EPHEMERAL GALLERY OF EPHEMERAL MESSAGES WITH OPT-IN PERMANENCE
A server has a processor and a memory storing instructions executed by the processor to maintain an ephemeral gallery of ephemeral messages, where each ephemeral message is a photograph or a video. An ephemeral message is posted to the ephemeral gallery. The ephemeral message has an associated message duration parameter and a gallery participation parameter. An ephemeral message is removed from the ephemeral gallery in response to the identification of an expired gallery participation parameter. The ephemeral gallery is eliminated upon expiration of either a gallery timer or upon expiration of the gallery participation parameter of a last message posted to the ephemeral gallery. The ephemeral gallery is preserved in response to a gesture applied to an indicium to save the ephemeral gallery to produce a preserved gallery.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 14/505,478, filed Oct. 2, 2014.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to the display of computer network delivered ephemeral messages. More particularly, this invention relates to an ephemeral gallery of ephemeral messages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMessages (e.g., text, photo or video) delivered over computer networks are well known. However, one problem associated with such messages is that they require an affirmative act on the part of a user to delete or remove messages from their devices once the messages have been viewed or read. As a result, in some instances, users refrain from spontaneously sending many messages for fear of filling or cluttering a recipient's in-box.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to maintain spontaneity and expand communicative content of messaging activity, while reducing the device management burdens imposed upon a message recipient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA server has a processor and a memory storing instructions executed by the processor to maintain an ephemeral gallery of ephemeral messages, where each ephemeral message is a photograph or a video. An ephemeral message is posted to the ephemeral gallery. The ephemeral message has an associated message duration parameter and a gallery participation parameter. An ephemeral message is removed from the ephemeral gallery in response to the identification of an expired gallery participation parameter. The ephemeral gallery is eliminated upon expiration of either a gallery timer or upon expiration of the gallery participation parameter of a last message posted to the ephemeral gallery. The ephemeral gallery is preserved in response to a gesture applied to an indicium to save the ephemeral gallery to produce a preserved gallery.
The invention is more fully appreciated in connection with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONAn ephemeral message may be a text, an image, a video and the like. The display time for the ephemeral message is typically set by the message sender. However, the display time may be a default setting or a setting specified by the recipient. Regardless of the setting technique, the message is transitory (i.e., the message is deleted or otherwise made inaccessible after a certain period offline or after a certain action has been taken).
The processor 102 is also coupled to image sensors 115. The image sensors 115 may be known digital image sensors, such as charge coupled devices. The image sensors capture visual media, which is presented on display 116.
A touch controller 118 is connected to the display 116 and the processor 102. The touch controller 118 is responsive to haptic signals applied to the display 116. In one embodiment, the ephemeral message controller 106 monitors signals from the touch controller 118. If haptic contact is observed by the touch controller 118 in connection with indicia of an ephemeral gallery, then the ephemeral gallery is displayed to the user as a sequence of ephemeral messages.
The electronic device 100 may also include other components commonly associated with a smartphone, such as a wireless signal processor 120 to provide connectivity to a wireless network. A power control circuit 122 and a global positioning system processor 124 may also be utilized. While many of the components of
The next processing operation of
As shown in
The next operation of
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A server 504 is also connected to the network 502. The server 504 includes standard components, such as a central processing unit 510 connected to input/output devices 514 via a network 512. The input/output devices 514 may include a keyboard, mouse, display and the like. A network interface circuit 516 is also connected to the bus 512 to provide connectivity to network 502. A memory 520 is also connected to the bus 512. The memory 520 stores an ephemeral gallery module 522. The ephemeral gallery module 522 stores instructions executed by the central processing unit 510 to implement operations of the invention. For example, the ephemeral gallery module 522 may include instructions to coordinate the processing operations of
The message is then posted in the gallery with a gallery participation parameter 606. The gallery participation parameter is an ephemeral period of time that the ephemeral message will continue to exist in the gallery. For example, a first ephemeral message posted to the gallery may have a default gallery participation parameter of 24 hours. In other instances, the gallery participation parameter may be set by a user. The gallery participation parameter value decreases with the passage of time. Thus, in this embodiment, an ephemeral message gallery subsists for as long as the gallery participation parameter of the last message posed to the gallery.
