Automatic categorization of entries in a contact list

• US 20060031772A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• 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: Valeski, Judson
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Entries within a participant list of an electronic communications system may be categorized automatically into one or more groups based on attributes of users represented in the participant list. Categorizing users includes maintaining a list of identifiers that are selected by a first user and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list. The list includes one or more categories into which the identifiers are categorized. At least one attribute associated with an identifier for which online presence information is to be made perceivable through the list and attributes stored relative to at least one of the categories are accessed. The attributes associated with the identifier are compared to the stored attributes. Based on results of the comparison, at least one category within the list that corresponds to the identifier is identified, and the identifier is categorized into the identified category.

Claims

1. A method for categorizing users, the method comprising:

maintaining a list of identifiers that are selected by a first user and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list, the list including one or more categories into which the identifiers are categorized;

accessing at least one attribute associated with an identifier for which online presence information is to be made perceivable through the list;

accessing attributes stored relative to at least one of the categories;

comparing the attributes associated with the identifier to the stored attributes;

based on results of the comparison, identifying at least one category within the list that corresponds to the identifier; and

categorizing the identifier into the identified category.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding the identified category to the list after identifying the identified category.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying at least one category that corresponds to the identifier comprises identifying at least one category that corresponds to the identifier and into which the identifier is not already categorized.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying an attribute of the identifier comprises identifying an attribute associated with the identifier from a profile associated with the identifier.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein identifying an attribute associated with the identifier from a profile associated with the identifier comprises identifying an attribute of a user associated with the identifier from a profile of the user.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing at least one attribute associated with the identifier comprises accessing at least one indication of communications between the first user and the identifier of a user corresponding to the identifier.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein accessing at least one indication comprises accessing at least one indication from a group of indications comprising one or more instant messages sent between the first user and the identifier or a user corresponding to the identifier, e-mail messages sent between the first user and the identifier or a user corresponding to the identifier, and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone calls between the first user and the identifier or a user corresponding to the identifier.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein:

accessing at least one attribute associated with the identifier comprises accessing a time at which the first user exchanges messages with the identifier or a user corresponding to the identifier; and

identifying at least one category comprises identifying at least one category reflecting identifiers of users with which the first user communicated within a period of time that includes the accessed time.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein identifying at least one category comprises identifying at least one category reflecting identifiers of users with which the first user communicated during a current day, a previous day, a previous week, or a previous month.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein:

accessing at least one attribute associated with the identifier comprises accessing a frequency with which the first user exchanges messages with the identifier or a user corresponding to the identifier; and

identifying at least one category comprises identifying at least one category reflecting identifiers of users with which the first user communicated at a frequency within a range of frequencies that includes the accessed frequency.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein identifying at least one category comprises identifying at least one category reflecting identifiers of users with which the first user communicated at least a particular number of times a day, at least a particular number of times a week, or at least a particular number of times a month.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein:

accessing at least one attribute associated with the identifier comprises accessing a length of one or more messages sent between the first user and the identifier or a user corresponding to the identifier; and

identifying at least one category comprises identifying at least one category reflecting identifiers with which the first user exchanged messages of lengths within a range of lengths that includes the accessed length.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein identifying at least one category comprises identifying at least one category reflecting identifiers with which the first user exchanged messages of at least a threshold length.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein identifying at least one category comprises identifying at least one category reflecting identifiers with which the first user exchanged messages of at most a threshold length.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein:

accessing at least one attribute associated with the identifier comprises accessing a location of a user corresponding to the identifier; and

identifying at least one category comprises identifying at least one category reflecting identifiers of users that are located at the accessed location.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein:

accessing at least one attribute associated with the identifier comprises accessing at least one group within a second list of identifiers, the at least one accessed group including the identifier; and

identifying at least one category comprises identifying at least one group within the list that corresponds to the at least one accessed group within the second list as the category.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:

accessing at least one group within the second list comprises accessing at least one group within an address book of an e-mail system; and

identifying at least one group comprises identifying at least one group within a list of users of an instant messaging system for which presence is monitored that corresponds to the at least one accessed group within the address book.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein:

accessing at least one group within the second list comprises accessing at least one group within a list of users of an instant messaging system for which presence is monitored; and

identifying at least one group comprises identifying at least one group within an address book of an e-mail system that corresponds to the at least one accessed group within the list of users of the instant messaging system.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a request to categorize the identifier into at least one category based on at least one attribute associated with the identifier.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the list of users is an address book of an e-mail system.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifier is at least one from a group including an online identity, a name, or an alias for an online identity.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more categories are mutually exclusive such that each of the identifiers is categorized into at most one of the one or more categories, and categorizing the identifier into the identified category comprises categorizing the identifier only into the identified category.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising prompting a first user of the list of identifiers to accept categorization of the identifier into the identified category, wherein categorizing the identifier comprises categorizing the identifier in response to an indication that the first user accepts the categorization of the identifier into the identified category.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising enabling the first user to manually categorize the identifier when the first user does not accept the categorization of the identifier into the identified category.

25. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium or a propagated signal that, when executed, generates a graphical user interface on a display device for using a computer to manage a list of users of an electronic communications system with which electronic messages may be exchanged, the graphical user interface comprising:

a participant list display associated with a user of the participant list display that includes users of the electronic communications system, each included user being associated with at least one group included in the participant list display based on at least one attribute of the included user and at least one stored attribute of the at least one group.

26. The computer program of claim 25 wherein the participant list display includes a group associated with at least some of the users included in the participant list display, wherein the associated users are associated with the group based on times at which the user has communicated with each of the associated users.

27. The computer program of claim 25 wherein the participant list display includes a group associated with at least some of the users included in the participant list display, wherein the associated users are associated with the group based on electronic communications between the user and each of the associated users.

28. The computer program of claim 25 wherein the participant list display includes a group associated with at least some of the users included in the participant list display, wherein the associated users are associated with the group based on locations of the associated users.

29. The computer program of claim 25 wherein the participant list display includes a group associated with at least some of the users included in the participant list display, wherein the associated users are associated with the group based on associations of the associated users with one or more groups within a second list of users.

30. The computer program of claim 25 wherein the participant list display is a display of a list of users of an instant messaging system for which presence information is monitored.

31. The computer program of claim 25 wherein the participant list display is a display of an address book associated with an e-mail system.

32. A machine-accessible medium that when accessed, results in a machine performing operations for categorizing users, comprising:

maintaining a list of identifiers that are selected by a first user and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list, the list including one or more categories into which the identifiers are categorized;

accessing at least one attribute associated with an identifier for which online presence information is to be made perceivable through the list;

accessing attributes stored relative to at least one of the categories;

comparing the attributes associated with the identifier to the stored attributes;

based on results of the comparison, identifying at least one category within the list that corresponds to the identifier; and

categorizing the identifier into the identified category.