Automatic categorization of entries in a contact list
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method performed by a processor for categorizing users of a communication system, the method comprising:
- maintaining, in a storage device and on behalf of a first user, a list of identifiers representing users of the communication system and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list, the list including two or more categories into which listed identifiers are categorized based on attributes associated with the listed identifiers, each of the two or more categories reflecting attributes other than online presence;
accessing, from the storage device, at least one attribute associated with an identifier, wherein the identifier is included within the list but not categorized within either of the two categories, and online presence information for the identifier is made perceivable through the list;
accessing attributes stored relative to at least one of the two or more categories included within the list;
comparing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier to the stored attributes;
automatically identifying, based on results of the comparison and without user input, at least one of the two or more categories included within the list as corresponding to the identifier; and
categorizing the identifier into the identified category.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Entries within a participant list of an electronic communications system may be categorized automatically into one or more groups based on attributes of users represented in the participant list. Categorizing users includes maintaining a list of identifiers that are selected by a first user and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list. The list includes one or more categories into which the identifiers are categorized. At least one attribute associated with an identifier for which online presence information is to be made perceivable through the list and attributes stored relative to at least one of the categories are accessed. The attributes associated with the identifier are compared to the stored attributes. Based on results of the comparison, at least one category within the list that corresponds to the identifier is identified, and the identifier is categorized into the identified category.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method performed by a processor for categorizing users of a communication system, the method comprising:
-
maintaining, in a storage device and on behalf of a first user, a list of identifiers representing users of the communication system and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list, the list including two or more categories into which listed identifiers are categorized based on attributes associated with the listed identifiers, each of the two or more categories reflecting attributes other than online presence; accessing, from the storage device, at least one attribute associated with an identifier, wherein the identifier is included within the list but not categorized within either of the two categories, and online presence information for the identifier is made perceivable through the list; accessing attributes stored relative to at least one of the two or more categories included within the list; comparing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier to the stored attributes; automatically identifying, based on results of the comparison and without user input, at least one of the two or more categories included within the list as corresponding to the identifier; and categorizing the identifier into the identified category. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 29)
-
-
23. A tangible machine-accessible storage medium that when accessed, results in a machine performing operations for categorizing users of a communication system, comprising:
-
maintaining, in a storage device and on behalf of a first user, a list of identifiers representing users of the communication system and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list, the list including two or more categories into which listed identifiers are categorized based on attributes associated with the listed identifiers, each of the two or more categories reflecting attributes other than online presence; accessing at least one attribute associated with an identifier, wherein the identifier is included within the list but not categorized within either of the two categories and online presence information for the identifier is made perceivable through the list; accessing, from the storage device, attributes stored relative to at least one of the two or more categories included within the list; comparing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier to the stored attributes; automatically identifying, based on results of the comparison and without user input, at least one of the two or more categories included within the list as corresponding to the identifier; and categorizing the identifier into the identified category.
-
-
24. A computer-implemented method performed by a processor for categorizing users of an instant messaging system, the method comprising:
-
maintaining, in a storage device and for a first user of the instant messaging system, an instant messaging participant list that is configured to reflect online presence information for other users of the instant messaging system; accessing electronic content maintained for the other users of the instant messaging system, the electronic content including one or more personal attributes that are descriptive of the user for which the electronic content is maintained, wherein the other users of the instant messaging system for whom electronic content is accessed are not already included within the instant messaging participant list; automatically identifying, based on results of accessing the electronic content and without user input, a subset of the other users of the instant messaging system that have at least one personal attribute in common; and automatically adding, in response to identifying the subset of the other users that have at least one personal attribute in common and without user input, at least one of the subset of other users that have at least one personal attribute in common to the instant messaging participant list maintained for the first user of the instant messaging system. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 30)
-
-
31. A computer-implemented method for categorizing a user of a communication system, the method comprising:
-
maintaining, in a storage device and on behalf of a first user, a list of identifiers representing users of the communication system and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list, the list including two or more categories into which listed identifiers are categorized, each of the two or more categories reflecting attributes other than online presence; receiving a request from the first user to add a particular new identifier not already included within the list of identifiers to the list of identifiers maintained on behalf of the first user; accessing at least one attribute associated with the new identifier; accessing, from the storage device, attributes stored relative to at least one of the two or more categories included within the list; comparing the at least one attribute associated with the new identifier to the stored attributes; identifying, based on results of the comparison and without user input, at least one of the two or more categories included within the list as corresponding to the new identifier; categorizing the new identifier into the identified category; adding the new identifier to the list of participant identifiers; and making perceivable that the new identifier is categorized within the identified category.
-
-
32. A computer-implemented method performed by a processor for categorizing users of a communication system, the method comprising:
-
maintaining, in a storage device and on behalf of a first user, a list of identifiers representing users of the communication system; displaying the list of identifiers on a display device, the displayed list of identifiers comprising two or more categories into which identifiers are categorized based on attributes associated with the identifiers, each of the two or more categories reflecting attributes other than online presence; receiving a communication from a second user, wherein an identifier representing the second user is not included in the list of identifiers; determining, from a profile associated with the identifier of the second user, at least one attribute associated with the identifier of the second user; accessing attributes stored relative to at least one of the two or more categories included within the displayed list; comparing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier of the second user to the stored attributes; automatically identifying, based on results of the comparison and without user input, at least one of the two or more categories included within the list as corresponding to the identifier of the second user; displaying, on the display device, an indication of the identified category; receiving, from the first user, a notification that the first user accepts the identified category; and categorizing, based on the received notification, the identifier of the second user into the identified category. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
-
Specification