Discussion-topic, social network systems

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for social media networking using devices configured to communicate in a data communications network where exchanged information is organized according to discussion topics. Users may exchange content with selected members of discussion-topic groups. Initiating comments and replies may be posted to a discussion topic for review by participants. Sub-discussion topics may be defined for discussion topics. A user may further flexibly define active tag and associated arguments for the active tags as a relational or linking structure for a discussion topic. Conventional email messages may be converted and ported into the discussion-topic system.

1 . A discussion-topic server configured to manage communications and content sharing between a first device and at least one second device, wherein the discussion-topic server is configured to communicate over a data communications network with the first device and the at least one second device, the discussion-topic server comprising:
 at least one network interface connected to the data communications network and configured to receive and transmit data; and   at least one processor adapted with machine-readable instructions that configure the discussion-topic server to:
 receive, from the first device, first input naming a first discussion topic and identifying the first discussion topic as a parent discussion topic; 
 receive a plurality of discussion content identified to be associated with one or both of the first discussion; 
 associate first discussion content, of the plurality of discussion content, that is identified to be associated with the first discussion topic with a first discussion data structure created for the first discussion topic; 
 receive active tag data defining an active tag and an argument of the active tag; 
 receive data identifying the active tag as being associated with the first discussion topic; and 
 associate the active tag data with the first discussion data structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The discussion-topic server of  claim 1 , wherein the active tag data is entered by a participant that has access to the first discussion content and comprises identifying data for identifying an active tag associated with the named discussion topic and argument data identifying an argument associated with the active tag. 
     
     
         3 . The discussion-topic server of  claim 2 , wherein the argument comprises an identifier for a participant permitted access to the first discussion data structure. 
     
     
         4 . The discussion-topic server of  claim 2 , wherein the argument comprises a date. 
     
     
         5 . The discussion-topic server of  claim 2 , wherein the argument comprises an identifier for a second discussion topic. 
     
     
         6 . The discussion-topic server of  claim 2 , wherein the argument comprises an alphanumeric string created by the user of the first device. 
     
     
         7 . The discussion-topic server of  claim 2 , wherein the argument comprises a URL link. 
     
     
         8 . The discussion-topic server of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor further configures the discussion-topic server to, responsive to receiving from the first device a request that identifies the first discussion topic for display, transmit first visual feed data comprising the first discussion content and the active tag to the first device for displaying on the display of the first device a first visual feed comprising at least a portion of the first discussion content and the active tag as an active button. 
     
     
         9 . The discussion-topic server of  claim 8 , wherein the argument of the active tag comprises an identifier for a second discussion topic, and wherein the at least one processor further configures the discussion-topic server to, responsive to an activation of the active tag, transmit second visual feed data comprising second discussion content for the second discussion topic to the first device for displaying on the display of the first device a second visual feed comprising at least a portion of the second discussion content. 
     
     
         10 . The discussion-topic server of  claim 2 , wherein the first visual feed data includes data for distinguishing, at a macroview, initiating comments from reply comments in the listing. 
     
     
         11 . The discussion-topic server of  claim 2 , wherein the first visual feed data does not include data for displaying discussion content that is not identified as being associated with or related to the first discussion topic.