Enhanced buddy list using mobile device identifiers

• US 7,590,696 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: McNally, Barbara, Bergstrom, Raine, Odell, James A., Hullfish, Keith C., Appelman, Barry, Keister, Alan, Yin, Xiaoyan, Wick, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donaghue; Larry D
• Assistant Examiner(s): BHATIA, AJAY M
• Application Number:
  US10/895,421
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: 709/207, 709/206, 455/466
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

A graphical user interface on a display device of a computer enables communications using a computer service. The graphical user interface includes a list of potential message recipients selected by a user as significant to the user. The graphical user interface also includes a mobile device identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients and a user account identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients. At least one of the listed potential recipients includes a mobile device identifier as the only available conduit for data delivery to the potential message recipient using the computer service.

Claims

1. A method for using an instant messaging service to communicate, the method comprising:

maintaining a list of potential instant message recipients on behalf of an instant message sender;

enabling display, to the instant message sender, of an instant messaging graphical user interface that includes recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients, the instant messaging graphical user interface being configured to make online presence information available for one or more of the potential instant message recipients and to enable the instant message sender to address instant messages to the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients through selection of the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients and displayed on the instant messaging graphical user interface;

receiving, from the instant message sender, a request to add a mobile telephone number that is associated with a specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients maintained on behalf of the instant message sender;

in response to receiving the request to add the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone to the list of potential message recipients maintained on behalf of the instant message sender, adding the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients maintained on behalf of the instant message sender;

enabling an updating of the instant messaging graphical user interface displayed to the instant message sender to add the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone to the instant messaging graphical user interface as a recipient identifier, the mobile telephone number displayed in the instant messaging graphical user interface being configured to enable the instant message sender to address a message to the mobile telephone number through selection of the mobile telephone number recipient identifier displayed on the instant messaging graphical user interface;

receiving, from the instant message sender, a request to associate an alias with the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone;

in response to receiving the request to associate the alias with the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone, associating the alias with the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone; and

enabling another updating of the instant messaging graphical user interface displayed to the instant message sender to replace the mobile telephone number recipient identifier with the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific mobile telephone belongs to an individual that is not a registered user of the instant messaging service, such that receiving, from the instant message sender, a request to add a mobile telephone number that is associated with a specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients maintained on behalf of the instant message sender includes receiving a request to add a mobile telephone number that is associated with a specific mobile telephone that belongs to an individual that is not a registered user of the instant messaging service to the list of potential instant message recipients maintained on behalf of the instant message sender.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling another updating of the instant messaging graphical user interface displayed to the instant message sender to replace the mobile telephone number recipient identifier with the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number includes enabling display of a mobile telephone indicator in addition to and visually associated with the alias that indicates that instant messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein enabling display of a mobile telephone indicator in addition to and visually associated with the alias that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging includes enabling display of a mobile telephone indicator that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone as text messages using a short message service communications conduit.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein enabling display of a mobile telephone indicator in addition to and visually associated with the alias that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging includes enabling display of a mobile telephone indicator that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging without revealing the actual identity of the specific mobile telephone.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile telephone number is further associated with one or more other devices in addition to the specific mobile telephone such that receiving, from the instant message sender, a request to add a mobile telephone number that is associated with a specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients maintained on behalf of the instant message sender includes receiving a request to add a mobile telephone number that is associated with one or more other devices in addition to the specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication of a selection by the instant message sender of the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number from within the instant messaging graphical user interface;

in response to receiving the indication of the selection by the instant message sender of the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number, generating a new message;

receiving, from the instant message sender, text to be included in the new message;

in response to receiving the text to be included in the new message, adding the text to the new message; and

sending the new message including the added text to the mobile telephone number.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating other information with the mobile telephone number.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein associating other information with the mobile telephone number includes associating street address information for an individual to whom the specific mobile telephone belongs with the mobile telephone number.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein associating other information with the mobile telephone number includes associating information that enables communication of data to an individual to whom the specific mobile telephone belongs independent of the instant messaging service.

36. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling display, to the instant message sender, of a reply message graphical user interface for displaying a reply message received in reply to an original message sent by the instant message sender to one of the potential instant message recipients, wherein:

the reply message includes an address for the one potential instant message recipient, and

the address for the one potential instant message recipient is hidden in the reply message graphical user interface if the address for the one potential instant message recipient is different from a destination address specified in the original message.

3. A method comprising:

maintaining a list of potential instant message recipients on behalf of an instant message sender;

receiving, from the instant message sender, a mobile device telephone number associated with a specific mobile device;

receiving, from the instant message sender, a request to associate the mobile device telephone number with a particular one of the potential instant message recipients;

in response to receiving the mobile device telephone number and the request to associate the mobile device telephone number with the particular potential instant message recipient, establishing an association between the particular potential instant message recipient and the mobile device telephone number;

enabling display, to the instant message sender, of an instant messaging graphical user interface that includes a list of recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients, the instant messaging graphical user interface being configured to make online presence information available for one or more of the potential instant message recipients and to enable the instant message sender to address instant messages to the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients through selection of the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients;

determining if the particular potential instant message recipient is currently online; and

based on a determination that the particular potential instant message recipient is not currently online, enabling display, in the instant messaging graphical user interface, of mobile device information for the recipient identifier corresponding to the particular potential instant message recipient that indicates that messages addressed to the particular potential instant message recipient will be delivered to the specific mobile device using a communications conduit other than an instant messaging communications conduit.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein enabling display of mobile device information includes enabling display of a mobile device indicator associated with the recipient identifier corresponding to the particular potential instant message recipient that indicates that instant messages addressed to the particular potential instant message recipient will be delivered to the specific mobile device using a communications conduit other than an instant messaging communications conduit.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein enabling display of a mobile device indicator associated with the recipient identifier corresponding to the particular potential instant message recipient includes enabling display of a mobile device icon adjacent to the recipient identifier corresponding to the particular potential instant message recipient.

14. A method for exchanging messages using an instant messaging system, the method comprising:

maintaining a list of potential instant message recipients on behalf of an instant message sender;

enabling display, to the instant message sender, of an instant messaging graphical user interface that includes recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients, the instant messaging graphical user interface being configured to make online presence information available for one or more of the potential instant message recipients and to enable the instant message sender to address instant messages to the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential message recipients through selection of the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients and displayed on the instant messaging graphical user interface;

receiving an indication of a selection by the instant message sender of a particular recipient identifier corresponding to a particular potential message recipient from among the recipient identifiers within the graphical user interface;

in response to receiving the indication of the selection of the particular recipient identifier corresponding to the particular potential message recipient, generating an original instant message addressed to the particular participant identifier;

receiving, from the instant message sender, text to be included in the original instant message;

in response to receiving the text to be included in the original instant message from the instant message sender, adding the received text to the original instant message;

receiving a request from the instant message sender to send the original instant message;

in response to receiving the request to send the original instant message, determining if the original instant message is to be forwarded to a mobile telephone number associated with the particular potential message recipient;

in response to a determination that the original instant message is to be forwarded to the mobile telephone number associated with the particular message recipient, forwarding the original instant message including the added text to the mobile telephone number associated with the particular message recipient;

after forwarding the original instant message to the mobile telephone number associated with the particular message recipient, receiving a reply message from the mobile telephone associated with the particular message recipient, the reply message received from the mobile telephone associated with the particular message recipient being intended for the instant message sender; and

in response to receiving the reply message intended for the instant message sender;

determining the particular recipient identifier to which the original instant message was addressed,

determining the mobile telephone number of the mobile telephone from which the reply message was received,

sending the reply message to the instant message sender with indications that identify both the determined particular recipient identifier and the determined mobile telephone number as sources of the reply message, and

enabling display, to the instant message sender, of the reply message including the indications that identify both the determined particular recipient identifier and the determined mobile telephone number as sources of the reply message.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising searching a collection of contact information maintained for the instant message sender to determine if the collection of contact information includes an indication that the mobile telephone number is associated with the particular message recipient, wherein enabling display, to the instant message sender, of the reply message including the indications that identify both the determined particular recipient identifier and the determined mobile telephone number as sources of the reply message includes enabling display of the determined mobile telephone as a source of the reply message only if the collection of contact information includes an indication that the mobile telephone number is associated with the particular message recipient.

16. A tangible machine-readable storage device having embodied thereon a computer program, the computer program including instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:

maintain a list of potential instant message recipients on behalf of an instant message sender;

enable display, to the instant message sender, of an instant messaging graphical user interface that includes recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients, the instant messaging graphical user interface being configured to make online presence information available for one or more of the potential instant message recipients and to enable the instant message sender to address instant messages to the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients through selection of the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients and displayed on the instant messaging graphical user interface;

receive, from the instant message sender, a request to add a mobile telephone number that is associated with a specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients maintained on behalf of the instant message sender;

in response to receiving the request to add the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone to the list of potential message recipients maintained on behalf of the instant message sender, add the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients maintained on behalf of the instant message sender;

enable an updating of the instant messaging graphical user interface displayed to the instant message sender to add the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone to the instant messaging graphical user interface as a recipient identifier, the mobile telephone number displayed in the instant messaging graphical user interface being configured to enable the instant message sender to address a message to the mobile telephone number through selection of the mobile telephone number recipient identifier displayed on the instant messaging graphical user interface;

receive, from the instant message sender, a request to associate an alias with the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone;

in response to receiving the request to associate the alias with the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone, associate the alias with the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone; and

enable another updating of the instant messaging graphical user interface displayed to the instant message sender to replace the mobile telephone number recipient identifier with the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number.

17. The tangible machine-readable storage device of claim 16 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to enable another updating of the instant messaging graphical user interface displayed to the instant message sender to replace the mobile telephone number recipient identifier with the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to enable display of a mobile telephone indicator in addition to and visually associated with the alias that indicates that instant messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging.

18. The tangible machine-readable storage device of claim 17 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to enable display of a mobile telephone indicator in addition to and visually associated with the alias that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to enable display of a mobile telephone indicator that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone as text messages using a short message service communications conduit.

19. The tangible machine-readable storage device of claim 17 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to enable display of a mobile telephone indicator in addition to and visually associated with the alias that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to enable display of a mobile telephone indicator that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging without revealing the actual identity of the specific mobile telephone.

20. The tangible machine-readable storage device of claim 16 wherein the mobile telephone number is further associated with one or more other devices in addition to the specific mobile telephone such that the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to receive, from the instant message sender, a request to add a mobile telephone number that is associated with a specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients maintained on behalf of the instant message sender include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to receive a request to add a mobile telephone number that is associated with one or more other devices in addition to the specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients.

21. The tangible machine-readable storage device of claim 16 wherein the computer program further includes instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:

receive an indication of a selection by the instant message sender of the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number from within the instant messaging graphical user interface;

in response to receiving the indication of the selection by the instant message sender of the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number, generate a new message;

receive, from the instant message sender, text to be included in the new message;

in response to receiving the text to be included in the new message, add the text to the new message; and

send the new message including the added text to the mobile telephone number.

22. The tangible machine-readable storage device of claim 16 wherein the computer program further includes instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to associate other information with the mobile telephone number.

23. The tangible machine-readable storage device of claim 22 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to associate other information with the mobile telephone number include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to associate street address information for an individual to whom the specific mobile telephone belongs with the mobile telephone number.

24. The tangible machine-readable storage device of claim 22 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to associate other information with the mobile telephone number include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to associate information that enables communication of data to an individual to whom the specific mobile telephone belongs independent of the instant messaging service.

25. A system comprising:

a memory storage system that maintains a list of potential instant message recipients on behalf of an instant message sender;

means for enabling display, to the instant message sender, of an instant messaging graphical user interface that includes recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients, the instant messaging graphical user interface being configured to make online presence information available for one or more of the potential instant message recipients and to enable the instant message sender to address instant messages to the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients through selection of the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients and displayed on the instant messaging graphical user interface;

a host server system that is configured to;

receive from the instant message sender, a request to add a mobile telephone number that is associated with a specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients maintained by the memory storage system on behalf of the instant message sender;

add the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients maintained by the memory storage system on behalf of the instant message sender in response to receiving the request to add the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone to the list of potential message recipients maintained by the memory storage system on behalf of the instant message sender;

enable an updating of the instant messaging graphical user interface displayed to the instant message sender to add the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone to the instant messaging graphical user interface as a recipient identifier, the mobile telephone number displayed in the instant messaging graphical user interface being configured to enable the instant message sender to address a message to the mobile telephone number through selection of the mobile telephone number recipient identifier displayed on the instant messaging graphical user interface;

receive, from the instant message sender, a request to associate an alias with the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone; and

means for creating, within the memory storage system, an association between the alias and the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone in response to receiving the request to associate the alias with the mobile telephone number that is associated with the specific mobile telephone; and

means for enabling another updating of the instant messaging graphical user interface displayed to the instant message sender to replace the mobile telephone number recipient identifier with the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for enabling another updating of the instant messaging graphical user interface displayed to the instant message sender to replace the mobile telephone number recipient identifier with the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number includes means for enabling display of a mobile telephone indicator in addition to and visually associated with the alias that indicates that instant messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for enabling display of a mobile telephone indicator in addition to and visually associated with the alias that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging includes means for enabling display of a mobile telephone indicator that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone as text messages using a short message service communications conduit.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for enabling display of a mobile telephone indicator in addition to and visually associated with the alias that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging includes means for enabling display of a mobile telephone indicator that indicates that messages addressed to the alias will be delivered to a mobile telephone using a communications conduit other than instant messaging without revealing the actual identity of the specific mobile telephone.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the mobile telephone number is further associated with one or more other devices in addition to the specific mobile telephone and the host server system is configured to receive a request to add the mobile telephone number that is associated with one or more other devices in addition to the specific mobile telephone to the list of potential instant message recipients.

30. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

means for receiving an indication of a selection by the instant message sender of the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number from within the instant messaging graphical user interface;

means for generating a new message in response to receiving the indication of the selection by the instant message sender of the alias that is associated with the mobile telephone number;

means for receiving, from the instant message sender, text to be included in the new message;

means for adding the text to the new message in response to receiving the text to be included in the new message; and

means for sending the new message including the added text to the mobile telephone number.

31. The system of claim 25 further comprising means for associating other information with the mobile telephone number.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the means for associating other information with the mobile telephone number includes means for associating street address information for an individual to whom the specific mobile telephone belongs with the mobile telephone number.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the means for associating other information with the mobile telephone number includes means for associating information that enables communication of data to an individual to whom the specific mobile telephone belongs independent of the instant messaging service.

34. A tangible machine-readable storage device having embodied thereon a computer program, the computer program including instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:

maintain a list of potential instant message recipients on behalf of an instant message sender;

enable display, to the instant message sender, of an instant messaging graphical user interface that includes recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients, the instant messaging graphical user interface being configured to make online presence information available for one or more of the potential instant message recipients and to enable the instant message sender to address instant messages to the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential message recipients through selection of the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients and displayed on the instant messaging graphical user interface;

receive an indication of a selection by the instant message sender of a particular recipient identifier corresponding to a particular potential message recipient from among the recipient identifiers within the graphical user interface;

in response to receiving the indication of the selection of the particular recipient identifier corresponding to the particular potential message recipient, generate an original instant message addressed to the particular participant identifier;

receive, from the instant message sender, text to be included in the original instant message;

in response to receiving the text to be included in the original instant message from the instant message sender, add the received text to the original instant message;

receive a request from the instant message sender to send the original instant message;

in response to receiving the request to send the original instant message, determine if the original instant message is to be forwarded to a mobile telephone number associated with the particular potential message recipient;

in response to a determination that the original instant message is to be forwarded to the mobile telephone number associated with the particular message recipient, forward the original instant message including the added text to the mobile telephone number associated with the particular message recipient;

after forwarding the original instant message to the mobile telephone number associated with the particular message recipient, receive a reply message from the mobile telephone associated with the particular message recipient, the reply message received from the mobile telephone associated with the particular message recipient being intended for the instant message sender; and

in response to receiving the reply message intended for the instant message sender;

determine the particular recipient identifier to which the original instant message was addressed,

determine the mobile telephone number of the mobile telephone from which the reply message was received,

send the reply message to the instant message sender with indications that identify both the determined particular recipient identifier and the determined mobile telephone number as sources of the reply message, and

enable display, to the instant message sender, of the reply message including the indications that identify both the determined particular recipient identifier and the determined mobile telephone number as sources of the reply message.

35. The tangible machine-readable storage device of claim 34 wherein the computer program further includes instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to search a collection of contact information maintained for the instant message sender to determine if the collection of contact information includes an indication that the mobile telephone number is associated with the particular message recipient, wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to enable display, to the instant message sender, of the reply message including the indications that identify both the determined particular recipient identifier and the determined mobile telephone number as sources of the reply message include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to enable display of the determined mobile telephone as a source of the reply message only if the collection of contact information includes an indication that the mobile telephone number is associated with the particular message recipient.

37. A tangible machine-readable storage device having embodied thereon a computer program, the computer program including instructions that, when executed. cause a computer to:

maintain a list of potential instant message recipients on behalf of an instant message sender;

receive, from the instant message sender, a mobile device telephone number associated with a specific mobile device;

receive, from the instant message sender, a request to associate the mobile device telephone number with a particular one of the potential instant message recipients;

in response to receiving the mobile device telephone number and the request to associate the mobile device telephone number with the particular potential instant message recipient, establish an association between the particular potential instant message recipient and the mobile device telephone number;

enable display, to the instant message sender, of an instant messaging graphical user interface, that includes a list of recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients, the instant messaging graphical user interface being configured to make online presence information available for one or more of the potential instant message recipients and to enable the instant message sender to address instant messages to the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients through selection of the recipient identifiers corresponding to the potential instant message recipients;

determine if the particular potential instant message recipient is currently online; and

based on a determination that the particular potential instant message recipient is not currently online, enable display, in the instant messaging graphical user interface, of mobile device information for the recipient identifier corresponding to the particular potential instant message recipient that indicates that messages addressed to the particular potential instant message recipient will be delivered to the specific mobile device using a communications conduit other than an instant messaging communications conduit.