Patent Grant
12137075
Embodiments relate generally to social networking platforms, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for recipe sharing and interaction between multiple users about food and recipes.
Many food and recipe-based apps and websites exist today. Some provide content such as recipes and food preparation instructions. Almost all of these follow the same pattern of a content-provider service, where a user signs up, views various recipes, and saves the recipes to a folder or list. For example, at FOODNETWORK.COM, a user can mindlessly scroll through hundreds of recipes without much context, other than perhaps a celebrity chef's endorsement. Once he has found something he likes, the user can save the recipe to a list for later viewing. However, food and food preparation is much more about the community in which it is shared than the mechanics of the preparation. Existing apps and websites provide no community for sharing, other than a “click to email” link or “post” to TWITTER or FACEBOOK.
Existing social networking platforms provide insufficient architecture for users to interact around food because talking about and sharing food experiences is more than a fleeting post in an activity stream. Platforms like TWITTER and FACEBOOK are not suitable for storing recipes, as they are focused on the day-to-day activity of users. No repository is available for storing and managing desired content, or for sharing within groups.
Further, existing food and recipe-based apps and websites offer little for the aggregation of recipes and food-based content. Existing food-oriented sites such as FOODNWETWORK.COM or ALLRECIPES.COM do not allow a user to add or store his own recipes. The user can view only recipes provided by that particular site and cannot add or save his own recipes.
Therefore, there is a need for systems and methods that can more efficiently integrate recipes and food-related content for sharing between users.
Embodiments described herein meet the aforementioned needs. In embodiments, systems comprise a plurality of distributed service components and experience clients forming a social networking platform to provide a user interface for recipe sharing and interaction between users about food and recipes. For example, supported experience clients can include mobile native apps, such as iOS and Android, a desktop website accessible by a desktop web browser, and a mobile website accessible by a mobile web browser. Methods provided by the systems allow user interaction on experience clients about food, recipes, and other related content. In particular, user interfaces provide users the ability to save, manage, and share their own recipes, stories about food, and other food-related content that is important to them. Further, user interfaces provide the ability for users to view content of other users and collect and view other users' content in a single place.
In an embodiment, a social networking system comprises a server including computing hardware of at least one processor, a memory operably coupled to the at least one processor and configured to store instructions invoked by the at least one processor, and input/output facilities; a database communicatively coupled to the server via the input/output facilities and configured to store user group data; instructions that, when executed on the server, cause the computing platform to implement: a visual interface configured to present a group creation interface and a recipe viewing interface; a logic subsystem configured to: receive a request to create a group from one of a plurality of user experience devices accessing the group creation interface, the request to create a group including a group identifier and a plurality of users to add to the group, the request generated by an initiating user, transmit a notification to each of the users to add to the group, receive at least one acceptance responding to the notification from at least one of the users to add to the group, each acceptance corresponding to an accepting user, store the group identifier and an identifier of each of the accepting users in the database, wherein after the group is created, receive digital recipe data from at least one of the accepting users or the initiating user via at least one of the user experience devices accessing the visual interface, and transmit the digital recipe data to all other users in the group, wherein each user accesses the digital recipe data with at least one of the user experiences devices using the recipe viewing interface.
In an embodiment, a method for sharing digital recipe data comprises presenting a graphical user interface including a group creation interface and a recipe viewing interface; receiving a request to create a group from one of a plurality of user experience devices accessing the group creation interface, the request to create a group including a group identifier and a plurality of users to add to the group, the request generated by an initiating user, transmitting a notification to each of the users to add to the group, receiving at least one acceptance responding to the notification from at least one of the users to add to the group, each acceptance corresponding to an accepting user, storing the group identifier and an identifier of each of the accepting users in a database, wherein after the group is created, receiving digital recipe data from at least one of the accepting users or the initiating user via at least one of the user experience devices accessing the visual interface, and transmitting the digital recipe data to all other users in the group, wherein each user accesses the digital recipe data with at least one of the user experiences devices using the recipe viewing interface.
In an embodiment, a digital recipe clipping engine comprises at least one processor and a memory operably coupled to the at least one processor and configured to store instructions invoked by the at least one processor; instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to implement: a social networking system interface comprising a URL input field, a mini-browser embedded within the social networking system interface and configured to present digital recipe data on a third-party website specified by the URL input, and an XML importer configured to parse the digital recipe data and save the digital recipe data to a database, wherein each field of the digital recipe data corresponds to a separate XML element.
In a feature and advantage of embodiments, a plurality of distributed service components provides several user interfaces to an experience client. In an embodiment, a “Discover” interface is provided in which a user can view featured chefs' recipes, regular contributor content, popular recipes, and friends' posts. In an embodiment, an “Add Content” interface allows a user to post his own recipes, food-related articles, and import recipe and food-related content. In an embodiment, a “My Circle” interface allows a user to view and interact with friends' notification and messages from other users. In an embodiment, a “Me” interface lows a user to view and interact with his personalized recipe box, content that has been liked, and users he is following and user that follow him. In all of the interfaces, a user is presented with searching capability so he can quickly search for desired content, and not have to return to a main or search page.
In a feature and advantage of embodiments, a virtual community can be created by the social networking platform. In an embodiment, users of the platform can be communicatively coupled in various groups and subgroups according to the desires of the users. For example, an initiating user can form a virtual circle, name the circle, and add other users to the circle. Those other users who “accept” their grouping can then be communicatively coupled to the other users of the group. The platform thereby establishes a user-level ad-hoc grouping, instead of a network-level ad-hoc network that is restricted to the particular hardware of the user. Users can be identified by a unique user ID, network ID, or computer hardware ID, in certain embodiments. Content can then be shared at varying levels of groups and subgroups.
In a feature and advantage of embodiments, a recipe clipping engine provides an interface and parsing logic to “clip” a recipe and import the recipe to the social networking platform. Digital content can therefore be imported into the system from other digital sources. For example, a user can input a recipe URL or navigate to a third-party website into via a mini browser integrated into the recipe clipping engine. Recipe clipping engine logic can then navigate to that URL and parse the recipe and store it in a database on the platform. In another embodiment, a user can paste recipe text into the interface and the recipe clipping engine logic can parse the recipe and store it in a database on the platform. In another embodiment, a recipe clipping engine is integrated into a web browser to allow a user to “clip” a recipe from any website and import the recipe to the platform. Embodiments of the recipe clipping engine can utilize an XML schema to import the recipe to the platform.
In a feature and advantage of embodiments, data permanence solutions meld the permanence of recipe box data with the transitory properties of activity stream data to overcome problems of existing data storage solutions. For example, activity stream data is typically transitory, in that no “instance” of the data is stored longer than a single viewing. Traditional activity stream data is relevant at the moment, but doesn't have any permanence for historical viewing. At the same time, recipe box data is typically permanent, in that at least one instance of recipe box data is stored for a user for repeated viewings. Embodiments described herein meld these two concepts using selectively-generated instances of particular data.
In an embodiment, a user's “Home” page presents activity stream (transitory) data, while a user's personal “Me” page presents permanently-stored data as a collection of items the user has collected and written himself. Accordingly, the data model utilized for the social networking system passes certain data through with no permanence, and stores other data with permanence. One skilled in the art will readily understand that this type of data model can easily get very complex, which has been solved by embodiments herein.
In an example, a first user can post a recipe, which is stored as a first instance of the data for the first user. A second user can see the transitory posting in the second user's activity stream (not permanent on the second user's side). The second user can choose to save a version for later viewing. Accordingly, a second instance is then instantiated for the second user that is wholly separate from the first instance. Then, if the first user deletes the first instance, the second instance remains. The data model accounts for the unique relationship between users and data to establish what is transient and what is permanent. An important aspect of the data model is making permanent or creating another instance of any data that a user modifies or saves. The instance is then linked to the modifying or saving user such that modification (including deletion) of the first instance leaves the second instance unchanged.
In embodiments, specific and structured graphical user interfaces described herein provide certain prescribed functionality directly related to the structure of the graphical user interfaces. Embodiments therefore solve the problem of the standalone nature of food and recipe-based apps and websites and the insufficient architecture for sharing and aggregating content provided by existing social networking platforms. The graphical user interfaces providing for the generation of circles and the corresponding content sharing, as well as the browser-integrated recipe clipper are just two examples of embodiments that have not existed in the art.
Further, embodiments provide a solution that is not merely the routine or conventional use of the Internet. Rather, the solutions described herein address technological problems particular to the Internet by implementing a solution specific to the Internet environment and different from the manner suggested by routine or conventional use within the field.
In particular, the solutions described herein are rooted in multi-contributor networked computer technology to overcome a problem specifically arising in this technology. The embodiments described herein are manifested only in the computing realm and over a computer network. For example, architectures described herein allow a user to create various communities of interest so that users are virtually communicatively coupled together via embodiments of the system. Content can be shared and individually stored by each user in one of the communities. No such community coupling or personalized storage is provided by existing food and recipe-based apps and websites or existing social networking platforms, as this is traditionally done via email, where a user's unorganized email account acts as the repository. Further, the unique browser-integrated and mini-browser clipping solutions provided embodiments of the system allow simple, intuitive aggregation of content across multiple third-party websites, which are not provided by existing web browsers or food and recipe-based apps and websites, and are manifested only in the computing realm. Additionally, data permanence solutions melding the permanence of recipe box data and transitory properties of activity stream data overcome problems of existing data storage solutions.
Moreover, the embodiments described herein require particular and meaningful system components, graphical user interfaces, and network-based interaction so as to not preempt all applications of social networking platforms.
The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the subject matter hereof. The figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify various embodiments.
Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures, in which:
While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.
Referring to
As will be described, system 100 and/or its components or subsystems can include computing devices, microprocessors, modules and other computer or computing devices, which can be any programmable device that accepts digital data as input, is configured to process the input according to instructions or algorithms, and provides results as outputs. In an embodiment, computing and other such devices discussed herein can be, comprise, contain or be coupled to a central processing unit (CPU) configured to carry out the instructions of a computer program. Computing and other such devices discussed herein are therefore configured to perform basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations.
Computing and other devices discussed herein can include memory. Memory can comprise volatile or non-volatile memory as required by the coupled computing device or processor to not only provide space to execute the instructions or algorithms, but to provide the space to store the instructions themselves. In embodiments, volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or static random access memory (SRAM), for example. In embodiments, non-volatile memory can include read-only memory, flash memory, ferroelectric RAM, hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic tape, or optical disc storage, for example. The foregoing lists in no way limit the type of memory that can be used, as these embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
In embodiments, the system or components thereof can comprise or include various modules or engines, each of which is constructed, programmed, configured, or otherwise adapted, to autonomously carry out a function or set of functions. The term “engine” as used herein is defined as a real-world device, component, or arrangement of components implemented using hardware, such as by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or field-programmable gate array (FPGA), for example, or as a combination of hardware and software, such as by a microprocessor system and a set of program instructions that adapt the engine to implement the particular functionality, which (while being executed) transform the microprocessor system into a special-purpose device. An engine can also be implemented as a combination of the two, with certain functions facilitated by hardware alone, and other functions facilitated by a combination of hardware and software. In certain implementations, at least a portion, and in some cases, all, of an engine can be executed on the processor(s) of one or more computing platforms that are made up of hardware (e.g., one or more processors, data storage devices such as memory or drive storage, input/output facilities such as network interface devices, video devices, keyboard, mouse or touchscreen devices, etc.) that execute an operating system, system programs, and application programs, while also implementing the engine using multitasking, multithreading, distributed (e.g., cluster, peer-peer, cloud, etc.) processing where appropriate, or other such techniques. Accordingly, each engine can be realized in a variety of physically realizable configurations, and should generally not be limited to any particular implementation exemplified herein, unless such limitations are expressly called out. In addition, an engine can itself be composed of more than one sub-engines, each of which can be regarded as an engine in its own right. Moreover, in the embodiments described herein, each of the various engines corresponds to a defined autonomous functionality; however, it should be understood that in other contemplated embodiments, each functionality can be distributed to more than one engine. Likewise, in other contemplated embodiments, multiple defined functionalities may be implemented by a single engine that performs those multiple functions, possibly alongside other functions, or distributed differently among a set of engines than specifically illustrated in the examples herein.
Each of the plurality of user experience devices 102 generally comprises a user input/output engine 108 and a communications engine 110. In an embodiment, user experience device 102 can be a desktop computer having access to specialized software for interfacing with server 104. For example, user experience device 102 can comprise a web browser configured to access server 104. In another embodiment, user experience device 102 can be a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet configured to access server 104. For example, user experience device 102 (and particularly, user input/output engine 108 and communications engine 110) can include specialized software for the mobile device.
User input/output engine 108 is configured to receive inputs from a user of user experience device 102 related to system 100 content; particularly, recipes or recipe sharing. For example, user input/output engine 108 can comprise a visual user interface for interacting with the user of user experience device 102.
Communications engine 110 is configured to transmit and receive information related to system 100. In particular, communications engine 110 can transmit and receive data specific to the application for which server 104 is configured, such as recipe or food-related data or recipe or food-related sharing interfaces. In embodiments, communications engine 110 can comprise communications software and transceiver circuitry. Transmitter circuitry can comprise one or more electronic elements configured to transmit and receive data related to system 100. For example, wireless transceiver circuitry can be configured for radio frequency (RF) communications, WIFI communications, BLUETOOTH communications, or near-field communications (NFC). Wired transceiver circuitries can likewise be utilized, such as CAT-5 and CAT-6.
Server 104 generally comprises communications engine 112, a database 114, a visual interface 116, and a logic subsystem 118.
Communications engine 112 is configured to transmit and receive information related to system 100. In particular, communications engine 112 is configured to allow access to visual interface 116 by user experience devices 102. In an embodiment, user experience devices 102 and server 104 can be operably coupled by a network 106, including an intranet network or the Internet.
Database 114 is configured to store the transmitted and received information related to system 100. In particular, database 114 comprises a database configured to the generally-tailored data associated with recipes and the sharing of recipe data among groups and subgroups. Database 114 can be a general purpose database management storage system (DBMS) or relational DBMS as implemented by, for example, Oracle, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Linux, or Unix solutions, in embodiments.
Visual interface 116 comprises an engine for delivering server content stored in database 114 over communications engine 112 to user experience devices 102. In an embodiment, visual interface 116 can comprise a web browser-based HTML or XML interface. In another embodiment, visual interface 116 can comprise a software application configured to the unique hardware of the respective devices 102. As will be readily understood by one of skill in the art, portions of the content of visual interface 116 can be delivered by server 104 to user experience devices 102 for display on the respective devices through device-specific software running on the respective devices. In other embodiments, visual interface 116 can be viewed on server 104 using Internet-capable browser software.
Logic subsystem 118 comprises an engine for managing the data of server 104 and presentation of that data via visual interface 116 for user experience devices 102. For example, as will be described further with respect to
Each of the plurality of user experience devices 102 can interface to server 104 in a synchronous or asynchronous manner. In a synchronous example, user experience device 102a can interact with user experience device 102b when both user experience device 102a and user experience device 102b are actively interfacing with server 104. For example, a recipe can be shared by a first user operating user experience device 102a in real-time with a second user operating user experience device 102b, who views and comments on the recipe, which are then transmitted back to user experience device 102a. In an asynchronous example, the first user operating user experience device 102a can post recipe data to server 104, which is stored in database 114 and can be viewed later by the second user operating user experience device 102b. In embodiments, a user can modify (edit, delete, etc.) his previous comments to correspondingly modify that comment data on the server and subsequent display via the user experience device.
Referring to
Network 106 is shown as a singular “cloud,” with server 104 and database 114 as discrete components within network 106. However, server 104 can comprise a plurality of distributed service components throughout network 106. Likewise, database 114 can comprise a plurality of storage devices throughout network 106.
Referring to
Administrative engine 120 is configured to manage the administrative functions of logic subsystem 118; for example, the opening of an app on a user experience device 102, account creation, verification, and login, and error messaging. Referring to
Method 200 generally comprises opening an app at 202 on a user experience device, such as user experience device 102. Referring to
At 204, a public activity stream can be viewed by a user operating user experience device. For example, referring to
At 206, a user then attempts to navigate to secure areas of the social networking system. Method 200 then enters a check 208 to determine if the user is authenticated. At 210, if the user is already authenticated, a personalized activity stream is presented.
For example, referring to
Returning to 212, method 200 enters an authentication sub-process if the user is not authenticated based on check 208. In an embodiment, an error or status message can be presented to the user. For example, referring to
At 214, a user is presented login options. For example, referring to
If the user selects a login option at 216, the user can enter identifying information such as a previously validated FACEBOOK username and password or previously validated email address and password. At 218, the user is authorized to access the social networking system.
