Generating media content items for sharing to external applications

Abstract

The invention relates to generating media content items for sharing to external applications. The method comprises: causing, by a processor, a sharing interface of a messaging system to be displayed on a client device; receiving, from the client device, a selection of a selectable item on the sharing interface, the selectable item associated with an external application; determining a product capability associated with the external application; generating a modified media content item from the media content item based on product capabilities associated with the external application; and sending the modified media content item to a recipient client device via the external application.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese patent application filed on March 29, 2023, with application number 202180066767.2 and invention name “Generating Media Content Items for Sharing to External Applications”. The international filing date of the parent application is September 30, 2021, the international application number is PCT / US2021 / 052957, and the priority date is September 30, 2020.

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 086,009, filed on September 30, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0004] The present application relates to generating media content items for sharing to external applications. Background Art

[0005] Electronic messaging, especially instant messaging, continues to gain popularity around the world. Users can quickly and instantly share electronic media content items including text, electronic images, audio and video with each other.

[0006] As the number of users on a social networking system increases, each user also has a growing network of individuals that she follows. In order to maintain user engagement on a social networking system, it is of utmost importance that the system has the ability to present to each user the media content items that are of most interest or relevance to her. In addition to the need to curate media content items, social networking systems are also faced with the challenge of providing a graphical user interface that attracts the user's attention and allows her to view the curated media content items and further interact with the network of individuals that she follows. Summary of the invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided, comprising: causing a processor to display a sharing interface of a messaging system on a client device; receiving a selection of an optional item on the sharing interface from the client device, the optional item being associated with an external application; determining a product capability associated with the external application; generating a modified media content item from a media content item based on the product capability associated with the external application; and sending the modified media content item to a recipient client device via the external application.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a system is provided, comprising: a processor; and a memory, in which instructions are stored, and when the instructions are executed by the processor, the system performs operations, the operations comprising: the processor causes a sharing interface of a messaging system to be displayed on a client device; receiving a selection of an optional item on the sharing interface from the client device, the optional item being associated with an external application; determining a product capability associated with the external application; generating a modified media content item from a media content item based on the product capability associated with the external application; and sending the modified media content item to a recipient client device via the external application.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided on which instructions are stored, and when the instructions are executed by a processor, the processor performs operations, the operations including: causing a sharing interface of a messaging system to be displayed on a client device by a client device; receiving a selection of an optional item on the sharing interface from the client device, the optional item being associated with an external application; determining a product capability associated with the external application; generating a modified media content item from a media content item based on the product capability associated with the external application; and sending the modified media content item to a recipient client device via the external application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In the accompanying drawings (not necessarily drawn to scale), similar reference numerals may describe similar components in different views. To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or action, the highest digit or digits in the reference numeral refer to the figure number in which the element is first introduced. Some non-limiting examples are shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a networking environment in which the present disclosure may be deployed, according to some examples.

[0012] Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a messaging system having both client-side and server-side functionality according to some examples.

[0013] Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of data structures as maintained in a database according to some examples.

[0014] Figure 4 is a graphical representation of messages according to some examples.

[0015] Figure 5 is a flow diagram of an access restriction process 500 according to some examples.

[0016] Figure 6 A flow diagram of a process 600 for generating a modified media content item is shown according to one embodiment.

[0017] Figure 7 An example of a user interface 700 displayed on a client device is shown according to one embodiment.

[0018] Figure 8 An example of a user interface 800 displayed on a client device is shown according to one embodiment.

[0019] Fig. 9 An example of a user interface 900 displayed on a client device is shown according to one embodiment.

[0020] Fig.10 An example of a user interface 1000 displayed on a client device is shown according to one embodiment.

[0021] Fig.11 An example of a user interface 1100 displayed on a client device is shown according to one embodiment.

[0022] Fig.12 An example of a user interface 1200 displayed on a client device is shown according to one embodiment.

[0023] Fig.13 An example of a user interface 1300 displayed on a client device is shown according to one embodiment.

[0024] Fig.14 An example of a user interface 1400 displayed on a client device is shown according to one embodiment.

[0025] Fig.15 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system according to some examples in which a set of instructions may be executed to cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

[0026] Fig.16 is a block diagram illustrating a software architecture in which examples may be implemented.

[0027] Fig.17 is a diagrammatic representation of a processing environment according to some examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Users may be connected to each other via multiple different messaging systems that are external to each other. Implementations of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging software and systems by recognizing that a user may want to share media content items generated using one messaging system with users in different external applications.

[0029] Specifically, an example system in the present disclosure generates a sharing (user) interface that includes a selectable item associated with an external application (e.g., a messaging application), which a user can select to share a media content item (e.g., an image, a picture, text, a video, an audio, an external link, etc.) generated in a messaging application with the user via the selected external application. The example system also generates a modified media content item based on the attributes of the media content item to be shared via the external application and based on the product capabilities associated with the external application.

[0030] To generate a modified media content item, the example system may apply a watermark associated with a messaging system to the media content item, may generate a message including a user external link associated with a user identifier of a user of a client device on the messaging system, may generate a message including an enhanced external link associated with an enhancement (e.g., a lens, a filter, an augmented reality element, an overlay, etc.) included in the media content item; or may apply an overlay associated with a user identifier of a user of a client device on the messaging system to the media content item.

[0031] By allowing users of the system to share modified media content items via external systems, the system encourages users to share their content publicly and privately, which effectively increases the system's awareness of external users and drives downloads and growth of the system. In addition, by increasing off-platform sharing of content, the system provides visibility into user sharing behavior, which allows developers to further improve the user experience of sharing their content (e.g., improved sharing flow).

[0032] Networked computing environment

[0033] Figure 1 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example messaging system 100 for exchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network. The messaging system 100 includes multiple instances of client devices 102, each of which hosts several applications including a messaging client 104 and other applications 106. Each messaging client 104 is communicatively coupled to other instances of the messaging client 104 (e.g., hosted on respective other client devices 102), a messaging server system 108, and a third-party server 110 via a network 112 (e.g., the Internet). The messaging client 104 may also communicate with the locally hosted application 106 using an application program interface (API).

[0034] The messaging clients 104 are able to communicate and exchange data with other messaging clients 104 and messaging server systems 108 via the network 112. The data exchanged between the messaging clients 104 and between the messaging clients 104 and messaging server systems 108 include various functions (e.g., commands to activate functions) and payload data (e.g., text, audio, video, or other multimedia data).

[0035] The messaging server system 108 is capable of providing server-side functionality to certain messaging clients 104 via the network 112. Although certain functionality of the messaging system 100 is described herein as being performed by the messaging client 104 or by the messaging server system 108, it may be a design choice whether certain functionality is located within the messaging client 104 or within the messaging server system 108. For example, it may be technically preferable to initially deploy certain technologies and functionality within the messaging server system 108, but to later migrate the technologies and functionality to the messaging client 104 where the client device 102 has sufficient processing power.

[0036] The messaging server system 108 supports various services and operations provided to the messaging clients 104. Such operations include sending data to the messaging clients 104, receiving data from the messaging clients 104, and processing data generated by the messaging clients 104. As examples, the data may include message content, client device information, geolocation information, media enhancements and overlays, message content persistence conditions, social network information, and live event information. The data exchange within the messaging system 100 is activated and controlled by functions available via the user interface (UI) of the messaging client 104.

[0037] Turning now specifically to the messaging server system 108, an application program interface (API) server 116 is coupled to the application server 114 and provides a programming interface to the application server 114. The application server 114 is communicatively coupled to a database server 120, which facilitates access to a database 126 that stores data associated with messages processed by the application server 114. Similarly, a web server 128 is coupled to the application server 114 and provides a web-based interface to the application server 114. To this end, the web server 128 processes incoming network requests via the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and several other related protocols.

[0038] The application program interface (API) server 116 receives and sends message data (e.g., commands and message payloads) between the client device 102 and the application server 114. Specifically, the application program interface (API) server 116 provides a set of interfaces (e.g., routines and protocols) that the messaging client 104 can call or query to activate the functions of the application server 114. An application program interface (API) server 116 exposes various functions supported by the application server 114, including: account registration, login functionality, sending messages from a particular messaging client 104 to another messaging client 104 via the application server 114, sending media files (e.g., images or videos) from a messaging client 104 to a messaging server 118 and for possible access by another messaging client 104, setting up a collection of media data (e.g., a story), retrieving a friend list of a user of a client device 102, retrieving such a collection, retrieving messages and content; adding and removing entities (e.g., friends) from an entity graph (e.g., a social graph), locating friends in a social graph, and opening application events (e.g., related to a messaging client 104).

[0039] The application server 114 hosts several server applications and subsystems, including, for example, a messaging server 118, an image processing server 122, and a social networking server 124. The messaging server 118 implements several message processing techniques and functions that are particularly related to the aggregation and other processing of content (e.g., text and multimedia content) included in messages received from multiple instances of the messaging client 104. As will be described in further detail, text and media content from multiple sources can be aggregated into collections of content (e.g., referred to as stories or galleries). These collections are then made available to the messaging client 104. In view of the hardware requirements for such processing, other processor- and memory-intensive processing of data can also be performed on the server side by the messaging server 118.

[0040] The application server 114 also includes an image processing server 122 that is dedicated to performing various image processing operations, typically with respect to images or videos within the payload of messages sent from or received at the messaging server 118 .

[0041] The social network server 124 supports various social networking functions and services and makes them available to the messaging server 118. To this end, the social network server 124 maintains and accesses an entity graph 308 (e.g., Figure 3). Examples of functions and services supported by the social network server 124 include identifying other users in the messaging system 100 who have a relationship with or are "following" the particular user, and identifying other entities and interests of the particular user.

[0042] Returning to the messaging client 104, the features and functions of the external resource (e.g., application 106 or applet) are available to the user via the interface of the messaging client 104. In this context, "external" refers to the fact that the application 106 or applet is outside the messaging client 104. External resources are usually provided by a third party, but can also be provided by the creator or provider of the messaging client 104. The messaging client 104 receives a user selection of an option to launch or access the features of such an external resource. The external resource can be an application 106 (e.g., a "local app") installed on the client device 102, or a small-scale version of the application (e.g., a "applet") hosted on the client device 102 or away from the client device 102 (e.g., on a third-party server 110). The small-scale version of the application includes a subset of the features and functions of the application (e.g., a complete, local version of the application) and is implemented using a markup language document. In one example, the small-scale version of the application (e.g., a "applet") is a web-based markup language version of the application and is embedded in the messaging client 104. In addition to using markup language documents (eg, .*ml files), applets may incorporate scripting languages ​​(eg, .*js files or .json files) and style sheets (eg, .*ss files).

