Patents by Inventor Kenneth M. Lau
Kenneth M. Lau 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).
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Patent number: 10764231Abstract: In one embodiment, a request to share a message is received from a first user. The request includes a first location, the message, and note-access criteria for sharing the message based on one or more groups of second users. A particular second user is identified having a second location that is within a threshold distance of the first location. Based on the note-access criteria and one or more groups associated with the particular second user, it is determined that the message should be shared with the particular second user, the message is sent to the particular second user, and a location of the first user is determined to be within a predetermined distance from the first location. If the first user is currently within the predetermined distance, a notification is sent to the first user informing the first user that the message was sent to the particular second user.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau
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Publication number: 20190281005Abstract: In one embodiment, a request to share a message is received from a first user. The request includes a first location, the message, and note-access criteria for sharing the message based on one or more groups of second users. A particular second user is identified having a second location that is within a threshold distance of the first location. Based on the note-access criteria and one or more groups associated with the particular second user, it is determined that the message should be shared with the particular second user, the message is sent to the particular second user, and a location of the first user is determined to be within a predetermined distance from the first location. If the first user is currently within the predetermined distance, a notification is sent to the first user informing the first user that the message was sent to the particular second user.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau
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Patent number: 10263944Abstract: In one embodiment, a request to share a message is received from a first user. The request includes a first location, the message, and note-access criteria for sharing the message based on one or more groups of second users. A particular second user is identified having a second location that is within a threshold distance of the first location. Based on the note-access criteria and one or more groups associated with the particular second user, it is determined that the message should be shared with the particular second user, the message is sent to the particular second user, and a location of the first user is determined to be within a predetermined distance from the first location. If the first user is currently within the predetermined distance, a notification is sent to the first user informing the first user that the message was sent to the particular second user.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau
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Patent number: 9971830Abstract: Based on information associated with users, a social networking system recommends one or more groups for a target user to join or to create. Characteristics of the target user, characteristics of users connected to the target user, characteristics of candidate groups in the social networking system may be used to identify groups for recommendation. The social networking system may provide questions to the target user and recommend a group to the target user based on received answers to the questions. For example, the answers to the provided question identify one or more characteristics of the target user, which are used to select a group for recommendation. Additionally, the social networking system may recommend additional users for the target user to add or invite to a group based on characteristics of the target user, the additional users, and/or the group.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Todd Christopher Jackson, William Russell Maschmeyer, Bin Jiang, Kenneth M. Lau, Michael Novati
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Publication number: 20180115509Abstract: In one embodiment, a request to share a message is received from a first user. The request includes a first location, the message, and note-access criteria for sharing the message based on one or more groups of second users. A particular second user is identified having a second location that is within a threshold distance of the first location. Based on the note-access criteria and one or more groups associated with the particular second user, it is determined that the message should be shared with the particular second user, the message is sent to the particular second user, and a location of the first user is determined to be within a predetermined distance from the first location. If the first user is currently within the predetermined distance, a notification is sent to the first user informing the first user that the message was sent to the particular second user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau
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Patent number: 9876752Abstract: In one embodiment, note is received from a first user, comprising a message and a first location. The first location may be specified by the first user. A number of second users are identified based on a respective second location of each identified second user being within a threshold distance of the first location. The message of the note is sent to the identified second users. When the message is sent, it is determined whether a current location of the first user is within a predetermined distance from the first location. If the current location is within the predetermined distance, a notification is sent to the first user informing the first user that the message has been sent to the identified second users.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau
