# US 9,882,861 B2 · Blinder avoidance in social network interactions

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,882,861 B2
- Document ID: US9882861B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/631,811
- Filed: 2015-02-25
- Published: 2016-08-25
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-25
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Paul Bastide; Liam Harpur; Robert E. Loredo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882861B2

## CPC

- H04L 51/52: for supporting social networking services
- G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)}
- G06F 3/0483: Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
- G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning
- G06Q 10/40: Business processes related to social networking or social networking services
- G06Q 30/0241: Advertisements
- H04L 67/535: {Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34)}
- H04L 69/329: in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for blinder avoidance in social networking interactions includes executing a social networking data processing system in memory of a host computing system to provide a social networking service to different users in a social network. The method also includes defining in memory of the host computing system a user interface interaction for a user interface of the social networking service, and a corresponding user interface change in connection with a presentation of a status update for a user in different streams of other users of the social networking service. In response to detecting the user interface interaction with respect to a stream of status updates presented to one of the other users, the corresponding user interface change is performed in the user interface in connection with the presentation of the status update for the user in the stream.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for blinder avoidance in social networking interactions, the method comprising:
executing a social networking data processing system in memory of a host computing system to provide a social networking service to different end users in a social network;
defining in a record in a table in memory of the host computing system, a user interface interaction for a user interface of the social networking service, a specified one of the different end users, and a corresponding user interface change in the user interface in connection with a presentation of a status update received for the specified one of the different end users;
receiving in a user interface for the social networking service by another of the different end users in the social network, a stream of status updates for the different end users in the social network;
detecting a performance in the user interface of a particular user interface action by the another of the different end users; and,
on condition both that one of the status updates in the stream pertains to the specified one of the different end users and also that the particular user interface action is present in the record in connection with the specified one of the different end users, locating in the table the corresponding user interface change, and performing the corresponding user interface change in the user interface in connection with the presentation of the status update for the specified one of the different end users.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface interaction is a fast scroll action or a slow scroll action.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface interaction is a page up or down action.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface interaction is an eye gaze tracking action.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding user interface change is an enlargement of the status update of the end user or an enlargement of a profile avatar presented in connection with the status update of the end user.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface change is a visual decoration of the status update with an alert.

### Claim 7

A social networking data processing system configured for blinder avoidance in social networking interactions, the system comprising:
a host computing system comprising one or more servers, each with memory and at least one microprocessor;
a social networking data processing system executing in the memory of the host computing system to provide a social networking service to different end users in a social network;
a multiplicity of streams of status updates for ones of the different end users displayed in respectively different user interfaces of the social networking data processing system for respectively different ones of the different end users; and,
a blinder avoidance module executing in the memory of the host computing system, the module comprising program code enabled upon execution in the memory of the host computing system:
to define in a record in a table in memory of the host computing system, a user interface interaction for a user interface of the social networking service, a specified one of the different end users, and a corresponding user interface change in the user interface in connection with a presentation of a status update received for the specified one of the different end users,
to receive in a user interface for the social networking service by another of the different end users in the social network, a stream of status updates for the different end users in the social network,
to detect a performance in the user interface of a particular user interface action by the another of the different end users, and
on condition both that one of the status updates in the stream pertains to the specified one of the different end users and also that the particular user interface action is present in the record in connection with the specified one of the different end users, to locate in the table, the corresponding user interface change, and to perform the corresponding user interface change in the one of the different user interfaces in connection with the presentation of the status update for the specified one of the different end users.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the user interface interaction is a fast scroll action or a slow scroll action.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the user interface interaction is a page up or down action.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the user interface interaction is an eye gaze tracking action.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the corresponding user interface change is an enlargement of the status update of the end user or an enlargement of a profile avatar presented in connection with the status update of the end user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the user interface change is a visual decoration of the status update with an alert.

### Claim 13

A computer program product for blinder avoidance in social networking interactions, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a device to cause the device to perform a method comprising:
executing a social networking data processing system in memory of a host computing system to provide a social networking service to different end users in a social network;
defining in a record in a table in memory of the host computing system, a user interface interaction for a user interface of the social networking service, a specified one of the different end users, and a corresponding user interface change in the user interface in connection with a presentation of a status update received for the specified one of the different end users;
receiving in a user interface for the social networking service by another of the different end users in the social network, a stream of status updates for the different end users in the social network;
detecting a performance in the user interface of a particular user interface action by the another of the different end users; and,
on condition both that one of the status updates in the stream pertains to the specified one of the different end users and also that the particular user interface action is present in the record in connection with the specified one of the different end users, locating in the table the corresponding user interface change, and performing the corresponding user interface change in the user interface in connection with the presentation of the status update for the specified one of the different end users.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the user interface interaction is a fast scroll action or a slow scroll action.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the user interface interaction is a page up or down action.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the user interface interaction is an eye gaze tracking action.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the corresponding user interface change is an enlargement of the status update of the end user or an enlargement of a profile avatar presented in connection with the status update of the end user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the user interface change is a visual decoration of the status update with an alert.