In another embodiment, a gallery timer may be assigned to a gallery by a user. The gallery timer may be, used to establish a lifespan of an associated gallery and messages posted to this gallery subsist for no longer than the life of the gallery. Thus, in some embodiments, all messages posted to such a gallery will subsist for the duration of the life of the gallery (regardless of posting time). In other embodiments, messages may be submitted with a gallery participation parameter. In these embodiments, messages expire and become inaccessible at the earlier of the gallery participation parameter or the remaining life of the gallery.
The next processing operation of
The first operation in
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The invention may also be configured to provide opt-in permanence of individual messages in an ephemeral gallery. For example, as shown in
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer storage product with a computer readable storage medium having computer code thereon for performing various computer-implemented operations. The media and computer code may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to: magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs and holographic devices; magneto-optical media; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and execute program code, such as application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), programmable logic devices (“PLDs”) and ROM and RAM devices. Examples of computer code include machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher-level code that are executed by a computer using an interpreter. For example, an embodiment of the invention may be implemented using JAVA®, C++, or other object-oriented programming language and development tools. Another embodiment of the invention may be implemented in hardwired circuitry in place of, or in combination with, machine-executable software instructions.
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive. or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A system comprising:
- one or more computer processor devices; and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processor devices, configure the one or more computer processor devices to perform operations comprising: maintaining at a server system for an online messaging service a plurality of composite stories, each of which comprises a respective set of ephemeral messages, each composite story being viewable online by, responsive to a view request from a requesting device, causing automated display on the requesting device of the respective set of ephemeral messages non-synchronously one after another in sequence on the requesting device; associating with each ephemeral message a respective predefined message expiry time at which that ephemeral message is automatically made unavailable for viewing as part of its associated composite story; associating with each composite story a story expiry time at which that composite story is automatically to be made unavailable for online viewing by followers in the online messaging service of a creator user of the associated composite story; causing display, on a user device associated with the creator user of a particular one of the plurality of composite stories, of a user interface that includes a selective preservation mechanism that enables receipt of user input to command selective preservation of at least one ephemeral message from the particular composite story; receiving via the selective preservation mechanism user input that selects one or more ephemeral messages in the particular composite story for preservation; and responsive to the user input, at the server system, permanently preserving each selected message for access via the online messaging service, each preserved message thus being available to the followers of the associated creator user beyond the associated message expiry time.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein the user input indicates selection of the particular composite story, and wherein the instructions configure the one or more computer processor devices to, responsive to the user input selecting the particular composite story, preserve the set of ephemeral messages of the particular composite story.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the instructions configure the one or more computer processor devices such that the selective preservation mechanism includes a save indicium associated with the particular composite story, reception of the user input for preservation of the particular composite story being responsive to user-selection of the respective save indicium of the particular composite story.
24. The system of claim 22, wherein the instructions configure the one or more computer processor devices such that preserving the set of ephemeral messages comprises preserving the particular composite story in its original form.
25. The system of claim 22, wherein the instructions configure the one or more computer processor devices to perform further operations comprising:
- allowing editing of the particular composite story subsequent to its selection for preservation; and responsive to receiving user edits to the particular composite story to produce an edited form of the particular composite story, preserving the particular composite story in its edited form.
26. The system of claim 22, wherein the user input indicates selection for preservation of an individual one of the set of ephemeral messages of the particular composite story.
27. The system of claim 21, wherein the instructions configure the one or more computer processor devices such that the selective preservation mechanism includes a respective save indicium associated with at least one ephemeral message displayed in the user interface, reception of the user input for preservation of a particular ephemeral message being responsive to user-selection of the respective save indicium of the selected message.