[0043] In response to receiving a user selection of an option to launch or access a feature of an external resource, the messaging client 104 determines whether the selected external resource is a web-based external resource or a locally installed application 106. In some cases, an application 106 locally installed on the client device 102 can be launched independently of the messaging client 104 and separately from the messaging client 104, for example, by selecting an icon corresponding to the application 106 on a home screen of the client device 102. A small-scale version of such an application can be launched or accessed via the messaging client 104, and in some examples, all portions of the small-scale application cannot be accessed outside the messaging client 104 or only limited portions of the small-scale application can be accessed outside the messaging client 104. The small-scale application can be launched by the messaging client 104 receiving a markup language document associated with the small-scale application, for example, from a third-party server 110 and processing such a document.

[0044] In response to determining that the external resource is a locally installed application 106, the messaging client 104 instructs the client device 102 to launch the external resource by executing the locally stored code corresponding to the external resource. In response to determining that the external resource is a web-based resource, the messaging client 104 communicates with the third-party server 110 (for example) to obtain a markup language document corresponding to the selected external resource. The messaging client 104 then processes the obtained markup language document to present the web-based external resource within the user interface of the messaging client 104.

[0045] The messaging client 104 may notify the user of the client device 102 or other users (e.g., "friends") associated with such a user of activities occurring in one or more external resources. For example, the messaging client 104 may provide a notification related to the current or recent use of an external resource by one or more members of a group of users to a participant in a conversation (e.g., a chat session) in the messaging client 104. One or more users may be invited to join an active external resource or to start an external resource that was recently used but is currently inactive (in a friend group). The external resource may provide the participants in the conversation, each using a corresponding messaging client 104, with the ability to share items, conditions, states, or locations in the external resource with one or more members of the user group entering the chat session. The shared item may be an interactive chat card that members of the chat may interact with, for example, to start a corresponding external resource, view specific information within an external resource, or bring members of the chat to a specific location or state within an external resource. Within a given external resource, a response message may be sent to the user on the messaging client 104. The external resource may selectively include different media items in the response based on the current context of the external resource.

[0046] The messaging client 104 may present a list of available external resources (e.g., applications 106 or applets) to the user to launch or access a given external resource. The list may be presented in a context-sensitive menu. For example, icons representing different applications 106 (or applets) may vary based on how the user launches the menu (e.g., from a conversational interface or from a non-conversational interface).

[0047] System Architecture

[0048] Figure 21 is a block diagram showing additional details about the messaging system 100 according to some examples. Specifically, the messaging system 100 is shown to include a messaging client 104 and an application server 114. The messaging system 100 includes several subsystems that are supported on the client side by the messaging client 104 and on the server side by the application server 114. These subsystems include, for example, a transient timer system 202, a collection management system 204, an enhancement system 208, a map system 210, a game system 212, an external resource system 214, and an external sharing system 216.

[0049] The transient timer system 202 is responsible for implementing temporary or time-limited access to content by the messaging client 104 and the messaging server 118. The transient timer system 202 includes several timers that selectively enable access (e.g., for presentation and display) of messages and associated content via the messaging client 104 based on duration and display parameters associated with a message or collection of messages (e.g., a story). Additional details regarding the operation of the transient timer system 202 are provided below.

[0050] The collection management system 204 is responsible for managing groups or collections of media (e.g., collections of text, images, video, and audio data). Collections of content (e.g., messages, including images, videos, text, and audio) can be organized into "event galleries" or "event stories." Such collections can be made available for a specified time period (e.g., for the duration of an event related to the content). For example, content related to a concert can be made available as a "story" for the duration of the concert. The collection management system 204 can also be responsible for publishing an icon to the user interface of the messaging client 104 that provides notification that a particular collection exists.

[0051] In addition, the collection management system 204 includes a curation interface 206 that enables collection managers to manage and curate specific content collections. For example, the curation interface 206 enables event organizers to curate content collections related to specific events (e.g., to remove inappropriate content or redundant messages). In addition, the collection management system 204 uses machine vision (or image recognition technology) and content rules to automatically curate content collections. In some examples, compensation can be paid to users to include user-generated content in a collection. In such cases, the collection management system 204 operates to automatically pay such users to use their content.

[0052] The enhancement system 208 provides various functions that enable a user to enhance (e.g., annotate or otherwise modify or edit) media content associated with a message. For example, the enhancement system 208 provides functions related to generating and publishing media overlays for messages processed by the messaging system 100. The enhancement system 208 is operable to supply media overlays or enhancements (e.g., image filters) to the messaging client 104 based on the geographic location of the client device 102. In another example, the enhancement system 208 is operable to supply media overlays to the messaging client 104 based on other information such as social network information of the user of the client device 102. The media overlay can include audio and visual content and visual effects. Examples of audio and visual content include pictures, text, logos, animations, and sound effects. Examples of visual effects include color overlays. Audio and visual content or visual effects can be applied to media content items (e.g., photos) at the client device 102. For example, the media overlay can include text or images that can be overlaid on photos taken by the client device 102. In another example, the media overlay includes a location identification overlay (e.g., Venice Beach), the name of a live event, or a business name overlay (e.g., Beach Cafe). In another example, the enhancement system 208 uses the geolocation of the client device 102 to identify a media overlay that includes the name of the business at the geolocation of the client device 102. The media overlay may include other tags associated with the business. The media overlay may be stored in the database 126 and accessed by the database server 120.

[0053] In some examples, the enhancement system 208 provides a user-based publishing platform that enables a user to select a geolocation on a map and upload content associated with the selected geolocation. The user can also specify the environment in which a particular media overlay should be provided to other users. The enhancement system 208 generates a media overlay that includes the uploaded content and associates the uploaded content with the selected geolocation.

[0054] In other examples, the enhancement system 208 provides a merchant-based publishing platform that enables merchants to select specific media coverage associated with a geographic location via a bidding process. For example, the enhancement system 208 associates the media coverage of the highest bidding merchant with the corresponding geographic location for a predefined amount of time.

[0055] The mapping system 210 provides various geolocation functions and supports the presentation of map-based media content and messages by the messaging client 104. For example, the mapping system 210 enables the display of user icons or avatars (e.g., stored in the profile data 316) on a map to indicate the current or past locations of the user's "friends", as well as media content (e.g., a collection of messages including photos and videos) generated by such friends within the context of the map. For example, a message posted by a user to the messaging system 100 from a particular geolocation may be displayed to the particular user's "friends" on the map interface of the messaging client 104 within the context of a map at that particular location. The user may also share his or her location and status information with other users of the messaging system 100 (e.g., using appropriate status avatars) via the messaging client 104, where the location and status information is similarly displayed to selected users within the context of the map interface of the messaging client 104.

[0056] The gaming system 212 provides various gaming functions within the context of the messaging client 104. The messaging client 104 provides a gaming interface that provides a list of available games that can be launched by a user within the context of the messaging client 104 and played with other users of the messaging system 100. The messaging system 100 also enables a particular user to invite other users to participate in playing a particular game by sending an invitation to such other users from the messaging client 104. The messaging client 104 also supports voice messaging and text messaging (e.g., chatting) within the context of gaming, provides leaderboards for gaming, and also supports providing in-game rewards (e.g., gaming coins and items).

[0057] The external resource system 214 provides an interface for the messaging client 104 to communicate with a remote server (e.g., a third-party server 110) to launch or access external resources (i.e., applications or applets). Each third-party server 110, for example, hosts an application or a small-scale version of an application based on a markup language (e.g., HTML5) (e.g., a game application, a utility application, a payment application, or a ride-sharing application). The messaging client 104 can launch a web-based resource (e.g., an application) by accessing an HTML5 file from a third-party server 110 associated with a web-based resource. In some examples, the application hosted by the third-party server 110 is programmed in JavaScript using a software development kit (SDK) provided by the messaging server 118. The SDK includes an application programming interface (API) having functions that can be called or activated by a web-based application. In some examples, the messaging server 118 includes a JavasScript library that provides access to a given external resource to certain user data of the messaging client 104. HTML5 is used as an example technology for programming games, but applications and resources programmed based on other technologies can be used.

[0058] To integrate the functionality of the SDK into the web-based resource, the SDK is downloaded by the third-party server 110 from the messaging server 118 or otherwise received by the third-party server 110. Once downloaded or received, the SDK is included as part of the application code of the web-based external resource. The code of the web-based resource can then call or activate certain functions of the SDK to integrate the features of the messaging client 104 into the web-based resource.

[0059] The SDK stored on the messaging server 118 effectively provides a bridge between external resources (e.g., applications 106 or applet) and the messaging client 104. This provides users with a seamless experience of communicating with other users on the messaging client 104 while also preserving the look and feel of the messaging client 104. In order to bridge the communication between the external resources and the messaging client 104, in some examples, the SDK facilitates communication between the third-party server 110 and the messaging client 104. In some examples, the WebViewJavaScriptBridge running on the client device 102 establishes two one-way communication channels between the external resources and the messaging client 104. Messages are sent asynchronously between the external resources and the messaging client 104 via these communication channels. Each SDK function activation is sent as a message and a callback. Each SDK function is implemented by constructing a unique callback identifier and sending a message with the callback identifier.

[0060] By using the SDK, not all information from the messaging client 104 is shared with the third-party server 110. The SDK limits which information is shared based on the needs of the external resource. In some examples, each third-party server 110 provides an HTML5 file corresponding to a web-based external resource to the messaging server 118. The messaging server 118 can add a visual representation (e.g., a box design or other graphics) of the web-based external resource in the messaging client 104. Once the user selects a visual representation or instructs the messaging client 104 to access a feature of a web-based external resource through the GUI of the messaging client 104, the messaging client 104 obtains the HTML5 file and instantiates the resources required to access the features of the web-based external resource.

