Methods and systems for developing an instant messaging network
First Claim
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1. An instant messaging (IM) system comprising:
- an IM server connected to a communication network; and
processor of the IM server to execute logic operable on the IM server enabling a first user to browse contacts associated with a second user, wherein the logic enables the second user to act as an intermediary client between the first user and a third user in response to a request by the first user to add the third user, which is a contact associated with the second user, as a contact of the first user.
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Abstract
An instant messaging (IM) system has an IM server connected to a communication network, and logic operable on the IM server enabling a first user to browse contacts associated with a second user. In some cases the first user can add and list contacts accessed by browsing the contacts associated with the second user.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An instant messaging (IM) system comprising:
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an IM server connected to a communication network; and processor of the IM server to execute logic operable on the IM server enabling a first user to browse contacts associated with a second user, wherein the logic enables the second user to act as an intermediary client between the first user and a third user in response to a request by the first user to add the third user, which is a contact associated with the second user, as a contact of the first user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for expanding an instant messaging (IM) system comprising:
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providing, at a computer system, at least first and second instances of an IM client on first and second computerized appliances respectively on a network; and providing, at the computer system, a browsing means in the first instance of the IM client to allow browsing screen names in a contact list of the second instance by a first user of the first instance, wherein the second instance acts as an intermediary between the first instance and a third instance in response to a request by the first user to add the third instance, which is a contact in the contact list of the second instance, as a contact in a contact list of the first instance. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for expanding an IM network, comprising:
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providing, at a computer system, network communication between a first and second user such that each is listed by the other as a contact; and making, at the computer system, other contacts of the first user available for selection by the second user for addition to the second user'"'"'s contact list, wherein the first user acts as an intermediary client between the second user and a third user in response to a request by the second user to add the third user, which is a contact of the first user, as a contact of the second user. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions that cause a machine to perform a method for expanding an IM network comprising:
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providing network communication between a first and second user such that each is listed by the other as a contact; and making other contacts of the first user available for selection by the second user for addition to the second user'"'"'s contact list, rein the first user acts as an intermediary client between the second user and a third user in response to a request by the second user to add the third user, which is a contact of the first user, as a contact of the second user. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification