Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130021658 | Compact See-Through Display System - An optical system includes a display panel, an image former, a viewing window, a proximal beam splitter, and a distal beam splitter. The display panel is configured to generate a light pattern. The image former is configured to form a virtual image from the light pattern generated by the display panel. The viewing window is configured to allow outside light in from outside of the optical system. The virtual image and the outside light are viewable along a viewing axis extending through the proximal beam splitter. The distal beam splitter is optically coupled to the display panel and the proximal beam splitter and has a beam-splitting interface in a plane that is parallel to the viewing axis. A camera may also be optically coupled to the distal beam splitter so as to be able to receive a portion of the outside light that is viewable along the viewing axis. | 01-24-2013 |
20130063486 | Optical Display System and Method with Virtual Image Contrast Control - A method includes generating a light pattern using a display panel and forming a virtual image from the light pattern utilizing one or more optical components. The virtual image is viewable from a viewing location. The method also includes receiving external light from a real-world environment incident on an optical sensor. The real-world environment is viewable from the viewing location. Further, the method includes obtaining an image of the real-world environment from the received external light, identifying a background feature in the image of the real-world environment over which the virtual image is overlaid, and extracting one or more visual characteristics of the background feature. Additionally, the method includes comparing the one or more visual characteristics to an upper threshold value and a lower threshold value and controlling the generation of the light pattern based on the comparison. | 03-14-2013 |
20130069985 | Wearable Computer with Superimposed Controls and Instructions for External Device - A wearable computing device includes a head-mounted display (HMD) that provides a field of view in which at least a portion of the environment of the wearable computing device is viewable. The HMD is operable to display images superimposed over the field of view. When the wearable computing device determines that a target device is within its environment, the wearable computing device obtains target device information related to the target device. The target device information may include information that defines a virtual control interface for controlling the target device and an identification of a defined area of the target device on which the virtual control image is to be provided. The wearable computing device controls the HMD to display the virtual control image as an image superimposed over the defined area of the target device in the field of view. | 03-21-2013 |
20130088413 | Method to Autofocus on Near-Eye Display - An optical system has an aperture through which virtual and real-world images are viewable along a viewing axis. The optical system may be incorporated into a head-mounted display (HMD). By modulating the length of the optical path along an optical axis within the optical system, the virtual image may appear to be at different distances away from the HMD wearer. The wearable computer of the HMD may be used to control the length of the optical path. The length of the optical path may be modulated using, for example, a piezoelectric actuator or stepper motor. By determining the distance to an object with respect to the HMD using a range-finder or autofocus camera, the virtual images may be controlled to appear at various distances and locations in relation to the target object and/or HMD wearer. | 04-11-2013 |
20130124204 | Displaying Sound Indications On A Wearable Computing System - Example methods and systems for displaying one or more indications that indicate (i) the direction of a source of sound and (ii) the intensity level of the sound are disclosed. A method may involve receiving audio data corresponding to sound detected by a wearable computing system. Further, the method may involve analyzing the audio data to determine both (i) a direction from the wearable computing system of a source of the sound and (ii) an intensity level of the sound. Still further, the method may involve causing the wearable computing system to display one or more indications that indicate (i) the direction of the source of the sound and (ii) the intensity level of the sound. | 05-16-2013 |
20130135204 | Unlocking a Screen Using Eye Tracking Information - Methods and systems for unlocking a screen using eye tracking information are described. A computing system may include a display screen. The computing system may be in a locked mode of operation after a period of inactivity by a user. Locked mode of operation may include a locked screen and reduced functionality of the computing system. The user may attempt to unlock the screen. The computing system may generate a display of a moving object on the display screen of the computing system. An eye tracking system may be coupled to the computing system. The eye tracking system may track eye movement of the user. The computing system may determine that a path associated with the eye movement of the user substantially matches a path associated with the moving object on the display and switch to be in an unlocked mode of operation including unlocking the screen. | 05-30-2013 |
20130249849 | Don and Doff Sensing Using Capacitive Sensors - Methods and devices for determining whether a head-mountable computing device is donned or doffed are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes receiving from at least one capacitive sensor data indicating a rate of change of capacitance, making a comparison of the rate of change of capacitance to a threshold rate of change of capacitance and, based on the comparison, determining whether the head-mountable computing device is donned or doffed. The method further includes, if the head-mountable computing device is donned, causing the head-mountable computing device to operate in a first state, and if the head-mountable computing device is doffed, causing the head-mountable computing device to operate in a second state, where the head-mountable computing device consumes less power in the second state than in the first state. | 09-26-2013 |
20130279705 | Displaying Sound Indications On A Wearable Computing System - Example methods and systems for displaying one or more indications that indicate (i) the direction of a source of sound and (ii) the intensity level of the sound are disclosed. A method may involve receiving audio data corresponding to sound detected by a wearable computing system. Further, the method may involve analyzing the audio data to determine both (i) a direction from the wearable computing system of a source of the sound and (ii) an intensity level of the sound. Still further, the method may involve causing the wearable computing system to display one or more indications that indicate (i) the direction of the source of the sound and (ii) the intensity level of the sound. | 10-24-2013 |
20130300652 | Unlocking a Screen Using Eye Tracking Information - Methods and systems for unlocking a screen using eye tracking information are described. A computing system may include a display screen. The computing system may be in a locked mode of operation after a period of inactivity by a user. Locked mode of operation may include a locked screen and reduced functionality of the computing system. The user may attempt to unlock the screen. The computing system may generate a display of a moving object on the display screen of the computing system. An eye tracking system may be coupled to the computing system. The eye tracking system may track eye movement of the user. The computing system may determine that a path associated with the eye movement of the user substantially matches a path associated with the moving object on the display and switch to be in an unlocked mode of operation including unlocking the screen. | 11-14-2013 |
20130314759 | Compact See-Through Display System - An optical system includes a display panel, an image former, a viewing window, a proximal beam splitter, and a distal beam splitter. The display panel is configured to generate a light pattern. The image former is configured to form a virtual image from the light pattern generated by the display panel. The viewing window is configured to allow outside light in from outside of the optical system. The virtual image and the outside light are viewable along a viewing axis extending through the proximal beam splitter. The distal beam splitter is optically coupled to the display panel and the proximal beam splitter and has a beam-splitting interface in a plane that is parallel to the viewing axis. A camera may also be optically coupled to the distal beam splitter so as to be able to receive a portion of the outside light that is viewable along the viewing axis. | 11-28-2013 |
20130335301 | Wearable Computer with Nearby Object Response - Exemplary methods and systems relate to detecting physical objects near a substantially transparent head-mounted display (HMD) system and activating a collision-avoidance action to alert a user of the detected objects. Detection techniques may include receiving data from distance and/or relative movement sensors and using this data as a basis for determining an appropriate collision-avoidance action. Exemplary collision-avoidance actions may include de-emphasizing virtual objects displayed on the HMD to provide a less cluttered view of the physical objects through the substantially transparent display and/or presenting new virtual objects. | 12-19-2013 |
20150084864 | Input Method - Methods and systems for authenticating a user using eye tracking information are described. A wearable computing system may include a head mounted display (HMD). The wearable computing system may be operable to be in a locked mode of operation after a period of inactivity by a user. Locked mode of operation may include a locked screen and reduced functionality of the wearable computing system. The user may be authenticated to be able to use the wearable computing system after the period of inactivity. The wearable computing system may generate a display of a random content on the HMD including a content personalized to the user. The wearable computing system may receive information associated with a gaze location of an eye of the user and determine that the gaze location substantially matches a predetermined location of the content personalized to the user on the HMD and authenticate the user. | 03-26-2015 |
20150102984 | Wearable Computer with Superimposed Controls and Instructions for External Device - A wearable computing device includes a head-mounted display (HMD) that provides a field of view in which at least a portion of the environment of the wearable computing device is viewable. The HMD is operable to display images superimposed over the field of view. When the wearable computing device determines that a target device is within its environment, the wearable computing device obtains target device information related to the target device. The target device information may include information that defines a virtual control interface for controlling the target device and an identification of a defined area of the target device on which the virtual control image is to be provided. The wearable computing device controls the HMD to display the virtual control image as an image superimposed over the defined area of the target device in the field of view. | 04-16-2015 |
20150146301 | LIGHTING ADJUSTMENT FOR HEAD MOUNTED DISPLAY - An apparatus includes a light source, a display array, a light relay, a photodetector, and control circuitry. The light source is for providing lamp light during an ON-time of the light source. The display array is positioned to receive and selectively manipulate the lamp light. The light relay is positioned to receive the image light from the display array. Control circuitry is coupled to the light source for adjusting the light source and coupled to receive an output of the photodetector. | 05-28-2015 |
20150153572 | Adjustment of Location of Superimposed Image - An optical system has an aperture through which virtual and real-world images are viewable along a viewing axis. The optical system may be incorporated into a head-mounted display (HMD). By modulating the length of the optical path along an optical axis within the optical system, the virtual image may appear to be at different distances away from the HMD wearer. The wearable computer of the HMD may be used to control the length of the optical path. The length of the optical path may be modulated using, for example, a piezoelectric actuator or stepper motor. By determining the distance to an object with respect to the HMD using a range-finder or autofocus camera, the virtual images may be controlled to appear at various distances and locations in relation to the target object and/or HMD wearer. | 06-04-2015 |
20150177518 | Methods and Devices for Rendering Interactions Between Virtual and Physical Objects on a Substantially Transparent Display - Disclosed are methods and devices for rendering interactions between virtual and physical objects on a substantially transparent display are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes displaying a user-interface on a substantially transparent display of a wearable computing device. The method further includes displaying a virtual object in the view region at a focal length along a first line of sight and detecting a physical object at a physical distance along a second line of sight. The method still further includes determining that a relationship between the focal length and the physical distance is such that the virtual object and the physical object appear substantially co-located in a user-view through the view region and, responsive to the determination, initiating a collision action between the virtual object and the physical object. | 06-25-2015 |
20150177864 | Virtual Shade - Methods and systems disclosed herein relate to a shading function or device for use with a head-mountable device. An example method could include determining, from a touch-sensitive surface of the head-mountable device, a swipe interaction. The head-mountable device could include at least one optical element. The at least one optical element could be configured to transmit outside light from an environment of the head-mountable device. The method could further include causing at least one property of the at least one portion of the at least one optical element to be controlled based on the swipe interaction. The at least one property could include a transmittance of the at least one optical element. In one implementation, the optical element could be mounted a substantially distal surface of a see-through display. | 06-25-2015 |
20150194132 | Determining a Rotation of Media Displayed on a Display Device by a Wearable Computing Device - The present disclosure describes example systems and methods for determining a rotation of a display orientation of media displayed on a display device by a wearable computing device. The systems and methods may be directed to identifying an orientation of a display device based on information corresponding to a field of view of a camera of the wearable computing device and identifying a reference orientation. The rotation of the display orientation of the media may be based on a comparison of the orientation of the display device with the reference orientation. The rotation may align an axis of the display orientation with an axis of the reference orientation. | 07-09-2015 |
20150277119 | WEARABLE COMPUTER WITH NEARBY OBJECT RESPONSE - Exemplary methods and systems relate to detecting physical objects near a substantially transparent head-mounted display (HMD) system and activating a collision-avoidance action to alert a user of the detected objects. Detection techniques may include receiving data from distance and/or relative movement sensors and using this data as a basis for determining an appropriate collision-avoidance action. Exemplary collision-avoidance actions may include de-emphasizing virtual objects displayed on the HMD to provide a less cluttered view of the physical objects through the substantially transparent display and/or presenting new virtual objects. | 10-01-2015 |
20150316766 | Enhancing Readability on Head-Mounted Display - An embodiment takes the form of a computer-implemented method comprising causing a field-sequential color display of a wearable computing device to initially operate in a first color space; and based at least in part on data from one or more sensors of the wearable computing device, detecting movement of the wearable computing device that is characteristic of color breakup perception. The method further comprises, in response to detecting the movement that is characteristic of color breakup perception, causing the field-sequential color display to operate in a second color space. | 11-05-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120254767 | Manipulation of Device Content by a Network-Based Application - A method of modifying, with a network-based application, a content item on a device is provided. The method may include receiving over a network, at a server, information describing the content item from the device. Next, information describing the content item is sent to a client computer and, at the client computer, the content item is presented to a user with the network-based application by displaying a graphical depiction of the device, the graphical depiction showing the content item as it would appear on a display of the device. A request is then received for a modification of the content item from the user using the network-based application. Finally, the request for the modification is sent to the device over the network. | 10-04-2012 |
20130046820 | Manipulaton of an Inventory of Content Items on a Mobile Device by a Network-Based Application - A method of modifying, with a network-based application, an inventory of one or more content items on a mobile device is provided. The method may include receiving, over a network at a client computer, from the server, the inventory on the mobile device. Next, a graphical depiction of the mobile device is presented on the client computer, the graphical depiction showing the inventory as the inventory would appear on a display of the mobile device. A request for a modification of the inventory is received by the client computer, and the request is sent to the mobile device over the network via the server. | 02-21-2013 |
20130046868 | Manipulation of a Mobile Device Setting Using a Network-Based Application - A method of modifying, with a network-based application, a device setting of a mobile device is provided. The method may include receiving, over a network at a client computer, from a server, the device setting of the mobile device. The device setting may include a screen color, wireless connection information, a screen wallpaper, and a ringtone. A graphical depiction of the mobile device is presented at the client computer, a portion of the graphical depiction showing the device setting such that the device setting appears the device setting would appear on a display of the mobile device. A request for a modification of the device setting is received by the client computer. Finally, the request for the modification is sent to the mobile device over the network via the server. | 02-21-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110087155 | TRANSMUCOSAL DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD INCLUDING ELECTRICALLY-ACTUATED PERMEATION ENHANCEMENT - Intralumenal devices and methods are provided for transmucosal drug delivery. The device may comprise a housing configured for intralumenal deployment into a human or animal subject; a drug-dispensing portion which contains at least one drug; and an electrically-actuatable portion configured to disrupt at least one region of a mucosal barrier adjacent to the housing at a selected time while intralumenally deployed in the human or animal subject. The device may be operable to dispense the drug from the housing to a region of the mucosal barrier disrupted by the electrically-actuatable portion. | 04-14-2011 |
20140276392 | INPUT DEVICE FOR ROBOTIC CATHETER AND GUIDE WIRE SYSTEM - An input device for a robotic catheter system includes an inner member having a generally cylindrical shape and defining an axis, and an outer member coaxially disposed on the inner member and configured to rotate about and move along the axis defined by the inner member to control a position and orientation of at least one of a catheter and a guide wire. Rotating the outer member about the axis causes the catheter, the guide wire, or both, to rotate and wherein moving the outer member along the axis causes the catheter, the guide wire, or both, to advance or retract relative to a patient's body. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276394 | INPUT DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A CATHETER - An input device includes a plurality of orientation blocks each representing a portion of a catheter assembly and a controller configured to determine an orientation of the plurality of orientation blocks relative to one another. The controller is further configured to output a control signal that causes a tip of a catheter assembly to adopt the orientation determined by the controller. A system includes an actuator configured to manipulate a position and orientation of the catheter assembly. The controller of the input device is configured to output a control signal to the actuator to make a tip of a catheter assembly adopt the orientation determined by the controller. The input device can be virtually represented on a computing device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276646 | INTEGRATED CATHETER AND GUIDE WIRE CONTROLLER - A device may operate a guide wire and be operable by a single operator digit. The device may include an insertion control device for advancing the guide wire in a forward and in a reverse direction and along a longitudinal axis of the guide wire; and a rotary device for rolling a guide wire about the longitudinal axis. A robotic instrument driver may be operatively coupled to the device and configured to control axial movement of the guide wire along the longitudinal axis according to input received from the insertion control device and to control rotational movement of the guide wire according to input received from the rotary device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276937 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRACKING ROBOTICALLY CONTROLLED MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS - Systems and methods are described herein for tracking an elongate instrument or other medical instrument in an image. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140257334 | SLIDER CONTROL OF CATHETERS AND WIRES - One exemplary user interface for a medical robotics system may include a control panel and one or more sliders that may be slidably carried by the control panel to actuate one or more motors for moving a surgical instrument of the medical robotics system. The sliders may be configured to actuate the motors to move the surgical instrument along a respective one of a plurality of degrees of freedom. | 09-11-2014 |
20140264081 | REDUCING INCREMENTAL MEASUREMENT SENSOR ERROR - For position sensors, e.g., a fiber-based system, that build a shape of an elongated member such as a catheter using a sequence of small orientation measurements, a small error in orientation at the proximal end of the sensor will cause large error in position at distal points on the fiber. Exemplary methods and systems are disclosed which may provide full or partial registration along the length of the sensor to reduce the influence of the measurement error. Additional examples are directed to applying selective filtering at a proximal end of the elongated member to provide a more stable base for distal measurements and thereby reducing the influence of measurement errors. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276934 | TOUCH-FREE CATHETER USER INTERFACE CONTROLLER - A command interpreter may be in communication with a wireless controller. The command interpreter may be configured to identify a reference location of the wireless controller, identify a second location of the wireless controller, and determine, based on the reference location and the second location, a sequence of instrument commands configured to adjust positioning of the instrument device. | 09-18-2014 |
