Patents by Inventor Charles Donald Deets, JR.

Charles Donald Deets, JR. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11789579
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for introducing asynchronous messaging concepts into a synchronous messaging system. As a conversation is carried out, different topics may be identified and highlighted as separate threads within the conversation. A new thread may be identified based on a number of factors, including (for example) time between messages, questions raised in a communication, discussions of dates, the inclusion of links, and any mentions of specific names. The beginning and/or end of a thread may be identified. Users may be notified of new messages on a thread-by-thread basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Carl Ertmann, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Daniel M Giuditta
  • Patent number: 11604561
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for identifying and providing highlight messages from a group messaging thread. For example, systems and methods described herein detect when a group messaging thread participant becomes absent from the group messaging thread, and identifies one or more highlight messages that were submitted to the group messaging thread while the participant was absent. Systems and methods described herein identify highlight messages that are specific to the absent participant, such that when the participant again accesses the group messaging thread, the participant can review the identified highlight messages in order to quickly “catch up” on the group messaging thread without having to read each electronic message submitted to the group messaging thread during the participant's absence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: WhatsApp LLC
    Inventors: Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Randall Sarafa, Anton Borzov
  • Patent number: 11265413
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for sending ephemeral content messages via a communications service. An interface may be presented to allow a user to initially access ephemeral content functionality and select content for inclusion in the ephemeral content message. The interface may present a streamlined set of use cases without regard to the manner in which the content was initially captured. Different types of content may be used as ephemeral content, including images, videos, weather reports, news stories, text, audio recordings, location tags, etc. The ephemeral content may be sent through the communications service as an end-to-end encrypted message. When a user replies to an ephemeral content message, the reply may trigger a one-to-one conversation between the originating user and the replying user. Alternatively, an ephemeral content message may be initially sent to a selected group, and replies may be sent back to the entire group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Acton, Jan Boris Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Anton Borzov, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 10778831
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for displaying and interacting with ephemeral content messages in a communication service. Ephemeral content, transmitted as a message in order to preserve end-to-end encryption, may be tagged with an identifier designating the message as an ephemeral content message. A receiving client may recognize the flag and display the content of the message as ephemeral content. The update may include a link to the content that expires under certain conditions. While the link is active, the link may be selected to enter a full-screen presentation of the ephemeral content. Different media types may be associated with different types of full-screen presentations. Displayed ephemeral content from different users may be ranked based on an interest score and displayed in the ranked order. Ephemeral content may be displayed in a user interface on separate tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Acton, Jan Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Anton Borzov, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Publication number: 20200285358
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for identifying and providing highlight messages from a group messaging thread. For example, systems and methods described herein detect when a group messaging thread participant becomes absent from the group messaging thread, and identifies one or more highlight messages that were submitted to the group messaging thread while the participant was absent. Systems and methods described herein identify highlight messages that are specific to the absent participant, such that when the participant again accesses the group messaging thread, the participant can review the identified highlight messages in order to quickly “catch up” on the group messaging thread without having to read each electronic message submitted to the group messaging thread during the participant's absence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Randall Sarafa, Anton Borzov
  • Patent number: 10754534
    Abstract: Images are displayed in an album mode in which an image occupying a focus position is separated by bars from adjacent images in the album. The bars serve as a visual separator between the images and signify to a user that the images can be vertically scrolled. If the focus image occupies less than the full height of the screen, then part of the adjacent images are shown above and below the focus image. If the focus image occupies the full height of the screen, then the image is reduced in size to occupy less than the full height, causing the adjacent images to also be displayed. If the user scrolls the image, the image reduction decreases linearly with the scrolling until the image is shown at full height. Continued scrolling causes the image to move off the screen and the previous or next image to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: WhatsApp Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri Stukalov, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Zafir Khan
  • Patent number: 10705670
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for providing and dynamically adjusting message composition indicators. The disclosed systems and methods provide users of electronic messaging systems, such as electronic messaging systems, with information regarding the message composition activities of other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventor: Charles Donald Deets, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10685074
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for identifying and providing highlight messages from a group messaging thread. For example, systems and methods described herein detect when a group messaging thread participant becomes absent from the group messaging thread, and identifies one or more highlight messages that were submitted to the group messaging thread while the participant was absent. Systems and methods described herein identify highlight messages that are specific to the absent participant, such that when the participant again accesses the group messaging thread, the participant can review the identified highlight messages in order to quickly “catch up” on the group messaging thread without having to read each electronic message submitted to the group messaging thread during the participant's absence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Randall Sarafa, Anton Borzov
  • Patent number: 10678401
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for identifying and providing highlight messages from a group messaging thread. For example, systems and methods described herein detect when a group messaging thread participant becomes absent from the group messaging thread, and identifies one or more highlight messages that were submitted to the group messaging thread while the participant was absent. Systems and methods described herein identify highlight messages that are specific to the absent participant, such that when the participant again accesses the group messaging thread, the participant can review the identified highlight messages in order to quickly “catch up” on the group messaging thread without having to read each electronic message submitted to the group messaging thread during the participant's absence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Randall Sarafa, Anton Borzov
