NAME RESOLUTION

• US 20120324020A1
• Filed: 06/20/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: O'Sullivan, Patrick, Stern, Edith H., Willner, Barry E., Raguillat, Fred
• Granted Patent: US 9,235,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/35 containing special prefixes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/365 Application layer names, e.g. buddy names, unstructured names chosen by a user or home appliance name
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4547 for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier

Abstract

A method, device and computer program product for name resolution in a collaborative environment may include receiving initiation of a collaboration from a user, where the collaboration includes actions from at least two applications. The method may also include determining an identity of the user initiating the collaboration. The method may further include retrieving an alias of the user and attaching the alias of the user to the collaboration.

Claims

1. A method for name resolution in a collaborative environment, comprising:

receiving, at a server, initiation of a first electronic communication from a user and a second electronic communication from the user, wherein the first and second electronic communications are intended for a recipient;

determining an identity of the user initiating the first and second electronic communications;

retrieving an alias of the user; and

attaching the alias of the user to the first and second electronic communications.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, from a computer, the identity of the user to an identity server.

determining if a match exists between the identity and an alias that has been pre-defined by the user; and

in response to determining a match exists between the identity and the pre-defined alias, attaching the pre-defined alias to the electronic communication.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising completing the first and second electronic communications to the recipient so that the recipient receives the alias of the user upon receipt of the first and second electronic communications.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that multiple aliases are available for the user and when multiple aliases are available, determining which alias to use based on a proximity of the recipient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein applications using the first and electronic communications comprises software applications which allows users to electronically communicate with each other.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second electronic communications are different software applications from each other.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining an identity of the user initiating the first and second electronic communications and retrieving an alias of the user occurs at a point of receipt of the electronic communications by the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining an identity of the user initiating the first and second electronic communications and retrieving an alias of the user occurs at a point of initiation of the electronic communications by the sender.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving information regarding the alias from another server, and storing, at an identity server, the alias information for later retrieval.

10. A device for name resolution in a collaborative environment, comprising:

a processor;

a memory associated with the processor;

wherein the processor is configured for

receiving a creation of an artifact from a creator, wherein the artifact comprises a file that is created or modified which will be uploaded to a server;

determining an identity of the creator creating the artifact for upload;

retrieving an alias of the creator; and

attaching the alias of the creator to the artifact.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for uploading the artifact to one of an initiation server or an artifact server.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for receiving predefined preferences for how the creator is known by a user, wherein the user comprises an entity which downloads the artifact.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein artifact comprises a software application which allows a user to create or update a file for uploading to a network for later retrieval.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the artifact comprises an electronic communication.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for retrieving preferences from the creator regarding an alias to attach to the artifact based on pre-defined preferences, and retrieving the alias to attach to the artifact based on the pre-defined preferences.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for:

receiving a request for the artifact from a requestor;

downloading the artifact from an artifact server;

determining an identity of the creator;

determining if a match exists between the identity and an alias that has been pre-defined by the requestor; and

in response to determining a match exists between the identity and the pre-defined alias, attaching the pre-defined alias to the artifact.

17. A computer program product for name resolution in a collaborative environment, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured for receiving, at a server, initiation of an electronic communication from a user, wherein the electronic communication is intended for a recipient;

computer readable program code configured for determining an identity of the user initiating the electronic communication;

computer readable program code configured for retrieving an alias of the user; and

computer readable program code configured for attaching the alias of the user to the electronic communication.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer readable program code further comprises:

computer readable program code for transmitting, from a computer, the identity of the user to an identity server.

computer readable program code for determining if a match exists between the identity and an alias that has been pre-defined by the user; and

computer readable program code for attaching the pre-defined alias to the electronic communication in response to determining a match exists between the identity and the pre-defined alias.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein electronic communication comprises a software application which allows users to electronically communicate with each other.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer readable program code further comprises:

computer readable program code for receiving the electronic communication;

computer readable program code for receiving an identity of the user;

computer readable program code for determining if a match exists between the identity of the user and an alias that has been pre-defined by the recipient; and

computer readable program code for attaching the pre-defined alias to the electronic communication in response to determining a match exists between the identity and the pre-defined alias.