ENHANCING USER INTERACTION BY DISPLAYING IMAGES FROM A NETWORK

• US 20100037141A1
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Seacat, Lisa A., Nesbitt, Pamela A., Chang, Belinda Y., Carter, Bernadette A., Li, Fuyi
• Granted Patent: US 9,697,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

In a user-interactive method and system, a display application for enhancing user interaction over a network is provided. The method includes receiving preference information from a first user, the preference information indicating at least one type of image the first user wishes to view. In response to a network interaction being established between at least the first user and a second user, the method further includes retrieving a plurality of images associated with the second user based on the preference information. The method further includes displaying the plurality of images based on the preference information.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing user interaction over a network, the method comprising:

receiving preference information from a first user, the preference information indicating at least one type of image the first user wishes to view;

in response to a network interaction being established between at least the first user and a second user, retrieving a plurality of images associated with the second user based on the preference information; and

displaying the plurality of images based on the preference information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising filtering images for retrieval using a set of rules based on preference information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the preference information comprises at least one of an image popularity preference, a user relationship preference, an interest preference, an activity preference, and an image attribute preference.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the retrieving comprises:

determining identification information associated with the second user; and

searching the network for the plurality of images based on the identification information and the preference information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the searching comprises:

determining one or more sources for the plurality of images based on the identification information;

determining permission information for accessing each image of the plurality of images;

determining the accessible images based on the permission information; and

matching the preference information with at least one tag associated with each accessible image.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the second user sets the permission information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of images are stored in one or more memory locations associated with one or more social network servers.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the network interaction is provided by a social network service.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the network interaction is provided by an instant messaging service.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising prioritizing the retrieved plurality of images based on preference information, wherein images having a higher priority are displayed more frequently than images having a lower priority.

11. An executable software product stored on a computer-readable medium containing program instructions for enhancing user interaction over a network, the program instructions for:

receiving preference information from a first user, the preference information indicating at least one type of image the first user wishes to view;

in response to a network interaction being established between at least the first user and a second user, retrieving a plurality of images associated with the second user based on the preference information; and

displaying the plurality of images based on the preference information.

12. The executable software product of claim 11 further comprising filtering images for retrieval using a set of rules based on preference information.

13. The executable software product of claim 11 wherein the preference information comprises at least one of an image popularity preference, a user relationship preference, an interest preference, an activity preference, and an image attribute preference.

14. The executable software product of claim 11 wherein the retrieving comprises:

determining identification information associated with the second user; and

searching the network for the plurality of images based on the identification information and the preference information.

15. The executable software product of claim 14 wherein the searching comprises:

determining one or more sources for the plurality of images based on the identification information;

determining permission information for accessing each image of the plurality of images;

determining the accessible images based on the permission information; and

matching the preference information with at least one tag associated with each accessible image.

16. The executable software product of claim 15 wherein the second user sets the permission information.

17. The executable software product of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of images are stored in one or more memory locations associated with one or more social network servers.

18. The executable software product of claim 11 wherein the network interaction is provided by a social network service.

19. The executable software product of claim 11 further comprising prioritizing the retrieved plurality of images based on preference information, wherein images having a higher priority are displayed more frequently than images having a lower priority.

20. A system comprising:

a server coupled to a network; and

a client executed on a computer in communication with the server, wherein the client performs functions for;

receiving preference information from a first user, the preference information indicating at least one type of image the first user wishes to view;

in response to a network interaction being established between at least the first user and a second user, retrieving a plurality of images associated with the second user based on the preference information; and

displaying the plurality of images based on the preference information.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the client further performs functions for filtering images for retrieval using a set of rules based on preference information.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the preference information comprises at least one of an image popularity preference, a user relationship preference, an interest preference, an activity preference, and an image attribute preference.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the client retrieves the plurality of images by:

determining identification information associated with the second user; and

searching the network for the plurality of images based on the identification information and the preference information.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the client searches by:

determining one or more sources for the plurality of images based on the identification information;

determining permission information for accessing each image of the plurality of images;

determining the accessible images based on the permission information; and

matching the preference information with at least one tag associated with each accessible image.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of images are stored in one or more memory locations associated with one or more social network servers.