Display of a connection speed of an on-line user

• US 20050083851A1
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Fotsch, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US11/002,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083851A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/00 Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received correcting synchronisation H04L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0894 Packet rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes providing a computer service to a user and displaying to the user of the computer service a list of identifiers for other users of the computer service selected by the user for inclusion in the list. Information about the data transfer rate of at least one of the other users is accessed and establishing a threshold data transfer rate is established. The accessed data transfer rate is compared with the threshold data transfer rate, and a graphic associated with one of the other users is displayed in the list, which classifies on-line communications available to the other listed user based on results of the comparison between the accessed data transfer rate and the threshold data transfer rate.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing a computer service to a user;

displaying to the user of the computer service a list of identifiers for other users of the computer service selected by the user for inclusion in the list;

accessing information about the data transfer rate of at least one of the other users;

establishing a threshold data transfer rate;

comparing the accessed data transfer rate with the threshold data transfer rate; and

displaying a graphic associated with one of the other users in the list classifying on-line communications available to the other listed user based on results of the comparison between the accessed data transfer rate and the threshold data transfer rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is a sender of data to the other user and wherein the graphic indicates that the other user is capable of receiving the data through a desired communication mode.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the graphic only if the results of the comparison indicate that the accessed data transfer rate exceeds the threshold data transfer rate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer service includes an instant messaging computer service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic is an icon.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic is a distinctive font.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic indicates that the other user is connected to the computer service through a broadband communications link.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic indicates that the other user is connected to the computer service through a link other than an analog communications link.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic indicates a type of communications link used by the other user to connect to the computer service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic indicates a characteristic transfer rate of a communications link used by the other user to connect to the computer service.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a command from the user to initiate a particular mode of communication with the other user based on the comparison.

12. A system for displaying a graphical user interface to a user of a computer service, the system comprising:

a memory adapted for storing a threshold data transfer rate; and

a processor adapted for;

providing the computer service to a user;

displaying to the user of the computer service a list of identifiers for other users of the computer service selected by the user for inclusion in the list;

accessing information about the data transfer rate of at least one of the other users;

comparing the accessed data transfer rate with the threshold data transfer rate; and

displaying a graphic associated with one of the other users in the list classifying on-line communications available to the other listed user based on results of the comparison between the accessed data transfer rate and the threshold data transfer rate.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the user is a sender of data to the other user and wherein the graphic indicates that the other user is capable of receiving the data through a desired communication mode.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further adapted for displaying the graphic only if the results of the comparison indicate that the accessed data transfer rate exceeds the threshold data transfer rate.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer service includes an instant messaging computer service.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphic is an icon.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphic is a distinctive font.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphic indicates that the other user is connected to the computer service through a broadband communications link.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphic indicates that the other user is connected to the computer service through a link other than an analog communications link.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphic indicates a type of communications link used by the other user to connect to the computer service.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphic indicates a characteristic transfer rate of a communications link used by the other user to connect to the computer service.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further adapted for receiving a command from the user to initiate a particular mode of communication with the other user based on the comparison.

23. A system for displaying a graphical user interface to a user of a computer service, the system comprising:

a means for storing a threshold data transfer rate;

a means for providing the computer service to a user;

a means for displaying to the user of the computer service a list of identifiers for other users of the computer service selected by the user for inclusion in the list;

a means for accessing information about the data transfer rate of at least one of the other users;

a means for comparing the accessed data transfer rate with the threshold data transfer rate; and

a means for displaying a graphic associated with one of the other users in the list classifying on-line communications available to the other listed user based on results of the comparison between the accessed data transfer rate and the threshold data transfer rate.

24. A graphical user interface provided to a user of a computer service, the graphical user interface comprising:

a list of identifiers for other users of the computer service selected by the user for inclusion in the list; and

an graphic associated with one of the other listed users indicating that the other listed user is capable of on-line communications with the user at a rate that is above a threshold rate.

25. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the user is a sender of data to the other user and wherein the graphic indicates that the other user is capable of receiving the data through a desired communication mode.

26. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the computer service includes an instant messaging computer service and the list reflects presence information for each of the other users selected by the user as significant to the user.

27. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the graphic is an icon.

28. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the graphic is a distinctive font.

29. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the graphic indicates that the other user is connected to the computer service through a broadband communications link.

30. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the graphic indicates that the other user is not connected to the computer service through an analog communications link.

31. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the graphic indicates a type of communications link used by the other user to connect to the computer service.

32. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the graphic indicates a characteristic transfer rate of a communications link used by the other user to connect to the computer service.