20150246204 | REDUCING INCREMENTAL MEASUREMENT SENSOR ERROR - For position sensors, e.g., a fiber-based system, that build a shape of an elongated member, such as a catheter, using a sequence of small orientation measurements, a small error in orientation at the proximal end of the sensor will cause large error in position at distal points on the fiber. Exemplary methods and systems are disclosed, which may provide full or partial registration along the length of the sensor to reduce the influence of the measurement error. Additional examples are directed to applying selective filtering at a proximal end of the elongated member to provide a more stable base for distal measurements and thereby reducing the influence of measurement errors. | 09-03-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090182589 | Communicating Information in a Social Networking Website About Activities from Another Domain - A social networking website logs information about actions taken by members of the website. For a particular member of the website, the website generates socially relevant ads for the member based on the actions logged for other members on the website to whom the member is connected (i.e., the member's online friends). The advertiser associated with the social ad may compensate the social networking website for publishing the ad on the website. When presenting a member with a social ad, the website may optimize advertising revenue by selecting an ad from the received ads that will maximize the expected value of the social ad. The expected value may be computed according to a function that includes the member's affinity for the ad content and the bid amount. The technique is also applied for providing socially relevant information off the social networking website. | 07-16-2009 |
20090198487 | Community Translation On A Social Network - Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for translating text in a social network. In one embodiment translations of text phrases are received from members of the social network. These text phrases include content displayed in a social networking system, such as content from social networking objects. A particular member is provided with content including a text phrase in a first language, and the member requests translation into another language. Responsive to this request, a translation of the text phrase is selected from a set of available translations. The selection is based on actions by friends of the member in the social network, the actions being associated with the set of available translations. These actions can the viewing of or approval of translations by the friends, for example. The selected translation is then presented to the member requesting the translation. | 08-06-2009 |
20100324990 | Targeting Advertisements in a Social Network - A social networking website logs information about actions taken by members of the website. For a particular member of the website, the website presents targeted ads based on actions by the member and one or more characteristics of the member. The social networking website maintains a profile associated with the member which describes characteristics of the member, such as age, geographic location, employment, educational history and interests. The social networking website compares the member profile to targeting criteria for a plurality of advertising requests and determines the advertising requests that match the member profile and generate the most revenue for the social networking website. When presenting a member with an ad, the website may optimize advertising revenue by selecting an ad from the received ads that will maximize the expected value of the ad. | 12-23-2010 |
20110029388 | Social Advertisements and Other Informational Messages on a Social Networking Website, and Advertising Model for Same - A social networking website logs information about actions taken by members of the website. For a particular member of the website, the website generates socially relevant ads for the member based on the actions logged for other members on the website to whom the member is connected (i.e., the member's online friends). The advertiser associated with the social ad may compensate the social networking website for publishing the ad on the website. When presenting a member with a social ad, the website may optimize advertising revenue by selecting an ad from the received ads that will maximize the expected value of the social ad. The expected value may be computed according to a function that includes the member's affinity for the ad content and the bid amount. The technique is also applied for providing socially relevant information off the social networking website. | 02-03-2011 |
20120095836 | Social Advertisements Based on Actions on an External System - A social networking system generates socially-relevant ads for a user based on actions taken by other users to whom the user is connected. These may be actions taken on, and determined by, an external system, information about which actions can be received by the social networking system and used for matching to an advertisement request. The social networking system may determine a social context for advertising to a user based on the action and may generate an advertisement for the matched ad request that includes an informational message communicating the social context (i.e., an ad with the information message appended to it, a news story for the informational message, etc.). The ad may be targeted to the user based on user affinity for the ad, based on an object interacted with or an action taken by the user's connections on or external to the social networking system, among other criteria. | 04-19-2012 |
20120101898 | PRESENTING PERSONALIZED SOCIAL CONTENT ON A WEB PAGE OF AN EXTERNAL SYSTEM - A social networking system generates socially-relevant stories for a user based on other users (e.g., based on actions taken by other users) to whom the user is connected. These socially-relevant stories, including news stories, social advertisements, etc., may be presented on a web page within a domain of an external system that is different from the domain of the social networking system. When a web page from an external system is requested for a viewing user, the social content about other users who are connected to the viewing user may be provided by the social networking system for that viewing user. This personalized social content may be presented in a frame (e.g., an iframe) of the external web page rendered and provided for display to the viewing user. | 04-26-2012 |
