Patents by Inventor Walton Lin

Walton Lin 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: 20260161263
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for presenting participant reactions within a virtual working environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2025
    Publication date: June 11, 2026
    Inventors: Brandon Francis, Andrew Cheng-min Lin, Walton Lin
  • Publication number: 20260119003
    Abstract: A map-based graphical user interface for a social media application displays an interactive map and enables access to ephemeral social media content submitted by multiple users. Ephemeral social media items with geotag data are grouped into location-based collections based on posting locations within common geographic areas, with collection icons displayed at corresponding map locations. Users can perform location-based searches for social media content, with search queries associated with a search area based on the geographical area currently displayed in the interactive map viewport. Search results identify social media items having geotag data indicating posting locations within the search area. Each ephemeral social media item is available for viewing only during a limited time period defined by an availability parameter, after which the item's availability is automatically terminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Timothy Jordan Garcia, Leonid Gorkin, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, Evan Spiegel, Nayana Samaranayake
  • Publication number: 20260119586
    Abstract: A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) for accessing social media content submitted for public accessibility via the social media platform supported by the map-based GUI. The GUI includes a map providing interactive location-based searching functionality in that selection of a target location by the user in the GUI, such as by tapping or clicking at the target location, triggers a search for social media content having geo-tag data indicating geographic locations within a geographical search area centered on the target location. A search period for which content is returned is dynamically variable based on the duration for which the tap or click is held.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Timothy Jordan Garcia, Leonid Gorkin, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, Evan Spiegel
  • Publication number: 20260089462
    Abstract: Systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for selective location-based identity communication. The systems and methods identify a current location of a mobile computing device and detect a selection of a user interface element associated with the current location. The systems and methods cause presentation of a set of display elements corresponding to the current location and detect selection of a display element of the set of display elements. The systems and methods modify a display characteristic for the current location of the mobile computing device within a set of mobile computing devices based on the selection of the display element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Jonathan Brody, Walton Lin, Andrew Lin, Evan Spiegel
  • Patent number: 12580783
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for configuring 360-degree video within a virtual conferencing system. The program and method provide, in association with designing a room for virtual conferencing, a first interface for configuring at least one participant video element which is assignable to a respective participant video feed; receive, via the first interface, an indication of user input for setting first properties for the at least one participant video element; provide, in association with designing the room for virtual conferencing, a second interface for configuring a 360-degree video element which is assignable to a 360-degree video source; receive, via the second interface, an indication of user input for setting second properties for the 360-degree video element; and provide, in association with virtual conferencing, display of the room based on the first properties and the second properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Cheng-min Lin, Walton Lin
  • Publication number: 20260059075
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for providing a door for a room within a virtual conferencing system. The program and method provide for virtual conferencing between plural participants within a room of a virtual space, the room being assigned a door for entry by an additional participant into the room; provide, for each of the plural participants, an interface for locking or closing the door assigned to the room; receive indication of user selection, by at least one of the plural participants via the interface, to close or lock the door assigned to the room; and provide, in response to a request by the additional participant to enter the room, a notification that the door assigned to the room is closed or locked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2025
    Publication date: February 26, 2026
    Inventors: Andrew Cheng-min Lin, Walton Lin
  • Patent number: 12530408
    Abstract: A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) for accessing social media content submitted for public accessibility via the social media platform supported by the map-based GUI. The GUI includes a map providing interactive location-based searching functionality in that selection of a target location by the user in the GUI, such as by tapping or clicking at the target location, triggers a search for social media content having geo-tag data indicating geographic locations within a geographical search area centered on the target location. A search period for which content is returned is dynamically variable based on the duration for which the tap or click is held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Timothy Jordan Garcia, Leonid Gorkin, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, Evan Spiegel
  • Patent number: 12524128
    Abstract: A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) for accessing social media content submitted for public accessibility via the social media platform supported by the map-based GUI. The GUI includes a map providing interactive location-based searching functionality in that selection of a target location by the user in the GUI, such as by tapping or clicking at the target location, triggers a search for social media content having geo-tag data indicating geographic locations within a geographical search area centered on the target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Timothy Jordan Garcia, Leonid Gorkin, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, Evan Spiegel, Nayana Samaranayake
  • Patent number: 12520101
    Abstract: Systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for selective location-based identity communication. The systems and methods identify a current location of a mobile computing device and detect a selection of a user interface element associated with the current location. The systems and methods cause presentation of a set of display elements corresponding to the current location and detect selection of a display element of the set of display elements. The systems and methods modify a display characteristic for the current location of the mobile computing device within a set of mobile computing devices based on the selection of the display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2026
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Brody, Walton Lin, Andrew Lin, Evan Spiegel
  • Publication number: 20250377761
    Abstract: A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) with multiple geographically anchored icons that are selectable to trigger playback of respective galleries of ephemeral messages. Each of the plurality of location-based ephemeral galleries comprises media content contributed by multiple different users. The ephemeral galleries are compiled based on geo-tag data associated with respective ephemeral messages submitted by multiple users to be publicly viewable via the map-based GUI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2025
    Publication date: December 11, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Patent number: 12483676
