Abstract: A messaging system facilitates communication between users through various messaging channels. The messaging system supports multiple communication channels and includes a messaging module that automatically selects one or more of the messaging channels for delivering a message to a recipient of the message using, for example, a set of policy rules or a trained model. The messaging module may also provide, in a user interface for sending and receiving messages, a visual indication of the selected messaging channel to the sender of the message to provide the user with transparency about how the message will be delivered. Additionally, the message may be delivered via multiple messaging channels, where the messaging module may rescind messages from some of the messaging channels upon receiving a reply from the recipient of the message or other confirmation that the recipient has seen the message via one of the communication channels.

Abstract: A messaging system facilitates communication between users through various messaging channels. The messaging system supports multiple communication channels and includes a messaging module that automatically selects one or more of the messaging channels for delivering a message to a recipient of the message using, for example, a set of policy rules or a trained model. The messaging module may also provide, in a user interface for sending and receiving messages, a visual indication of the selected messaging channel to the sender of the message to provide the user with transparency about how the message will be delivered. Additionally, the message may be delivered via multiple messaging channels, where the messaging module may rescind messages from some of the messaging channels upon receiving a reply from the recipient of the message or other confirmation that the recipient has seen the message via one of the communication channels.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes one or more server computing devices receiving first data associated with an activity recently performed or currently being performed by a user of one or more client computing devices. A current state of the user is inferred at least in part by analyzing at least the first data, and second data associated with one or more historical durations associated with the inferred current state is accessed. An end time associated with the inferred current state is estimated based at least in part on the second data.

Abstract: A social networking system provides a short, unbiased biographical summary for a user of the social networking system. The short biography includes a few relevant biographical information items selected from the user's profile and is displayed on the profile page. The short biography may be displayed with a set of photographs also selected from the profile for their relevance. Relevance may be based on various information including temporal relevance and relevance to the viewing user. Display of the short biography allows a viewer to easily find current biographical information about the user in an abbreviated format.

Abstract: A social networking system provides a short, unbiased biographical summary for a user of the social networking system. The short biography includes a few relevant biographical information items selected from the user's profile and is displayed on the profile page. The short biography may be displayed with a set of photographs also selected from the profile for their relevance. Relevance may be based on various information including temporal relevance and relevance to the viewing user. Display of the short biography allows a viewer to easily find current biographical information about the user in an abbreviated format.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes one or more server computing devices receiving first data associated with an activity recently performed or currently being performed by a user of one or more client computing devices. A current state of the user is inferred at least in part by analyzing at least the first data, and second data associated with one or more historical durations associated with the inferred current state is accessed. An end time associated with the inferred current state is estimated based at least in part on the second data.

Abstract: A social networking system user identifies one or more social networking system users authorized to present content items to the user via the social networking system (“authorized users”). When an additional user requests presentation of a content item to the user, the social networking system determines if the additional user is an authorized user. If the additional user is an authorized user, the content item is presented to the user. However, if the additional user is not an authorized user, the social networking system identifies the additional user to the user along with a request to identify the additional user as an authorized user. If the user identifies the additional user as an authorized user in response to the request, the content item is presented to the user.

Abstract: A user profile for a user of a social networking system may include experiences, such as work, educational, travel, and interests. The social networking system provides a profile page for a user's user profile that allows users to compliment the user on the experience. If a user wants to compliment another user on an experience not present on that user's user profile, the user can add the experience along with the compliment. Complimenting users on their experiences allows a reputation ranking to be created based on compliments received in a particular domain, which are searchable by user of the social networking system. The compliments may be used by the social networking system to build a domain-based reputation ranking of users of a social networking system.

Abstract: A messaging system facilitates communication between users through various messaging channels. The messaging system supports multiple communication channels and includes a messaging module that automatically selects one or more of the messaging channels for delivering a message to a recipient of the message using, for example, a set of policy rules or a trained model. The messaging module may also provide, in a user interface for sending and receiving messages, a visual indication of the selected messaging channel to the sender of the message to provide the user with transparency about how the message will be delivered. Additionally, the message may be delivered via multiple messaging channels, where the messaging module may rescind messages from some of the messaging channels upon receiving a reply from the recipient of the message or other confirmation that the recipient has seen the message via one of the communication channels.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes one or more server computing devices receiving first data associated with an activity recently performed or currently being performed by a user of one or more client computing devices. A current state of the user is inferred at least in part by analyzing at least the first data, and second data associated with one or more historical durations associated with the inferred current state is accessed. An end time associated with the inferred current state is estimated based at least in part on the second data.

