Shared groups rostering system

• US 20020023132A1
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hussain, Muhammad Mohsin, Cohen, Neil, Panzer, John, Tornabene, Catherine, Crowe, Todd
• Application Number:
  US09/810,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20020023132A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties

Abstract

Systems and techniques for sharing information among members of a group. Information about all current members of a group is stored. Instructions are received from at least one current member to invite at least one prospective member to join the group and the invitation to join the group is sent to the prospective member. In the event that an affirmative response is received, the prospective member is added to the current members of the group and automatically updated services are provided to current members of the group.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of sharing information among members of a group, the method comprising:

storing information about all current members of a group;

receiving instructions from at least one current member to invite at least one prospective member to join the group;

sending an invitation to the prospective member to join the group;

receiving an affirmative response from the prospective member;

adding the prospective member to of the group as a new member; and

automatically updating services to current members to account for the new member.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein sending the invitation comprising using an e-mail message.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein sending the invitation comprises using an instant message.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein sending the invitation comprises using an on-line chat room.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein receiving the affirmative response comprises receiving the response as an e-mail message.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein receiving the affirmative response comprises receiving the response as an instant message.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein receiving the affirmative response comprises receiving the response in an on-line chat room.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein automatically updating services comprises providing a list of current members that includes the new members.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein automatically updating services comprises providing information in an address book that includes address information for the new member.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9 further comprising updating the address book based upon information entered by the current members of the group.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein automatically updating services comprises providing information in a calendar that includes information for the new member.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11 further comprising updating the calendar based upon information entered by the current members of the group.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 11 further comprising inviting current group members to attend an event and automatically recording the event in the calendar.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein automatically updating services comprises providing an on-line forum for current members of the group to chat with other current members of the group including the new member.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein automatically updating services comprises enabling current members of the group to send instant messages to other current members of the group including the new member.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein automatically updating services comprises sharing data files with current members of the group including the new member.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 16 wherein data files are provided by the current members of the group.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 16 wherein data files comprise digital images.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 16 wherein data files comprise photographs.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 16 wherein data files comprise text files.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 16 wherein data files comprise multi-media files.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising offering new services based upon the current members of the group.

23. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein automatically updating services comprises providing information in a buddy list that includes information for the new member.

25. The communication system of claim 24 wherein the group administrator further comprises:

a group member profile server for updating data related to current members; and

a database connected to the group member profile server for storing data related to current members.

26. The communication system of claim 24 wherein the group communicator further comprises:

an instant message host complex in communication with a client system; and

a login server in communication with a client system and the instant message host complex for determining whether the client is authorized to access the instant message host complex.

27. The communication system of claim 26 wherein the instant message host complex further comprises:

an instant message server for sending and receiving data; and

a domain server cooperating with the instant message server for providing supporting functions of the instant message host complex.

28. The communication system of claim 27 wherein the instant message host complex further comprises a routing gateway connected to the instant message server.

29. The communication system of claim 24 wherein the group communicator further comprises:

an OSP host complex in communication with a client system; and

a login server in communication with the client system and the OSP host complex for determining whether the client is authorized to access the OSP host complex.

30. The communication system of claim 26 wherein the OSP host complex further comprises an OSP server for sending and receiving data.

31. The communications system of claim 24 wherein the group information updater further comprises a user interface for communicating and exchanging data with a member of the group.

32. The communications system of claim 31 wherein the user interface resides on an OSP host complex.

33. The communications system of claim 31 wherein the user interface resides on the Internet.

36. The computer program of claim 35 wherein the computer readable medium is a disc.

37. The computer program of claim 35 wherein the computer readable medium is a client device.

38. The computer program of claim 35 wherein the computer readable medium is a host device.

39. The computer program of claim 35 wherein the computer readable medium is a propagated signal.

24. A communication system for sharing information among members of a group comprising:

a group administrator for processing information about the current members of the group;

a group communicator cooperating with the group administrator for delivering and exchanging information with current and prospective group members; and

a group information updater cooperating with the group communicator and group administrator for providing automatically updated services to current members.

34. A graphical user interface for inviting a prospective member of a group to join the group, the graphical user interface comprising:

a message inviting the prospective member to join the group;

the name of the group;

the current members of the group;

and a tool for the prospective member to respond to the invitation.

35. A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium, the method comprising:

storing information about all current members of a group;

receiving instructions from at least one current member to invite at least one prospective member to join the group;

sending an invitation to the prospective member to join the group;

receiving an affirmative response from the prospective member;

adding the prospective member to the group as a new member; and

automatically updating services to current members to account for the new member.