20120109757 | SPONSORED STORIES AND NEWS STORIES WITHIN A NEWSFEED OF A SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM - A social networking system generates socially-relevant stories for a user based on actions taken by other users to whom the user is connected. The social networking system may receive a request for a sponsored story for a viewing user and may select information about one or more actions performed by one or more users to whom the viewing user is connected to identify one of a plurality of candidate information for a sponsored story based on one or more criteria (e.g., affinity of the viewing user for the candidates, expected value for the candidates, etc.). The social networking system may also generate the sponsored story and generate a feed comprising the sponsored story and news stories (e.g., non-sponsored stories) about one or more users of the social networking system with whom the viewing user is connected. This feed may be provided for display to the viewing user. | 05-03-2012 |
20120203847 | Sponsored Stories and News Stories within a Newsfeed of a Social Networking System - A social networking system generates socially-relevant stories for a user based on actions taken by other users to whom the user is connected. The social networking system may receive a request for a sponsored story for a viewing user and may select information about one or more actions performed by one or more users to whom the viewing user is connected to identify one of a plurality of candidate information for a sponsored story based on one or more criteria (e.g., affinity of the viewing user for the candidates, expected value for the candidates, etc.). The social networking system may also generate the sponsored story and generate a feed comprising the sponsored story and news stories (e.g., non-sponsored stories) about one or more users of the social networking system with whom the viewing user is connected. This feed may be provided for display to the viewing user. | 08-09-2012 |
20120204096 | Presenting Personalized Social Content on a Web Page of an External System - A social networking system generates socially-relevant stories for a user based on other users (e.g., based on actions taken by other users) to whom the user is connected. These socially-relevant stories, including news stories, social advertisements, etc., may be presented on a web page within a domain of an external system that is different from the domain of the social networking system. When a web page from an external system is requested for a viewing user, the social content about other users who are connected to the viewing user may be provided by the social networking system for that viewing user. This personalized social content may be presented in a frame (e.g., an iframe) of the external web page rendered and provided for display to the viewing user. | 08-09-2012 |
20120310624 | Community Translation On A Social Network - Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for translating text in a social network. In one embodiment translations of text phrases are received from members of the social network. These text phrases include content displayed in a social networking system, such as content from social networking objects. A particular member is provided with content including a text phrase in a first language, and the member requests translation into another language. Responsive to this request, a translation of the text phrase is selected from a set of available translations. The selection is based on actions by friends of the member in the social network, the actions being associated with the set of available translations. These actions can the viewing of or approval of translations by the friends, for example. The selected translation is then presented to the member requesting the translation. | 12-06-2012 |
20130198008 | Social Advertisements And Other Informational Messages On A Social Networking Website, And Advertising Model For Same - A social networking website logs information about actions taken by members of the website. For a particular member of the website, the website generates socially relevant ads for the member based on the actions logged for other members on the website to whom the member is connected (i.e., the member's online friends). The advertiser associated with the social ad may compensate the social networking website for publishing the ad on the website. When presenting a member with a social ad, the website may optimize advertising revenue by selecting an ad from the received ads that will maximize the expected value of the social ad. The expected value may be computed according to a function that includes the member's affinity for the ad content and the bid amount. The technique is also applied for providing socially relevant information off the social networking website. | 08-01-2013 |
20130204954 | COMMUNICATING INFORMATION IN A SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITE ABOUT ACTIVITIES FROM ANOTHER DOMAIN - A social networking website logs information about actions taken by members of the website. For a particular member of the website, the website generates socially relevant ads for the member based on the actions logged for other members on the website to whom the member is connected (i.e., the member's online friends). The advertiser associated with the social ad may compensate the social networking website for publishing the ad on the website. When presenting a member with a social ad, the website may optimize advertising revenue by selecting an ad from the received ads that will maximize the expected value of the social ad. The expected value may be computed according to a function that includes the member's affinity for the ad content and the bid amount. The technique is also applied for providing socially relevant information off the social networking website. | 08-08-2013 |
20130289972 | Community Translation on a Social Network - Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for translating text in a social network. In one embodiment translations of text phrases are received from members of the social network. These text phrases include content displayed in a social networking system, such as content from social networking objects. A particular member is provided with content including a text phrase in a first language, and the member requests translation into another language. Responsive to this request, a translation of the text phrase is selected from a set of available translations. The selection is based on actions by friends of the member in the social network, the actions being associated with the set of available translations. These actions can the viewing of or approval of translations by the friends, for example. The selected translation is then presented to the member requesting the translation. | 10-31-2013 |