Alternatively, the user can create an account at 220. At 222, a create account screen is presented. For example, referring to
Alternatively, at 228, a user is presented an account creation error. For example, referring to
In an embodiment, the user experience workflow also allows a user to go from viewing the public activity stream at 204 to account creation at 220 or login at 216 (not shown).
Content engine 122 is configured to manage the content recipe handling of logic subsystem 118; for example, recipe adding and viewing and post adding and viewing for a user experience device.
Referring to
At 302, a user interfaces with a user experience device, such as user experience device 102a, to select an “Add” icon. For example, referring to
From the Add selection at 304, a user is presented with an interface to select an option for the type of content he would like to add. For example, referring to
At 306, a user is presented with an interface to enter recipe information metadata, such as the recipe title, category, description, preparation time, cooking time, nutritional information, and servings at 308. For example, referring to
At 310, a check of required fields is conducted and validated for the recipe information metadata. If the required fields validation check 310 fails, method 300 returns to the metadata entry screens of
At 312, if the required fields validation check 310 passes, method 300 receives a user selection indicating he has finished entering recipe information metadata. In
At 314, the user is presented with an interface to enter ingredients for the recipe. For example, referring to
At 316, the user is further presented with an interface to add a picture or photo of the ingredient. For example, referring to
At 318, the user is presented an interface to enter the recipe instruction steps. For example, referring to
At 320, the user is further presented with an interface to add a picture or photo of each of the recipe instruction steps. For example, referring to
At 322, method 300 receives a user selection indicating he has finished entering recipe ingredients and instructions steps. In
At 324, the user is presented a summary of the steps and any photos of the steps he has entered. For example, referring to
At 326, method 300 receives a user selection indicating he has finished reviewing the recipe summary. In
At 328, the user is presented publication options for the recipe he has just entered. For example, referring to
At 330, the user is presented a prompt indicating that the recipe has been successfully added to server 104. For example, referring to
Accordingly, content engine 122 can import the data received from the user and store the data in database 114. In an embodiment, a markup language can be utilized for recipe importing. For example, an enhanced XML template can be utilized to handle each user entry of the various ingredients and instruction steps. In embodiments, each ingredient and each direction step is stored as a separate XML element, which in turn is stored as a separate database entry. This contrasts with traditional solutions which typically have a single field for all ingredients and a single field for all direction steps. Accordingly, the recipe can be displayed to other users of the system at varying levels of granularity, in contrast to the coarse display of traditional solutions. Further, such refined fields can also be advantageous in database storage. Because of the smaller storage required for each field, a single recipe can be stored across multiple distributed components, wherein a single component individually may not be able to store the entire recipe, or if it would be advantageous (e.g. more efficient) to store portions of the recipe on a different component.
At 332, the user is presented with the completed recipe entry. For example, referring to
Accordingly, method 300 is tailored to the individual user experience device 102 and its functionality. For example, if the particular user experience device 102 does not allow photo storage or does not have a camera, no photo selection interface is presented, thereby streamlining the recipe entry process. Similarly, the graphical user interface is configured to dynamically relocate textual information of the underlying window to become automatically viewable to the user according to the particular user experience device. For example, referring to
In an embodiment, the user is presented data in an easily-viewed vertical scrolling format instead of a horizontal scrolling format. In embodiments, a user can select and toggle between horizontal and vertical scrolling. Accordingly, the graphical user interface must be structured to be limited to only the screen width of a user's particular device. Further, when adding a recipe, the user can resize a picture to fit the format of the user interface or content-specific field.
In one embodiment, all posts and recipes are presented as a single group without any subcategories. In such embodiments, the screen on a user device is formatted for vertical scrolling.
In embodiments, adding or editing a step can be by a user posting a picture or video with data entry by automated speech recognition and/or character recognition. For example, a handwritten recipe can be “read” by character recognition to convert the recipe to digital recipe data.
Referring to
At 402, referring again to
At 404, referring again to
At 406, a user is presented with an interface to enter a post title. For example, referring to
At 408, the post title is validated by content engine 122. If the post title is not allowed based on a set of predetermined criteria (e.g. length, appropriateness, descriptiveness), an error is displayed at 410 and method 400 returns to 406.
At 412, a content interface for the post titled at 406 is presented to the user. For example, referring to
At 414, the post content data is validated by content engine 122. If the post content is not allowed based on a set of predetermined criteria (e.g. length, appropriateness, descriptiveness), an error is displayed at 416 and method 400 returns to 412.