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Patent number: 9800529Abstract: A messaging system that organizes and presents messages to users of the messaging system. The messaging system includes a mailbox module that receives messages and generates conversation threads from the messages. Messages received from different electronic message channels may be aggregated into a common conversation thread. The conversation threads are also organized in a message interface and then presented to a user of the messaging system. The messaging system may include a social networking system that stores social information about users, which can be used to organize the conversation threads. Other features include a multi mode message interface, and a method for adding contextual information to messages.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2011Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Prashant Malik, Jiakai Liu, Andrew G. Bosworth, Joel Benjamin Seligstein, Drew W. Hamlin, Daniel Hsiao, Kenneth M. Lau, Ross David Bayer, Mark E. Zuckerberg
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Patent number: 9621500Abstract: A messaging system facilitates communication between users through various messaging channels. The messaging system supports multiple communication channels and includes a messaging module that automatically selects one or more of the messaging channels for delivering a message to a recipient of the message using, for example, a set of policy rules or a trained model. The messaging module may also provide, in a user interface for sending and receiving messages, a visual indication of the selected messaging channel to the sender of the message to provide the user with transparency about how the message will be delivered. Additionally, the message may be delivered via multiple messaging channels, where the messaging module may rescind messages from some of the messaging channels upon receiving a reply from the recipient of the message or other confirmation that the recipient has seen the message via one of the communication channels.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Hsiao, Joel Benjamin Seligstein, Mark E. Zuckerberg, Kenneth M. Lau, Ross David Bayer, Zheng Zhang, Benjamin Peter Davenport, Peter Xiu Deng, Ben Hamilton, Lucy Congyun Zhang, Jonathan David Perlow
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Publication number: 20170012928Abstract: In one embodiment, note is received from a first user, comprising a message and a first location. The first location may be specified by the first user. A number of second users are identified based on a respective second location of each identified second user being within a threshold distance of the first location. The message of the note is sent to the identified second users. When the message is sent, it is determined whether a current location of the first user is within a predetermined distance from the first location. If the current location is within the predetermined distance, a notification is sent to the first user informing the first user that the message has been sent to the identified second users.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau
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Patent number: 9467414Abstract: In one embodiment, a request to create a note is received from a first user. The note includes a message and a first location of the first user. A note record is created of the message, the first location, and a first user-interest associated with the first user. A number of second users are identified based on second locations of the second users, and second user-interests associated with the second users. The message is sent to the identified second users. In response to sending the message, the current location of the first user is determined compared to the first location. If the first user is within a predetermined distance from the first location, a notification is sent to the first user indicating that the message has been sent to the second users.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau
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Publication number: 20160044142Abstract: A messaging system facilitates communication between users through various messaging channels. The messaging system supports multiple communication channels and includes a messaging module that automatically selects one or more of the messaging channels for delivering a message to a recipient of the message using, for example, a set of policy rules or a trained model. The messaging module may also provide, in a user interface for sending and receiving messages, a visual indication of the selected messaging channel to the sender of the message to provide the user with transparency about how the message will be delivered. Additionally, the message may be delivered via multiple messaging channels, where the messaging module may rescind messages from some of the messaging channels upon receiving a reply from the recipient of the message or other confirmation that the recipient has seen the message via one of the communication channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Daniel Hsiao, Joel Benjamin Seligstein, Mark E. Zuckerberg, Kenneth M. Lau, Ross David Bayer, Zheng Zhang, Benjamin Peter Davenport, Peter Xiu Deng, Ben Gertzfield, Lucy Congyun Zhang, Jonathan David Perlow
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Patent number: 9203796Abstract: A messaging system facilitates communication between users through various messaging channels. The messaging system supports multiple communication channels and includes a messaging module that automatically selects one or more of the messaging channels for delivering a message to a recipient of the message using, for example, a set of policy rules or a trained model. The messaging module may also provide, in a user interface for sending and receiving messages, a visual indication of the selected messaging channel to the sender of the message to provide the user with transparency about how the message will be delivered. Additionally, the message may be delivered via multiple messaging channels, where the messaging module may rescind messages from some of the messaging channels upon receiving a reply from the recipient of the message or other confirmation that the recipient has seen the message via one of the communication channels.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2011Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Hsiao, Joel Benjamin Seligstein, Mark E. Zuckerberg, Kenneth M. Lau, Ross David Bayer, Zheng Zhang, Benjamin Peter Davenport, Peter Xiu Deng, Ben Gertzfield, Lucy Congyun Zhang, Jonathan David Perlow