Abstract: A messaging system facilitates communication between users through various messaging channels. The messaging system supports multiple communication channels and includes a messaging module that automatically selects one or more of the messaging channels for delivering a message to a recipient of the message using, for example, a set of policy rules or a trained model. The messaging module may also provide, in a user interface for sending and receiving messages, a visual indication of the selected messaging channel to the sender of the message to provide the user with transparency about how the message will be delivered. Additionally, the message may be delivered via multiple messaging channels, where the messaging module may rescind messages from some of the messaging channels upon receiving a reply from the recipient of the message or other confirmation that the recipient has seen the message via one of the communication channels.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a number of recommendations for a first user. Each recommendation being made by a second user and including information that: identifies an item being recommended; provides an explanation for the recommendation; identifies the first user as an addressee of the recommendation; and identifies the second user as an author of the recommendation. The method also includes providing for presentation to the first user one or more of the recommendations.

Abstract: Physical social actions are conveniently detected, characterized, and provided to a social networking system. This improves the user experience of the social networking system by more thoroughly recording the social actions of users occurring outside a social graph. This has the effect of extending an open social graph, which typically refers to social actions taken outside the social networking system but within a computer network, to physical social actions. By providing characterized physical social actions to the social networking system, the open social graph is extended to include physical social actions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining a current geo-location of a mobile client computing device associated with a first user; and selecting content associated with the current geo-location that was provided by a second user. The selection is based at least in part on a relationship between the first and second users. The method also includes sending to the mobile client computing device while the mobile client computing device is at or near the current geo-location a notification associated with the content.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining a geo-location of a first user; and identifying a second user that the geo-location of the first user is of interest to. The second user is identified based at least in part on a relationship between the first and second users. The method also includes sending to a mobile client computing device associated with the second user a notification associated with the geo-location of the first user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a plurality of users that are each currently associated with a second computing device that is currently in a discoverable mode; have a commonality among them based at least in part on social-graph information associated with the users; and are currently at or near a common geo-location. The method also includes sending to each of the users a suggestion to interact with the other users based at least in part on their commonality and the users currently being at or near the common geo-location.

Abstract: A messaging system facilitates communication between users through various messaging channels. The messaging system supports multiple communication channels and includes a messaging module that automatically selects one or more of the messaging channels for delivering a message to a recipient of the message using, for example, a set of policy rules or a trained model. The messaging module may also provide, in a user interface for sending and receiving messages, a visual indication of the selected messaging channel to the sender of the message to provide the user with transparency about how the message will be delivered. Additionally, the message may be delivered via multiple messaging channels, where the messaging module may rescind messages from some of the messaging channels upon receiving a reply from the recipient of the message or other confirmation that the recipient has seen the message via one of the communication channels.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer system accesses for a first user contact information of one or more second users. The computer system then determines one or more contemporaneous attributes of the first user, determines one or more contemporaneous attributes of each of the second users, and then dynamically sorts the contact information of the second users based at least on the contemporaneous attributes of the first user and the contemporaneous attributes of the second users. The computer system then provides the sorted contact information of the second users for display to the first user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes maintaining access to a data store of information corresponding to nodes and edges; receiving a user-generated character string comprising one or more characters of text entered by a user in an input form as they are entered by the user; searching the stored information for matches between the user-generated character string and existing nodes; determining whether or not a match between the user-generated character string and an existing node exists; and when it is determined that at least one match exists, generating an edge between the node corresponding to the user and the node for which the best match is determined; and when it is determined that no match between the user-generated character string and an existing node exists, generating a new node based on the user-generated character string, and generating an edge between the node corresponding to the user and the new node.

Abstract: A user of a social networking system interacting in the system as the user, may request to undertake the identity of a non-user page of which the user is an administrator. If the user undertakes the identity of the page, the user interacts with the system as the page. Additionally, the social information displayed to the user is personalized for the page.