28. A method comprising:
- maintaining at a server system for an online messaging service a plurality of composite stories, each of which comprises a respective set of ephemeral messages, each composite story being viewable online by, responsive to a view request from a requesting device, causing automated display on the requesting device of the respective set of ephemeral messages non-synchronously one after another in sequence on the requesting device;
- associating with each ephemeral message a respective predefined message expiry time at which that ephemeral message is automatically made unavailable for viewing as part of its associated composite story;
- associating with each composite story a story expiry time at which that composite story is automatically to be made unavailable for online viewing by followers in the online messaging service of a creator user of the associated composite story;
- causing display, on a user device associated with the creator user of a particular one of the plurality of composite stories, of a user interface that includes a selective preservation mechanism that enables receipt of user input to command selective preservation of at least one ephemeral message from the particular composite story;
- receiving via the selective preservation mechanism user input that selects one or more ephemeral messages in the particular composite story for preservation; and
- responsive to the user input, at the server system, permanently preserving each selected message for access via the online messaging service, each preserved message thus being available to the followers of the associated creator user beyond the associated message expiry time.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein:
- the user input indicates selection of the particular composite story; and
- wherein, responsive to the user input selecting the particular composite story, preserving the set of ephemeral messages of the particular composite story.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein:
- the selective preservation mechanism includes a save indicium associated with the particular composite story; and
- wherein reception of the user input for preservation of the particular composite story is responsive to user-selection of the respective save indicium of the particular composite story.
31. The method of claim 29, wherein preserving the set of ephemeral messages comprises preserving the particular composite story in its original form.
32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:
- allowing editing of the particular composite story subsequent to its selection for preservation; and
- responsive to receiving user edits to the particular composite story to produce an edited form of the particular composite story, preserving the particular composite story in its edited form.
33. The method of claim 29, wherein the user input indicates selection for preservation of an individual one of the set of ephemeral messages of the particular composite story.
34. The method of claim 28, wherein:
- the selective preservation mechanism includes a respective save indicium associated with at least one ephemeral message displayed in the user interface; and
- wherein reception of the user input for preservation of a particular ephemeral message is responsive to user-selection of the respective save indicium of the selected message.
35. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:
- maintaining at a server system for an online messaging service a plurality of composite stories, each of which comprises a respective set of ephemeral messages, each composite story being viewable online by, responsive to a view request from a requesting device, causing automated display on the requesting device of the respective set of ephemeral messages non-synchronously one after another in sequence on the requesting device;
- associating with each ephemeral message a respective predefined message expiry time at which that ephemeral message is automatically made unavailable for viewing as part of its associated composite story;
- associating with each composite story a story expiry time at which that composite story is automatically to be made unavailable for online viewing by followers in the online messaging service of a creator user of the associated composite story;
- causing display, on a user device associated with the creator user of a particular one of the plurality of composite stories, of a user interface that includes a selective preservation mechanism that enables receipt of user input to command selective preservation of at least one ephemeral message from the particular composite story;
- receiving via the selective preservation mechanism user input that selects one or more ephemeral messages in the particular composite story for preservation; and
- responsive to the user input, at the server system, permanently preserving each selected message for access via the online messaging service, each preserved message thus being available to the followers of the associated creator user beyond the associated message expiry time.
36. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein:
- the user input indicates selection of the particular composite story; and
- wherein, responsive to the user input selecting the particular composite story, preserving the set of ephemeral messages of the particular composite story.
37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein:
- the selective preservation mechanism includes a save indicium associated with the particular composite story; and
- wherein reception of the user input for preservation of the particular composite story is responsive to user-selection of the respective save indicium of the particular composite story.
38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the instructions further configure the computer to:
- allow editing of the particular composite story subsequent to its selection for preservation; and
- responsive to receiving user edits to the particular composite story to produce an edited form of the particular composite story, preserve the particular composite story in its edited form.
39. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the user input indicates selection for preservation of an individual one of the set of ephemeral messages of the particular composite story.
40. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein:
- the selective preservation mechanism includes a respective save indicium associated with at least one ephemeral message displayed in the user interface; and
- wherein reception of the user input for preservation of a particular ephemeral message is responsive to user-selection of the respective save indicium of the selected message.
Type: Application
Filed: May 18, 2021
Publication Date: Sep 2, 2021
Inventors: Nicholas Allen (Venice, CA), Evan Spiegel (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number: 17/323,702