At 418, the user is presented publication options for the post he has just entered. For example, referring to
At 420, the user is presented a prompt indicating that the post has been successfully added to server 104. For example, referring to
At 422, the user is presented with the saved post. For example, referring to
When viewing or publishing a recipe or post, a user can direct the recipe or post at another user for pushing to that user (such as via the user's personalized activity stream). In embodiments, a user can delete his previous posts, as well. In an embodiment, when a user edits a recipe or post, he is presented the option to re-share or re-push that data so other users can be re-notified that something in the recipe or post has been updated.
In embodiments, a user can accumulate points or status indication markers to reflect the level of activity of the user. In an embodiment, a user can receive special gifts or additional functionality for reaching specific milestones.
Referring to
At 502, a user is presented with an interface to navigate to his personalized recipe box. For example, referring to
At 504, once the user has accessed the recipe box interface, he is presented with an interactive interface of all of his saved recipes. For example, referring to
At 506, a user can similarly be presented with recipe options to view. Instead of viewing via the recipe box, a user can be presented a personalized interface. For example, referring to
At 508, from either 504 or 506, a user can view recipe details after having selected a particular recipe. For example, referring to
A number of recipe details or options can then be presented to the user via the graphical user interface. At 510, the user is presented with recipe detail selection options. For example, referring to
At 512, the user is presented with recipe comments. For example, referring to
At 514, the user is presented other options, including the ability to add the recipe to his favorites. For example, referring to
At 516, if the recipe has been published by another user, the user can choose to add the recipe to his personalized recipe box. For example, referring to
At 518, the user is presented with external publishing options. For example, referring to
In certain embodiments, entire recipe boxes can be personalized for users other than the accessing user. For example, a user might create a recipe box existing entirely of “User A's Grandma's Recipes” that he can keep private or share with other users. This manner of partitioning allows users to memorialize certain collections of recipe objects. In other embodiments, recipes can be sorted by the source data of the recipe. For example if two recipes came from “User A's Grandma's Recipes” but were aggregated with other recipes collected by User B, the user can filter User A's Grandma's Recipes out by searching as described herein.
In an embodiment, once a recipe is selected, all of the ingredients (and amounts) for that recipe can be exported to a shopping list object, which can be saved centrally or locally, or sent to a user later access, such as by email or text message. A shopping list object data can be available offline from the social networking system. A shopping list object can further be edited, added to, or deleted prior to or after sending to a user.
In embodiments, administrative users can have publishing content permissions that is managed by content engine 122. For example, an administrative user can change the number and particular types of content that appears on users' landing pages or personalized activity streams. In another example, an administrative user can change the order in which public content appears on users' landing pages to ensure the content is relevant to particular users. In another example, an administrative user can add content to the users' landing pages.
Referring again to
At 602, a user interfaces with a user experience device, such as user experience device 102a, to select a “Circles” icon. For example, referring to
At 604, the user is presented a “My Circles” interface. Referring to
At 606, the user is presented a drop down menu interface with the option to form a new circle. Referring to
At 608, the user is presented an interface to name the circle. Referring to
At 610, the user is presented an interface to add friends to the circle. Referring to
In embodiments, the user can also add another circle to have a “circle within a circle” for efficient distribution of content. For example, in an embodiment where Circle A includes Circle B, all content shared to Circle A is sent also to Circle B. However, content shared with Circle B is not sent to Circle A.
At 612, a confirmation prompt that the circle has been successfully created is presented to the user. Referring to
At 614, system 100 sends a notification to each user advising the user of their addition to the circle. In an embodiment, the notification can comprise an email message comprising a link to begin the download and registration process. In an embodiment, the notification can comprise a system-level synchronous or asynchronous message.
At 616, each user invited to the circle is presented the opportunity to review the circle. For example, the user can be presented with the inviting user, as well as all users who have been invited to the circle.
At 618, if an invited user declines the circle invitation, the inviting user is notified of the decline indication at 620.
If at least one user accepts, at 622, a circle is created with the accepting users. Once the new circle has been generated, and for each user friend who has accepted, a circle object is stored in database 114 with links to each user who has accepted contained within the circle object. In another embodiment, links are generated at each user entry in the database pointing to the circle group. In an embodiment, user-level ad-hoc grouping is made by linking a unique user ID, network ID, or computer hardware ID where appropriate to the unique circle identifier. Accordingly, the circle can view all recipes and posts that are shared with the circle. And further, users outside the circle are unable to view the recipes and posts shared with the circle.
In an embodiment, the logic of which users are in which circle and what content is shared within the circle is stored in, for example, central database 114 until circle modifications or shared content is modified by a circle member. Then, in embodiments, the circle data can be transitioned to user experience device 102 storage and freed from central database 114. In an embodiment, communication data by “friends” is likewise stored temporarily in the central database 114 until the communication data can be pushed to user experience device 102 storage and freed from central database 114.
Once a user's community has been populated, friends, notifications, and messages are pushed to the user. Referring to
Data permanence solutions are further provided in the circle context. For example, once a circle is established and a recipe is shared, a single instance of that recipe exists on the social networking system. Comments by any of the users within the circle about the shared recipe are linked with that single instance of the recipe and can be viewed by the users of the circle. In an embodiment, the moment the recipe data is modified or saved to a user's recipe box, a second instance of the recipe is created and linked to that modifying or saving user. Modifications or comments on the second instance are linked only with that second instance and not the first instance. For example, the saving user might delete an ingredient and save the recipe. The data field for that deleted ingredient is modified for only the second instance.
In embodiments, until the saving user shares the second instance, the second instance of the recipe is private to the saving user and inaccessible to any other users of the circle. Comments on the first instance can be imported with the second instance, but any further comments on the first instance are not transferred to the second instance after instantiation of the second instance. Accordingly, if the first instance is modified in some way (editing, deleting, etc.), the second instance remains unchanged, existing in memory as of the time the second user saved it. Content instances are therefore selectively instantiated based on user interaction with the system.
In embodiments, unique security data permanence solutions are provided at both the user layer and content layer. For example, at original log-on by a user, security exists at the user level. A user is granted access to the system by entering user-level credentials. However, once a user begins sharing recipes, security is further implemented at the data content layer. Every user-shared recipe or saved recipe has its own permissions at the content layer level. System embodiments therefore manage user-layer security and content-layer security. User and content-layer security differ in that user-level control is managed by application access controls. Content-level control, while governed by the overarching application, is controlled by the end user. Logic implemented by, for example, logic subsystem 118 can implement content-level controls by having permissions attached to each content object.
In an embodiment, user posts and clipped recipes are treated the same as recipe objects and can be private, shared to circle connections, or public. Thus, content-level control is affected by the social networking system.
Referring again to
At 702, referring again to
From the Add selection at 304, the user can select recipe clipping at 704. For example, referring to
At 706, a user is presented with at least three options for clipping a recipe. For example, a user can enter a URL via a keyboard or virtual input, copy a URL from a web browser, or browse the Internet within the system to locate a recipe to clip. All three options utilize the same XML import of the recipe data on the server side. Further, once imported, the user can edit the recipe and change any fields to personalize the recipe.
In an embodiment, a mini-browser is presented to the user. For example, referring to
At 708, a user is presented the website for the address he has entered. Referring to
At 710 the recipe is imported into the system. In embodiments, various third party sites structure recipe data differently. Embodiments described herein account for the variations in formatting. First, a check is made to determine if the third party site uses one of the known XML standards by associating the XML schema to one of the known schemas. If the third party site does use a standardized format, the XML is imported by the recipe clipping engine. If the third party site does not use a standardized format, the recipe clipping engine utilizes a database of expected data to parse through the website. In one embodiment, the recipe clipping engine reads a first item and assigns it to a known data field in the social networking system based on the first item's contents and the database of expected data. The recipe clipping engine then parses a second item and assigns it to a known data field in the social networking system, and so on, until all data items have been assigned. If an unexpected or unknown data item is encountered, an algorithm determines a “best guess” at the type of data based on the contents and its closeness to the items in the database of expected data.
Referring to
At 712, the user is presented a confirmation that the recipe was successfully imported. For example, referring to
At 714, the user is returned to a system homepage, such as their personalized recipe box. For example, referring to
In another embodiment, a clipping engine can be integrated to a third party web browser. For example, referring to
Clipping engine 800 can appear as an interactive icon within web browser 802 while a user navigates third party websites on the Internet. When the user finds a recipe he wishes to import into the system, such as social networking system 100, he can select the interactive icon representing clipping engine 800. Once selected, clipping engine 800 can present a clip recipe 804 icon, as well as other options icon 806.
