Advertising in Messaging Systems Based on User Interactions

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 computer-implemented method, comprising:
 sending, by a system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, to a first user of a plurality of users a target message selected from a plurality of messages based at least in part on a respective focus specification of the first user, the target message being authored by a second user; and   sending, by the system, to the first user an advertisement purchased by the second user in response to the first user performing at least one of the following:
 replying to the target message authored by the second user; 
 voting on the target message authored by the second user; 
 tracking the target message authored by the second user; or 
 clicking on a user-handle associated with the second user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , including:
 enabling the second user to purchase one or more advertisements.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 associating the one or more advertisements with an identity of the second user.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , including evaluating a respective focus specification of the second user to identify the advertisement from one or more advertisements purchased by the second user. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of messages are real-time messages. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of messages comprises message streams. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending to the second user target messages selected from the plurality of messages based at least in part on a respective focus specification of the second user, the target message being authored by the first user; and   sending to the second user a second advertisement purchased by the first user in response to the second user performing at least one of the following:
 replying to the target message authored by the first user; 
 voting on the target message authored by the first user; 
 tracking the target message authored by the first user; or 
 clicking on a user-handle associated with the first user. 
   
     
     
         8 . A computer 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:
 sending to a first user of a plurality of users a target message selected from a plurality of messages based at least in part on a respective focus specification of the first user, the target message being authored by a second user; and 
 sending to the first user an advertisement purchased by the second user in response to the first user performing at least one of the following:
 replying to the target message authored by the second user; 
 voting on the target message authored by the second user; 
 tracking the target message authored by the second user; or 
 clicking on a user-handle associated with the second user. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:
 evaluating a respective focus specification of the second user to identify the advertisement from one or more advertisements purchased by the second user.   
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:
 sending to the second user target messages selected from the plurality of messages based at least in part on a respective focus specification of the second user, the target message being authored by the first user; and   sending to the second user a second advertisement purchased by the first user in response to the second user performing at least one of the following:
 replying to the target message authored by the first user; 
 voting on the target message authored by the first user; 
 tracking the target message authored by the first user; or 
 clicking on a user-handle associated with the first user. 
   
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a computer system, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 sending to a first user of a plurality of users a target message selected from a plurality of messages based at least in part on a respective focus specification of the first user, the target message being authored by a second user; and   sending to the first user an advertisement purchased by the second user in response to the first user performing at least one of the following:
 replying to the target message authored by the second user; 
 voting on the target message authored by the second user; 
 tracking the target message authored by the second user; or 
 clicking on a user-handle associated with the second user. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable storage medium of  11 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:
 evaluating a respective focus specification of the second user to identify the advertisement from one or more advertisements purchased by the second user.   
     
     
         13 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:
 sending to the second user target messages selected from the plurality of messages based at least in part on a respective focus specification of the second user, the target message being authored by the first user; and   sending to the second user a second advertisement purchased by the first user in response to the second user performing at least one of the following:
 replying to the target message authored by the first user; 
 voting on the target message authored by the first user; 
 tracking the target message authored by the first user; or 
 clicking on a user-handle associated with the first user. 
   
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 sending, by a system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, to respective users in a plurality of users a target message selected from a plurality of messages based at least in part on respective focus specifications of the respective users, the target message being authored by a first user of the plurality of users; and   sending, by the system, an advertisement purchased by the first user to at least a subset of the plurality of users in accordance with a determination that:
 the target message authored by the first user meets first predefined popularity criteria; or 
 the first user meets second predefined popularity criteria. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first predefined popularity criteria includes a number of users tracking a thread that includes the target message authored by the first user. 
     
     
         16 . A computer 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:
 sending to respective users in a plurality of users a target message selected from a plurality of messages based at least in part on respective focus specifications of the respective users, the target message being authored by a first user of the plurality of users; and 
 sending an advertisement purchased by the first user to at least a subset of the plurality of users when:
 the target message authored by the first user meets first predefined popularity criteria; or 
 the first user meets second predefined popularity criteria. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the first predefined popularity criteria includes a number of users tracking a thread that includes the target message authored by the first user. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a computer system, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 sending to respective users in a plurality of users a target message selected from a plurality of messages based at least in part on respective focus specifications of the respective users, the target message being authored by a first user of the plurality of users; and   sending an advertisement purchased by the first user to at least a subset of the plurality of users when:
 the target message authored by the first user meets first predefined popularity criteria; or 
 the first user meets second predefined popularity criteria. 
   
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the first predefined popularity criteria includes a number of users tracking a thread that includes the target message authored by the first user.