Advertising Feedback in Messaging Systems

Abstract

A method, system and graphical user interface for a chat system is disclosed. One aspect of certain embodiments includes identifying and sending advertisements to respective users based on the respective selection and filtering criteria selected by the respective users.

1 . A chat system, comprising one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for displaying:
 a chat user interface to display messages and advertisements that are consistent with a focus specification of a respective user of a plurality of users; and   an advertisement feedback results user interface to indicate a number of click-throughs performed by the plurality of users on a link associated with an advertisement purchased by the respective user.   
     
     
         2 . The chat system of  claim 1 , wherein the messages displayed in the chat user interface include a set of messages selected from a plurality of real-time message streams based at least in part on the focus specification of the respective user. 
     
     
         3 . The chat system of  claim 1 , wherein the chat user interface includes a message display window to display to the respective user the advertisements interleaved amongst the displayed messages. 
     
     
         4 . The chat system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the chat user interface includes an advertisement display area to display the advertisements; and   the advertisement display area is distinct from a message display area in the message display window for displaying the messages.   
     
     
         5 . The chat system of  claim 1 , wherein the advertisements are displayed to the respective user with display characteristics that correspond to a topic of interest as specified in the focus specification. 
     
     
         6 . The chat system of  claim 1 , wherein the advertisements are displayed to the respective user with display characteristics that are also used to display a thread of messages that the respective user is tracking. 
     
     
         7 . A method, comprising:
 displaying, by a system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, a chat user interface to display messages and advertisements that are consistent with a focus specification of a respective user of a plurality of users; and   displaying, by the system, an advertisement feedback results user interface to indicate a number of click-throughs performed by the plurality of users on a link associated with an advertisement purchased by the respective user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the messages displayed in the chat user interface include a set of messages selected from a plurality of real-time message streams based at least in part on the focus specification of the respective user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the chat user interface includes a message display window to display, to the respective user, the advertisements interleaved amongst the displayed messages. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the chat user interface includes an advertisement display area to display the advertisements; and   the advertisement display area is distinct from a message display area in the message display window for displaying the messages.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the advertisements are displayed to the respective user with display characteristics that correspond to a topic of interest as specified in the focus specification. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the advertisements are displayed to the respective user with display characteristics that are also used to display a thread of messages that the respective user is tracking. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a system, the one or more programs including instructions for displaying:
 a chat user interface to display messages and advertisements that are consistent with a focus specification of a respective user of a plurality of users; and   an advertisement feedback results user interface to indicate a number of click-throughs performed by the plurality of users on a link associated with an advertisement purchased by the respective user.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the messages displayed in the chat user interface include a set of messages selected from a plurality of real-time message streams based at least in part on the focus specification of the respective user. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the chat user interface includes a message display window to display, to the respective user, the advertisements interleaved amongst the displayed messages. 
     
     
         16 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the chat user interface includes an advertisement display area to display the advertisements; and   the advertisement display area is distinct from a message display area in the message display window for displaying the messages.   
     
     
         17 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the advertisements are displayed to the respective user with display characteristics that correspond to a topic of interest as specified in the focus specification. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the advertisements are displayed to the respective user with display characteristics that are also used to display a thread of messages that the respective user is tracking. 
     
     
         19 . A graphical user interface displayed by a computer system that has one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the graphical user interface comprising:
 a chat user interface to display messages and advertisements that are consistent with a focus specification of a respective user of a plurality of users; and   an advertisement feedback results user interface to indicate a number of click-throughs performed by the plurality of users on a link associated with an advertisement purchased by the respective user,   wherein the chat user interface is updated in real-time to display messages and advertisements from real-time message streams that are consistent with the focus specification of the respective user of the plurality of users.   
     
     
         20 . The graphical user interface of  claim 19 , wherein the advertisement feedback results user interface is updated in real-time to display an updated number of click-throughs performed by the plurality of users on the link associated with the advertisement purchased by the respective user.