Patents by Inventor Robert Michael Baldwin

Robert Michael Baldwin 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: 20170085594
    Abstract: A social networking system user creates an album including a shared collection of content (a “shared album”) and associates a privacy model with the shared album. The privacy model specifies additional users of the social networking system authorized to access content items in the shared album and specifies types of actions users authorized to access content items in the shared album are permitted to perform to content items in the shared album. Notifications describing actions associated with content items in a shared album may be presented to users authorized to access the shared album. The social networking system may prompt a user to create a shared album containing based on actions performed by the user or performed by connected to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey Andrew Kanter, Robert Michael Baldwin, Paul Francois Carduner, Sai Wo Li, Paul Tarjan, Fred Yuehua Zhao
  • Patent number: 9514331
    Abstract: A social networking system user creates an album including a shared collection of content (a “shared album”) and associates a privacy model with the shared album. The privacy model specifies additional users of the social networking system authorized to access content items in the shared album and specifies types of actions users authorized to access content items in the shared album are permitted to perform to content items in the shared album. Notifications describing actions associated with content items in a shared album may be presented to users authorized to access the shared album. The social networking system may prompt a user to create a shared album containing based on actions performed by the user or performed by connected to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Andrew Kanter, Robert Michael Baldwin, Paul Francois Carduner, Sai Wo Li, Paul Tarjan, Fred Zhao
  • Publication number: 20160156574
    Abstract: An electronic device of a second user receives, from a first user, a first message. Subsequent to receiving the first message, the electronic device sends, to the first user, a second message responsive to the first message, wherein the second message is selected from a set of predefined first-reply messages. The set of predefined first-reply messages is based on first-reply factors for the second user, including content from one or more messages between the first user and the second user, and including one or more of: relationship characteristics between the first user and the second user, information provided by the first user and/or the second user to a social network, profile characteristics of the first user and/or the second user, environmental characteristics of the first user and/or the second user, and/or technical characteristics of the electronic device of the first user and/or the second user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Sarah Hum, Andrew Nolan Rasmussen, Arturo J Esquivel Chambergo, Tatiana Janov Grossman, Ursula Anne Lim, Robert Michael Baldwin
  • Publication number: 20160156584
    Abstract: A server sends, to an electronic device of a first user, a data structure that includes a hierarchical interaction tree having a plurality of interaction nodes. The server then receives, from the electronic device of the first user, a first message, wherein the first message from the electronic device of the first user is selected from a set of predefined first-reply messages. Each first-reply message of the set of predefined first-reply messages corresponds to a distinct interaction node of the hierarchical interaction tree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Sarah Hum, Andrew Nolan Rasmussen, Arturo J Esquivel Chambergo, Tatiana Janov Grossman, Ursula Anne Lim, Robert Michael Baldwin
  • Publication number: 20160062483
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can determine a first orientation in which a computing system is positioned. A first functionality can be provided when the computing system is positioned in the first orientation. It can be determined that the computing system becomes positioned in a second orientation. A second functionality can be selected, out of a set of functionalities, based on a current state associated with the computing system. The second functionality can be provided when the computing system becomes positioned in the second orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Michael Baldwin
  • Patent number: 9270716
    Abstract: A social networking system includes a question and answer system that displays to a viewing user questions and answers provides by other users of the social networking system. The question and answer system may display answers to a particular question in a way that visually indicates both the global answer set and a subset of the global answer set, such as the viewing user's friends. The social networking system may also display to a viewing user news stories about another user asking or answering a question, where the format of the displayed new stories is based on an affinity that the viewing user has for the user who provided the question or answer mentioned in the news story. The displayed questions and/or answers may be associated with an object in the social networking system, where the user interface provides additional information about those objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Adrian A. Graham, Drew W. Hamlin, Benjamin E. Hiller
  • Publication number: 20160006775
    Abstract: A social networking system includes a question and answer system that displays to a viewing user questions and answers provides by other users of the social networking system. The question and answer system may display answers to a particular question in a way that visually indicates both the global answer set and a subset of the global answer set, such as the viewing user's friends. The social networking system may also display to a viewing user news stories about another user asking or answering a question, where the format of the displayed new stories is based on an affinity that the viewing user has for the user who provided the question or answer mentioned in the news story. The displayed questions and/or answers may be associated with an object in the social networking system, where the user interface provides additional information about those objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Adrian A. Graham, Drew W. Hamlin, Benjamin E. Hiller
