USER DEFINABLE ON-LINE CO-USER LISTS

• US 20120179971A1
• Filed: 01/10/2012
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: APPELMAN, Barry
• Granted Patent: US 8,584,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/903 Querying for retrieval from the web G06F16/953
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• 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 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking and displaying the logon status of selected co-users of an on-line or network system in real time to a tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy lists,” which track specific co-users in real-time automatically. When a user logs on to a system, one or more of the user'"'"'s buddy lists are presented to the buddy list system. The buddy list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into the system with the entries on the user'"'"'s buddy list. Any matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and logoff, a user'"'"'s buddy list is updated to reflect these changes. An indication can also be added to show that a co-user just logged on or just left the system.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A method for enabling a user of an electronic network system to track the logon status of co-users of the electronic network system, comprising the steps of:

authenticating the user using a logon system;

associating an identification list of co-users with the user;

comparing, with a processor, the identification list to one or more logon records for each of the co-users, wherein the one or more logon records are maintained by the logon system; and

based on the comparison of the identification list to the one or more logon records, indicating to the user the logon status of each of the co-users on the identification list.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising indicating whether a co-user is in a chat area.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein indicating whether a co-user is in a chat user comprises:

identifying a chat room in which the co-user is located; and

indicating to the user that the co-user is located in the identified chat room.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein indicating whether a co-user is in a chat area comprises:

receiving selection of a co-user listed on the identification list; and

determining whether the selected co-user is in a chat area.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein indicating whether a co-user is in a chat area comprises:

prompting the user to identify a co-user to locate;

receiving indication of the identified co-user from the user; and

determining whether the identified co-user is in a chat area.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein prompting the user to identify a co-user to locate comprises enabling the user to identify a co-user not present on the identification list.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising enabling the user to communicate with at least one co-user in a buddy chat.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising enabling the user to communicate with at least two co-users in a buddy chat.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein enabling the user to communicate with at least one co-user in a buddy chat comprises:

receiving selection of at least one co-user listed on the identification list; and

sending the at least one selected co-user an invitation to join a buddy chat with the user.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein enabling the user to communicate with at least one co-user in a buddy chat comprises:

prompting the user to identify at least one co-user to invite into a buddy chat;

receiving indication of the at least one identified co-user from the user; and

sending the at least one identified co-user an invitation to join in a buddy chat with the user.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein enabling the user to communicate with at least one co-user in a buddy chat further comprises:

prompting the user to identify at least one additional co-user to invite into the buddy chat; and

sending the at least one additional co-user an invitation to join in the buddy chat with the user and the at least one selected co-user.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein enabling the user to communicate with at least one co-user in a buddy chat comprises:

creating a private chat room to host the buddy chat;

sending at least one co-user an invitation to access the private chat room.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein creating a private chat room to host the buddy chat comprises receiving a buddy chat room name from the user.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein creating a private chat room to host the buddy chat comprises automatically assigning a buddy chat room name to the buddy chat room when no buddy chat room name is entered by the user.

29. A system for enabling a user to track the logon status of co-users, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

authenticate the user using a logon system;

associate an identification list of co-users with the user;

compare the identification list to one or more logon records for each of the co-users, wherein the one or more logon records are maintained by the logon system; and

based on the comparison of the identification list to the one or more logon records, indicate to the user the logon status of each of the co-users on the identification list.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to indicate whether a co-user is in a chat area.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to enable the user to communicate with at least one co-user in a buddy chat.

32. A computer-readable storage medium including instructions for permitting a user to track the logon status of co-users, the instructions being executable by at least one processor to cause the processor to perform steps comprising:

authenticating the user using a logon system;

associating an identification list of co-users with the user;

comparing the identification list to one or more logon records for each of the co-users, wherein the one or more logon records are maintained by the logon system; and

based on the comparison of the identification list to the one or more logon records, indicating to the user the logon status of each of the co-users on the identification list.

33. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to perform the step of indicating whether a co-user is in a chat area.

34. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to perform the step of enabling the user to communicate with at least one co-user in a buddy chat.