Patents by Inventor Samuel Wharton Lessin

Samuel Wharton Lessin 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: 11153728
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving current session information associated with a first user from a beacon associated with a third-party content provider, wherein the current session information indicates that a first client system of the first user is in an active wireless communication session with the beacon, accessing session information associated with one or more second users, wherein each second user is within a threshold geographical distance of the beacon, selecting one or more of the one or more second users based on the accessed session information, wherein the accessed session information associated with each of the selected second users indicates that a second client system associated with the selected second user is not in a wireless communication session with the beacon, and sending a notification referencing the selected one or more second users to the first client system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James LeBeau, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Joseph David Barillari, Amir Shimoni, Arlene Gabriana Murillo, Mateusz Marek Niewczas, Manish Modi, Caitlin E. Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 10917485
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a client system of a first user of an online social network, a request for a user-list, generating a structured query corresponding to the user-list, where the structured query is selected from a plurality of structured queries, and identifying one or more second users of the online social network that match the structured query and have a social connection or non-social connection with the first user. The social connection between the first user and the second user being based on social interactions on the online social network. The non-social connection between the first user and the second user being based on non-social interactions on a third-party application on the client system and being accessed by the online social network from the third-party application. The method includes sending, to the client system, instructions for displaying the user-list to the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Wharton Lessin, Robert M. Baldwin, Jeffrey Huang, Timothy A. Stanke, Caitlin Rothrock Winner, Matthew Vincent Sain
  • Patent number: 10917481
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from beacons of a third-party (e.g., a business), session information for a user of an online social network. A mobile device of the user may have been in at least one wireless communication session with at least one beacon, and during the session the mobile device was proximate to the at least one beacon. The session information may include an identifier for the user, which may be used to access social-networking information for the user. Session information and the social-networking information of the user may be sent back to the third-party. User-specified permissions may delimit which information may be sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James LeBeau, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Joseph David Barillari, Amir Shimoni, Arlene Gabriana Murillo, Mateusz Marek Niewczas, Manish Modi, Caitlin E. Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 10592558
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a client system associated with a first user, a request to access a user-card interface. The method includes generating, in response to the request, multiple user-cards, each user-card being associated with a pre-selected query. Each user-card includes references to second users matching the pre-selected query associated with the user-card. The method includes calculating a user-card score for each user-card. The user-card score represents a relevance of the pre-selected query to the first user and a relevance of the second users referenced in the user-card to the first user. The relevance of each second user referenced in the user-card is based on an affinity coefficient of the first user with respect to the second user. The method includes sending, to the client system, instructions for presenting the user-card interface with user-cards in ranked order based on the user-card score associated with each user-card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Wharton Lessin, Robert M. Baldwin, Jeffrey Huang, Timothy A. Stanke, Caitlin Rothrock Winner, Matthew Vincent Sain
  • Publication number: 20190306261
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a client system of a first user of an online social network, a request for a user-list, generating a structured query corresponding to the user-list, where the structured query is selected from a plurality of structured queries, and identifying one or more second users of the online social network that match the structured query and have a social connection or non-social connection with the first user. The social connection between the first user and the second user being based on social interactions on the online social network. The non-social connection between the first user and the second user being based on non-social interactions on a third-party application on the client system and being accessed by the online social network from the third-party application. The method includes sending, to the client system, instructions for displaying the user-list to the first user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Samuel Wharton Lessin, Robert M. Baldwin, Jeffrey Huang, Timothy A. Stanke, Caitlin Rothrock Winner, Matthew Vincent Sain
  • Publication number: 20190261142
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving current session information associated with a first user from a beacon associated with a third-party content provider, wherein the current session information indicates that a first client system of the first user is in an active wireless communication session with the beacon, accessing session information associated with one or more second users, wherein each second user is within a threshold geographical distance of the beacon, selecting one or more of the one or more second users based on the accessed session information, wherein the accessed session information associated with each of the selected second users indicates that a second client system associated with the selected second user is not in a wireless communication session with the beacon, and sending a notification referencing the selected one or more second users to the first client system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Michael James LeBeau, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Joseph David Barillari, Amir Shimoni, Arlene Gabriana Murillo, Mateusz Marek Niewczas, Manish Modi, Caitlin E. Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 10382916
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a beacon associated with a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), a current session information of the first user of an online social network. The first user's mobile device is proximate to and in a wireless communication session with the beacon, which is located at the third-party content provider. One or more second users who are associated with geographic locations within a threshold distance of the location of the beacon are selected. A notification referencing the selected second users is sent to the first user's mobile device, indicating that the second users are nearby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James LeBeau, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Joseph David Barillari, Amir Shimoni, Arlene Gabriana Murillo, Mateusz Marek Niewczas, Manish Modi, Caitlin E. Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 10334064