  • Patent number: 9196008
    Abstract: Social networking system users may create events where a group of other users invited to the event meet at a specified time and location. The social networking system suggests users to invite to an event based on a prediction that the users would attend the event if invited. Various factors may be used to make the prediction, such as an affinity between the inviting user and the other users, the availability of the other users at the time of the event and/or the proximity of the other users to the location of the event. An inviting user receives the suggested users and selects suggested users to invite to the event or invitations may be automatically sent to the suggested users by the social networking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Henry Bridge, Matthew Bush
  • Patent number: 9167014
    Abstract: A social networking system includes a question and answer system that displays to a viewing user questions and answers provides by other users of the social networking system. The question and answer system may display answers to a particular question in a way that visually indicates both the global answer set and a subset of the global answer set, such as the viewing user's friends. The social networking system may also display to a viewing user news stories about another user asking or answering a question, where the format of the displayed new stories is based on an affinity that the viewing user has for the user who provided the question or answer mentioned in the news story. The displayed questions and/or answers may be associated with an object in the social networking system, where the user interface provides additional information about those objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Adrian A. Graham, Drew W. Hamlin, Benjamin E. Hiller
  • Publication number: 20150256503
    Abstract: Social networking system users may create events where a group of other users invited to the event meet at a specified time and location. The social networking system suggests users to invite to an event based on a prediction that the users would attend the event if invited. Various factors may be used to make the prediction, such as an affinity between the inviting user and the other users, the availability of the other users at the time of the event and/or the proximity of the other users to the location of the event. An inviting user receives the suggested users and selects suggested users to invite to the event or invitations may be automatically sent to the suggested users by the social networking system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Henry Bridge, Matthew Bush
  • Publication number: 20150222721
    Abstract: A user creates an event in a social networking system specifying a location, a time, and a guest list of other users invited to the event. The social networking system generates a page associated with the event that provides information about the event and identifies whether users have responded to invitations to the event. The content of the page may be customized for the user viewing the page to encourage the viewing user to attend the event. For example, the viewing user's relationship to and/or similar characteristics with other users on the guest list is determined and used by the social networking system to identify the users whose responses to invitations are shown to the viewing user via the page. Additionally, a notification method more prominently distributes acceptances of invitations to other users to encourage attendance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Henry Bridge, Robyn David Morris
  • Patent number: 9047382
    Abstract: A user creates an event in a social networking system specifying a location, a time, and a guest list of other users invited to the event. The social networking system generates a page associated with the event that provides information about the event and identifies whether users have responded to invitations to the event. The content of the page may be customized for the user viewing the page to encourage the viewing user to attend the event. For example, the viewing user's relationship to and/or similar characteristics with other users on the guest list is determined and used by the social networking system to identify the users whose responses to invitations are shown to the viewing user via the page. Additionally, a notification method more prominently distributes acceptances of invitations to other users to encourage attendance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Henry Bridge, Robyn David Morris
  • Patent number: 9047584
    Abstract: Members of a social networking system group are provided multiple interfaces to communicate within the group. A first communication interface allows a user to upload a first content item; in response to this, the first content item is transmitted via a first communication channel to online members of the group. A second communication interface allows a user to upload a second content item; in response to this, the second content item is transmitted via a second communication channel to online and offline members of the group. Transmission via a first communication channel may comprise sending an instant message containing the first content item. Transmission via a second communication channel may comprise displaying the second content item on a group message board. Both interfaces may be contained within the group's web page or may be contained within another web page within the social networking system or outside of it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Daniel Sunil Chai, Elliot Michael Lynde, Andrew G. Bosworth, Oswald Soleio Cuervo, Peter Deng
  • Publication number: 20150013016
