SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COORDINATING EVENTS

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining, by a social networking system, a set of configuration options for an event, the configuration options specifying information for grouping users that are participating in the event;

determining, by the social networking system, that a set of users have confirmed their participation in the event;

assigning, by the social networking system, each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event; and

providing, by the social networking system, each user assigned to a group with information describing at least their respective group.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration options specify one or more of: a geographic location at which the event is being held, a number of users to include in a group, one or more days on which the event is held, how frequently the event is held, and at least one approach for assigning users to groups.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining that a set of users have confirmed their participation in the event further comprises:

sending, by the social networking system, a calendar invite for the event to each user that has opted-in to attend the event; and

determining, by the social networking system, the set of users that have accepted their respective calendar invite.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event further comprises:

assigning, by the social networking system, at least one user having a first job title with at least one user having a second job title to the same group.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event further comprises:

assigning, by the social networking system, at least one user having a first duration of employment with an organization with at least one user having a second duration of employment with the organization to the same group.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event further comprises:

determining, by the social networking system, respective interests for at least some of the users in the set based at least in part on information provided in the respective social networking profiles of the users; and

assigning, by the social networking system, at least one first user and at least one second user having at least one matching interest to the same group.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event further comprises:

determining, by the social networking system, respective social affinity scores between at least some of the users in the set based at least in part on a social graph managed by the social networking system; and

assigning, by the social networking system, at least one first user and at least one second user having at least one a threshold social affinity score to the same group.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event further comprises:

determining, by the social networking system, that at least one first user and at least one second user have previously been assigned to the same group; and

assigning, by the social networking system, the at least one first user to a group that is different from a group to which the at least one second user is assigned.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event further comprises:

determining, by the social networking system, that at least one first user and at least one second user are employees that work in the same department; and

assigning, by the social networking system, the at least one first user to a group that is different from a group to which the at least one second user is assigned.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein providing each user assigned to a group with information describing at least their respective group further comprises:

updating, by the social networking system, respective calendar entries for the event that were accepted by the set of users, wherein a calendar entry of a user is updated to include information describing the respective group to which the user was assigned.

11 . A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform:

obtaining a set of configuration options for an event, the configuration options specifying information for grouping users that are participating in the event;

determining that a set of users have confirmed their participation in the event;

assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event; and

providing each user assigned to a group with information describing at least their respective group.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the configuration options specify one or more of: a geographic location at which the event is being held, a number of users to include in a group, one or more days on which the event is held, how frequently the event is held, and at least one approach for assigning users to groups.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining that a set of users have confirmed their participation in the event further causes the system perform:

sending a calendar invite for the event to each user that has opted-in to attend the event; and

determining the set of users that have accepted their respective calendar invite.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event further causes the system perform:

assigning at least one user having a first job title with at least one user having a second job title to the same group.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event further causes the system perform:

assigning at least one user having a first duration of employment with an organization with at least one user having a second duration of employment with the organization to the same group.

16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a method comprising:

obtaining a set of configuration options for an event, the configuration options specifying information for grouping users that are participating in the event;

determining that a set of users have confirmed their participation in the event;

assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event; and

providing each user assigned to a group with information describing at least their respective group.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the configuration options specify one or more of: a geographic location at which the event is being held, a number of users to include in a group, one or more days on which the event is held, how frequently the event is held, and at least one approach for assigning users to groups.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein determining that a set of users have confirmed their participation in the event further causes the computing system perform:

sending a calendar invite for the event to each user that has opted-in to attend the event; and

determining the set of users that have accepted their respective calendar invite.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event further causes the computing system perform:

assigning at least one user having a first job title with at least one user having a second job title to the same group.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein assigning each user in the set to a respective group based at least in part on one or more criteria specified in the configuration options for the event further causes the computing system perform:

assigning at least one user having a first duration of employment with an organization with at least one user having a second duration of employment with the organization to the same group.