Method, apparatus and system for representing relationships using a buddy list
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of representing relationships with a buddy list, comprising:
- creating a buddy list having a plurality of entries; and
assigning a rank to each of the plurality of entries according to a relationship criterion.
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Abstract
A method, apparatus and system display buddy list information according to predefined relationship criterion. More specifically, a user may create a buddy list having a plurality of entries, rank the entries according to a predefined relationship criteria, and view visual representations of the entries in the buddy list on a display device. The visual representations are displayed on the display device according to the rank assigned to each entry.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of representing relationships with a buddy list, comprising:
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creating a buddy list having a plurality of entries; and
assigning a rank to each of the plurality of entries according to a relationship criterion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of displaying a buddy list having a plurality of entries, comprising:
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receiving the buddy list;
assigning a rank for each of the plurality of entries in the buddy list, the rank based on a predefined relationship criterion; and
causing display of a plurality of visual representations corresponding to the plurality of entries in the buddy list, the plurality of visual representations being displayed at predefined locations on a display device based on the rank. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for displaying a buddy list having a plurality of entries, comprising:
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a processor capable of receiving the buddy list and a rank associated with each of the plurality of entries in the buddy list, the rank based on a predefined relationship criterion, the processor further capable of causing display of a plurality of visual representations corresponding to each of the plurality of entries, the visual representations displayed at predefined locations based on the rank; and
a display device capable of displaying the plurality of visual representations. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A user interface for displaying a buddy list having a plurality of entries, comprising:
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a visual representation of an owner of the buddy list displayed at a first location on a display device; and
a plurality of visual representations corresponding to the plurality of entries in the buddy list, the plurality of visual representation displayed at predetermined distances from the first location on the display device based on a rank of each of the plurality of entries. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A system for representing relationships using a buddy list, comprising:
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a network;
a client device coupled to the network, the client device capable of accepting input data from a user, the input data including a plurality of entries for the buddy list and designation of a rank for each of the plurality of entries in the buddy list, the rank based on a predefined relationship criterion;
a server device coupled to the network, the server device capable of receiving the buddy list and the designation of the rank from the client device; and
a display device coupled to the client device, the display device capable of displaying at predetermined locations visual representations corresponding to the plurality of entries in the buddy list, the predetermined locations based on the rank. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to display a buddy list by:
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receiving the buddy list having a plurality of entries;
assigning a rank for each of the plurality of entries in the buddy list, the rank based on a predefined relationship criterion; and
causing display of a plurality of visual representations corresponding to the plurality of entries in the buddy list, the plurality of visual representations being displayed at predefined locations on a display device based on the rank. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to display a buddy list by:
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creating a buddy list having a plurality of entries; and
assigning a rank to each of the plurality of entries according to a relationship criterion. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification