Social network notifications for external updates

Abstract

In embodiments, various technologies for notifying users of a social network service of updates to services external to the social network service by members of the social network are described. An indication that a member of a social network service made an update to an external service can be received. Then, at least one additional member associated with the member in the social network service can be notified of the update to the external service. The external service may include typical web services, such as a blogging service, a video sharing service, or a photo sharing service.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving an indication that a member of a social network service made an update to an external service; and   notifying at least one additional member associated with the member in the social network service of the update to the external service.   
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to register the external service with the social network service from the member prior to receiving the indication; and   registering the external service with the social network service.   
     
     
         3 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 requesting summary information associated with the update from the external service responsive to receiving the indication;   receiving the summary information associated with the update from the external service; and   wherein notifying the at least one additional member comprises providing the summary information to the at least one additional member for viewing in a user interface associated with the social network service.   
     
     
         4 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the external service comprises a blogging service, and wherein the indication indicates that the member has posted a new blog post to the blogging service. 
     
     
         5 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the external service comprises a photo sharing service, and wherein the indication indicates that the member has uploaded one or more new photos to the photo sharing service. 
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the external service comprises a video sharing service, and wherein the indication indicates that the member has uploaded one or more new videos to the video sharing service. 
     
     
         7 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein notifying the at least one additional member comprises storing a notification for the at least one additional member at the social network service. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the notification includes an identifier of the member, an identifier of the external service, and a timestamp indicating a time of the update to the external service. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 displaying a user interface for a social network service when a first member logs on to the social network service; and   displaying an external service icon proximate an indicator of a second member in the user interface, the external service icon indicating that the second member has made an update to the external service.   
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the external service icon further indicates that the first member has not viewed the update. 
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of the external service icon; and   displaying summary information regarding the update to the external service.   
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 removing display of the external service icon from the user interface to indicate that the first member has viewed the update responsive to receiving the selection of the external service icon.   
     
     
         13 . A system to interface a social network service with an external service, the system comprising:
 a communication interface configured to receive an indication that a member of the social network service made an update to the external service; and   a memory and a processor to implement a social network interface configured to notify at least one additional member associated with the member in the social network service of the update to the external service.   
     
     
         14 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the social network interface is further configured to:
 receive a request to register the external service with the social network service prior to receiving the indication; and   register the external service with the social network service.   
     
     
         15 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the social network interface is further configured to:
 request summary information associated with the update from the external service responsive to receiving the indication;   receive the summary information associated with the update from the external service; and   wherein, to notify the at least one additional member, provides the summary information to the at least one additional member for viewing in a user interface associated with the social network service.   
     
     
         16 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the external service comprises a blogging service, and wherein the indication indicates that the member has posted a new blog post to the blogging service. 
     
     
         17 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the external service comprises a photo sharing service, and wherein the indication indicates that the member has uploaded one or more new photos to the photo sharing service. 
     
     
         18 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the external service comprises a video sharing service, and wherein the indication indicates that the member has uploaded one or more new videos to the video sharing service. 
     
     
         19 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the social network interface is further configured to notify the at least one additional member by storing a notification for the at least one additional member at the social network service. 
     
     
         20 . A system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the notification includes an identifier of the member, an identifier of the external service, and a timestamp indicating a time of the update to the external service.