System and method for managing multiple content feeds

Abstract

A system and method for enabling networked computer users to manage multiple content feeds is disclosed. A particular embodiment includes collecting digital content from a plurality of content feeds; receiving a subscriber-provided affinity indicator from a subscriber; filtering the digital content based on the subscriber-provided affinity indicator to produce filtered content; identifying portions of the filtered content not previously delivered to the subscriber; and notifying the subscriber of the filtered content not previously delivered using one of a plurality of subscriber-configured delivery mechanisms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 collecting digital content via a network from a plurality of content feeds provided by content sources that are network-accessed content providers or aggregators, wherein the content collected is from content feeds for content sources to which a user has subscribed via the network prior to the collecting;   receiving a subscriber-provided affinity indicator from the subscribed user, wherein the receiving is performed prior to the collecting;   filtering the digital content based on the subscriber-provided affinity indicator to produce filtered content;   identifying portions of the filtered content not previously delivered to the subscribed user; and   notifying the subscribed user of the filtered content not previously delivered using at least one subscriber-configured delivery mechanisms selected from the group consisting of IM, SMS, direct messaging tag, a social media post, MMS, IRC, EMS, audio message, HTML and email sent to a client device.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the syndicated digital content is selected from the group of news feeds, events listings, news stories, blog content, headlines, project updates, excerpts from discussion forums, business or government information and any combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the notifying comprises providing an alert, providing the filtered content not previously delivered, or both. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising embedding a bookmark button on a webpage, wherein the bookmark button links to a content management service on activation of the bookmark button by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising embedding a follow button in a content item, wherein the follow button links to a content management service on activation of the follow button by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising providing a view of a plurality of content feed filters, wherein the view includes an indication of status, update timing, and content source for each content feed filter. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the view is sorted in a time-based view showing the most recent content updates in a topmost location of a display region. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising embedding a follow button in a content item, wherein the follow button links to a content management service on activation of the follow button by the user, and wherein the follow button is a widget embedded into a page of the content item. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a processor;   a database, in data communication with the processor, for storage of content feed information; and   a content management module, executable by the processor, to:
 collect digital content via a network from a plurality of content feeds provided by content sources that are network-accessed content providers or aggregators, wherein the content collected is from content feeds for content sources to which a user has subscribed via the network prior to the collecting; 
 receive a subscriber-provided affinity indicator from the subscribed user, wherein the receiving is performed prior to the collecting; 
 filter the digital content based on the subscriber-provided affinity indicator to produce filtered content; 
 identify portions of the filtered content not previously delivered to the subscribed user; and 
 notify the subscribed user of the filtered content not previously delivered using at least one subscriber-configured delivery mechanisms selected from the group consisting of IM, SMS, direct messaging tag, a social media post, MMS, IRC, EMS, audio message, HTML and email sent to a client device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the syndicated digital content is selected from the group of news feeds, events listings, news stories, blog content, headlines, project updates, excerpts from discussion forums, business or government information and any combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the notifying comprises providing an alert, providing the filtered content not previously delivered, or both. 
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , further configured to embed a bookmark button on a webpage, wherein the bookmark button links to a content management service on activation of the bookmark button by the user. 
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , further configured to embed a follow button in a content item, wherein the follow button links to a content management service on activation of the follow button by the user. 
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , further configured to provide a view of a plurality of content feed filters, wherein the view includes an indication of status, update timing, and content source for each content feed filter. 
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the view is sorted in a time-based view showing the most recent content updates in a topmost location of a display region. 
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , further configured to embed a follow button in a content item, wherein the follow button links to a content management service on activation of the follow button by the user, and wherein the follow button is a widget embedded into a page of the content item. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory machine-useable storage medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 collect digital content via a network from a plurality of content feeds provided by content sources that are network-accessed content providers or aggregators, wherein the content collected is from content feeds for content sources to which a user has subscribed via the network prior to the collecting;   receive a subscriber-provided affinity indicator from the subscribed user, wherein the receiving is performed prior to the collecting;   filter the digital content based on the subscriber-provided affinity indicator to produce filtered content;   identify portions of the filtered content not previously delivered to the subscribed user; and   notify the subscribed user of the filtered content not previously delivered using at least one of subscriber-configured delivery mechanisms selected from the group consisting of IM, SMS, direct messaging tag, a social media post, MMS, IRC, EMS, audio message, HTML and email sent to a client device.   
     
     
         18 . The storage medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the syndicated digital content is selected from the group of news feeds, events listings, news stories, blog content, headlines, project updates, excerpts from discussion forums, business or government information and any combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         19 . The machine-useable storage medium as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the notifying comprises providing an alert, providing the filtered content not previously delivered or both. 
     
     
         20 . The machine-useable storage medium as claimed in  claim 17 , further configured to embed a bookmark button on a webpage, wherein the bookmark button links to a content management service on activation of the bookmark button by the user. 
     
     
         21 . The machine-useable storage medium as claimed in  claim 17 , further configured to embed a follow button in a content item, wherein the follow button links to a content management service on activation of the follow button by the user. 
     
     
         22 . The machine-useable storage medium as claimed in  claim 17 , further configured to provide a view of a plurality of content feed filters, wherein the view includes an indication of status, update timing, and content source for each content feed filter. 
     
     
         23 . The machine-useable storage medium as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the view is sorted in a time-based view showing the most recent content updates in a topmost location of a display region. 
     
     
         24 . The machine-useable storage medium as claimed in  claim 22 , further configured to embed a follow button in a content item, wherein the follow button links to a content management service on activation of the follow button by the user, and wherein the follow button is a widget embedded into a page of the content item.