Providing supplemental contact information corresponding to a referenced individual

• US 7,979,802 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2002
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Appelman, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MYLINH T
• Application Number:
  US10/146,814
• Time in Patent Office: 3,343 Days
• Field of Search: 715/752, 715/704, 715/707, 715/968, 715/716, 715/711, 715/715, 715/808, 715/809, 715/856, 715/859, 709/218, 709/203, 709/219, 705/1, 705/40
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments

Abstract

Providing supplemental information for an individual referenced in an electronic message typically includes receiving an electronic message, examining the electronic message, detecting an identifier for a referenced individual contained in the electronic message, and making supplemental information for the referenced individual available to a recipient of the electronic message. The supplemental information may include information that is in addition to information contained in the electronic message. The supplemental information may include at least one of an e-mail address, a screen name, a telephone number, a facsimile number, and a mailing address, each of which is associated with the referenced individual.

Claims

1. A method for receiving supplemental contact information for an individual referenced in an electronic message, the method comprising:

receiving, from a host, an electronic message composed by a sender that includes a name of an individual in a body of the electronic message;

receiving supplemental contact information associated with the individual from the host, wherein the supplemental contact information is in addition to and other than the electronic message composed by the sender;

displaying the received electronic message;

displaying an indication that supplemental contact information is available for the individual;

determining that a cursor is hovering over the displayed indication that supplemental contact information is available for the individual; and

in response to a determination that the cursor is hovering over the displayed indication, displaying the supplemental contact information for the individual.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein receiving supplemental contact information includes receiving at least one of an e-mail address, a screen name, a telephone number, a facsimile number, and a mailing address, each of which is associated with the individual.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the supplemental contact information includes information that was communicated by the individual to the host that maintains the supplemental contact information.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein the electronic message includes an e-mail message.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein the electronic message includes an instant message.

6. The method as in claim 1 further comprising updating a personal address book of a recipient of the instant message to include the supplemental contact information for the individual.

7. The method as in claim 1 further comprising maintaining a global address book that includes the supplemental contact information for the individual.

8. The method as in claim 7 further comprising automatically updating the global address book when the individual makes changes to the supplemental contact information.

9. The method as in claim 1 wherein receiving supplemental contact information includes receiving a status of online presence for the individual.

10. The method as in claim 1 wherein receiving supplemental contact information includes receiving real time contact information for the individual.

11. The method as in claim 1 wherein receiving supplemental contact information includes receiving a real time messaging capability for the individual.

12. The method as in claim 1 wherein the electronic message comprises an e-mail message and receiving supplemental contact information associated with the individual from the host comprises receiving an instant messaging screen name corresponding to the individual, the method further comprising enabling, in response to receiving the instant messaging screen name corresponding to the individual, a recipient of the electronic message to initiate an instant messaging session with the instant messaging screen name corresponding to the individual.

13. A computer program stored on a tangible computer readable medium for receiving supplemental contact information for an individual referenced in an electronic message, comprising:

a first receiving code segment that causes the computer to receive from a host an electronic message composed by a sender that includes a name of an individual in a body of the electronic message,

a second receiving code segment that causes the computer to receive supplemental contact information associated with the individual from the host, wherein the supplemental contact information is in addition to and other than the electronic message composed by the sender;

a first displaying code segment that causes the computer to display the received electronic message;

a second displaying code segment that causes the computer to display an indication that supplemental contact information is available for the individual;

a determining code segment that causes the computer to determine that a cursor is hovering over the displayed indication that supplemental contact information is available for the individual; and

a third displaying code segment that causes the computer to display the supplemental contact information for the individual in response to a determination that the cursor is hovering over the displayed indication.

14. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the second receiving code segment causes the computer to receive at least one of an e-mail address, a screen name, a telephone number, a facsimile number, and a mailing address, each of which is associated with the individual.

15. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the supplemental contact information includes information that was communicated by the individual to the host that maintains the supplemental contact information.

16. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the electronic message includes an e-mail message.

17. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the electronic message includes an instant message.

18. The computer program of claim 13 further comprising an updating code segment that causes the computer to update a personal address book of a recipient of the electronic message to include the supplemental contact information for the individual.

19. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the second receiving code segment causes the computer to receive a status of online presence for the individual.

20. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the second receiving code segment causes the computer to receive real time contact information for the individual.

21. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the second receiving code segment causes the computer to receive a real time messaging capability for the individual.

22. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the electronic message comprises an e-mail message and the second receiving code segment causes the computer to receive an instant messaging screen name corresponding to the individual, the computer program further comprising an instant messaging enabling code segment that causes the computer to enable, in response to receiving the instant messaging screen name corresponding to the individual, a recipient of the electronic message to initiate an instant messaging session with the instant messaging screen name corresponding to the individual.

23. A system for receiving supplemental contact information for an individual referenced in an electronic message, comprising:

means for receiving from a host an electronic message that includes an address field and a body, the electronic message having been composed by a sender and including a name of an individual within the body of the electronic message;

means for receiving supplemental contact information associated with the individual from the host, wherein the supplemental contact information is in addition to and other than the electronic message composed by the sender;

means for displaying the received electronic message;

means for displaying an indication that supplemental contact information is available for the individual;

means for determining that a cursor is hovering over the displayed indication that supplemental contact information is available for the individual; and

means for displaying the supplemental contact information for the individual in response to a determination that the cursor is hovering over the displayed indication.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the means for receiving supplemental contact information includes means for receiving at least one of an e-mail address, a screen name, a telephone number, a facsimile number, and a mailing address, each of which is associated with the individual.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the supplemental contact information includes information that was communicated by the individual to the host that maintains the supplemental contact information.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the electronic message includes an e-mail message.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the electronic message includes an instant message.

28. The system of claim 23 further comprising means for updating a personal address book of a recipient of the electronic message to include the supplemental contact information for the individual.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the means for receiving supplemental contact information includes means for receiving a status of online presence for the individual.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein the means for receiving supplemental contact information includes means for receiving real time contact information for the individual.

31. The system of claim 23 wherein the means for receiving supplemental contact information includes means for receiving a real time messaging capability for the individual.

32. The system of claim 23 wherein the supplemental contact information includes one or more of real time communication availability of the individual, communication capabilities of the individual, or additional information contained within a user profile.

33. The system of claim 23 wherein the electronic message comprises an e-mail message and the means for receiving supplemental contact information associated with the individual from the host comprises means for receiving an instant messaging screen name corresponding to the individual, the system further comprising means for enabling, in response to receiving the instant messaging screen name corresponding to the individual, a recipient of the electronic message to initiate an instant messaging session with the instant messaging screen name corresponding to the individual.

34. A method for providing supplemental contact information for an individual referenced in an electronic message, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic message that includes a name of an individual within a body of the electronic message;

displaying the electronic message including the name of the individual within the body;

examining the displayed electronic message to determine if a name of an individual is displayed;

based on examining the displayed electronic message, detecting the displayed name of the individual within the body of the electronic message;

in response to detecting the displayed name of the individual within the body of the electronic message, determining if supplemental contact information is known for the individual; and

based on a determination that supplemental contact information is known for the individual, automatically displaying, concurrently with the display of the electronic message, an indication that supplemental contact information is available for the individual.

35. The method as in claim 34 wherein automatically displaying an indication that supplemental contact information is available for the individual comprises automatically displaying the supplemental contact information for the individual.

36. The method as in claim 34 wherein displaying an indication that supplemental contact information is available for the individual comprises displaying an icon in addition to the displayed name of the individual within the body of the electronic message, wherein the icon indicates that supplemental contact information is available for the individual.

37. The method as in claim 34 further comprising:

determining that a cursor is hovering over the displayed indication that supplemental contact information is available for the individual; and

in response to a determination that the cursor is hovering over the displayed indication, displaying the supplemental contact information for the individual.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the electronic message comprises an e-mail message and automatically displaying an indication that supplemental contact information is available for the individual comprises displaying a control configured to enable a recipient of the electronic message to initiate an instant messaging session with the individual.

39. The method as in claim 34 wherein:

accessing supplemental contact information for the identity other than the recipient or the sender includes accessing an instant messaging screen name for the identity other than the recipient or the sender; and

enabling display, to the recipient, of the electronic message and the supplemental contact information for the identity other than the recipient or the sender includes enabling display, to the recipient, of the electronic message and the instant messaging screen name for the identity other than the recipient or the sender.

40. A method for providing supplemental information corresponding to an individual referenced in an electronic message, the method comprising:

receiving a first electronic message intended for at least one recipient;

searching a body of the first electronic message for one or more names;

based on searching the body of the first electronic message, detecting that the body of the first electronic message includes a name of an individual;

in response to detecting the name of the individual within the body of the first electronic message;

determining if supplemental information is available for the individual, and

in response to a determination that supplemental information is available for the individual, presenting the first electronic message to the recipient with an indication that supplemental information is available for the individual;

receiving a second electronic message intended for the recipient;

searching a body of the second electronic message for one or more names;

based on searching the body of the second electronic message, determining that the body of the second electronic message does not include any names;

in response to determining that the body of the second electronic message does not include any names, presenting the second electronic message to the recipient without an indication that supplemental information is available.

41. The method as in claim 40 further comprising:

receiving a third electronic message intended for the recipient;

searching a body of the third electronic message for one or more names;

based on searching the body of the third electronic message, detecting that the body of the third electronic message includes another name of another individual;

in response to detecting the other name of the other individual within the body of the third electronic message;

determining if supplemental information is available for the third individual, and

in response to a determination that supplemental information is not available for the other individual, presenting the third electronic message to the recipient without an indication that supplemental information is available for the other individual.

42. The method as in claim 40 wherein:

determining if supplemental information is available for the individual includes determining if an instant messaging screen name for the individual is available; and

presenting the first electronic message to the recipient with an indication that supplemental information is available for the individual includes presenting the first electronic message to the recipient with an indication that an instant messaging screen name for the individual is available.