[0061] The messaging client 104 presents a graphical user interface (e.g., a login page or title screen) for an external resource. During, before, or after presenting the login page or title screen, the messaging client 104 determines whether the launched external resource has been previously authorized to access the user data of the messaging client 104. In response to determining that the launched external resource has been previously authorized to access the user data of the messaging client 104, the messaging client 104 presents another graphical user interface of the external resource including the functions and features of the external resource. In response to determining that the launched external resource has not been previously authorized to access the user data of the messaging client 104, after a threshold time period (e.g., 3 seconds) of displaying the login page or title screen of the external resource, the messaging client 104 slides a menu for authorizing the external resource to access the user data (e.g., animating the menu to emerge from the bottom of the screen to the middle or other portion of the screen). The menu identifies the type of user data that the external resource will be authorized to use. In response to receiving the user selection of the accept option, the messaging client 104 adds the external resource to the list of authorized external resources and allows the external resource to access the user data from the messaging client 104. In some examples, the external resource is authorized by the messaging client 104 to access the user data according to the OAuth 2 framework.

[0062] The messaging client 104 controls the type of user data shared with the external resource based on the type of external resource that is authorized. For example, an external resource including a full-scale application (e.g., application 106) is provided with access to a first type of user data (e.g., only a two-dimensional avatar of a user with or without different avatar characteristics). As another example, an external resource including a small-scale version of an application (e.g., a web-based version of the application) is provided with access to a second type of user data (e.g., payment information, a two-dimensional avatar of a user, a three-dimensional avatar of a user, and an avatar with various avatar characteristics). Avatar characteristics include different ways to customize the look and feel of an avatar (e.g., different poses, facial features, clothing, etc.).

[0063] The external sharing system 216 generates a sharing (user) interface including selectable items associated with an external application (e.g., an application 106 including a messaging application). The external sharing system 216 can detect a user's selection of a selectable item therein via a user input, the user input indicating that the user wishes to share a media content item (e.g., image, picture, text, video, audio, external link, etc.) generated by the messaging client 104 with the user via the external application associated with the selected selectable item. The external sharing system 216 can also generate a modified media content item based on the attributes of the media content item to be shared via the external application and based on the product capabilities associated with the external application. In order to generate a modified media content item, the external sharing system 216 can apply a watermark associated with the messaging server system 108 to the media content item, can generate a message including a user external link associated with the user identifier of the user of the client device 102 on the messaging server system 108 or the messaging client 104, can generate a message including an enhancement external link associated with an enhancement (e.g., a lens, a filter, an augmented reality element, an overlay, etc.) applied to the media content item using the enhancement system 208; or can apply an overlay associated with the user identifier of the user of the client device 102 on the messaging server system 108 or the messaging client 104 to the media content item.

[0064] Data Architecture

[0065] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data structure 300 that may be stored in a database 126 of a messaging server system 108 according to some examples. Although the contents of the database 126 are illustrated as including several tables, it will be appreciated that the data may be stored in other types of data structures (e.g., as an object-oriented database).

[0066] The database 126 includes message data stored in the message table 302. For any particular message, the message data includes at least message sender data, message recipient (or receiver) data, and payload. Additional details about the information that may be included in the message and included in the message data stored in the message table 302 are provided below with reference to Figure 4 Described.

[0067] The entity table 306 stores entity data and is linked (e.g., referenced) to the entity graph 308 and profile data 316. Entities for which records are maintained within the entity table 306 may include individuals, corporate entities, organizations, objects, places, events, etc. Regardless of the entity type, any entity about which the messaging server system 108 stores data may be an identified entity. Each entity is provided with a unique identifier as well as an entity type identifier (not shown).

[0068] The entity graph 308 stores information about the relationships and associations between entities. As examples only, such relationships may be interest-based or activity-based social relationships, professional relationships (e.g., working in a common company or organization).

[0069] The profile data 316 stores multiple types of profile data about a particular entity. Based on the privacy settings specified by the particular entity, the profile data 316 can be selectively used and presented to other users of the messaging system 100. In the case where the entity is a person, the profile data 316 includes, for example, a user name, phone number, address, settings (e.g., notification and privacy settings), and an avatar representation (or a collection of such avatar representations) selected by the user. The particular user can then selectively include one or more of these avatar representations in the content of messages transmitted via the messaging system 100 and in a map interface displayed to other users by the messaging client 104. The collection of avatar representations can include a "status avatar" that presents a graphical representation of the state or activity that the user can choose to communicate at a particular time.

[0070] Where the entity is a group, the profile data 316 for the group may similarly include one or more avatar representations associated with the group, in addition to the group name, members, and various settings related to the group (eg, notifications).

[0071] Database 126 also stores enhancement data, such as overlays or filters, in enhancement table 310. Enhancement data is associated with and applied to videos (for which data is stored in video table 304) and images (for which data is stored in image table 312).

[0072] In one example, a filter is displayed as an overlay over an image or video during presentation to a recipient user. Filters can be of various types, including filters selected by a user from a set of filters presented to a sending user by the messaging client 104 when the sending user is composing a message. Other types of filters include geolocation filters (also referred to as geofilters), which can be presented to a sending user based on geolocation. For example, a geolocation filter specific to a nearby or special location can be presented by the messaging client 104 within a user interface based on geolocation information determined by a global positioning system (GPS) unit of the client device 102.

[0073] Another type of filter is a data filter, which can be selectively presented to the sending user by the messaging client 104 based on other input or information collected during the message creation process by the client device 102. Examples of data filters include the current temperature at a particular location, the current speed at which the sending user is traveling, the battery life of the client device 102, or the current time.

[0074] Other augmented data that may be stored in the image table 312 include augmented reality content items (eg, corresponding to application lenses or augmented reality experiences). Augmented reality content items may be real-time special effects and sounds that may be added to an image or video.

[0075] As described above, augmented data includes augmented reality content items, overlays, image transformations, AR images, and similar items involving modifications that can be applied to image data (e.g., videos or images). This includes real-time modifications, which modify the image when it is captured using the device sensor (e.g., one or more cameras) of the client device 102 and then display the image on the screen of the client device 102 with the modification. This also includes modifications to stored content (e.g., video clips in a gallery that can be modified). For example, in a client device 102 that accesses multiple augmented reality content items, a user can use a single video clip with multiple augmented reality content items to see how different augmented reality content items will modify the stored clips. For example, by selecting different augmented reality content items for the content, multiple augmented reality content items that apply different pseudo-random motion models can be applied to the same content. Similarly, real-time video capture can be used with the modifications shown to show how the video image currently captured by the sensor of the client device 102 will modify the captured data. Such data can be simply displayed on the screen without being stored in the memory, or the content captured by the device sensor can be recorded and stored in the memory with or without modification (or both). In some systems, the preview feature can show how different augmented reality content items will look in different windows of the display at the same time. For example, this can enable viewing multiple windows with different pseudo-random animations on the display at the same time.

[0076] Thus, data and various systems using augmented reality content items or other such transformation systems that modify content using such data may involve detection of objects (e.g., faces, hands, bodies, cats, dogs, surfaces, objects, etc.), tracking of such objects as they leave the field of view in a video frame, enter the field of view, and move around the field of view, and modifying or transforming such objects as they are tracked. In various examples, different methods for implementing such transformations may be used. Some examples may involve generating a three-dimensional mesh model of an object or multiple objects, and using transformations of the model within the video and animated textures to implement the transformations. In other examples, tracking of points on an object may be used to place an image or texture (which may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional) at the tracked location. In further examples, an image, model, or texture may be placed in content (e.g., an image or video frame) using a neural network analysis of a video frame. Thus, augmented reality content items refer to both images, models, and textures used to create transformations in content, and additional modeling and analysis information required to implement such transformations through object detection, tracking, and placement.

[0077] Real-time video processing can be performed using any type of video data (e.g., video streams, video files, etc.) stored in the memory of any type of computerized system. For example, a user can load a video file and store it in the memory of the device, or a video stream can be generated using the device's sensors. In addition, computer animation models can be used to process any object, such as a person's face and parts of a person's body, an animal, or a non-living thing (e.g., a chair, a car, or other object).

[0078] In some examples, when a specific modification is selected together with the content to be transformed, the element to be transformed is identified by the computing device, and then if the element to be transformed is present in the frame of the video, it is detected and tracked. The elements of the object are modified according to the modification request, thereby transforming the frame of the video stream. For different types of transformations, the transformation of the frame of the video stream can be performed by different methods. For example, for the transformation of the frame that mainly refers to the form of the elements of the object to be changed, the feature points of each element of the object are calculated (for example, using the active shape model (ASM) or other known methods). Then, a grid based on the feature points is generated for each element of at least one element of the object. The grid is used for the subsequent stage of tracking the elements of the object in the video stream. During the tracking process, the grid mentioned for each element is aligned with the position of each element. Then, additional points are generated on the grid. A first group of first points is generated for each element based on the modification request, and a group of second points is generated for each element based on the group of first points and the modification request. Then, the frame of the video stream can be transformed by modifying the elements of the object based on the group of first points and the group of second points and the grid. In such a method, the background of the modified object can also be changed or distorted by tracking and modifying the background.

[0079] The transformation of changing some areas of the object using the elements of the object can be performed by calculating the feature points of each element of the object and generating a grid based on the calculated feature points. Points are generated on the grid, and then various areas based on these points are generated. Then, the elements of the object are tracked by aligning the area of ​​each element with the position of each element of at least one element, and the properties of the area can be modified based on the modification request, thereby transforming the frame of the video stream. Depending on the specific modification request, the properties of the mentioned area can be transformed in different ways. Such modifications may involve: changing the color of the area; removing at least some partial areas from the frame of the video stream; including one or more new objects in the area based on the modification request; and modifying or distorting the elements of the area or object. In various examples, any combination of such modifications or other similar modifications may be used. For certain models to be animated, some feature points can be selected as control points of the entire state space to be used to determine options for model animation.

[0080] In some examples of computer animation models that use face detection to transform image data, faces are detected on an image using a specific face detection algorithm (e.g., Viola-Jones). An active shape model (ASM) algorithm is then applied to the face region of the image to detect facial feature reference points.

[0081] Other methods and algorithms suitable for face detection may be used. For example, in some examples, features are located using landmarks that represent distinguishable points that are present in most of the images considered. For example, for facial landmarks, the location of the left eye pupil may be used. If the initial landmarks are not recognizable (for example, if the person has an eye patch), secondary landmarks may be used. Such a landmark recognition process may be used for any such object. In some examples, a set of landmarks forms a shape. The shape may be represented as a vector using the coordinates of the points in the shape. One shape is aligned with another shape using a similarity transform (allowing translation, scaling, and rotation) that minimizes the average Euclidean distance between the shape points. The average shape is the average of the aligned training shapes.

[0082] In some examples, a landmark search begins with an average shape that aligns with the location and size of a face as determined by a global face detector. Such a search then repeats the steps of suggesting tentative shapes by adjusting the positioning of shape points through template matching of the image texture around each point, and then conforming the tentative shapes to a global shape model until convergence occurs. In some systems, individual template matches are unreliable, and the shape model pools the results of weak template matches to form a stronger overall classifier. The entire search is repeated at each level of the image pyramid, from coarse to fine resolution.

[0083] The transformation system can capture an image or video stream on a client device (e.g., client device 102) and perform complex image manipulations locally on the client device 102 while maintaining an appropriate user experience, computational time, and power consumption. Complex image manipulations can include size and shape changes, emotion transfer (e.g., changing a face from a frown to a smile), state transfer (e.g., aging a subject, reducing apparent age, changing gender), style transfer, application of graphical elements, and any other suitable image or video manipulations enabled by a convolutional neural network that has been configured to execute efficiently on the client device 102.

[0084] In some examples, a computer animation model for transforming image data can be used by a system in which a user can capture an image or video stream of the user (e.g., a selfie) using a client device 102 having a neural network operating as part of a messaging client 104 operating on the client device 102. A transformation system operating within the messaging client 104 determines the presence of a face in the image or video stream and provides a modification icon associated with the computer animation model to transform the image data, or the computer animation model can be presented as associated with an interface described herein. The modification icon includes a change that can be a basis for modifying the face of the user within the image or video stream as part of the modification operation. Once the modification icon is selected, the transformation system initiates a process of transforming the image of the user to reflect the selected modification icon (e.g., generating a smiley face on the user). Once the image or video stream is captured and the specified modification is selected, the modified image or video stream can be presented in a graphical user interface displayed on the client device 102. The transformation system can implement a complex convolutional neural network on a portion of the image or video stream to generate and apply the selected modification. That is, once a modification icon is selected, the user can capture an image or video stream and be presented with the modification results in real time or near real time. In addition, when the video stream is being captured, the modification can be persistent and the selected modification icon remains toggled. Machine-taught neural networks can be used to implement such modifications.

[0085] The graphical user interface presenting the modifications performed by the transformation system can supply additional interactive options to the user. Such options can be based on the interface used to initiate the selection of a particular computer animation model and content capture (e.g., initiated from a content creator user interface). In various examples, the modification can persist after the initial selection of the modification icon. The user can turn the modification on or off by tapping or otherwise selecting a face modified by the transformation system, and store it for later viewing or browsing to other areas of the imaging application. In the case where multiple faces are modified by the transformation system, the user can globally turn the modification on or off by tapping or selecting a single face modified and displayed within the graphical user interface. In some examples, each face in a group of multiple faces can be modified individually by tapping or selecting a single face or a series of faces displayed within the graphical user interface, or such modifications can be switched individually.

[0086] The story table 314 stores data about a collection of messages and associated image, video or audio data that are compiled into a collection (e.g., a story or library). The creation of a particular collection can be initiated by a particular user (e.g., each user whose record is maintained in the entity table 306). A user can create a "personal story" in the form of a collection of content that has been created and sent / broadcasted by the user. To this end, the user interface of the messaging client 104 may include a user-selectable icon to enable the sending user to add specific content to his or her personal story.

[0087] The collection may also constitute a "live story" as a collection of content from multiple users, which is created manually, automatically, or using a combination of manual and automatic techniques. For example, a "live story" may constitute a curated stream of user-submitted content from different locations and events. Users whose client devices have location services enabled and who are at a co-located event at a particular time may be presented with an option, for example, via a user interface of the messaging client 104, to contribute content to a particular live story. Live stories may be identified to a user by the messaging client 104 based on his or her location. The end result is a "live story" told from a community perspective.

[0088] Another type of content collection is called a "location story," which enables users whose client devices 102 are located within a specific geographic location (e.g., on a college or university campus) to contribute to a particular collection. In some examples, contributions to location stories may require secondary authentication to verify that the end user belongs to a specific organization or other entity (e.g., is a student on a university campus).

[0089] As mentioned above, the video table 304 stores video data, which in one example is associated with a message whose record is maintained within the message table 302. Similarly, the image table 312 stores image data, which is associated with a message whose message data is stored in the entity table 306. The entity table 306 can associate various enhancements from the enhancement table 310 with the various images and videos stored in the image table 312 and the video table 304.

[0090] The database 126 may also include data for the external sharing system 216 within an external sharing table 318. The external sharing table 318 may store, for example, information about media content item attributes indicating the type of media content item (e.g., image, video, external link, etc.), or information about enhancements included in the media content item (e.g., identification of the enhancement, external link to the enhancement, etc.). The external sharing table 318 may also store, for example, product capabilities associated with each of the external applications 106 included on the client device 102. Another example of data stored within the external sharing table 318 is a watermark associated with the messaging client 104 or the messaging server system 108 that can be applied to the media content item by the external sharing system 216, and an external link associated with an identifier for each user on the messaging server system 108.

[0091] Data communication architecture

[0092] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a message 400 according to some examples, the message 400 being generated by a messaging client 104 for transmission to another messaging client 104 or a messaging server 118. The content of a particular message 400 is used to populate a message table 302 stored in a database 126, which is accessible by a messaging server 118. Similarly, the content of the message 400 is stored in memory as "in-flight" or "in-flight" data of a client device 102 or application server 114. The message 400 is shown to include the following example components:

[0093] Message identifier 402 : a unique identifier that identifies the message 400 .

[0094] Message text payload 404 : Text to be generated by a user via the user interface of the client device 102 and included in the message 400 .

[0095] Message image payload 406 : Image data captured by a camera component of the client device 102 or retrieved from a memory component of the client device 102 and included in the message 400 . Image data for a sent or received message 400 may be stored in the image table 312 .

[0096] Message video payload 408 : Video data captured by the camera component or retrieved from the memory component of the client device 102 and included in the message 400 . The video data of the message 400 sent or received may be stored in the video table 304 .

[0097] Message audio payload 410 : audio data captured by a microphone or retrieved from a memory component of the client device 102 and included in the message 400 .

[0098] Message enhancement data 412: Enhancement data (e.g., filters, stickers, or other annotations or enhancements) representing enhancements to be applied to the message image payload 406, message video payload 408, or message audio payload 410 of the message 400. The enhancement data for a sent or received message 400 may be stored in the enhancement table 310.

[0099] Message duration parameter 414: A parameter value indicating the amount of time in seconds that the content of the message (e.g., message image payload 406, message video payload 408, message audio payload 410) will be presented to or made accessible to the user via the messaging client 104.

[0100] Message geolocation parameters 416: Geolocation data (e.g., latitude and longitude coordinates) associated with the content payload of the message. Multiple message geolocation parameter 416 values ​​may be included in the payload, with each of these parameter values ​​being associated with a content item included in the content (e.g., a specific image within a message image payload 406 or a specific video in a message video payload 408).

[0101] Message story identifier 418: An identifier value that identifies one or more content collections (e.g., a "story" identified in stories table 314) associated with a particular content item in message image payload 406 of message 400. For example, an identifier value may be used to associate multiple images within message image payload 406 with each of multiple content collections.

[0102] Message Tags 420: Each message 400 may be tagged with a plurality of tags, each of which indicates the subject of the content included in the message payload. For example, a particular image included in the message image payload 406 depicts an animal (e.g., a lion).

[0103] In the case of a message tag 420, a tag value indicating the relevant animal may be included in the message tag 420. The tag value may be manually generated based on user input, or may be automatically generated using, for example, image recognition.

[0104] • Message sender identifier 422: An identifier (eg, a messaging system identifier, an email address, or a device identifier) ​​that indicates the user of the client device 102 on which the message 400 was generated and from which the message 400 was sent.

[0105] • Message recipient identifier 424: An identifier (eg, a messaging system identifier, an email address, or a device identifier) ​​that indicates the user of the client device 102 to which the message 400 is addressed.

[0106] The content (e.g., values) of the various components of message 400 may be pointers to locations in a table where content data values ​​are stored. For example, an image value in message image payload 406 may be a pointer to a location (or address of a location) within image table 312. Similarly, a value within message video payload 408 may point to data stored within video table 304, a value stored within message enhancement 412 may point to data stored in enhancement table 310, a value stored within message story identifier 418 may point to data stored in story table 314, and values ​​stored within message sender identifier 422 and message recipient identifier 424 may point to user records stored within entity table 306.

[0107] Although the described flow chart can show the operation as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or simultaneously. In addition, the order of the operations can be rearranged. When its operations are completed, the process terminates. The process can correspond to a method, a process, an algorithm, etc. The operations of the method can be performed in whole or in part, can be performed in combination with some or all operations in other methods, and can be performed by any number of different systems (such as the systems described herein) or any part thereof (such as a processor included in any system).

[0108] Time-based access restriction architecture

[0109] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an access restriction process 500, according to which access to content (e.g., a multimedia payload of an ephemeral message 502 and associated data) or a collection of content (e.g., an ephemeral message group 504) can be time-restricted (e.g., made ephemeral).

[0110] The ephemeral message 502 is shown associated with a message duration parameter 506, the value of which determines the amount of time that the messaging client 104 will display the ephemeral message 502 to the recipient user of the ephemeral message 502. In one example, depending on the amount of time specified by the sending user using the message duration parameter 506, the receiving user may view the ephemeral message 502 for up to 10 seconds.

[0111] The message duration parameter 506 and the message recipient identifier 424 are shown as inputs to a message timer 510, which is responsible for determining the amount of time that the transient message 502 is shown to a particular receiving user identified by the message recipient identifier 424. In particular, the transient message 502 is shown to the associated receiving user only for the period of time determined by the value of the message duration parameter 506. The message timer 510 is shown as providing an output to a more general transient timer system 202, which is responsible for the overall timing of displaying content (e.g., the transient message 502) to the receiving user.

[0112] Figure 5 502 is included in a transient message group 504 (e.g., a collection of messages in a personal story or an event story). The transient message group 504 has an associated group duration parameter 508, the value of which determines the duration for which the transient message group 504 is presented and accessible to users of the messaging system 100. For example, the group duration parameter 508 may be the duration of a concert, wherein the transient message group 504 is a collection of content belonging to the concert. Alternatively, a user (an owning user or a curator user) may specify a value for the group duration parameter 508 when performing setup and creation of the transient message group 504.

[0113] In addition, each ephemeral message 502 within the ephemeral message group 504 has an associated group participation parameter 512, the value of which determines the duration for which the ephemeral message 502 is accessible within the context of the ephemeral message group 504. Thus, a particular ephemeral message group 504 may "expire" and become inaccessible within the context of the ephemeral message group 504 before the particular ephemeral message group 504 itself expires according to the group duration parameter 508. The group duration parameter 508, the group participation parameter 512, and the message recipient identifier 424 each provide inputs to a group timer 514, which is operable to first determine whether a particular ephemeral message 502 of the ephemeral message group 504 is to be displayed to a particular receiving user, and if so, how long to display it. Note that the identity of the particular receiving user is also known to the ephemeral message group 504 due to the message recipient identifier 424.

[0114] Thus, the group timer 514 is operable to control the total lifespan of the associated ephemeral message group 504 and the individual ephemeral messages 502 included in the ephemeral message group 504. In one example, each ephemeral message 502 within the ephemeral message group 504 remains viewable and accessible for a period of time specified by the group duration parameter 508. In another example, within the context of the ephemeral message group 504, a particular ephemeral message 502 may expire based on the group participation parameter 512. Note that even within the context of the ephemeral message group 504, the message duration parameter 506 may still determine the duration for which a particular ephemeral message 502 is displayed to a receiving user. Thus, the message duration parameter 506 determines the duration for which a particular ephemeral message 502 is displayed to a receiving user, regardless of whether the receiving user is viewing the ephemeral message 502 within or outside the context of the ephemeral message group 504.

[0115] The transient timer system 202 may also be operable to remove a particular transient message 502 from the transient message group 504 based on a determination that an associated group participation parameter 512 has been exceeded. For example, when a sending user has established a group participation parameter 512 of 24 hours from posting, the transient timer system 202 will remove the associated transient message 502 from the transient message group 504 after the specified 24 hours. The transient timer system 202 is also operable to remove a transient message group 504 when the group participation parameter 512 for each transient message 502 within the transient message group 504 has expired, or when the transient message group 504 itself has expired according to the group duration parameter 508.

[0116] In some use cases, the creator of a particular ephemeral message group 504 may specify an indefinite group duration parameter 508. In this case, the expiration of the group participation parameter 512 of the last remaining ephemeral message 502 within the ephemeral message group 504 will determine when the ephemeral message group 504 itself expires. In this case, a new ephemeral message 502 with a new group participation parameter 512 added to the ephemeral message group 504 effectively extends the life of the ephemeral message group 504 to a value equal to the group participation parameter 512.

[0117] In response to the transient timer system 202 determining that the transient message group 504 has expired (e.g., is no longer accessible), the transient timer system 202 communicates with the messaging system 100 (and, for example, in particular, the messaging client 104) to cause the indicia (e.g., icon) associated with the relevant transient message group 504 to no longer be displayed within the user interface of the messaging client 104. Similarly, when the transient timer system 202 determines that the message duration parameter 506 for a particular transient message 502 has expired, the transient timer system 202 causes the messaging client 104 to no longer display the indicia (e.g., icon or text identification) associated with the transient message 502.

[0118] Process of generating a modified media content item

[0119] Figure 6 A flow chart of a process 600 for generating a modified media content item according to one embodiment is shown. The operations of process 600 may be performed by any number of different systems, such as by the messaging server 118 or messaging client 104 described herein, or any portion thereof, such as a processor included in any system.

[0120] At operation 602, the processor receives a media content item from a client device 102. The media content item may be an image, a picture, a video, a text, or any combination thereof. A first user may capture the media content item using a camera included in or coupled to the first client device 102.

[0121] At operation 604 , the processor causes a sharing interface to be displayed on the client device 102 . Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Fig. 9 Examples of sharing interfaces are shown in user interface 700, user interface 800, and user interface 900. The sharing interface may include selectable items associated with multiple external applications. Figure 8 and Fig. 9 , optional item 804, optional item 806, and optional item 808 are examples of optional items associated with external applications. The external application may be a messaging application capable of receiving and sending media content items from a user. In one example, the processor may detect multiple external applications included on the client device 102 and generate multiple optional items associated with the multiple external applications.

[0122] At operation 608, the processor may receive a selection of a first selectable item from the plurality of selectable items from the client device 102. The first selectable item may be associated with a first external application in the plurality of external applications. Figure 8 or Fig. 9, a user of the client device 102 can select a displayed selectable item 804. The selectable item 804 is associated with a first external application that is external or separate from the messaging server system 108 and the messaging client 104. The first external application can be one of the applications 106 stored in the client device 102.

[0123] At operation 610 , the processor determines attributes associated with the media content item, and at operation 612 , the processor generates a modified media content item based on the first external application and the attributes associated with the media content item.

[0124] The attribute associated with the media content item can indicate the type of the media content item. For example, the type of the media content item can be an image, a video, an external link, etc. The attribute associated with the media content item can also indicate the enhancement included in the media content item. For example, the media content item received at operation 602 can be a video with enhancements such as a lens, an overlay, a label, etc. In this example, the attribute associated with the media content item can include an indication that the type is a video and an identification that an enhancement has been applied.

[0125] In one example, the processor may also determine the product capabilities associated with the first external application. For example, when determining the product capabilities, the processor may determine whether the first external application is a product that supports multi-message, single message, or story sharing. Products that support multi-messages are products that can receive media content items (e.g., videos, images, etc.) and messages (e.g., text, emojis, external links, etc.). Products that support single messages are products that cannot receive both media content items and messages. Products that support story sharing are products that can receive or display a collection of media content. A collection of media content (e.g., stories) can also be accessed by multiple users via a broadcast to a client device of a recipient user.

[0126] The processor may generate a modified media content item based on the product capabilities associated with the first external application and the attributes associated with the media content item. For example, when the first external application supports multiple messages, the processor may generate the following: Fig.10 and Fig.11 Modified media content item 1002 is shown. Fig.10 A preview of the modified media content item 1002 on the sending client device 102 is shown. Fig.10 As shown, the processor may apply a watermark 1004 on the media content item to generate a modified media content item 1002 .

[0127] In one example, in response to the properties of the media content item indicating that the media content item is a photo or image and does not include enhancements (e.g., lenses, filters, stickers, etc.), when the first external application supports multiple messages, the processor generates a modified media content item including a watermark 1004 and a message containing a user external link. Fig.10 and Fig.11 As shown, a watermark 1004 associated with the messaging server system 108 is applied to the media content item to generate a modified media content item 1002. The processor also generates a message including a user external link, which can be a URL associated with a user identification of a sending user (e.g., a user handle) on the messaging server system 108. Via the URL, the receiving user downloads the messaging client 104 on the receiving user's client device 102 and becomes connected to the sending user on the messaging server system 108 (e.g., friending or adding). Fig.10 and Fig.11 An example of a user external link included in a modified media content item 1002 having the text "Add Me" is shown.

[0128] In another example, in response to the properties of the media content item indicating that the media content item is a photo or image and does include enhancements (e.g., lenses, filters, stickers, etc.), when the first external application supports multiple messages, the processor generates a modified media content item including a watermark 1004 and a message containing an enhanced external link. The enhanced external link can be a URL associated with a web link to the enhancement. The web link can provide access to a download of the enhancement.

[0129] In one example, in response to the attribute of the media content item indicating that the media content item is a video, when the first external application supports multiple messages, the generated and applied watermark 1004 is a post-roll watermark.

[0130] When the first external application supports single message, the processor will Fig.12 The watermark 1204 shown is added to a media content item that is an image and a video to generate a modified media content item. When the attributes of the media content item indicate that the media content item is a video, the watermark 1204 may be a post-roll watermark.

[0131] When the processor determines that the first external application supports story sharing, the processor generates a modified media content item 1302 by overlaying an overlay 1304 (e.g., a sticker associated with the user's identification code) on the media content item, which may be an image or video and may or may not include enhancements. Fig.13A preview of the modified media content item 1302 on the sending user's client device 102 is shown. Similar to a user external link, an overlay 1304 is associated with the sending user's user identification (e.g., user handle) on the messaging server system 108. Via the overlay 1304, the receiving user downloads the messaging client 104 on the receiving user's client device 102 and becomes connected to the sending user on the messaging server system 108 (e.g., friending or adding).

[0132] When the attribute of the media content item indicates that the media content item is an external link (eg, a URL), the processor generates the external link as the modified media content item.

[0133] At operation 612 , the processor causes the modified media content item to be displayed in a first external application activated on the client device 102 . Fig.11 The modified media content item 1002 is shown displayed in a first external application activated on the sending client device 102. Fig.11 In the example, the first external application supports multiple messages. Fig.12 The modified media content item 1202 is shown displayed in a first external application activated on the sending client device 102. Fig.12 It is understood that the receiving client device 102 on which the first external application is installed can also display the user interface 1100 and the user interface 1200 .

[0134] In one example, the processor may receive from the client device a selection of a recipient associated with the recipient client device. For example, the sharing interface may include selectable items associated with the recipient that may be selected by the user of the client device 102, such as Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The processor may receive a selection of the recipient based on a selectable item selected by the user. The processor may cause the modified media content item to be displayed in a first external application activated on the recipient client device. For example, Fig.14 The modified media content item 1302 is shown displayed in a first external application activated on the receiving client device 102. Fig.14 The first external app to support story sharing.

[0135] User interface examples

[0136] Figure 7An example of a user interface 700 displayed on a client device according to one embodiment is shown. User interface 700 is an example of a sharing interface displayed for a sending user on client device 102. User interface 700 includes an external sharing selectable item 702 that a user can select to initiate generation of a modified media content item for sending to an external application.

[0137] Figure 8 An example of a user interface 800 displayed on a client device is shown according to one embodiment. User interface 800 is an example of a sharing interface displayed on a client device 102 for a sending user.

[0138] In one example, the processor may detect activation of the external sharing selectable item 702, and in response to the detection, the processor causes portion 802 to be displayed on the user interface 800. Portion 802 includes selectable items associated with the external application (e.g., selectable item 804, selectable item 806, selectable item 808). Figure 8 As shown, the selectable items may include icons and texts identifying external applications. In one example, portion 802 is displayed on client device 102 as popping up from the bottom of the screen of client device 102 to present selectable items to the user.

[0139] Fig. 9 An example of a user interface 900 displayed on a client device according to one embodiment is shown. User interface 900 is an example of a sharing interface displayed on a client device 102 for a sending user.

[0140] In user interface 900, portion 902 appears more prominently on user interface 900. In one example, the processor may detect activation of external sharing selectable item 702, and in response to the detection, the processor causes portion 902 to be displayed on user interface 900. In another example, portion 902 is permanently included in user interface 900.

[0141] Similar to section 802, section 902 includes selectable items associated with external applications (eg, selectable item 804, selectable item 806, selectable item 808). Fig. 9 As shown, the selectable items may include icons and text identifying the external application.

[0142] Fig.10 An example of a user interface 1000 displayed on a client device according to one embodiment is shown. User interface 1000 may be displayed on a sending user's client device and provide a preview of a modified media content item 1002. User interface 1000 may be generated in response to determining that the first external application supports multiple messages.

[0143] like Fig.10 As shown, watermark 1004 associated with messaging server system 108 is applied to the media content item to generate modified media content item 1002. The processor also generates a message including a user external link, which can be a URL associated with a user identification of a sending user (e.g., a user handle) on messaging server system 108. Fig.10 An example of a user external link included in a modified media content item 1002 having the text "Add Me" is shown.

[0144] Fig.11 An example of a user interface 1100 displayed on a client device is shown according to one embodiment. Fig.11 A modified media content item 1002 is shown displayed in a first external application activated on the sending client device 102. The user interface 1100 can be displayed in response to determining that the first external application supports multiple messages.

[0145] like Fig.11 As shown, a message including a user external link is generated and included in the modified media content item 1002. Although not shown, the modified media content item 1002 also includes a watermark 1004.

[0146] Fig.12 An example of a user interface 1200 displayed on a client device is shown according to one embodiment. Fig.12 1. The modified media content item 1202 is shown displayed in a first external application activated on the sending client device 102. The user interface 1200 may be displayed in response to determining that the first external application supports single messages. Fig.12 As shown, modified media content item 1202 includes watermark 1204 .

[0147] Fig.13 An example of a user interface 1300 displayed on a client device according to one embodiment is shown. The user interface 1300 can be displayed in response to determining that the first external application supports story sharing. Fig.13 A preview of the modified media content item 1302 on the sending user's client device 102 is shown. The overlay 1304 is associated with a user identification of the sending user (eg, a user handle) on the messaging server system 108.

[0148] Fig.14 An example of a user interface 1400 displayed on a client device according to one embodiment is shown. The user interface 1400 can be displayed in response to determining that the first external application supports story sharing. Fig.14The modified media content item 1302 is shown displayed in a first external application activated on the receiving client device 102 .

[0149] Machine Architecture

[0150] Fig.15 1500 in which instructions 1510 (e.g., software, programs, applications, applet, app, or other executable code) may be executed to cause the machine 1500 to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein. For example, the instructions 1510 may cause the machine 1500 to perform any one or more of the methods described herein. The instructions 1510 transform a general-purpose, non-programmed machine 1500 into a specific machine 1500 that is programmed to perform the functions described and illustrated in the manner described. The machine 1500 may operate as a standalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine 1500 may operate in the capacity of a server machine or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine 1500 may include, but is not limited to, a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an entertainment media system, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a mobile device, a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch), a smart home device (e.g., a smart appliance), other smart devices, a web appliance, a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of sequentially or otherwise executing instructions 1510 specifying actions to be taken by the machine 1500. In addition, although only a single machine 1500 is shown, the term "machine" should also be considered to include a collection of machines that individually or jointly execute instructions 1510 to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein. For example, the machine 1500 may include any of the client device 102 or a number of server devices that form part of the messaging server system 108. In some examples, the machine 1500 may also include both a client and server system, where certain operations of a particular method or algorithm are performed on the server side and certain operations of a particular method or algorithm are performed on the client side.

[0151] The machine 1500 may include a processor 1504, a memory 1506, and an input / output (I / O) component 1502 that may be configured to communicate with each other via a bus 1540. In an example, the processor 1504 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), another processor, or any suitable combination thereof) may include, for example, a processor 1508 that executes instructions 1510 and a processor 1512. The term "processor" is intended to include a multi-core processor that may include two or more independent processors (sometimes referred to as "cores") that may execute instructions simultaneously. Although Fig.15 Multiple processors 1504 are shown, but machine 1500 may include a single processor with a single core, a single processor with multiple cores (e.g., a multi-core processor), multiple processors with a single core, multiple processors with multiple cores, or any combination thereof.

[0152] The memory 1506 includes a main memory 1514, a static memory 1516, and a storage unit 1518 that are accessible to the processor 1504 via the bus 1540. The main memory 1506, the static memory 1516, and the storage unit 1518 store instructions 1510 that implement any one or more of the methods or functions described herein. The instructions 1510 may also reside, completely or partially, within the main memory 1514, within the static memory 1516, within the machine-readable medium 1520 within the storage unit 1518, within at least one of the processors 1504 (e.g., within a cache memory of a processor), or any suitable combination thereof during execution thereof by the machine 1500.

[0153] I / O components 1502 may include various components for receiving input, providing output, generating output, sending information, exchanging information, capturing measurements, etc. The specific I / O components 1502 included in a particular machine will depend on the type of machine. For example, a portable machine such as a mobile phone may include a touch input device or other such input mechanism, while a headless server machine may not include such a touch input device. It will be appreciated that I / O components 1502 may include Fig.151502. In various examples, the I / O components 1502 may include a user output component 1526 and a user input component 1528. The user output component 1526 may include a visual component (e.g., a display such as a plasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), an acoustic component (e.g., a speaker), a tactile component (e.g., a vibration motor, a resistance mechanism), other signal generators, etc. The user input component 1528 may include an alphanumeric input component (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screen configured to receive alphanumeric input, an optical keyboard, or other alphanumeric input component), a point-based input component (e.g., a mouse, a touch pad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or another pointing instrument), a tactile input component (e.g., a physical button, a touch screen or other tactile input component that provides location and force of a touch or touch gesture), an audio input component (e.g., a microphone), etc.

[0154] In other examples, the I / O component 1502 may include a biometric component 1530, a motion component 1532, an environment component 1534, or a position component 1536, as well as various other components. For example, the biometric component 1530 includes components for detecting expressions (e.g., hand expressions, facial expressions, voice expressions, body postures, or eye tracking), measuring biosignals (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, sweat, or brain waves), identifying people (e.g., voice recognition, retinal recognition, facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, or EEG-based recognition), etc. The motion component 1532 includes an acceleration sensor component (e.g., an accelerometer), a gravity sensor component, and a rotation sensor component (e.g., a gyroscope).

[0155] Environmental components 1534 include, for example, one or more cameras (with still image / photo and video capabilities), lighting sensor components (e.g., a photometer), temperature sensor components (e.g., one or more thermometers that detect ambient temperature), humidity sensor components, pressure sensor components (e.g., a barometer), acoustic sensor components (e.g., one or more microphones that detect background noise), proximity sensor components (e.g., an infrared sensor that detects nearby objects), gas sensors (e.g., a gas detection sensor that detects concentrations of hazardous gases for safety or measures pollutants in the atmosphere), or other components that can provide indications, measurements, or signals corresponding to the surrounding physical environment.

[0156] With respect to cameras, client device 102 may have a camera system including, for example, a front-facing camera on a front surface of client device 102 and a rear-facing camera on a rear surface of client device 102. The front-facing camera may, for example, be used to capture still images and videos of a user of client device 102 (e.g., a "selfie"), which may then be enhanced with the enhancement data (e.g., filters) described above. For example, the rear-facing camera may be used to capture still images and videos in a more conventional camera mode, which images are similarly enhanced with the enhancement data. In addition to the front-facing camera and the rear-facing camera, client device 102 may also include a 360° camera for capturing 360° photos and videos.

[0157] Additionally, the camera system of the client device 102 may include dual rear cameras (e.g., a main camera and a depth sensing camera), or even triple, quad, or quintuple rear camera configurations on the front and back sides of the client device 102. For example, these multi-camera systems may include a wide-angle camera, an ultra-wide-angle camera, a telephoto camera, a macro camera, and a depth sensor.

[0158] The positioning component 1536 includes a position sensor component (e.g., a GPS receiver component), an altitude sensor component (e.g., an altimeter or a barometer that detects air pressure that can obtain the altitude), an orientation sensor component (e.g., a magnetometer), and the like.

[0159] Various technologies may be used to achieve communication. The I / O component 1502 also includes a communication component 1538 that is operable to couple the machine 1500 to the network 1522 or device 1524 via a corresponding coupling or connection. For example, the communication component 1538 may include a network interface component or other suitable device that interfaces with the network 1522. In other examples, the communication component 1538 may include a wired communication component, a wireless communication component, a cellular communication component, a near field communication (NFC) component, Components (e.g. Low power consumption), Device 1524 may be another machine or any of a variety of peripherals (eg, a peripheral coupled via USB).

[0160] In addition, the communication component 1538 can detect an identifier or include a component operable to detect an identifier. For example, the communication component 1538 can include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader component, an NFC smart tag detection component, an optical reader component (e.g., an optical sensor for detecting one-dimensional bar codes such as universal product code (UPC) bar codes, multi-dimensional bar codes such as quick response (QR) codes, Aztec codes, data matrix, data symbol (Dataglyph), MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, UCC RSS-2D bar codes and other optical codes) or an acoustic detection component (e.g., a microphone for identifying an audio signal of a tag). In addition, various information can be obtained via the communication component 1538, such as location obtained via Internet Protocol (IP) geolocation, ... Positioning derived from signal triangulation, positioning derived via detection of NFC beacon signals that can indicate a specific position, etc.

[0161] Various memories (e.g., main memory 1514, static memory 1516, and memory of processor 1504) and storage unit 1518 may store one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g., software) implemented or used by any one or more of the methods or functions described herein. These instructions (e.g., instructions 1510) when executed by processor 1504 cause various operations to implement the disclosed examples.

[0162] The instructions 1510 may be sent or received via a network interface device (e.g., a network interface component included in the communication component 1538) using a transmission medium and using any of several well-known transmission protocols (e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)) over the network 1522. Similarly, the instructions 1510 may be sent or received via a coupling (e.g., a peer-to-peer coupling) to the device 1524 using a transmission medium.

[0163] Software Architecture

[0164] Fig.16 1600 is a block diagram illustrating a software architecture 1604 that may be installed on any one or more of the devices described herein. The software architecture 1604 is supported by hardware such as a machine 1602 including a processor 1620, a memory 1626, and an I / O component 1638. In this example, the software architecture 1604 may be conceptualized as a stack of layers, where each layer provides specific functionality. The software architecture 1604 includes layers such as an operating system 1612, libraries 1515, a framework 1608, and an application 1606. In operation, the application 1606 invokes an API call 1650 through the software stack and receives a message 1652 in response to the API call 1650.

[0165] The operating system 1612 manages hardware resources and provides public services. The operating system 1612 includes, for example, a kernel 1614, services 1616, and drivers 1622. The kernel 1614 acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware layer and other software layers. For example, the kernel 1614 provides functions such as memory management, processor management (e.g., scheduling), component management, networking, and security settings. Services 1616 can provide other public services to other software layers. Drivers 1622 are responsible for controlling or interfacing with the underlying hardware. For example, drivers 1622 may include display drivers, camera drivers, or Low-power drivers, Flash drivers, Serial communication drivers (e.g., USB drivers), Drivers, audio drivers, power management drivers, etc.

[0166] The libraries 1610 provide a common low-level infrastructure used by the applications 1606. The libraries 1610 may include a system library 1618 (e.g., a C standard library) that provides functions such as memory allocation functions, string manipulation functions, mathematical functions, etc. In addition, the libraries 1610 may include an API library 1624, such as a media library (e.g., a library for supporting the presentation and operation of various media formats, such as Moving Picture Experts Group-4 (MPEG4), Advanced Video Coding (H.264 or AVC), Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 (MP3), Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) audio codec, Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG or JPG), or Portable Network Graphics (PNG)), a graphics library (e.g., an OpenGL framework for presenting in two dimensions (2D) and three dimensions (3D) in graphical content on a display), a database library (e.g., SQLite providing various relational database functions), a web library (e.g., WebKit providing web browsing functions), etc. The library 1610 may also include a variety of other libraries 1628 to provide many other APIs to the application 1606 .

[0167] The framework 1608 provides a common high-level infrastructure used by the applications 1606. For example, the framework 1608 provides various graphical user interface (GUI) functions, high-level resource management, and high-level positioning services. The framework 1608 can provide a wide range of other APIs that can be used by the applications 1606, some of which can be specific to a particular operating system or platform.

[0168] In an example, applications 1606 may include a home application 1636, a contacts application 1630, a browser application 1632, a book reader application 1634, a positioning application 1642, a media application 1644, a messaging application 1646, a game application 1648, and a variety of other applications such as third-party applications 1640. Application 1606 is a program that executes the functions defined in the program. Various programming languages ​​can be used to create one or more of the applications 1606 constructed in various ways, such as an object-oriented programming language (e.g., Objective-C, Java, or C++) or a procedural programming language (e.g., C or assembly language). In a specific example, third-party applications 1640 (e.g., used by an entity other than the vendor of a particular platform using ANDROID TM or IOS TM Software Development Kit (SDK) can be used to develop applications on platforms such as IOS TM ANDROID TM , Mobile software running on the mobile operating system of the phone or other mobile operating systems. In this example, third-party applications 1640 can activate API calls 1650 provided by the operating system 1612 to facilitate the functions described in this article.

[0169] Processing components

[0170] Now go to Fig.17 , Fig.17 A diagrammatic representation of a processing environment 1700 is shown, including a processor 1702, a processor 1706, and a processor 1708 (eg, a GPU, a CPU, or a combination thereof).

[0171] Processor 1702 is shown coupled to power supply 1704 and is shown to include a (permanently configured or temporarily instantiated) module, namely external sharing component 1710. External sharing component 1710 is operable to perform operations of describing process 600 or operations performed by external sharing system 216. Specifically, external sharing component 1710 generates modified media content items to be shared via external applications. As shown, processor 1702 is communicatively coupled to both processor 1706 and processor 1708.

[0172] Glossary

[0173] "Carrier signal" refers to any intangible medium that can store, encode or carry instructions for execution by a machine and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible media to facilitate communication of such instructions. Instructions may be sent or received over a network using a transmission medium via a network interface device.

[0174] "Client Device" refers to any machine that interfaces with a communications network to obtain resources from one or more server systems or other client devices. A client device may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a tablet computer, an ultrabook, a netbook, a laptop computer, a multiprocessor system, a microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics product, a game console, a set-top box, or any other communications device that a user may use to access a network.

[0175] "Communications network" means one or more parts of a network, which may be an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), the Internet, a part of the Internet, a part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN), a plain old telephone service (POTS) network, a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, The coupling may be a network, another type of network, or a combination of two or more such networks. For example, the network or a portion of the network may include a wireless network or a cellular network, and the coupling may be a code division multiple access (CDMA) connection, a global system for mobile communications (GSM) connection, or other type of cellular or wireless coupling. In this example, the coupling may implement any of various types of data transmission technologies, such as single carrier radio transmission technology (1xRTT), evolution data optimized (EVDO) technology, general packet radio service (GPRS) technology, enhanced data rate for GSM evolution (EDGE) technology, including the third generation partnership project (3GPP) of 3G, fourth generation wireless (4G) network, universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), high speed packet access (HSPA), world wide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), long term evolution (LTE) standards, other data transmission technologies defined by various standard setting organizations, other long distance protocols, or other data transmission technologies.

[0176] "Component" refers to a device, physical entity or logic with the following boundaries: the boundaries are defined by function or subroutine calls, branch points, APIs or other technologies that provide partitioning or modularization for specific processing or control functions. Components can be combined with other components via their interfaces to perform machine processing. Components can be packaged functional hardware units designed for use with other components and can be part of a program that generally performs specific functions in related functions. Components can constitute software components (e.g., codes embodied on machine-readable media) or hardware components. "Hardware components" are tangible units that can perform certain operations and can be configured or arranged in a certain physical manner. In various examples, one or more computer systems (e.g., independent computer systems, client computer systems, or server computer systems) or one or more hardware components (e.g., processors or processor groups) of a computer system can be configured by software (e.g., applications or application parts) to operate to perform certain operations as described herein. Hardware components can also be implemented mechanically, electronically, or in any suitable combination thereof. For example, a hardware component may include a dedicated circuit system or logic that is permanently configured to perform certain operations. The hardware component may be a dedicated processor, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The hardware component may also include a programmable logic or circuit system that is temporarily configured to perform certain operations by software. For example, the hardware component may include software executed by a general-purpose processor or other programmable processor. Once configured by such software, the hardware component becomes a specific machine (or a specific component of a machine) that is uniquely customized to perform the configured function and is no longer a general-purpose processor. It should be understood that it can be decided whether to mechanically implement the hardware component in a dedicated and permanently configured circuit system or in a temporarily configured (e.g., configured by software) circuit system for cost and time considerations. Therefore, the phrase "hardware component" (or "hardware-implemented component") should be understood to include a tangible entity, that is, an entity that is physically constructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired) or temporarily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in some way or perform certain operations described herein. Considering an example in which a hardware component is temporarily configured (e.g., programmed), it is not necessary to configure or instantiate each hardware component in the hardware component at any one time. For example, where a hardware component includes a general purpose processor that is configured by software to be a special purpose processor, the general purpose processor may be configured as different special purpose processors (e.g., including different hardware components) at different times. The software configures one or more specific processors accordingly, such as to constitute a specific hardware component at one time and to constitute different hardware components at different times. Hardware components may provide information to other hardware components and receive information from other hardware components. Therefore, the described hardware components may be considered to be communicatively coupled.In the case of multiple hardware components being present at the same time, communication can be realized by (for example, by appropriate circuits and buses) transmitting signals between or among two or more hardware components in these hardware components. In examples where multiple hardware components are configured or instantiated at different times, communication between such hardware components can be realized, for example, by storing information in a memory structure accessible to multiple hardware components and retrieving information in the memory structure. For example, a hardware component can perform an operation, and the output of the operation is stored in a memory device coupled to it in communication. Then, other hardware components can access the memory device at a subsequent time to retrieve the stored output and process it. The hardware component can also initiate communication with an input device or an output device, and can operate on resources (for example, a collection of information). The various operations of the example methods described in this article can be performed at least in part by one or more processors that are temporarily configured (for example, by software) or permanently configured to perform related operations. Whether it is temporarily configured or permanently configured, such a processor can constitute a processor-implemented component that operates to perform one or more operations or functions described herein. As used herein, "processor-implemented components" refer to hardware components implemented using one or more processors. Similarly, the method described in this article can be implemented at least in part by a processor, wherein one or more specific processors are examples of hardware. For example, at least some operations in the operation of the method can be performed by one or more processors 1004 or the parts implemented by the processor. In addition, one or more processors can also operate to support the execution of related operations in a "cloud computing" environment or as a "software as a service" (SaaS) operation. For example, at least some operations in the operation can be performed by a computer group (as an example of a machine including a processor), wherein these operations can be accessed via a network (e.g., the Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., API). The execution of certain operations can be distributed between processors, not only resident in a single machine, but also deployed across multiple machines. In some examples, a processor or a part implemented by a processor can be located in a single geographic location (e.g., in a home environment, an office environment, or a server cluster). In other examples, a processor or a part implemented by a processor can be distributed across multiple geographic locations.

[0177] "Computer-readable storage media" refers to both machine storage media and transmission media. Therefore, these terms include both storage devices / media and carrier / modulated data signals. The terms "machine-readable medium", "computer-readable medium" and "device-readable medium" mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably in this disclosure.

[0178] "Ephemeral messages" are messages that can be accessed for a limited duration of time. Ephemeral messages can be text, images, videos, etc. The access time of an ephemeral message can be set by the sender of the message. Alternatively, the access time can be a default setting or a setting specified by the recipient. Regardless of the setting technique, the message is ephemeral.

[0179] "Machine storage media" refers to a single or multiple storage devices and media (e.g., centralized or distributed databases, and associated caches and servers) that store executable instructions, routines, and data. Thus, the term should be considered to include, but is not limited to, solid-state memory and optical and magnetic media, including memory internal or external to the processor. Specific examples of machine storage media, computer storage media, and device storage media include: non-volatile memory, including, for example, semiconductor memory devices such as erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), FPGA, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The terms "machine storage media", "device storage media", "computer storage media" mean the same thing and may be used interchangeably in this disclosure. The terms "machine storage media", "computer storage media", and "device storage media" expressly exclude carrier waves, modulated data signals, and other such media, at least some of which are covered by the term "signal media".

[0180] “Non-transitory computer-readable storage medium” refers to tangible media capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions to be executed by a machine.

