Abstract: Described herein is an application-to-friend data service for constructing and maintaining an application-to-friend index. The data service has a first service component that is triggered when an end-user opens an application. The first service component performs operations to update the database table with current data concerning other end-users who are friends of the end-user on whose behalf the data service has been invoked. The data service includes a second service component to receive and process a query by efficiently returning, for a given end-user and a given application, a list of connections or friends of the given end-user who are also end-users of the application.

Abstract: Described herein is an online service having an integral age gating service. The age gating service is accessible to third-party applications via an application programming interface (API). Consistent with some embodiments, the API includes a method or function call that allows a third-party application developer to establish for a third-party application, age gating logic, for use by the third-party application. The age gating logic may specify a global age threshold, or more than one regional age threshold. The age gating service relies on an access token of an open standards authentication protocol, to provide the third-party application with a Boolean value indicating whether an end-user is above or below an age threshold, without revealing to the third-party application the stated age of an end-user.

Abstract: A system to perform operations that include: executing an application at a client device; presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the application at the client device, the GUI including an icon to initiate a request for a payment to a merchant; receiving an input that selects the icon from the client device; accessing a user profile associated with the client device in response to the request to initiate the payment, the user profile comprising user profile data; generating a payment credential based on the user profile data from the user profile; authorizing the payment to the merchant based on the payment credetitial; executing the payment to the merchant at the client device, within the application, based on the authorizing the payment; and passing a payment token to the merchant responsive to the executing the payment to the merchant within the application, the payment token comprising a validation.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that obtains consumption information for each of a group of communication devices associated with a user. A data plan is identified that is applicable to a communication device of the group of communication devices, and a group of media content is identified for the user based on the consumption information. The media content is provided to the communication device at a bit rate that varies according to the data plan. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A methodology is described that provides access to an augmented reality (AR) component maintained by a messaging server system directly from a web view application. When a user activates, from a web view application executing in the messaging client, a user selectable element that references an AR component, a web view AR system obtains the identification of the AR component, performs validation of the identification and of any additional launch data, and launches a camera view user interface (UI) with the AR component loaded in the camera view UI. Content captured from the camera view UI can be shared to other computing devices.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that obtains consumption information for each of a group of communication devices associated with a user. A data plan is identified that is applicable to a communication device of the group of communication devices, and a group of media content is identified for the user based on the consumption information. The media content is provided to the communication device at a bit rate that varies according to the data plan. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving information from a social network and identifying one or more topics of interest from the received information. The method also includes converting text from the received information to one or more social intents and determining, based on the topics of interest and the social intents, a media recommendation. The method further includes receiving account information from a user account, the account information including one or more entitlements. The method further includes determining that the media recommendation complies with the entitlements and automatically adding the media recommendation to a social watchlist associated with the user account.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving information from a social network and identifying one or more topics of interest from the received information. The method also includes converting text from the received information to one or more social intents and determining, based on the topics of interest and the social intents, a media recommendation. The method further includes receiving account information from a user account, the account information including one or more entitlements. The method further includes determining that the media recommendation complies with the entitlements and automatically adding the media recommendation to a social watchlist associated with the user account.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that includes receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a pricing policy for streaming a media asset to a user; and recording, by the processing system, the pricing policy into a blockchain, wherein the pricing policy is used by a billing system to charge the user for streaming the media asset. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that obtains consumption information for each of a group of communication devices associated with a user. A data plan is identified that is applicable to a communication device of the group of communication devices, and a group of media content is identified for the user based on the consumption information. The media content is provided to the communication device at a bit rate that varies according to the data plan. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that includes receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a pricing policy for streaming a media asset to a user; and recording, by the processing system, the pricing policy into a blockchain, wherein the pricing policy is used by a billing system to charge the user for streaming the media asset. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method of preparing and presenting a customized media channel, including receiving user preferences of a first user; receiving data plan information applicable to a first device utilized by the first user; receiving consumption information of the first user; scheduling media content on a first channel customized for the first user, by arranging the media content based on the user preferences of the first user and the consumption information of the first user; and providing the first channel to the first device at a first bit rate that varies according to the data plan information. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes extracting an excerpt from a first item of digital content. The first item of digital content is one of a plurality of items of digital content stored in a digital content library of a telecommunications service provider network. Topics that are trending among a plurality of users of the network are identified. A first topic of the topics in which a first user of the plurality of users has expressed an interest is identified. The excerpt is mapped to the first topic to generate a local mapping for the first user. The local mapping indicates a relationship between the first topic and the excerpt. A customized collection of excerpts is generated for the first user based on the local mapping. The first excerpt is included in the customized collection of excerpts. The customized collection of excerpts is sent to the first user.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes extracting an excerpt from a first item of digital content. The first item of digital content is one of a plurality of items of digital content stored in a digital content library of a telecommunications service provider network. Topics that are trending among a plurality of users of the network are identified. A first topic of the topics in which a first user of the plurality of users has expressed an interest is identified. The excerpt is mapped to the first topic to generate a local mapping for the first user. The local mapping indicates a relationship between the first topic and the excerpt. A customized collection of excerpts is generated for the first user based on the local mapping. The first excerpt is included in the customized collection of excerpts. The customized collection of excerpts is sent to the first user.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method of preparing and presenting a customized media channel, including receiving user preferences of a first user; receiving data plan information applicable to a first device utilized by the first user; receiving consumption information of the first user; scheduling media content on a first channel customized for the first user, by arranging the media content based on the user preferences of the first user and the consumption information of the first user; and providing the first channel to the first device at a first bit rate that varies according to the data plan information. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that includes receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a pricing policy for streaming a media asset to a user; and recording, by the processing system, the pricing policy into a blockchain, wherein the pricing policy is used by a billing system to charge the user for streaming the media asset. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method of preparing and presenting a customized media channel, including receiving user preferences of a first user; receiving data plan information applicable to a first device utilized by the first user; receiving consumption information of the first user; scheduling media content on a first channel customized for the first user, by arranging the media content based on the user preferences of the first user and the consumption information of the first user; and providing the first channel to the first device at a first bit rate that varies according to the data plan information. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes extracting an excerpt from a first item of digital content. The first item of digital content is one of a plurality of items of digital content stored in a digital content library of a telecommunications service provider network. Topics that are trending among a plurality of users of the network are identified. A first topic of the topics in which a first user of the plurality of users has expressed an interest is identified. The excerpt is mapped to the first topic to generate a local mapping for the first user. The local mapping indicates a relationship between the first topic and the excerpt. A customized collection of excerpts is generated for the first user based on the local mapping. The first excerpt is included in the customized collection of excerpts. The customized collection of excerpts is sent to the first user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving information from a social network and identifying one or more topics of interest from the received information. The method also includes converting text from the received information to one or more social intents and determining, based on the topics of interest and the social intents, a media recommendation. The method further includes receiving account information from a user account, the account information including one or more entitlements. The method further includes determining that the media recommendation complies with the entitlements and automatically adding the media recommendation to a social watchlist associated with the user account.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method of preparing and presenting a customized media channel, including receiving user preferences of a first user; receiving data plan information applicable to a first device utilized by the first user; receiving consumption information of the first user; scheduling media content on a first channel customized for the first user, by arranging the media content based on the user preferences of the first user and the consumption information of the first user; and providing the first channel to the first device at a first bit rate that varies according to the data plan information. Other embodiments are disclosed.