Passive personalization of buddy lists

• US 20030065721A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Roskind, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

Personalizing communications typically includes accessing status information for instant messaging sessions involving an instant messaging identity and passively configuring a buddy group associated with the instant messaging identity to persistently reflect a list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated. The buddy group may be configured without action from the instant messaging identity. The list of participant identities may be maintained persistently beyond logout of the instant messaging identity. The list of participant identities may be maintained independent of a device used for the instant messaging sessions during which the list was created such that the buddy group is accessible from one or more different devices.

Claims

1. A method of personalizing communications, the method comprising:

accessing status information for instant messaging sessions involving an instant messaging identity; and

passively configuring a buddy group associated with the instant messaging identity to persistently reflect a list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes configuring the buddy group without action from the instant messaging identity.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes maintaining the list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated persistently beyond logout of the instant messaging identity.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes maintaining the participant identities on the list after an instant messaging session with the instant messaging identity is terminated.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes maintaining the participant identities on the list independent of a device used for the instant messaging sessions during which the list was created such that the buddy group is accessible from one or more different devices.

6. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes adding a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities only when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is closed.

7. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes adding a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities only when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is closed and the screen name of the participant identity is not already included in the buddy group.

8. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes adding a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is established.

9. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes adding a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is established and the screen name of the participant identity is not already included in the buddy group.

10. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes limiting the list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated to participant identities not otherwise included on any other list for the instant messaging identity.

11. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes limiting the list of participant identities to exclude participant identities from which an instant message is received but not accepted.

12. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes adding a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities from which an instant message is received but not accepted.

13. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes configuring the buddy group such that the list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated includes participant identities that are included on at least one other list for the instant messaging identity.

14. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes passively configuring the buddy group such that a size of the buddy group is limited.

15. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes establishing a size of the buddy group based on a selection by the instant messaging identity.

16. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes initially establishing a size of the buddy group based on a default value.

17. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes sequencing the list of participant identities using a least recently used methodology.

18. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes sequencing the list of participant identities using a first-in first-out methodology.

19. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes arranging screen names included on the list of participant identities such that a most recent screen name is listed first.

20. The method as in claim 1 wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes arranging screen names on the list of participant identities such that a least recently used screen name is omitted whether or not the least recently used screen name was first-in on the list of participant identities.

21. The method as in claim 1 further comprising displaying the passively configured buddy group.

22. The method as in claim 21 wherein displaying the buddy group includes displaying an online status for each participant identity in the buddy group.

23. The method as in claim 1 further comprising updating a log associated with the instant messaging identity, the log including a chronological record of instant messaging characteristics, wherein passively configuring the buddy group includes passively configuring the buddy group based on the updated log.

24. The method as in claim 23 wherein updating the log includes recording a screen name of a participant identity from an instant messaging session.

25. The method as in claim 23 wherein updating the log includes recording a time when an instant messaging session is established.

26. A system for personalizing communications, comprising:

means for accessing status information for instant messaging sessions involving an instant messaging identity; and

means for passively configuring a buddy group associated with the instant messaging identity to persistently reflect a list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for configuring the buddy group without action from the instant messaging identity.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for maintaining the list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated persistently beyond logout of the instant messaging identity.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for maintaining the participant identities on the list after an instant messaging session with the instant messaging identity is terminated.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for maintaining the participant identities on the list independent of a device used for the instant messaging sessions during which the list was created such that the buddy group is accessible from one or more different devices.

31. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for adding a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities only when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is closed.

32. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for adding a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities only when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is closed and the screen name of the participant identity is not already included in the buddy group.

33. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for adding a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is established.

34. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for adding a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is established and the screen name of the participant identity is not already included in the buddy group.

35. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for limiting the list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated to participant identities not otherwise included on any other list for the instant messaging identity.

36. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for limiting the list of participant identities to exclude participant identities from which an instant message is received but not accepted.

37. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for adding a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities from which an instant message is received but not accepted.

38. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for configuring the buddy group such that the list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated includes participant identities that are included on at least one other list for the instant messaging identity.

39. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for passively configuring the buddy group such that a size of the buddy group is limited.

40. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for establishing a size of the buddy group based on a selection by the instant messaging identity.

41. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for initially establishing a size of the buddy group based on a default value.

42. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for sequencing the list of participant identities using a least recently used methodology.

43. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for sequencing the list of participant identities using a first-in first-out methodology.

44. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for arranging screen names included on the list of participant identities such that a most recent screen name is listed first.

45. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for arranging screen names on the list of participant identities such that a least recently used screen name is omitted whether or not the least recently used screen name was first-in on the list of participant identities.

46. The system of claim 26 further comprising means for displaying the passively configured buddy group.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the means for displaying the buddy group includes means for displaying an online status for each participant identity in the buddy group.

48. The system of claim 26 further comprising means for updating a log associated with the instant messaging identity, the log including a chronological record of instant messaging characteristics, wherein the means for passively configuring the buddy group includes means for passively configuring the buddy group based on the updated log.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the means for updating the log includes means for recording a screen name of a participant identity from an instant messaging session.

50. The system of claim 48 wherein the means for updating the log includes means for recording a time when an instant messaging session is established.

51. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium or a propagated signal for personalizing communications, comprising:

an accessing code segment that causes the computer to access status information for instant messaging sessions involving an instant messaging identity; and

a configuration code segment that causes the computer to passively configure a buddy group associated with the instant messaging identity to persistently reflect a list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated.

52. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to configure the buddy group without action from the instant messaging identity.

53. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to maintain the list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated persistently beyond logout of the instant messaging identity.

54. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to maintain the participant identities on the list after an instant messaging session with the instant messaging identity is terminated.

55. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code causes the computer to maintain the participant identities on the list independent of a device used for the instant messaging sessions during which the list was created such that the buddy group is accessible from one or more different devices.

56. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to add a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities only when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is closed.

57. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to add a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities only when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is closed and the screen name of the participant identity is not already included in the buddy group.

58. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to add a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is established.

59. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to add a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities when an instant messaging session with the participant identity is established and the screen name of the participant identity is not already included in the buddy group.

60. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to limit the list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated to participant identities not otherwise included on any other list for the instant messaging identity.

61. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to limit the list of participant identities to exclude participant identities from which an instant message is received but not accepted.

62. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to add a screen name of a participant identity to the list of participant identities from which an instant message is received but not accepted.

63. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to configure the buddy group such that the list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated includes participant identities that are included on at least one other list for the instant messaging identity.

64. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to passively configure the buddy group such that a size of the buddy group is limited.

65. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to establish a size of the buddy group based on a selection by the instant messaging identity.

66. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to initially establish a size of the buddy group based on a default value.

67. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to sequence the list of participant identities using a least recently used methodology.

68. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to sequence the list of participant identities using a first-in first-out methodology.

69. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to arrange screen names included on the list of participant identities such that a most recent screen name is listed first.

70. The computer program of claim 51 wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to arrange screen names on the list of participant identities such that a least recently used screen name is omitted whether or not the least recently used screen name was first-in on the list of participant identities.

71. The computer program of claim 51 further comprising a displaying code segment that causes the computer to display the passively configured buddy group.

72. The computer program of claim 71 wherein the displaying code segment causes the computer to display an online status for each participant identity in the buddy group.

73. The computer program of claim 51 further comprising an updating code segment that causes the computer to update a log associated with the instant messaging identity, the log including a chronological record of instant messaging characteristics, wherein the configuration code segment causes the computer to passively configure the buddy group based on the updated log.

74. The computer program of claim 73 wherein the updating code segment causes the computer to record a screen name of a participant identity from an instant messaging session.

75. The computer program of claim 73 wherein the updating code segment causes the computer to record a time when an instant messaging session is established.