Patents by Inventor John Rauser

John Rauser 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).

  • Publication number: 20260267463
    Abstract: A map-based graphical user interface (GUI) for a social media application displays an interactive map on a user device showing two visually distinct types of icons simultaneously overlaid on the map. A first type comprises user icons representing the respective geographic locations of friend users, each user icon displayed at a display location determined based on a most recently updated location of the user device of the respective friend. A second type comprises content icons representing geo-anchored collections of location-tagged content uploaded by respective individual users, each content icon displayed at a geographically fixed location determined by the location-tag data of the associated content and being selectable to facilitate user access to that content via the interactive map. The first and second icon types have visually distinct shapes, differentiating dynamically positioned friend location indicators from geographically fixed content indicators on the map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2026
    Publication date: September 10, 2026
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Publication number: 20260267468
    Abstract: A mobile user device presents an interactive map interface for a social media application on a touchscreen display. A plurality of gallery icons are displayed overlaid on the interactive map at respective geographic locations corresponding to anchor locations of respective location-based social media galleries. The interactive map supports gesture-based navigation via haptic input on the touchscreen display, including a pinch-out gesture that increases the magnification level of the map and a pinch-in gesture that decreases the magnification level, each treated as a distinct gesture type producing a distinct navigational response, and a dragging gesture performed at any location on the touchscreen display that pans the map to change the displayed geographic area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2026
    Publication date: September 10, 2026
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Publication number: 20260267466
    Abstract: A server system of a social media platform automatically compiles multiple location-based galleries from social media items submitted by users to the platform. For each gallery, social media items whose geotag data satisfies predefined location matching criteria relative to a respective anchor location are identified and assembled into the gallery's content set. The compilation is performed as a continuous, ongoing operation such that newly submitted items are automatically added upon submission and expired items automatically removed. A map-based graphical user interface displays a plurality of gallery icons on an interactive map, each gallery icon positioned at the anchor location of a respective location-based gallery. Responsive to user selection of a gallery icon, automated sequential reproduction of the social media items in the corresponding gallery is caused on the user device, each item being displayed for a respective display duration before automatically advancing to the next.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2026
    Publication date: September 10, 2026
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Publication number: 20260267470
    Abstract: A server system manages a plurality of location-based social media galleries, each gallery having an associated anchor location and comprising a set of social media items whose geo-tag data corresponds to that anchor location. A map-based graphical user interface (GUI) for the social media application is caused to display on a user device, the map-based GUI including a map representing a geographical area. For each gallery to be surfaced, a gallery icon is displayed at the anchor location on the map, the gallery icon being an interactive, user-selectable GUI element rendered at the geographic coordinate of the anchor location and representing the corresponding location-based social media gallery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2026
    Publication date: September 10, 2026
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Publication number: 20250377761
    Abstract: A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) with multiple geographically anchored icons that are selectable to trigger playback of respective galleries of ephemeral messages. Each of the plurality of location-based ephemeral galleries comprises media content contributed by multiple different users. The ephemeral galleries are compiled based on geo-tag data associated with respective ephemeral messages submitted by multiple users to be publicly viewable via the map-based GUI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2025
    Publication date: December 11, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Patent number: 12393318
    Abstract: A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) with multiple geographically anchored icons that are selectable to trigger playback of respective galleries of ephemeral messages. Each of the plurality of location-based ephemeral galleries comprises media content contributed by multiple different users. The ephemeral galleries are compiled based on geo-tag data associated with respective ephemeral messages submitted by multiple users to be publicly viewable via the map-based GUI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Patent number: 12340064
    Abstract: A map-based graphical user interface for a social media application displays to social media activity information based on submission of geo-tagged social media items to the platform. Geographical distributions of social activity is displayed on a map forming part of the application. A heatmap can represent posting density or unusualness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Evan Spiegel, Marcel M. Yung
  • Publication number: 20250165120
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for the dynamic generation of a map interface include generating temporal activity models by representing individual social media postings as having respective density distributions in time. Each posting's temporal density distribution spans multiple sequential time windows centered on the posting's timestamp, with density contributions decreasing in value for time windows further from the timestamp. The temporal models may be combined with spatial density distributions to generate comprehensive geo-temporal representations of social media activity. A graphical user interface displays an interactive map with overlay elements determined based on calculated activity attributes, including detected temporal patterns and anomalies identified by comparing current activity models against historical baselines. The modeling approach enables improved visualization of activity patterns while providing inherent privacy protection through probabilistic representation of individual posts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Evan Spiegel, Marcel M. Yung
  • Publication number: 20250021206
    Abstract: In a graphical user interface (GUI) for a social media platform, social media content is surfaced with variable visual attributes based on activity metrics. In a GUI for a social media platform, where the GUI provides access to posted social media items, an activity metric is determined for the underlying social media activity associated with each of multiple collections of social media items. The GUI displays user-selectable interface elements, such as icons, corresponding to these collections, with each icon having a visual attribute that varies depending on the activity metric. This results in visual differences between collection icons based on differences in their corresponding activity metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Evan Spiegel, Marcel M. Yung
  • Patent number: 12112013
    Abstract: A map-based graphical user interface for a social media application displays to special social media activity information based on submission of geo-tagged social media items to the platform. For users and or submitted items that need predefined location fuzzing criteria, such activity is represented in the graphical user interface at an intentionally inaccurate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Evan Spiegel, Marcel M. Yung
  • Patent number: 12086381
    Abstract: A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) with multiple geographically anchored icons that are selectable to trigger playback of respective galleries of ephemeral messages. Each of the plurality of location-based ephemeral galleries comprises media content contributed by multiple different users. The ephemeral galleries are compiled based on geotag data associated with respective ephemeral messages submitted by multiple users to be publicly viewable via the map-based GUI. Two or more different types of galleries are represented in the map-based GUI by different, visually distinct types of gallery icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Publication number: 20240281114
    Abstract: A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) with multiple geographically anchored icons that are selectable to trigger playback of respective galleries of ephemeral messages. Each of the plurality of location-based ephemeral galleries comprises media content contributed by multiple different users. The ephemeral galleries are compiled based on geotag data associated with respective ephemeral messages submitted by multiple users to be publicly viewable via the map-based GUI. Two or more different types of galleries are represented in the map-based GUI by different, visually distinct types of gallery icon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Dale Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Publication number: 20240095264
    Abstract: A map-based graphical user interface for a social media application displays to special social media activity information based on submission of geo-tagged social media items to the platform. For users and or submitted items that need predefined location fuzzing criteria, such activity is represented in the graphical user interface at an intentionally inaccurate position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Dale Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Evan Spiegel, Marcel M. Yung
  • Patent number: 11893647
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging and imaging software and systems by determining the current activities of users based on location sensor information from the users' computing devices and generating customized media content items based on their activities. The media content can be generated for a variety of topics and shared with other users. For example, media content (e.g., images or video) can be generated and displayed on a user's computing device, as well as transmitted to other users via electronic communications, such as short message service (SMS) or multimedia service (MMS) texts and emails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Andrew Lin, Evan Spiegel, Daniel Amitay, Sheridan Kates, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Marcel M. Yung
  • Patent number: 11842411
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging and imaging software and systems by determining the current activities of users based on location sensor information from the users' computing devices and generating customized media content items based on their activities. The media content can be generated for a variety of topics and shared with other users. For example, media content (e.g., images or video) can be generated and displayed on a user's computing device, as well as transmitted to other users via electronic communications, such as short message service (SMS) or multimedia service (MMS) texts and emails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SNAP INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Sheridan Kates, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Evan Spiegel, Marcel M. Yung
  • Publication number: 20230051468
    Abstract: A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) with multiple geographically anchored icons that are selectable to trigger playback of respective galleries of ephemeral messages. Each of the plurality of location-based ephemeral galleries comprises media content contributed by multiple different users. The ephemeral galleries are compiled based on geotag data associated with respective ephemeral messages submitted by multiple users to be publicly viewable via the map-based GUI. Two or more different types of galleries are represented in the map-based GUI by different, visually distinct types of gallery icon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Patent number: 11451956
    Abstract: A map-based graphical user interface for a social media application displays to special social media activity information based on submission of geo-tagged social media items to the platform. For users and or submitted items that need predefined location fuzzing criteria, such activity is represented in the graphical user interface at an intentionally inaccurate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Evan Spiegel, Marcel M. Yung
  • Publication number: 20220291812
    Abstract: A map-based graphical user interface for a social media application displays to social media activity information based on submission of geo-tagged social media items to the platform. Geographical distributions of social activity is displayed on a map forming part of the application. A heatmap can represent posting density or unusualness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Evan Spiegel, Marcel M. Yung
  • Patent number: 11392264
    Abstract: A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) with multiple geographically anchored icons that are selectable to trigger playback of respective galleries of ephemeral messages. Each of the plurality of location-based ephemeral galleries comprises media content contributed by multiple different users. The ephemeral galleries are compiled based on geotag data associated with respective ephemeral messages submitted by multiple users to be publicly viewable via the map-based GUI. Two or more different types of galleries are represented in the map-based GUI by different, visually distinct types of gallery icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Patent number: 11385763
    Abstract: A map-based graphical user interface for a social media application displays to social media activity information based on submission of geo-tagged social media items to the platform. Geographical distributions of social activity is displayed on a map forming part of the application. A heatmap can represent posting density or unusualness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Evan Spiegel, Marcel M. Yung