Computer implemented methods and apparatus for informing a user of social network data when the data is relevant to the user

Abstract

Disclosed are examples of apparatus, methods, and computer readable storage media for informing one or more users of social network data such as group data when the data is relevant to the user(s). For example, when one or more keywords are identified as being associated with both a group of an online social network and the user, a communication with information identifying the group data can be generated and provided to a display device accessible by the user. In another example, social network data is associated with an entity of the online social network, and the entity is not being followed by the user. Social network data identified as related to one or more keywords can be provided to a display device in a suitable presentation accessible by the user.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for supporting dynamic membership of teams of users in an organization, the system comprising:
 a database system implemented using a server system comprising one or more hardware processors, the database system configurable to cause:   sending, to a client device, rule builder data capable of being processed to cause display of a rule builder user interface at the client device, the rule builder user interface comprising one or more selectable options for configuring a rule;   obtaining, from the client device, rule configuration data generated using the rule builder user interface;   configuring the rule according to the rule configuration data;   processing the rule, the processing of the rule comprising:
 obtaining a specific criterion or criteria stored in a database, 
 applying the specific criterion or criteria to a plurality of user attributes stored in a database, the user attributes identifying characteristics of a plurality of users in an organization, 
 determining that one or more of the user attributes satisfies the criterion or criteria, and 
 identifying one or more of the users as having the one or more user attributes; 
   defining membership of a team of users in the organization according to the rule, the defining of the membership of the team of users comprising adding or removing the one or more users to or from the team of users; and   broadcasting a communication to the team of users.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , the database system further configurable to cause:
 detecting one or more changes in the plurality of user attributes, the detecting of the one or more changes causing the processing of the rule.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more changes in the plurality of user attributes indicates that a user has been added to or removed from a group of users. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , the database system further configurable to cause:
 validating one or more properties, operators, and/or values of the rule.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the criterion or criteria specifies that the one or more user attributes starts with a designated string, character, word, phrase or symbol. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the communication is broadcast on a channel of the team of users, the channel dedicated to a specific topic, department, or project of the organization, the channel comprising conversations, meetings and/or files. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the communication is broadcast via one or more of email, text message, phone call, tweet or post to a feed. 
     
     
         28 . A computer program product comprising computer-readable program code capable of being executed by one or more processors when retrieved from a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code comprising instructions configurable to cause:
 sending, to a client device, rule builder data capable of being processed to cause display of a rule builder user interface at the client device, the rule builder user interface comprising one or more selectable options for configuring a rule;   obtaining, from the client device, rule configuration data generated using the rule builder user interface;   configuring the rule according to the rule configuration data;   processing the rule, the processing of the rule comprising:
 obtaining a specific criterion or criteria stored in a database, 
 applying the specific criterion or criteria to a plurality of user attributes stored in a database, the user attributes identifying characteristics of a plurality of users in an organization, 
 determining that one or more of the user attributes satisfies the criterion or criteria, and 
 identifying one or more of the users as having the one or more user attributes; 
   defining membership of a team of users in the organization according to the rule, the defining of the membership of the team of users comprising adding or removing the one or more users to or from the team of users; and   broadcasting a communication to the team of users.   
     
     
         29 . The computer program product of  claim 28 , the instructions further configurable to cause:
 detecting one or more changes in the plurality of user attributes, the detecting of the one or more changes causing the processing of the rule.   
     
     
         30 . The computer program product of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more changes in the plurality of user attributes indicates that a user has been added to or removed from a group of users. 
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 28 , the instructions further configurable to cause:
 validating one or more properties, operators, and/or values of the rule.   
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 28 , wherein the criterion or criteria specifies that the one or more user attributes starts with a designated string, character, word, phrase or symbol. 
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 28 , wherein the communication is broadcast on a channel of the team of users, the channel dedicated to a specific topic, department, or project of the organization, the channel comprising conversations, meetings and/or files. 
     
     
         34 . The computer program product of  claim 28 , wherein the communication is broadcast via one or more of email, text message, phone call, tweet or post to a feed. 
     
     
         35 . A method comprising:
 sending, to a client device, rule builder data capable of being processed to cause display of a rule builder user interface at the client device, the rule builder user interface comprising one or more selectable options for configuring a rule;   obtaining, from the client device, rule configuration data generated using the rule builder user interface;   configuring the rule according to the rule configuration data;   processing the rule, the processing of the rule comprising:
 obtaining a specific criterion or criteria stored in a database, 
 applying the specific criterion or criteria to a plurality of user attributes stored in a database, the user attributes identifying characteristics of a plurality of users in an organization, 
 determining that one or more of the user attributes satisfies the criterion or criteria, and 
 identifying one or more of the users as having the one or more user attributes; 
   defining membership of a team of users in the organization according to the rule, the defining of the membership of the team of users comprising adding or removing the one or more users to or from the team of users; and   broadcasting a communication to the team of users.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 detecting one or more changes in the plurality of user attributes, the detecting of the one or more changes causing the processing of the rule.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the one or more changes in the plurality of user attributes indicates that a user has been added to or removed from a group of users. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 validating one or more properties, operators, and/or values of the rule.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the criterion or criteria specifies that the one or more user attributes starts with a designated string, character, word, phrase or symbol. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the communication is broadcast on a channel of the team of users, the channel dedicated to a specific topic, department, or project of the organization, the channel comprising conversations, meetings and/or files.