Facilitating communications between computer users across a network
First Claim
1. A method of creating an icon, the method comprising:
- selecting a representation of a contact or set of contacts of a user in an interface of an instant messaging program;
performing an operation on the selected representation;
creating an icon in response to the performed operation on the selected representation, wherein the icon represents the contact or set of contacts of the user and is located outside of the interface of the instant messaging program; and
configuring the icon to allow the user to initiate and perform actions available from the interface of the instant messaging program that are associated with the contact or set of contacts without using the interface of the instant messaging program and regardless of whether the instant messaging program is running when an operation is performed on the icon.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An icon or file is provided to facilitate communications across a network. The icon or file represents a contact or set of contacts and is separate from the communications program'"'"'s user interface. At least one action is executed in response to an operation performed on the icon or a command issued to the file. The actions may generally include, for example, retrieving profile information about the contact, setting an alert to indicate that the contact'"'"'s network/login status has changed (e.g., login, logout, or idle), or performing communications with the contact. The action may be the same action that would be executed in response to an operation performed on a representation of the contact or set of contacts in a user interface of a communications program.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of creating an icon, the method comprising:
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selecting a representation of a contact or set of contacts of a user in an interface of an instant messaging program; performing an operation on the selected representation; creating an icon in response to the performed operation on the selected representation, wherein the icon represents the contact or set of contacts of the user and is located outside of the interface of the instant messaging program; and configuring the icon to allow the user to initiate and perform actions available from the interface of the instant messaging program that are associated with the contact or set of contacts without using the interface of the instant messaging program and regardless of whether the instant messaging program is running when an operation is performed on the icon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-usable storage medium storing a computer program for creating an icon, the computer program comprising instructions for causing a computer processor to:
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receive a selection of a representation of a contact or set of contacts of a user in an interface of instant messaging program; receive an indication that an operation was performed on the selected representation; create an icon in response to the performed operation on the selected representation, wherein the icon represents the contact or set of contacts of the user and is located outside of the interface of the instant messaging program; and configure the icon to allow the user to initiate and perform actions available from the interface of the instant messaging program that are associated with the contact or set of contacts without using the interface of the instant messaging program and regardless of whether the instant messaging program is running when an operation is performed on the icon. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one data storage system; wherein the data storage system has a program stored therein, the program having instructions that cause the processor to perform the following; receive a selection of a representation of a contact or set of contacts of a user in an interface of instant messaging program; receive an indication that an operation was performed on the selected representation; create an icon in response to the performed operation on the selected representation, wherein the icon represents the contact or set of contacts of the user and is located outside of the interface of the instant messaging program; and configure the icon to allow the user to initiate and perform actions available from the interface of the instant messaging program that are associated with the contact or set of contacts without using the interface of the instant messaging program and regardless of whether the instant messaging program is running when an operation is performed on the icon. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification