Facebook patents social networking update feeds

Facebook has won a US patent on news feeds behind the kinds of real-time updates that make social-networking websites a hit with users."The launch of News Feed in 2006 was a pivotal moment in Facebook?s history and changed the way millions of people consumed and discovered information on the site," Facebook said Friday in an email response to an AFP inquiry."We?re humbled by the growth and adoption of News Feed over time and pleased with being awarded the patent."

Facebook has won a US patent on news feeds behind the kinds of real-time updates that make social-networking websites a hit with users."The launch of News Feed in 2006 was a pivotal moment in Facebook?s history and changed the way millions of people consumed and discovered information on the site," Facebook said Friday in an email response to an AFP inquiry."We?re humbled by the growth and adoption of News Feed over time and pleased with being awarded the patent."

Facebook just announced a massive redesign of the News Feed, one of the social network's core features. 

Facebook is set to release a huge update to its news feed.

Seven years ago, Facebook introduced its News Feed. Since then, the feature has gone relatively unchanged. It's one giant stream of your friends' updates, from music they're listening to articles they're reading, to pictures they're sharing. Tomorrow, that's going to change.

SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Facebook will pay Microsoft Corp $550 million for hundreds of patents that originated with AOL, beefing up its intellectual property arsenal. The deal gives social network Facebook 650 patents and patent applications and license to another 275 patents and applications. It comes shortly before Facebook is expected to have the largest initial public offering in Silicon Valley history. Patents have become a top priority for technology companies as many of them, including Google Inc and Apple Inc, become embroiled in patent-related lawsuits. ...

By TechCrunch: By Leonid Kravets