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for providing a door for a room within a virtual conferencing system. The program and method provide for virtual conferencing between plural participants within a room of a virtual space, the room being assigned a door for entry by an additional participant into the room; provide, for each of the plural participants, an interface for locking or closing the door assigned to the room; receive indication of user selection, by at least one of the plural participants via the interface, to close or lock the door assigned to the room; and provide, in response to a request by the additional participant to enter the room, a notification that the door assigned to the room is closed or locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Cheng-min Lin, Walton Lin
  • Patent number: 12457305
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for providing Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) controls within a virtual conferencing system. The program and method provide, in association with designing a room for virtual conferencing, an interface for updating a property of an element within a room based on a received MIDI message; receiving, based on the interface, an indication of user input specifying to update the property of the element when the received MIDI message includes a predefined value; providing a virtual conference between plural participants within the room, the room including the element; receiving a MIDI message that includes the predefined value; and updating, in response to receiving the MIDI message, the property of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2025
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Cheng-min Lin, Walton Lin
  • Patent number: 12413687
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for providing side conversations within a virtual conferencing system. The program and method provide, in association with a virtual conference among plural participants, a first audio channel for sharing among the plural participants; provide, for each of the plural participants, display of a participant video element which corresponds to the participant and which includes a user-selectable button to initiate a side conversation with the participant; receive indication of a user selection, by a first participant, of the user-selectable button for initiating a side conversation with a second participant of the plural participants; and provide a second audio channel from a first device associated with the first participant to a second device associated with the second participant, in conjunction with providing the first audio channel to the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Cheng-min Lin, Walton Lin
  • Patent number: 12393318
    Abstract: A social media platform provides a map-based graphical user interface (GUI) with multiple geographically anchored icons that are selectable to trigger playback of respective galleries of ephemeral messages. Each of the plurality of location-based ephemeral galleries comprises media content contributed by multiple different users. The ephemeral galleries are compiled based on geo-tag data associated with respective ephemeral messages submitted by multiple users to be publicly viewable via the map-based GUI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Evan Spiegel
  • Publication number: 20250260730
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for providing automatically navigating between rooms within a virtual space for virtual conferencing. The program and method provide for virtual conferencing between plural participants within a first room of plural rooms included within the virtual space; provide, for each of the plural participants, display of a participant video element which corresponds to the participant and which includes a user-selectable button for requesting that the participant follow another participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; receive a first indication of a user selection, by a first participant, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a second participant; receive a second indication that the second participant authorizes following the first participant when navigating between the plural rooms; and provide for the second participant to follow the first participant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventors: Maxwell Gale, Andrew Cheng-min Lin, Walton Lin
  • Patent number: 12362954
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for mixing participant audio from multiple rooms within a virtual conferencing system. The program and method provide, in association with designing a first room for virtual conferencing, display of a user interface for mixing participant audio from one or more second rooms into an audio channel for the first room; receive indication of user input via the user interface, the user input corresponding to settings for mixing the participant audio from the one or more second rooms; and provide, based on the settings and in association with virtual conferencing within the first room, for mixing the participant audio from one or more second rooms with respect to the audio channel for the first room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: SNAP INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Cheng-min Lin, Walton Lin
  • Patent number: 12340064
    Abstract: A map-based graphical user interface for a social media application displays to social media activity information based on submission of geo-tagged social media items to the platform. Geographical distributions of social activity is displayed on a map forming part of the application. A heatmap can represent posting density or unusualness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Evan Spiegel, Marcel M. Yung
  • Patent number: 12321564
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for presenting participant reactions within a virtual working environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Francis, Andrew Cheng-Min Lin, Walton Lin
  • Patent number: 12316689
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for providing automatically navigating between rooms within a virtual space for virtual conferencing. The program and method provide for virtual conferencing between plural participants within a first room of plural rooms included within the virtual space; provide, for each of the plural participants, display of a participant video element which corresponds to the participant and which includes a user-selectable button for requesting that the participant follow another participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; receive a first indication of a user selection, by a first participant, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a second participant; receive a second indication that the second participant authorizes following the first participant when navigating between the plural rooms; and provide for the second participant to follow the first participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Maxwell Gale, Andrew Cheng-min Lin, Walton Lin
  • Publication number: 20250165120
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for the dynamic generation of a map interface include generating temporal activity models by representing individual social media postings as having respective density distributions in time. Each posting's temporal density distribution spans multiple sequential time windows centered on the posting's timestamp, with density contributions decreasing in value for time windows further from the timestamp. The temporal models may be combined with spatial density distributions to generate comprehensive geo-temporal representations of social media activity. A graphical user interface displays an interactive map with overlay elements determined based on calculated activity attributes, including detected temporal patterns and anomalies identified by comparing current activity models against historical baselines. The modeling approach enables improved visualization of activity patterns while providing inherent privacy protection through probabilistic representation of individual posts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel Amitay, Jonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Jeffrey Arthur Johnson, Andrew Lin, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Evan Spiegel, Marcel M. Yung