Wish list associated with buddy list screen name
First Claim
1. An apparatus for attaching a wish list to an instant messenger buddy entry comprising:
- a first instant messaging application and a second instant messaging application, wherein said first instant messaging application comprises a buddy entry associated with said second instant messaging application and wherein said second instant messaging application comprises a buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application, thereby enabling said applications to communicate;
a wish list storage facility comprising a wish list associated with said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application;
means for displaying buddy information about said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application; and
means for retrieving said information from said wish list associated with said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application into said buddy information, thereby attaching said wish list to said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for connecting wish lists to users, thus making wish lists accessible to such user attributes as buddy lists, or the equivalent. The invention attaches a wish list to an instant messaging name and therefore makes it available to all persons on the user'"'"'s buddy list. In a further embodiment of the invention, the wish list is attached to an account, such as a wallet. As a result, various conveniences are provided. For example, a member of the user'"'"'s buddy list can give a gift to the user from the wish list; a group can contribute incrementally to the giving of a gift to the user; an individual can add incremental amounts to his or her wish list to pay for an item on time (as a type of layaway); and relatives and friends can give gifts that they know will be appreciated because the gifts are on the user'"'"'s wish list.
69 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for attaching a wish list to an instant messenger buddy entry comprising:
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a first instant messaging application and a second instant messaging application, wherein said first instant messaging application comprises a buddy entry associated with said second instant messaging application and wherein said second instant messaging application comprises a buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application, thereby enabling said applications to communicate;
a wish list storage facility comprising a wish list associated with said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application;
means for displaying buddy information about said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application; and
means for retrieving said information from said wish list associated with said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application into said buddy information, thereby attaching said wish list to said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for attaching a wish list to an instant messenger buddy entry comprising:
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providing a first instant messaging application and a second instant messaging application, wherein said first instant messaging application comprises a buddy entry associated with said second instant messaging application and wherein said second instant messaging application comprises a buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application, thereby enabling said applications to communicate;
providing a wish list storage facility comprising a wish list associated with said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application;
providing means for displaying buddy information about said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application; and
providing means for retrieving said information from said wish list associated with said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application into said buddy information, thereby attaching said wish list to said buddy entry associated with said first instant messaging application. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for accessing wish list information associated with a buddy, said method comprising:
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starting up an instant messaging application comprising a buddy entry representing said buddy; and
requesting displaying information associated with said buddy entry, said buddy entry information comprising said wish list information. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for contributing funds towards an item on a wish list, said wish list associated with a buddy, said method comprising:
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starting up an instant messaging application comprising a buddy entry representing said buddy;
requesting displaying information associated with said buddy entry, said buddy entry information comprising information from said wish list; and
requesting funds from a first account in an account storage facility to be applied to a second account in said account storage facility, said second account associated with said item of said wish list associated with said buddy, thereby contributing funds towards said item. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification