Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically locating web-based social network members are provided. According to one embodiment, contact content including an associated GPS identifier and status for web-based social network members located at or near the same location automatically appears on a GPS-enabled device. A further exemplary system includes a GPS-enabled device configured to receive a GPS identifier and a status representing a location and a current state for a web-based social network member, a processing module that associates the received GPS-identifier and the received status, and a communications module that sends the associated GPS-identifier and status to a server comprising a web-based social network database. Contact content in a web-based social network database record in the web-based social network database is updated to include the associated GPS identifier and status for the web-based social network member.

Abstract: To generate dynamic relationship-based content personalized for members of a social networking system, at least one action of one or more members of the social networking system is associated with relationship data for the one or more members to produce consolidated data. One or more elements associated with the consolidated data is identified and used to aggregate the consolidated data. Further exemplary methods comprise weighting by affinity the aggregated consolidated data to generate dynamic relationship-based content personalized for the members of the web-based social network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically locating web-based social network members are provided. According to one embodiment, contact content including an associated GPS identifier and status for web-based social network members located at or near the same location automatically appears on a GPS-enabled device. A further exemplary system includes a GPS-enabled device configured to receive a GPS identifier and a status representing a location and a current state for a web-based social network member, a processing module that associates the received GPS-identifier and the received status, and a communications module that sends the associated GPS-identifier and status to a server comprising a web-based social network database. Contact content in a web-based social network database record in the web-based social network database is updated to include the associated GPS identifier and status for the web-based social network member.

Abstract: Managing data collection for one or more scheduled alert messages. A primary or backup poller manager coordinates any number of poller services to access content and generate the alert messages. At a predefined period the poller manager is informed that an existing or new poller service is available for work. The poller manager provides a query to the poller service to access content in which one or more users have expressed an interest. Querying for a large number of users can be subdivided among the poller services. The poller service can also automatically expand the query if it yields insufficient content. The poller service generates the alert messages for the interested users and informs the poller manager when done. A change in content can be used to generate or update alert messages before their scheduled delivery. The poller manager prioritizes processing with a quality of service level.

Abstract: A first device running a messaging application, such as an instant messaging (IM) application, engages in messaging communication with a remote device running a browsing application. The remote device user is not associated with the messaging network of the first device. The first device sends an instant message directed to the remote device. The remote device is addressed using a means other than the addressing means used in the IM community associated with the first device, such as the MSISDN number of the remote device. The message is processed so that it may be displayed on the remote device by way of the browsing application. The user of the remote device may reply to the message using the browsing application, in which case the reply message is processed and forwarded to the first device, where it is converted into the IM format for display within the IM application.

Abstract: A method for instant messaging, comprising: receiving a login request containing information associated with a user; determining, based on the information, whether that user is authorized to use at least one premium service for instant messaging; causing display of a premium instant messaging user interface enabling use of the premium service on a client computer in response to the user is authorized to use the premium service; and causing the same client computer to display a second instant messaging user interface in response to the user is not authorized to use the premium service for instant messaging.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are directed to managing a message communications to a mobile device. The mobile device may include a first application that is unresponsive to a wakeup alert from a server. For example, the first application may be an instant messaging (IM) client that is developed as a mobile java application (MIDlet) that employs a MIDP1.0 specification, and the like. If the first application is determined to be unresponsive to a wakeup alert, the server may reformat a message to another message communication format, such as Short Messaging Service (SMS), for use by a second application that is responsive to the wakeup alert. The server may provide the reformatted message to the second application, which may be employed respond to the message. Alternatively, an end-user of the mobile device may wakeup the first application, for use in responding to the message.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are directed to managing automatic sign in to an Instant Messaging (IM) session on mobile device from another computing device, such as a personal computer (PC), over a network. The end-user of the PC may provide an account identifier, password, and the like, and in response, receive a cookie, that may further include the account identifier, encoded string, and the like. The end-user may then request initiation of the IM session using a toolbar selection, a script, applet, form, web page selection, and the like. As part of the request, the cookie may be provided to the server. If the request is authenticated based, in part, on the cookie information, the server uses the account identifier to locate an associated a mobile device identifier. The mobile device identifier is employed to log the end-user automatically into the mobile device.

Abstract: Managing data collection for one or more scheduled alert messages. A primary or backup poller manager coordinates any number of poller services to access content and generate the alert messages. At a predefined period the poller manager is informed that an existing or new poller service is available for work. The poller manager provides a query to the poller service to access content in which one or more users have expressed an interest. Querying for a large number of users can be subdivided among the poller services. The poller service can also automatically expand the query if it yields insufficient content. The poller service generates the alert messages for the interested users and informs the poller manager when done. A change in content can be used to generate or update alert messages before their scheduled delivery. The poller manager prioritizes processing with a quality of service level.

Abstract: An architecture for providing an alert message based on content that may be received as an event based feed or a time based feed in one or more formats. The architecture includes a data collection processing module for normalizing the content into a predefined data structure, and indexing the content for processing large amounts of content according to selected characteristics. A matching engine employs user queries to associate the event based content with one or more users who have indicated an interest in receiving alert messages associated with selected content. The matching engine also generates the corresponding alert messages. A poller fetches content on behalf or users at a predefined period and generates a corresponding alert message. A delivery interface determines which alert messages are to be sent immediately and which alert messages are to be scheduled for later delivery. The architecture is mirrored for scalability and backup.

Abstract: Delivering one or more alert messages via one or more delivery methods to one or more users who have indicated an interest in receiving the alert messages. A delivery service receives an alert document and a list of receiving users. This list indicates which users desire immediate delivery, which users desire delivery at a scheduled time, a service priority and/or other delivery criteria. Any black out period or other deferral is associated with the deferring users to prevent alert delivery during those times. For scheduled deliveries, the alert message is stored on one of a plurality of storages, based on alert type, user priority, storage loads, and/or other parameters. At the scheduled time, the stored alert message is accessed and marked for immediate delivery. The alert message is delivered as an email, instant message, short message service message, and/or the like. A history is maintained of all alert deliveries.