Method and system for inviting and creating accounts for prospective users of an instant messaging system
First Claim
1. A method for registering or inviting registration of a prospective user of an instant messaging system comprising a plurality of clients having IM applications of the same or different types, selectively interconnected to an IM server by way of a computer network, the method comprising the following steps:
- receiving a client specific access address of a prospective user on the computer network together with a request to register or tentatively register an account for said prospective user;
automatically generating and allocating a unique identifier to the prospective user;
matching said unique identifier to the client specific access address of the prospective user;
wherein if the initial receiving was a direct request to register from the prospective user, registering an account for said prospective user by storing the matched unique identifier and client specific access address with said IM server under the unique identifier;
determining whether the initial receiving was associated with a request to register the prospective user from someone other than the prospective user and in response to said determining step, tentatively registering an account for said prospective user by storing the matched unique identifier and client specific access address with said IM server under the unique identifier; and
sending notification of said unique identifier to said prospective user at the client specific address of the prospective user, wherein said notification confirms the registering of the prospective user if the initial receiving was associated with a direct request to register from the prospective user; and
in response to said determining step, said notification invites registration of the prospective user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for assigning a unique identifier to a prospective user of an instant messaging system. The IM system comprises a plurality of clients (111) having IM applications of the same or different types, selectively interconnected to an IM server (113) by way of the internet (117). The system includes a registration handler (119) for receiving a client specific access address (johnsmith@company.com) of a prospective user (127) on the internet (117) together with a request (115) to register or tentatively register the prospective user (127). A unique identifier assigner is provided to automatically allocate a unique numeric identifier (UIN) to the prospective user (127) and match the UIN to the client specific address (johnsmith@company.com) of the prospective user. An account processer registers or tentatively registers an account for the prospective user (127) in a user database (123) for future use (125) by storing (121) the matched UIN and client specific access address under the UIN in the database. A message despatcher sends a notification (129) of the UIN to the prospective user (127) at the client specific address of the prospective user, either: confirming the registering of the prospective user if the initial sending was associated with a direct request to register from the prospective user; or inviting registration of the prospective user if the initial sending was associated with a request to register from someone other than the prospective user.
153 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for registering or inviting registration of a prospective user of an instant messaging system comprising a plurality of clients having IM applications of the same or different types, selectively interconnected to an IM server by way of a computer network, the method comprising the following steps:
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receiving a client specific access address of a prospective user on the computer network together with a request to register or tentatively register an account for said prospective user; automatically generating and allocating a unique identifier to the prospective user; matching said unique identifier to the client specific access address of the prospective user; wherein if the initial receiving was a direct request to register from the prospective user, registering an account for said prospective user by storing the matched unique identifier and client specific access address with said IM server under the unique identifier;
determining whether the initial receiving was associated with a request to register the prospective user from someone other than the prospective user and in response to said determining step, tentatively registering an account for said prospective user by storing the matched unique identifier and client specific access address with said IM server under the unique identifier; andsending notification of said unique identifier to said prospective user at the client specific address of the prospective user, wherein said notification confirms the registering of the prospective user if the initial receiving was associated with a direct request to register from the prospective user; and
in response to said determining step, said notification invites registration of the prospective user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for registering or inviting registration of a prospective user of an instant messaging system comprising a plurality of clients having IM applications of the same or different types, selectively interconnected to an IM server by way of a computer network, the system comprising:
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a registration handling means for receiving a client specific access address of a prospective user on the computer network together with a request to register or tentatively register said prospective user; a unique identifier assigning means to automatically allocate a unique identifier to said prospective user and match said unique identifier to the client specific address of the prospective user; account processing means configured to register an account for said prospective user if the initial receiving was associated with a direct request to register from the prospective user, and configured to determine when the initial receiving was associated with a request to register the prospective user from someone other than the prospective user, and based on the determination, tentatively register an account for said prospective user; database means for storing the matched unique identifier and client specific access address under the unique identifier; and a message despatching means for sending notification of said unique identifier to said prospective user at the client specific address of the prospective user, wherein the notification confirms the registering of the prospective user if the initial receiving was associated with a direct request to register from the prospective user, and based on the determination by the account processing means, wherein the notification invites registration of the prospective user.
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Specification