Private messaging via content provider web sites and applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9658750-B2
Application number	US-201314132797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2013
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

A device provides content for display to a first user device associated with a user, and provides for display, to the first user device, an option to share the content. The device receives a selection of the option from the first user device, and causes a list of contacts, associated with the user, to be presented for display, on the first user device, based on the selection of the option. The device receives, from the first user device, a selection of a contact from the list of contacts, and receives, from the first user device, a message from the user for the selected contact. The device provides for display the message with the content, to the first user device and to a second user device, associated with the selected contact. The message is privately provided to only the first user device and the second user device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
providing, by a device, content for display to a first user device associated with a user,
the user being a subscriber of the content;

providing for display, by the device and to the first user device, an option to share the content;
receiving, by the device, a selection of the option from the first user device;
causing, by the device and on the first user device, a list of contacts, associated with the user, to be presented for display based on the selection of the option;
receiving, by the device and from the first user device, a selection of a contact, as a selected contact, from the list of contacts;
receiving, by the device and from the first user device, a private message from the user for the selected contact;
providing, by the device and to a second user device, a version of an address of the content and information identifying the second user device,
the selected contact being associated with the second user device, and
the selected contact not being a subscriber of the content;

providing, for display, by the device and to the first user device and the second user device, a private version of the content,
the private version of the content including the private message,
the private version of the content being privately viewable only by the first user device and the second user device, and
the private version of the content expiring after a particular amount of time;

receiving, by the device and from the second user device, a response to the private message regarding the content,
the response to the private message being for the user; and

providing for display, by the device and to the first user device and to the second user device, the response to the private message,
the response to the private message being included in the private version of the content.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the first user device and the second user device, a conversation between the user and the selected contact; and
providing for display the conversation, with the content, to the first user device and the second user device,
the conversation being included in the private version of the content.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
storing the conversation between the user and the selected contact.

4. The method of claim 1 , where, prior to providing the content for display to the first user device, the method further comprises:
providing a request for a messaging code to a server device,
the messaging code enabling the device to provide, for display, a private conversation between the user and the selected contact, with the content;

receiving the messaging code from the server device based on the request;
providing, to the server device, information identifying preferences for the messaging code;
receiving, from the server device, configuration information for the messaging code based on the information identifying the preferences; and
configuring the messaging code based on the configuration information.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing, to a server device, a device identifier associated with the first user device; and
receiving, from the server device and based on the device identifier, information identifying the user and the list of contacts of the user.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the private message and information identifying the content to a message server device,
the message server device providing the private message and the information identifying the content to the second user device in a particular format associated with the selected contact.

7. The method of claim 1 , where providing for display, by the device and to the first user device and to the second user device, the private version of the content comprises:
at least one of:
providing for display, by the device and to the first user device and to the second user device, the private message at a beginning of the private version of the content,
providing for display, by the device and to the first user device and to the second user device, the private message at an end of the private version of the content, or
providing for display, by the device and to the first user device and to the second user device, the private message within a scrolled portion of the private version of the content.

8. A device, comprising:
one or more processors to:
provide content for display to a first user device associated with a user,
the user being a subscriber to the content,

provide for display, to the first user device, an option to share the content,
receive a selection of the option from the first user device,
cause a list of contacts, associated with the user, to be presented for display, on the first user device, based on the selection of the option,
receive, from the first user device, a selection of a contact, as a selected contact, from the list of contacts,
receive, from the first user device, a private message from the user for the selected contact,
provide, to a second user device, a version of an address of the content and information identifying the second user device,
the selected contact being associated with the second user device, and
the selected contact not being a subscriber to the content,

provide, for display, to the first user device and to the second user device, a private version of the content,
the private version of the content including the private message,
the private version of the content being privately viewable only by the first user device and the second user device, and
the private version of the content expiring after a particular amount of time;

receive, from the second user device, a response to the private message regarding the content,
the response to the private message being for the user; and

provide, for display to the first user device and to the second user device, the response to the private message,
the response to the private message being included in the private version of the content.

9. The device of claim 8 , where the one or more processors are further to:
receive, from the first user device and the second user device, a conversation between the user and the selected contact, and
provide for display the conversation, with the content, to the first user device and the second user device,
the conversation being included in the private version of the content.

10. The device of claim 9 , where the one or more processors are further to:
store the conversation between the user and the selected contact, and
utilize the stored conversation to modify the content provided by the device.

11. The device of claim 8 , where, prior to providing the content for display to the first user device, the one or more processors are further to:
provide a request for a messaging code to a server device,
the messaging code enabling the device to provide, for display, a private

conversation between the user and the selected contact, with the content,
receive the messaging code from the server device based on the request,
provide, to the server device, information identifying preferences for the messaging code,
receive, from the server device, configuration information for the messaging code based on the information identifying the preferences, and
configure the messaging code based on the configuration information.

12. The device of claim 8 , where the one or more processors are further to:
provide, to a server device, a device identifier associated with the first user device, and
receive, from the server device and based on the device identifi

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Sharma Manish
• Flores Kevin
• Blong Devin
• Chaudhary Tushar
• Yadav Annu

Classifications

• G06F3/0481 Primary

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• H04L12/58

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G06F3/0484 Primary

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• H04L12/1813

  for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms (instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15) · CPC title

• H04L51/08

  Annexed information, e.g. attachments · CPC title