Computer implemented methods and apparatus for implementing a topical-based highlights filter

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving information identifying a first one of a plurality of users of a social networking system associated with a database system implemented using a server system, the social networking system having a plurality of entities and a plurality of topics;

automatically identifying, using the database system, a plurality of highlight sources of the social networking system as being pertinent to the first user, the highlight sources comprising two or more of:

an inner circle highlight source comprising a first subset of: the users, the entities, and/or combinations thereof with which the first user interacts most using the social networking system,

a global influence highlight source comprising a second subset of: the users, the entities, and/or combinations thereof that exert the most influence in the social networking system,

a topical highlight source comprising a third subset of the topics, the third subset of the topics deemed most relevant to the first user, and

a serendipity highlight source comprising a fourth subset of the users, the entities, the topics, and/or combinations thereof, the fourth subset determined based at least in part on random selection;

automatically identifying, using the database system, a plurality of highlights from the highlight sources, the highlights comprising social network data stored or identified using the database system;

automatically identifying, using the database system, subject matter associated with the identified highlights;

automatically determining, using the database system, social network information to be presented to the first user based on the identified subject matter, the social network information associated with one or more of the plurality of topics corresponding to the identified subject matter;

associating the social network information with metadata indicating an assessment of user sentiment, the metadata capable of being stored in the database system; and

causing the social network information to be provided to a device associated with the first user, the device operable to display a presentation in a user interface, the presentation comprising at least: a reference to the highlights, a reference to the social network information, and a reference to a highlight source associated with the social network information.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the identified highlights include information updates of one or more feeds of the social networking system.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the identified highlights include one or more of: posts, messages, conversations, entities, records, uploaded files, products, advertisements, or multimedia data of the social networking system.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the identified highlights include customer relationship management (CRM) data associated with one or more of: an account, a case, a contact, a lead, or an opportunity.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the identified highlights include a change in: a field of a CRM object, a status of a CRM object, or a type of a CRM object.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying subject matter associated with the identified highlights includes identifying one or more topics associated with the identified highlights.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining social network information to be presented to the first user includes determining one or more sentiments associated with the identified subject matter.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the determined social network information includes all or a subset of the identified highlights.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the determined social network information includes one or more of: users, entities, topics, information updates, or conversations.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the presentation includes determined social network information derived from at least two of the highlight sources.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the presentation includes a feed of the social networking system, the feed including the social network information.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the presentation includes a feed of the social networking system, the feed including a first region including first social network information with a reference to a first one of the highlight sources and a second region including second social network information with a reference to a second one of the highlight sources.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the presentation includes a recommendation for the first user to follow one or more users, entities, or topics.

14. A database system configurable to cause:

processing information identifying a first one of a plurality of users of a social networking system associated with the database system, the database system implemented using a server system, the social networking system having a plurality of entities and a plurality of topics;

automatically identifying, using the database system, a plurality of highlight sources of the social networking system as being pertinent to the first user, the highlight sources comprising two or more of:

an inner circle highlight source comprising a first subset of: the users, the entities, and/or combinations thereof with which the first user interacts most using the social networking system,

a global influence highlight source comprising a second subset of: the users, the entities, and/or combinations thereof that exert the most influence in the social networking system,

a topical highlight source comprising a third subset of the topics, the third subset of the topics deemed most relevant to the first user, and

a serendipity highlight source comprising a fourth subset of the users, the entities, the topics, and/or combinations thereof, the fourth subset determined based at least in part on random selection;

automatically identifying, using the database system, a plurality of highlights from the highlight sources, the highlights comprising social network data stored or identified using the database system;

automatically identifying, using the database system, subject matter associated with the identified highlights;

automatically determining, using the database system, social network information to be presented to the first user based on the identified subject matter, the social network information associated with one or more of the plurality of topics corresponding to the identified subject matter;

associating the social network information with metadata indicating an assessment of user sentiment, the metadata capable of being stored in the database system; and

providing the social network information to a device associated with the first user, the device operable to display a presentation in a user interface, the presentation comprising at least: a reference to the highlights, a reference to the social network information, and a reference to a highlight source associated with the social network information.

15. A computer program product comprising program code to be executed by at least one processor when retrieved from a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the program code comprising instructions configured to cause:

processing, information identifying a first one of a plurality of users of a social networking system associated with a database system implemented using a server system, the social networking system having a plurality of entities and a plurality of topics;

automatically identifying, using the database system, a plurality of highlight sources of the social networking system as being pertinent to the first user, the highlight sources comprising two or more of:

an inner circle highlight source comprising a first subset of: the users, the entities, and/or combinations thereof with which the first user interacts most using the social networking system,

a global influence highlight source comprising a second subset of: the users, the entities, and/or combinations thereof that exert the most influence in the social networking system,

a topical highlight source comprising a third subset of the topics, the third subset of the topics deemed most relevant to the first user, and

a serendipity highlight source comprising a fourth subset of the users, the entities, the topics, and/or combinations thereof, the fourth subset determined based at least in part on random selection;

automatically identifying, using the database system, a plurality of highlights from the highlight sources, the highlights comprising social network data stored or identified using the database system;

automatically identifying, using the database system, subject matter associated with the identified highlights;

automatically determining, using the database system, social network information to be presented to the first user based on the identified subject matter, the social network information associated with one or more of the plurality of topics corresponding to the identified subject matter;

associating the social network information with metadata indicating an assessment of user sentiment, the metadata capable of being stored in the database system; and

providing the social network information to a device associated with the first user, the device operable to display a presentation in a user interface, the presentation comprising at least: a reference to the highlights, a reference to the social network information, and a reference to a highlight source associated with the social network information.