Abstract: A computer-implemented method of introducing users of a service includes sending a suggestion to a first user of a service and suggesting an introduction of a second user to a third user of the service. The second and third users are both identified as contacts of the first user in a contact list of the first user and the second and third users satisfy predefined selection criteria with respect to shared contacts, comprising users identified in contact lists of both the second and third users. The method also includes receiving, from the first user, a response to the suggestion; and upon receiving a positive response to the suggestion from the first user, sending the introduction to at least one of the second and third users.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure include obtaining one or more queries, processing data stored in a data store based on at least one query of the one or more queries to identify a plurality of users, the plurality of users sharing a commonality that is a subject of the at least one query, generating one or more query-based social circles, the plurality of users populating a query-based social circle of the one or more query-based social circles, the query-based social circle being directed to the commonality and defining a distribution list for distributing digital content provided by one or more users of the plurality of users, and transmitting social circle data corresponding to the query-based social circle to display a representation of the query-based social circle to at least one user of the plurality of users.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure include obtaining one or more queries, processing data stored in a data store based on at least one query of the one or more queries to identify a plurality of users, the plurality of users sharing a commonality that is a subject of the at least one query, generating one or more query-based social circles, the plurality of users populating a query-based social circle of the one or more query-based social circles, the query-based social circle being directed to the commonality and defining a distribution list for distributing digital content provided by one or more users of the plurality of users, and transmitting social circle data corresponding to the query-based social circle to display a representation of the query-based social circle to at least one user of the plurality of users.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer network-based live chat having three or more participants is hosted. A record of the live chat is archived in a central location accessible by each participant. The archived record is provided to a requesting participant after completion of and/or during the live chat. The requesting participant may be, for example, any one of the three or more participants. The requesting participant may make the request from any remote location in communication with the central location. In another embodiment, a system for enabling access to a multi-user chat archive includes a multi-user instant messaging (IM) server, a state manager, an archive database, and an archive manager. The archive database is configured to store an archived record of the live chat in a central location. In this embodiment, the central location is accessible by each of the chat participants from any remote location in communication with the central location.

Abstract: Presence subscriptions for messaging services are managed by automatically subscribing contacts to a user's contact lists based one or more rules, subscription states and contact types. In some embodiments, presence subscriptions are managed by: identifying a set of contacts with respect to an identified user; applying subscription rules to the contacts; selecting a subset of contacts based on one or more subscription rules; and automatically establishing presence subscriptions for the subset of contacts.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to a method comprising steps for receiving reference object information, wherein the reference object information is based on a first user's interaction with a content item, determining that a second user is interacting with the content item, receiving item object information, wherein the item object information is based on the second user's interaction with the content item and determining that the second user has access rights to the reference object information based on the second user and the second user's interaction with the content item. In certain aspects, the method can further comprise steps for providing at least a portion of the reference object information for an electronic device associated with the second user. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: A method for providing a multi-user chat includes: receiving a request from a first participant to initiate a first live chat with a second participant; receiving a request from the first or second participants to invite a third participant to the first live chat; establishing the first live chat having multiple participants including at least the first, second, and third participants; receiving from one of the multiple participants a selection of one of the other participants in the first live chat from a participant indicator field after establishing the first live chat among the multiple participants; and displaying a live chat area separate from a displayed area for the first live chat that allows the participant who made the selection and the participant who was identified by the selection to chat between themselves in a second live chat that is not displayed to other participants of the first live chat.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure include obtaining one or more queries, processing data stored in a data store based on at least one query of the one or more queries to identify a plurality of users, the plurality of users sharing a commonality that is a subject of the at least one query, generating one or more query-based social circles, the plurality of users populating a query-based social circle of the one or more query-based social circles, the query-based social circle being directed to the commonality and defining a distribution list for distributing digital content provided by one or more users of the plurality of users, and transmitting social circle data corresponding to the query-based social circle to display a representation of the query-based social circle to at least one user of the plurality of users.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of introducing users of a service includes sending a suggestion to a first user of a service and suggesting an introduction of a second user to a third user of the service. The second and third users are both identified as contacts of the first user in a contact list of the first user and the second and third users satisfy predefined selection criteria with respect to shared contacts, comprising users identified in contact lists of both the second and third users. The method also includes receiving, from the first user, a response to the suggestion; and upon receiving a positive response to the suggestion from the first user, sending the introduction to at least one of the second and third users.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of introducing users of a service includes sending a suggestion to a first user of a service and suggesting an introduction of a second user to a third user of the service. The second and third users are both identified as contacts of the first user in a contact list of the first user and the second and third users satisfy predefined selection criteria with respect to shared contacts, comprising users identified in contact lists of both the second and third users. The method also includes receiving, from the first user, a response to the suggestion; and upon receiving a positive response to the suggestion from the first user, sending the introduction to at least one of the second and third users.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure include obtaining one or more queries, processing data stored in a data store based on at least one query of the one or more queries to identify a plurality of users, the plurality of users sharing a commonality that is a subject of the at least one query, generating one or more query-based social circles, the plurality of users populating a query-based social circle of the one or more query-based social circles, the query-based social circle being directed to the commonality and defining a distribution list for distributing digital content provided by one or more users of the plurality of users, and transmitting social circle data corresponding to the query-based social circle to display a representation of the query-based social circle to at least one user of the plurality of users.

Abstract: A method executes at a server to: receive a request from a user at a client computer to establish authorship of content posted online by the user, wherein the content is stored at a host computer; and verify the identity of the user by verifying credentials of the user. After verifying the identity of the user, the method creates an author badge for the content, wherein the author badge includes a badge identifier; transmits the author badge to the client computer or the host computer, for affixing the author badge to the content at the host computer; stores at the server, location information identifying the online location of the content; and stores at the server, the badge identifier and verification information sufficient to verify that the content at the identified online location matches the content for which the author badge was created.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to tell humans and machines apart. In one embodiment, automated determination of whether a human or machine is at the other end of a communication channel is based on whether the correct response to a challenge/question is received from the other end of the communication channel. The challenge is provided in a non-image format, such as a text based questions or a sound clip, to prevent abuses of the communication system by computer software robots. The communication system may be primarily for text and/or voice communications, or be such that the rendering image-based challenges can cause significant disruption in normal flow of usage. In one example, the challenge includes deliberately generated random misspelling. In one example, the challenge is context sensitive, factual based, and/or instructive of an operation in a natural language to obtain a result.