The user can select clip recipe 804 icon to utilize the same XML import of recipe data on server 104 as described above with respect to clipping engine 126. Options icon 806 provides selection, import preferences, and other suitable options related to recipe clipping to the user.
In another embodiment, in contrast to embodiments described above wherein a user selects recipe data to clip, recipe data can be clipped and pushed to a user or components of the system accessible to the user. For example, clipping engine 126 can further provide an application programming layer interface (API) for third party sites to push content to social networking system 100.
In an embodiment, the API provided by clipping engine 126 facilitates communications with, for example, server 104. Third party content providers can utilize the API to transfer recipe data to server 104 at the third party content provider's discretion. In another embodiment, a third party content provider can provide a button to “Push Content to MyPlate,” which when selected via logic at the third party website, engages the API to transfer recipe data to server 104.
In embodiments, a plurality of distributed service components provide several user interfaces having various functionality to an experience client. Referring to
All users are presented a home interface by home component 900. Home interface provides search functionality that result in recipe details to view, and content to view such as “today's recipe,” featured collections, and recent posts.
In an embodiment, authorized users are presented a contribution interface by contribute component 902. In an embodiment, an authorized user can be presented contribution interfaces such as recipes, texts, images, or links to add content to the system.
In an embodiment, a recipe interface allows users to enter title, background image, recipe description, recipe ingredients, and steps. Recipe data can further be entered by copying a link, typing the steps, entering picture steps, or entering video steps, including by verbal dictation and speech recognition. In picture and video embodiments, a user is provided an interface by contribute component 902 to access camera hardware to take a picture or video, upload a picture or video, or caption a picture or video.
In an embodiment, a text interface allows a user to enter a recipe title, post an image, and add a recipe description. In an embodiment, an image interface allows a user to take a picture or video, upload a picture or video, or caption a picture or video. In an embodiment, a link interface allows a user to copy a recipe link. In embodiments, the social networking system provides a library of default pictures for recipes and content. For recipes, a library can include a unique picture for each recipe type (e.g. appetizer, breakfast, bakery, etc.).
Referring to
As described herein, a user can add a new circle from existing friends, search for new friends, and start a chat. Interacting with friends can include viewing a friends list, viewing groups of friends, and viewing friends' profile pages (each having posts, their public recipe box, liked recipes, and following/follower notations). A user can further update group settings including the group name, members, user name, mute notification, clear history options, and delete/leave settings. A notification interface can provide list notifications from the various friends and group interactions. A comments box can further be provided. In embodiments, messaging can include a message list interface, message content, and add or start chatting functions. A search interface can provide keyword searching for friends, comments, chats, etc.
Authorized users are further presented a personalized interface by personal component 906. In an embodiment, personalized component 906 allows an authorized user to view posts, view his personalized recipe box, view liked recipes, follow users and receive notifications of following users, and add configuration data such as head photo and settings.
For example, posts, recipe box recipes, and liked recipes can be posted to a particular group or subgroup, or sent to a chat. Particular users or groups of users can be selected. A user can interact as a follower user or have following users. In an embodiment, a user can “report” other users to administrator users of the system for inappropriate use. In embodiments, a user can “block” one or more users to hide any of those users' content, messages, or notifications. In further embodiments, a user can send a message to one or more users, or a circle comprising a plurality of users.
Settings functionality allows for user adjustment of his photos, as well system settings adjustment including email ID, display name, profile image, about, hometown, password, privacy, location services, and logout data. In embodiments, a user who has not uploaded a profile image is identified by his initials or default picture instead of the user's actual profile image. In embodiments, a user can utilize a user experience device to edit his photos or profile image, including replacement, cropping, rotating, and zooming in and out. In an embodiment, data content is location-specific and the user can change his location to receive location-based specialized content. In an embodiment, a user can set notification preferences (type of content) to be notified about, as well as profile preferences (what parts of the profile other users can see).
Referring to
Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.
Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.
Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.
Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.
For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/818,200 filed Nov. 20, 2017 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,012,402 on May 18, 2021, which is fully incorporated by reference herein.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15818200 | Nov 2017 | US |
| Child | 17322026 | US |
