipient update queue associated with a recipient of the incoming update. The recipient queue management component may be operative to add the incoming update to the recipient update queue and determine a recipient messaging endpoint to receive the incoming update. The recipient update customization component may be operative to retrieve one or more recipient messaging endpoint parameters associated with the recipient messaging endpoint and generate a customized incoming update from the incoming update according to the one or more recipient messaging endpoint parameters.

Abstract: A user saves a structured query defining connections between two or more objects maintained by a social networking system. The social networking system finds objects matching the structured query, either by periodically performing searches for new objects or by analyzing objects as they are added or modified. The user creating the saved query can subsequently view the matching objects.

Abstract: A social networking system infers a relationship status (e.g., single, married, in a relationship, etc.) of a user of the social networking system based on the user's interactions with additional users of the social networking system and the relationship statuses of the additional users. The social networking system identifies certain types of interactions between the user and additional users as indicators and determines a value for an indicator based on a number of additional users associated with the indicator that identify a relationship status of single and a number of additional users associated with the indicator that identify a relationship status other than single. Based on the values of various indicators, the social networking system determines a score for the user and infers a relationship status for the user based on the score.

Abstract: A social networking system provides instructions to third-party application developers for inclusion in applications. When executed, the instructions communicate information from an application to the social networking system describing user interactions with the application. Based on received information describing a user's interaction with an application, the social networking system determines likelihoods of the user performing various types interactions with applications and classifies the user based on the determined likelihoods. A user's interactions with additional applications similar to an application may be used to determine the likelihoods of the user performing different types of interactions with the application. Classifications associated with users may be used as targeting criteria for advertisements, allowing advertisers to target advertisements to users having a threshold likelihood of performing certain types of interactions with an application.

Abstract: A social networking system provides a user with a feed of content items associated with other users connected to the user via the social networking system. Additionally, the social networking system identifies additional content items for presentation to the user and generates an additional feed including the additional content items. The additional content items may be determined by identifying content items having various characteristics and scoring the content items based on the characteristics. Content items having at least a threshold score are identified as additional content items. Examples of characteristics of content items include users providing content items to the social networking system, locations associated with social networking system users, and interaction with content items by social networking system users. In some embodiments, the additional feed modifies presentation of the additional content items based on their associated scores.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive input associated with a social networking system user account. The input includes content to be published to the social networking system. In response to the received input, one or more location suggestions are identified based upon the content. The one or more identified location suggestions are transmitted to a user device associated with the user account. Selection of a location suggestion is received. The content and selected location is published as a post within the social networking system.

Abstract: A client device or an online system determines a position in an interface presented by a client device for presenting content associated with an application installed on the client device based in part on a bid amount associated with the application. Scores are determined for the application and other applications installed on the client device based on an expected amount of user interaction with each application and bid amounts associated with one or more of the applications. Based on a score associated with an application, a position in the interface for presenting content associated with the application is determined. If the determined position satisfies a position specified by the bid amount and content associated with the application is presented in the determined position for at least a threshold amount of time, an online system charges a third party system associated with the application an amount.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request to share with a first user a content item associated with a second user. A content location for the content item may be determined. A geo-fenced area for the content item may be determined, the geo-fenced area including the content location. The content item may be shared with the first user as requested. If the second user moves to a location outside the geo-fenced area, determination is made of whether the sharing of the content item should be terminated.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive a gift giving event characteristic. A first set of one or more gift giving events within a first period of time that meet the received gift giving event characteristic are identified. Each of the gift giving events result in a narrative being published to a social network and are viewable by a group of one or more users of the social network. A second set of one or more gift giving events within a second period of time are identified. The second period of time is subsequent to the first period time. The second set of gift giving events are initiated by the group of one or more users. An amount of influence of a first user that initiated a gift giving event in the first set of gift giving events is determined based upon the second set of gift giving events.

Abstract: A social networking system determines a predicted supply of ad impressions over a future period of time for social networking system users based on past viewing information of advertisements presented to the users during a prior time period. Based on the predicted supply of ad impressions, the social networking system manages advertisement campaigns including ad requests received from advertisers. The social networking system determines whether the predicted supply of ad impressions is sufficient to satisfy criteria associated with an advertising campaign and provides feedback to an advertiser associated with the advertising campaign indicating whether the predicted supply of ad impressions contains sufficient unallocated expected ad impression opportunities to satisfy criteria associated with the advertising campaign.

Abstract: An advertising platform calculates bids for advertisements based on the value of a conversion for the advertisement. The advertising platform identifies an impression opportunity for an advertisement request and computes an expected value of the conversion as well as a likelihood of the conversion. The advertising platform computes a bid amount based on the expected conversion value and the likelihood of the conversion. Bids based on the value of the conversion allow advertisers to optimize for the value of each conversion instead of simply the conversion rate.

Abstract: An advertiser specifies an advertising campaign including one or more targeting criteria for presentation to users of an online system, which retrieves information describing previously completed advertisement auctions for presenting advertisement to users of the online system satisfying one or more of the targeting criteria. Based on the retrieved information, the online system associates various bid amounts with the advertising campaign and determines the advertising campaign's estimated performance for various bid amounts. For each bid amount, the online system determines a number of previously completed advertisement auctions that would have selected an advertisement from the advertising campaign, an amount that would have been charged to the advertiser if an advertisement campaign was selected, and a number of distinct users that would have been presented with an advertisement from the advertising campaign.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, for each of multiple interactions by a user with an online service, collecting: device information describing a device used by the user for the interaction; access information describing how the user accessed the online service for the interaction; and a count value of the interaction. The method further includes determining based on the collected information a historical count value for each of one or more particular combinations of device and access information.