  • Patent number: 10664150
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for identifying and providing highlight messages from a group messaging thread. For example, systems and methods described herein detect when a group messaging thread participant becomes absent from the group messaging thread, and identifies one or more highlight messages that were submitted to the group messaging thread while the participant was absent. Systems and methods described herein identify highlight messages that are specific to the absent participant, such that when the participant again accesses the group messaging thread, the participant can review the identified highlight messages in order to quickly “catch up” on the group messaging thread without having to read each electronic message submitted to the group messaging thread during the participant's absence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Randall Sarafa, Anton Borzov
  • Patent number: 10594647
    Abstract: An online system maintains groups of online system users. When content is provided to a group, the online system presents the content to users included in the group. To allow a user to more easily access content provided to groups including the user, the online system identifies groups including the user and retrieves content items provided to the identified groups. The online system provides at least a set of the retrieved content items to an application executing on a client device associated with the user along with instructions for generating an interface. Executing the instructions causes the client device to generate an interface that presents representations of the retrieved content items in a portion of a display and describes the identified groups in an additional portion of the display. Based on interactions received from the user, the client device modifies representations of the retrieved content items presented to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Donald Deets, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10582036
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for sending ephemeral content messages via a communications service. An interface may be presented to allow a user to initially access ephemeral content functionality and select content for inclusion in the ephemeral content message. The interface may present a streamlined set of use cases without regard to the manner in which the content was initially captured. Different types of content may be used as ephemeral content, including images, videos, weather reports, news stories, text, audio recordings, location tags, etc. The ephemeral content may be sent through the communications service as an end-to-end encrypted message. When a user replies to an ephemeral content message, the reply may trigger a one-to-one conversation between the originating user and the replying user. Alternatively, an ephemeral content message may be initially sent to a selected group, and replies may be sent back to the entire group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Lange Acton, Jan Boris Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Anton Borzov, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 10536411
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for identifying and providing highlight messages from a group messaging thread. For example, systems and methods described herein detect when a group messaging thread participant becomes absent from the group messaging thread, and identifies one or more highlight messages that were submitted to the group messaging thread while the participant was absent. Systems and methods described herein identify highlight messages that are specific to the absent participant, such that when the participant again accesses the group messaging thread, the participant can review the identified highlight messages in order to quickly “catch up” on the group messaging thread without having to read each electronic message submitted to the group messaging thread during the participant's absence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: WhatsApp Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Randall Sarafa, Anton Borzov
  • Patent number: 10491410
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a first group member of a group, a request to initiate a multiplex live communication; receiving, from the first group member, a selection of one or more second group members of the group; by the computer server, sending a notification to each of the selected second group members, the notification comprising an invitation to the selected second group members to join a multiplex live communication with the first group member; receiving, from one or more of the second selected group members, an indication that the respective second selected group member has accepted the invitation to join the multiplex live communication; and adding each second user who has accepted the invitation to the multiplex live communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Donald Deets, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10365815
    Abstract: Images are displayed in an album mode in which an image occupying a focus position is separated by bars from adjacent images in the album. The bars serve as a visual separator between the images and signify to a user that the images can be vertically scrolled. If the focus image occupies less than the full height of the screen, then part of the adjacent images are shown above and below the focus image. If the focus image occupies the full height of the screen, then the image is reduced in size to occupy less than the full height, causing the adjacent images to also be displayed. If the user scrolls the image, the image reduction decreases linearly with the scrolling until the image is shown at full height. Continued scrolling causes the image to move off the screen and the previous or next image to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: WhatsApp Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri Stukalov, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Zafir Khan
  • Patent number: 10313287
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for introducing asynchronous messaging concepts into a synchronous messaging system. As a conversation is carried out, different topics may be identified and highlighted as separate threads within the conversation. A new thread may be identified based on a number of factors, including (for example) time between messages, questions raised in a communication, discussions of dates, the inclusion of links, and any mentions of specific names. Further embodiments relate to techniques for navigating in asynchronous message threads. For example, a synchronous message alias may be created that redirects a display to a location of an asynchronous message. An indication may be displayed to designate that the asynchronous message is displayed out-of-order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Carl Ertmann, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Daniel M Giuditta
  • Publication number: 20190138160
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for identifying and providing highlight messages from a group messaging thread. For example, systems and methods described herein detect when a group messaging thread participant becomes absent from the group messaging thread, and identifies one or more highlight messages that were submitted to the group messaging thread while the participant was absent. Systems and methods described herein identify highlight messages that are specific to the absent participant, such that when the participant again accesses the group messaging thread, the participant can review the identified highlight messages in order to quickly “catch up” on the group messaging thread without having to read each electronic message submitted to the group messaging thread during the participant's absence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Charles Donald Deets, JR., Randall Sarafa, Anton Borzov
  • Patent number: D851671
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Randall Sarafa, Anton Borzov, Zafir Khan
  • Patent number: D861025
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: WhatsApp Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri Stukalov, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Zafir Khan
  • Patent number: D904435
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Randall Sarafa, Anton Borzov, Zafir Khan