    Abstract: A social networking system user creates an album including a shared collection of content (a “shared album”) and associates a privacy model with the shared album. The privacy model specifies additional users of the social networking system authorized to access content items in the shared album and specifies types of actions users authorized to access content items in the shared album are permitted to perform to content items in the shared album. Notifications describing actions associated with content items in a shared album may be presented to users authorized to access the shared album. The social networking system may prompt a user to create a shared album containing based on actions performed by the user or performed by connected to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Andrew Kanter, Robert Michael Baldwin, Paul Francois Carduner, Sai Wo Li, Paul Tarjan, Fred Zhao
  • Publication number: 20140137001
    Abstract: A social networking system includes a question and answer system that displays to a viewing user questions and answers provides by other users of the social networking system. The question and answer system may display answers to a particular question in a way that visually indicates both the global answer set and a subset of the global answer set, such as the viewing user's friends. The social networking system may also display to a viewing user news stories about another user asking or answering a question, where the format of the displayed new stories is based on an affinity that the viewing user has for the user who provided the question or answer mentioned in the news story. The displayed questions and/or answers may be associated with an object in the social networking system, where the user interface provides additional information about those objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Adrian A. Graham, Drew W. Hamlin, Benjamin E. Hiller
  • Publication number: 20140129627
    Abstract: Techniques to share images in a social networking system. In an embodiment, an image is received from a first user, the image is associated with a first archive of the first user within a social networking system, and the image is associated with a second archive of a second user within the social networking system without the social networking system receiving a request from the second user to download the image. The image may be received from a mobile device. The image may be captured by a camera of a mobile device. The image may be automatically uploaded from a mobile device. A request may be received from the second user to include the image in the second archive associated with the second user. Associating the image with the second archive of the second user may comprise including a link to the image in the second archive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Paul Francois Carduner, Andrew Chung, Dirk John Stoop
  • Patent number: 8701019
    Abstract: A social networking system includes a question and answer system that displays to a viewing user questions and answers provides by other users of the social networking system. The question and answer system may display answers to a particular question in a way that visually indicates both the global answer set and a subset of the global answer set, such as the viewing user's friends. The social networking system may also display to a viewing user news stories about another user asking or answering a question, where the format of the displayed new stories is based on an affinity that the viewing user has for the user who provided the question or answer mentioned in the news story. The displayed questions and/or answers may be associated with an object in the social networking system, where the user interface provides additional information about those objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Adrian A. Graham, Drew W. Hamlin, Benjamin E. Hiller
  • Publication number: 20140089320
    Abstract: A social networking system suggests events for a target user based on stored data in the social networking system related to the target user and to events. The social networking system may suggest events based on the target user's affinity for, connections with, or interactions with objects in the social networking system connected to or otherwise associated with the events. For example, an event is suggested to a target user if users connected to the target user already accepted an invitation to the event. As another example, an event organized by a particular entity is suggested to the target user because of interactions between the target user and other content provided by the entity. Invitations to suggested events may be presented to the target user via a client device, allowing the target user to easily join a suggested event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Henry Bridge, Omid Aziz, Devin Naquin
  • Publication number: 20140047045
    Abstract: A user creates an event in a social networking system specifying a location, a time, and a guest list of other users invited to the event. The social networking system generates a page associated with the event that provides information about the event and identifies whether users have responded to invitations to the event. The content of the page may be customized for the user viewing the page to encourage the viewing user to attend the event. For example, the viewing user's relationship to and/or similar characteristics with other users on the guest list is determined and used by the social networking system to identify the users whose responses to invitations are shown to the viewing user via the page. Additionally, a notification method more prominently distributes acceptances of invitations to other users to encourage attendance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Henry Bridge, Robyn David Morris
  • Publication number: 20140047023
    Abstract: Social networking system users may create events where a group of other users invited to the event meet at a specified time and location. The social networking system suggests users to invite to an event based on a prediction that the users would attend the event if invited. Various factors may be used to make the prediction, such as an affinity between the inviting user and the other users, the availability of the other users at the time of the event and/or the proximity of the other users to the location of the event. An inviting user receives the suggested users and selects suggested users to invite to the event or invitations may be automatically sent to the suggested users by the social networking system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Michael Baldwin, Henry Bridge, Matthew Bush