[0181] "Signal medium" refers to any intangible medium that can store, encode or carry instructions executed by a machine and includes digital or analog communication signals or other intangible media that facilitate the communication of software or data. The term "signal medium" should be deemed to include any form of modulated data signals, carrier waves, etc. The term "modulated data signal" means a signal in which one or more of its characteristics is set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. The terms "transmission medium" and "signal medium" mean the same thing and may be used interchangeably in this disclosure.

[0182] The present invention can also be implemented through the following embodiments.

[0183] Embodiment 1. A method comprising:

[0184] receiving, by a processor, a media content item from a client device;

[0185] causing a sharing interface to be displayed on the client device, the sharing interface comprising a plurality of selectable items associated with a plurality of external applications;

[0186] receiving, from the client device, a selection of a first selectable item among the plurality of selectable items, the first selectable item being associated with a first external application among the plurality of external applications;

[0187] determining an attribute associated with the media content item;

[0188] generating a modified media content item based on the first external application and the attributes associated with the media content item; and

[0189] The modified media content item is caused to be displayed in the first external application activated on the client device.

[0190] Embodiment 2. A method according to embodiment 1, wherein an attribute associated with the media content item indicates a type of the media content item, wherein the type is one of the following: an image, a video, or an external link.

[0191] Embodiment 3. A method according to embodiment 1, wherein the attribute associated with the media content item indicates an enhancement included in the media content item.

[0192] Embodiment 4. The method according to embodiment 1 further comprises:

[0193] Product capabilities associated with the first external application are determined.

[0194] Embodiment 5. The method of embodiment 4, wherein generating a modified media content item based on the first external application further comprises:

[0195] The modified media content item is generated based on product capabilities associated with the first external application.

[0196] Embodiment 6. The method of embodiment 1, wherein generating the modified media content item further comprises:

[0197] applying a watermark on the media content item;

[0198] generating a message including a user external link, wherein the user external link is associated with a user of the client device;

[0199] generating a message including an enhancement external link, wherein the enhancement external link is associated with an enhancement included in the media content item; or

[0200] An overlay is applied to the media content item, the overlay being associated with a user of the client device.

[0201] Embodiment 7. The method according to embodiment 1 further comprises:

[0202] detecting the plurality of external applications included on the client device; and

[0203] The plurality of selectable items associated with the plurality of external applications are generated.

[0204] Embodiment 8. The method according to embodiment 1 further comprising:

[0205] receiving, from the client device, a selection of a recipient associated with a recipient client device; and

[0206] The modified media content item is caused to be displayed in the first external application activated on the recipient client device.

[0207] Embodiment 9. A system comprising:

[0208] Processor; and

[0209] A memory, wherein instructions are stored in the memory, and when the instructions are executed by the processor, the system performs operations, the operations comprising:

[0210] receiving a media content item from a client device;

[0211] causing a sharing interface to be displayed on the client device, the sharing interface comprising a plurality of selectable items associated with a plurality of external applications;

[0212] receiving, from the client device, a selection of a first selectable item among the plurality of selectable items, the first selectable item being associated with a first external application among the plurality of external applications;

[0213] determining an attribute associated with the media content item;

[0214] generating a modified media content item based on the first external application and the attributes associated with the media content item; and

[0215] The modified media content item is caused to be displayed in the first external application activated on the client device.

[0216] Embodiment 10. A system according to embodiment 9, wherein the attribute associated with the media content item indicates the type of the media content item, wherein the type is one of the following: image, video, or external link.

[0217] Embodiment 11. A system according to embodiment 9, wherein the attribute associated with the media content item indicates an enhancement included in the media content item.

[0218] Embodiment 12. The system of embodiment 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

[0219] Product capabilities associated with the first external application are determined.

[0220] Embodiment 13. The system of embodiment 12, wherein generating a modified media content item based on the first external application further comprises:

[0221] The modified media content item is generated based on product capabilities associated with the first external application.

[0222] Embodiment 14. The system of embodiment 9, wherein generating the modified media content item further comprises:

[0223] applying a watermark on the media content item;

[0224] generating a message including a user external link, wherein the user external link is associated with a user of the client device;

[0225] generating a message including an enhancement external link, wherein the enhancement external link is associated with an enhancement included in the media content item; or

[0226] An overlay is applied to the media content item, the overlay being associated with a user of the client device.

[0227] Embodiment 15. The system of embodiment 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

[0228] detecting the plurality of external applications included on the client device; and

[0229] The plurality of selectable items associated with the plurality of external applications are generated.

[0230] Embodiment 16. The system of embodiment 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

[0231] receiving, from the client device, a selection of a recipient associated with a recipient client device; and

[0232] The modified media content item is caused to be displayed in the first external application activated on the recipient client device.

[0233] Embodiment 17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform operations comprising:

[0234] receiving a media content item from a client device;

[0235] causing a sharing interface to be displayed on the client device, the sharing interface comprising a plurality of selectable items associated with a plurality of external applications;

[0236] receiving, from the client device, a selection of a first selectable item among the plurality of selectable items, the first selectable item being associated with a first external application among the plurality of external applications;

[0237] determining an attribute associated with the media content item;

[0238] generating a modified media content item based on the first external application and the attributes associated with the media content item; and

[0239] The modified media content item is caused to be displayed in the first external application activated on the client device.

[0240] Embodiment 18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to embodiment 17, wherein an attribute associated with the media content item indicates a type of the media content item, wherein the type is one of the following: an image, a video, or an external link.

[0241] Embodiment 19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to embodiment 17, wherein the attribute associated with the media content item indicates an enhancement included in the media content item.

[0242] Embodiment 20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of embodiment 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

[0243] Product capabilities associated with the first external application are determined.

[0244] Embodiment 21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of embodiment 20, wherein generating a modified media content item based on the first external application further comprises:

[0245] The modified media content item is generated based on product capabilities associated with the first external application.

[0246] Embodiment 22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of embodiment 17, wherein generating the modified media content item further comprises:

[0247] applying a watermark on the media content item;

[0248] generating a message including a user external link, wherein the user external link is associated with a user of the client device;

[0249] generating a message including an enhancement external link, wherein the enhancement external link is associated with an enhancement included in the media content item; or

[0250] An overlay is applied to the media content item, the overlay being associated with a user of the client device.

[0251] Embodiment 23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of embodiment 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

[0252] detecting the plurality of external applications included on the client device; and

[0253] The plurality of selectable items associated with the plurality of external applications are generated.

[0254] Embodiment 24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of embodiment 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

[0255] receiving, from the client device, a selection of a recipient associated with a recipient client device; and

[0256] The modified media content item is caused to be displayed in the first external application activated on the recipient client device.

Claims

1. A method comprising: The processor causes a sharing interface of the message sending and receiving system to be displayed on the client device; receiving, from the client device, a selection of a selectable item on the sharing interface, the selectable item being associated with an external application; determining product capabilities associated with the external application; generating a modified media content item from the media content item based on product capabilities associated with the external application; as well as The modified media content item is sent via the external application to a recipient client device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining an attribute associated with the media content item; as well as The modified media content item is generated based on product capabilities associated with the external application and attributes associated with the media content item.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The attribute associated with the media content item indicates a type of the media content item, wherein the type is one of: an image, a video, or an external link.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein: A property associated with the media content item indicates an enhancement included in the media content item.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Generating the modified media content item further comprises: applying a watermark on the media content item; generating a message including a user external link, wherein the user external link is associated with a user of the client device; generating a message including an enhancement external link, wherein the enhancement external link is associated with an enhancement included in the media content item; or An overlay is applied to the media content item, the overlay being associated with a user of the client device.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting the external application included on the client device; as well as The selectable item associated with the external application is generated.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The modified media content item is caused to be displayed in the external application activated on the client device.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The modified media content item is caused to be displayed in the external application activated on the recipient client device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Indication of product capabilities associated with the external application: The external application supports multiple messages, single message or story sharing, Among them, the external application supporting multiple messages can receive both media content items and messages, the external application supporting single messages cannot receive both media content items and messages, and the external application supporting story sharing can receive a collection of media content.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The product capabilities associated with the external application indicate that the external application supports multi-messages, and generating the modified media content item further comprises: applying a watermark on the media content item; and generating a message including at least one of: a user external link or an enhanced external link, Wherein the user external link is associated with a user of the client device, and wherein the enhancement external link is associated with an enhancement included in the media content item.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The product capabilities associated with the external application indicate that the external application supports single messaging, and generating the modified media content item further comprises: A watermark is applied to the media content item.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The product capabilities associated with the external application indicate that the external application supports story sharing, and generating the modified media content item further comprises: An overlay is applied to the media content item, the overlay being associated with a user of the client device.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The external application is distinct from the messaging system.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The sharing interface includes a plurality of selectable items associated with a plurality of external applications, and the selection of the selectable item on the sharing interface includes selecting the selectable item from among the plurality of selectable items.

15. A system comprising: processor; as well as A memory, wherein instructions are stored in the memory, and when the instructions are executed by the processor, the system performs operations, the operations comprising: The processor causes a sharing interface of the message sending and receiving system to be displayed on the client device; receiving, from the client device, a selection of a selectable item on the sharing interface, the selectable item being associated with an external application; determining product capabilities associated with the external application; generating a modified media content item from the media content item based on product capabilities associated with the external application; and The modified media content item is sent via the external application to a recipient client device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein: The operations also include: determining attributes associated with the media content item; and The modified media content item is generated based on product capabilities associated with the external application and attributes associated with the media content item.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein: The operations also include: applying a watermark on the media content item; generating a message including a user external link, wherein the user external link is associated with a user of the client device; generating a message including an enhancement external link, wherein the enhancement external link is associated with an enhancement included in the media content item; or An overlay is applied to the media content item, the overlay being associated with a user of the client device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein: The operations also include: detecting the external application included on the client device; and The selectable item associated with the external application is generated.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein: Indication of product capabilities associated with the external application: The external application supports multiple messages, single message or story sharing, Among them, the external application supporting multiple messages can receive both media content items and messages, the external application supporting single messages cannot receive both media content items and messages, and the external application supporting story sharing can receive a collection of media content.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform operations comprising: The client device causes a sharing interface of the message sending and receiving system to be displayed on the client device; receiving, from the client device, a selection of a selectable item on the sharing interface, the selectable item being associated with an external application; determining product capabilities associated with the external application; generating a modified media content item from the media content item based on product capabilities associated with the external application; as well as The modified media content item is sent via the external application to a recipient client device.

Images