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Publication number: 20150341369Abstract: In one embodiment, a geo-social networking system maintains a data store of shared space, wherein each shared space comprises one or more content objects, a location, and one or more privacy settings. The geo-social networking system allows a user read-access to a shared space based on privacy settings associated with the shared space. The geo-social networking system allows a user write-access to a shared space if the user is at the location associated with the shared space.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau
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Patent number: 9195989Abstract: In one embodiment, a request is received from a first user to create a location-triggered benefit that may be redeemed by a second user at a vendor and associated with a condition. The first user is not the vendor, and the condition may require that the second user go to a particular location. A record of the location-triggered benefit may be created in a database. Information may be received that the second user has satisfied the condition, and in response, the second user may be allowed to redeem the location-triggered benefit at the vendor.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2014Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau
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Patent number: 9177347Abstract: Based on information associated with users, a social networking system recommends one or more groups for a target user to join or to create. Characteristics of the target user, characteristics of users connected to the target user, characteristics of candidate groups in the social networking system may be used to identify groups for recommendation. The social networking system may provide questions to the target user and recommend a group to the target user based on received answers to the questions. For example, the answers to the provided question identify one or more characteristics of the target user, which are used to select a group for recommendation. Additionally, the social networking system may recommend additional users for the target user to add or invite to a group based on characteristics of the target user, the additional users, and/or the group.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Todd Christopher Jackson, William Russell Maschmeyer, Bin Jiang, Kenneth M. Lau, Michael Novati
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Patent number: 9098720Abstract: In one embodiment, a geo-social networking system maintains a data store of shared space, wherein each shared space comprises one or more content objects, a location, and one or more privacy settings. The geo-social networking system allows a user read-access to a shared space based on privacy settings associated with the shared space. The geo-social networking system allows a user write-access to a shared space if the user is at the location associated with the shared space.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau
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Publication number: 20150089006Abstract: In one embodiment, a request to create a note is received from a first user. The note includes a message and a first location of the first user. A note record is created of the message, the first location, and a first user-interest associated with the first user. A number of second users are identified based on second locations of the second users, and second user-interests associated with the second users. The message is sent to the identified second users. In response to sending the message, the current location of the first user is determined compared to the first location. If the first user is within a predetermined distance from the first location, a notification is sent to the first user indicating that the message has been sent to the second users.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau
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Patent number: 8938512Abstract: Based on information associated with users, a social networking system recommends one or more groups for a target user to join or to create. Characteristics of the target user, characteristics of users connected to the target user, characteristics of candidate groups in the social networking system may be used to identify groups for recommendation. The social networking system may provide questions to the target user and recommend a group to the target user based on received answers to the questions. For example, the answers to the provided question identify one or more characteristics of the target user, which are used to select a group for recommendation. Additionally, the social networking system may recommend additional users for the target user to add or invite to a group based on characteristics of the target user, the additional users, and/or the group.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Todd Christopher Jackson, William Russell Maschmeyer, Bin Jiang, Kenneth M. Lau, Michael Novati
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Patent number: 8935346Abstract: Based on information associated with users, a social networking system recommends one or more groups for a target user to join or to create. Characteristics of the target user, characteristics of users connected to the target user, characteristics of candidate groups in the social networking system may be used to identify groups for recommendation. The social networking system may provide questions to the target user and recommend a group to the target user based on received answers to the questions. For example, the answers to the provided question identify one or more characteristics of the target user, which are used to select a group for recommendation. Additionally, the social networking system may recommend additional users for the target user to add or invite to a group based on characteristics of the target user, the additional users, and/or the group.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Todd Christopher Jackson, William Russell Maschmeyer, Bin Jiang, Kenneth M. Lau, Michael Novati
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Patent number: 8935341Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer system creates for a first user a location-triggered note specific for a second user and for a particular location, determines the second user's location, and transmits the location-triggered note to the second user if the second user is at the particular location.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Garrod Bosworth, David Harry Garcia, Kenneth M. Lau