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a client system of a first user of an online social network, a request for a user-list including one or more second users of the online social network. The method includes calculating, for each of the second users, a contact-score between the first user and the second user based on social interactions and non-social interactions between the users. The social interactions are interactions on the online social network visible to the first user based on privacy settings associated with the second user and the respective social interaction. The non-social interactions are interactions on a third-party application accessed by the online social network, shared based on a privacy setting associated with the third-party application. The method includes generating the user-list with references to second users having a contact-score above a threshold contact-score. The method includes providing instructions for displaying the user-list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Wharton Lessin, Robert M. Baldwin, Jeffrey Huang, Timothy A. Stanke, Caitlin Rothrock Winner, Matthew Vincent Sain
  • Publication number: 20190026285
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a client system associated with a first user of the online social network, an indication of a check-in at a geographical location by the first user, generating multiple reaction-cards based at least in part on the check-in, each reaction-card being associated with a structured query referencing the geographical location, each reaction-card including one or more search results matching the structured query associated with the reaction-card. The method also includes sending, to the client system, in response to receiving the indication of the check-in, instructions for presenting one or more of the reaction-cards, wherein the reaction-cards are presented in ranked order based on a relevance of the structured query associated with the respective reaction-card to the geographic location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Alex Himel, Matej Hrescak, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Matthew D. Wyndowe, Henry Zheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 10120909
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a social graph by a social-networking system. The social graph includes a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes. The social-networking system may receive a trigger action from a first user. In response to the trigger action, the social-networking system may generate reaction-cards based at least in part on the trigger action where each reaction-card is associated with a structured query referencing nodes and edges of the social graph. The social-networking system may calculate a reaction-card score for each reaction-card, where the reaction-card score is based on a relevance of the structured query associated with the reaction-card to the trigger action and user-engagement factors. The social-networking system may then send each reaction-card having a reaction-card score greater than a threshold reaction-card score to the first user for display on a page currently accessed by the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Himel, Matej Hrescak, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Matthew D. Wyndowe, Henry Zheng Zhang
  • Publication number: 20180054494
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a client system of a first user of an online social network, a request for a user-list including one or more second users of the online social network. The method includes calculating, for each of the second users, a contact-score between the first user and the second user based on social interactions and non-social interactions between the users. The social interactions are interactions on the online social network visible to the first user based on privacy settings associated with the second user and the respective social interaction. The non-social interactions are interactions on a third-party application accessed by the online social network, shared based on a privacy setting associated with the third-party application. The method includes generating the user-list with references to second users having a contact-score above a threshold contact-score. The method includes providing instructions for displaying the user-list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Samuel Wharton Lessin, Robert M. Baldwin, Jeffrey Huang, Timothy A. Stanke, Caitlin Rothrock Winner, Matthew Vincent Sain
  • Publication number: 20180004861
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a client system associated with a first user, a request to access a user-card interface. The method includes generating, in response to the request, multiple user-cards, each user-card being associated with a pre-selected query. Each user-card includes references to second users matching the pre-selected query associated with the user-card. The method includes calculating a user-card score for each user-card. The user-card score represents a relevance of the pre-selected query to the first user and a relevance of the second users referenced in the user-card to the first user. The relevance of each second user referenced in the user-card is based on an affinity coefficient of the first user with respect to the second user. The method includes sending, to the client system, instructions for presenting the user-card interface with user-cards in ranked order based on the user-card score associated with each user-card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Samuel Wharton Lessin, Robert M. Baldwin, Jeffrey Huang, Timothy A. Stanke, Caitlin Rothrock Winner, Matthew Vincent Sain
  • Publication number: 20170359428
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sending, to an online social network, session information between a third-party content provider and a first user of the online social network. The session information includes information referencing an established wireless communication session between a first client system of the first user and a beacon of the third-party content provider. The beacon is physically proximate to the first client system at the time of the wireless communication session, and the wireless communication session allows the online social network to send social-networking information of the first user to the beacon. In response to sending the session information, a first set of social-networking information of the first user is received from the online social network via the beacon. The first set of social-networking information allows the third-party content provider to send, via the beacon, customized third-party content for display on the first client system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Michael James LeBeau, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Joseph David Barillari, Amir Shimoni, Arlene Gabriana Murillo, Mateusz Marek Niewczas, Manish Modi, Caitlin E. Kalinowski
  • Publication number: 20170332221
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a beacon associated with a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), a current session information of the first user of an online social network. The first user's mobile device is proximate to and in a wireless communication session with the beacon, which is located at the third-party content provider. One or more second users who are associated with geographic locations within a threshold distance of the location of the beacon are selected. A notification referencing the selected second users is sent to the first user's mobile device, indicating that the second users are nearby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Michael James LeBeau, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Joseph David Barillari, Amir Shimoni, Arlene Gabriana Murillo, Mateusz Marek Niewczas, Manish Modi, Caitlin E. Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 9798832
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a social graph including a number of nodes and a number of edges connecting the nodes. Each of the edges between two of the nodes represent a single degree of separation between them. The nodes include a first node corresponding to a first user associated with an online social network and a number of second nodes that each correspond to a concept or a second user associated with the online social network. The method also includes generating a number of user-cards in response to a request by the first user for a list of second users. Each user-card is associated with a structured query referencing nodes or edges of the social graph. Each user-card contains references to a number of second users corresponding to one or more second nodes that match the structured query associated with the user-card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Wharton Lessin, Robert M. Baldwin, Jeffrey Huang, Timothy A. Stanke, Caitlin Rothrock Winner, Matthew Vincent Sain
  • Patent number: 9794359
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a social graph including a number of nodes and a number of edges connecting the nodes. Each of the edges between two of the nodes represent a single degree of separation between them. The nodes include a first node corresponding to a first user associated with an online social network and a number of second nodes that each correspond to a concept or a second user associated with the online social network. The method also includes generating a user-list containing references to a number of second users. A contact-score for each second user may be calculated based on interactions between the first user and second user on the online social network, or interactions not on the online social network but accessed by the online social network. A user-list is generated containing references to second users with contact-scores above a threshold contact-score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Wharton Lessin, Robert M. Baldwin, Jeffrey Huang, Timothy A. Stanke, Caitlin Rothrock Winner, Matthew Vincent Sain
  • Publication number: 20170257443
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from beacons of a third-party (e.g., a business), session information for a user of an online social network. A mobile device of the user may have been in at least one wireless communication session with at least one beacon, and during the session the mobile device was proximate to the at least one beacon. The session information may include an identifier for the user, which may be used to access social-networking information for the user. Session information and the social-networking information of the user may be sent back to the third-party. User-specified permissions may delimit which information may be sent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Michael James LeBeau, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Joseph David Barillari, Amir Shimoni, Arlene Gabriana Murillo, Mateusz Marek Niewczas, Manish Modi, Caitlin E. Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 9729667
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a beacon associated with a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), session information of the first user of an online social network. The first user's mobile device may be proximate to and in a wireless communication session with the beacon, which may be located at the third-party content provider. One or more second users, who are each connected to the first user in a social graph, may be selected. A communication session is not active between the beacon and the mobile devices of the second users. The selection may be based on selected second users being located within a predefined distance of the beacon (e.g., in the same neighborhood). A notification referencing selected second users (e.g., a prompt to invite the selected second users to the beacon location) may be sent to the first user's mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James LeBeau, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Joseph David Barillari, Amir Shimoni, Arlene Gabriana Murillo, Mateusz Marek Niewczas, Manish Modi, Caitlin E. Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 9729643
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sending, via a beacon of a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), a request to associate with a user's mobile device. The request may be sent when the mobile device is proximate to the beacon, which may be located within a place of business. The request may include an attribute of the business (e.g., the type of business). A wireless communication session may be established between the beacon and the mobile device, and, in response, social-networking information of the user may be received, via the beacon. The particular information sent may be tailored to the business based on the received attribute, and a set of user-specified permissions may delimit what information is sent and to whom the information is sent. Third-party content may be customized based on the received social-networking information and sent to the mobile device for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James LeBeau, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Joseph David Barillari, Amir Shimoni, Arlene Gabriana Murillo, Mateusz Marek Niewczas, Manish Modi, Caitlin E. Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 9692838
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from beacons of a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), session information for users of an online social network. A mobile device of each user may have been in at least one wireless communication session with at least one beacon, and during the session the mobile device was proximate to the at least one beacon. The session information may include an identifier for each of the users, which may be used to access social-networking information for each user. A report of business insights may be generated based on aggregated social-networking information (e.g., demographics) and aggregated session information (e.g., average duration of sessions) of the users. For example, the report may include statistics regarding the business' clientele. User-specified permissions may delimit which information may be included in the report. The report may be sent to a third-party system for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James LeBeau, Samuel Wharton Lessin, Joseph David Barillari, Amir Shimoni, Arlene Gabriana Murillo, Mateusz Marek Niewczas, Manish Modi, Caitlin E. Kalinowski