Initiating communications with web page visitors and known contacts
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for initiating communication between two users among a plurality of users while the plurality of users are browsing web pages, the method comprising:
- collecting user information about each user among the plurality of users, using a toolbar installed in a web browser in each user'"'"'s computer;
collecting page information using the toolbars, the page information including one or more of;
information about what web page each user among the plurality of users is browsing, and what web pages each user among the plurality of users has bookmarked;
determining whether a first user and a second user among the plurality of users are simultaneously browsing one of;
a same web site, a same sub-site of a web site, or a same web page of a web site;
in response to determining that the first and second users are simultaneously browsing one of;
a same web site, a same sub-site of a web site, or a same web page of a web site, and further in response to determining that a predetermined criterion is met;
providing an indication to the first user when the second user is actively browsing one or more of;
a web page bookmarked by the second user, a sub-site of a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the second user, or a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the second user;
providing an indication to the second user when the first user is actively browsing one or more of;
a web page bookmarked by the first user, a sub-site of a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the first user, or a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the first user;
sharing a portion of the user information and page information for the first user and the second user between the first user and the second user; and
processing a request by the first user to initiate communication with the second user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for initiating communication between two users among several users while at least one of the two users is browsing a web page. User information is collected about each user among the several users. Page information is collected about what web page each user among the several users is browsing. A portion of the user information and page information for a first user and a second user is shared between the first user and the second user when a predetermined criterion is met, and request by the first user to initiate communication with the second user is processed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for initiating communication between two users among a plurality of users while the plurality of users are browsing web pages, the method comprising:
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collecting user information about each user among the plurality of users, using a toolbar installed in a web browser in each user'"'"'s computer; collecting page information using the toolbars, the page information including one or more of;
information about what web page each user among the plurality of users is browsing, and what web pages each user among the plurality of users has bookmarked;determining whether a first user and a second user among the plurality of users are simultaneously browsing one of;
a same web site, a same sub-site of a web site, or a same web page of a web site;in response to determining that the first and second users are simultaneously browsing one of;
a same web site, a same sub-site of a web site, or a same web page of a web site, and further in response to determining that a predetermined criterion is met;providing an indication to the first user when the second user is actively browsing one or more of;
a web page bookmarked by the second user, a sub-site of a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the second user, or a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the second user;providing an indication to the second user when the first user is actively browsing one or more of;
a web page bookmarked by the first user, a sub-site of a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the first user, or a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the first user;sharing a portion of the user information and page information for the first user and the second user between the first user and the second user; and processing a request by the first user to initiate communication with the second user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program product, stored on a machine-readable storage device, for initiating communication between two users among a plurality of users while the plurality of users are browsing web pages, comprising instructions operable to cause a computer to:
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collect user information about each user among the plurality of users, using a toolbar installed in a web browser in each user'"'"'s computer; collect page information using the toolbars, the page information including one or more of;
information about what web page each user among the plurality of users is browsing and what web pages each user among the plurality of users has bookmarked;determine whether a first user and a second user among the plurality of users are simultaneously browsing one of;
a same web site, a same sub-site of a web site, or a same web page of a web site;in response to determining that the first and second users are simultaneously browsing one of;
a same web site, a same sub-site of a web site, or a same web page of a web site, and further in response to determining that a predetermined criterion is met;provide an indication to the first user when the second user is actively browsing or more of;
a web page bookmarked by the second user, a sub-site of a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the second user, or a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the second user;provide an indication to the second user when the first user is actively browsing or more of;
a web page bookmarked by the first user, a sub-site of a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the first user, or a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the first user;share a portion of the user information page information for the first user and the second user between the first user and the second user; and process a request by the first user to initiate communication with the second user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer system for initiating communication between two users among a plurality of users while the plurality of users are browsing web pages, the system comprising:
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a plurality of computers, wherein at least two of the computers in the plurality of computers each includes a web browser application allowing a user to browse web pages; and a computer network connecting the plurality of computers, wherein the web browser applications are further operable to; collect user information about each user among the plurality of users, using a toolbar installed in a web browser in each user'"'"'s computer; collect page information using the toolbars, the page information including one or more of;
information about what web page each user among the plurality of users is browsing and what web pages each user among the plurality of users has bookmarked;determine whether a first user and a second user among the plurality of users are simultaneously browsing one of;
a same web site, a same sub-site of a web site, or a same web page of a web site;in response to determining that the first and second users are simultaneously browsing one of;
a same web site, a same sub-site of a web site, or a same web page of a web site, and further in response to determining that a predetermined criterion is met;provide an indication to the first user when the second user is actively browsing one or more of;
a web page bookmarked by the second user, a sub-site of a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the second user, or a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the second user;provide an indication to the second user when the first user is actively browsing one or more of;
a web page bookmarked by the first user, a sub-site of a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the first user, or a web site containing a web page bookmarked by the first user;share a portion of the user information page information for the first user and the second user between the first user and the second; and process a request by the first user to initiate communication with the second user. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification