Shared groups rostering system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- maintaining, for a founding instant messaging identity, a group of instant messaging participants that has a membership that includes at least one instant messaging participant not explicitly selected for inclusion in the group by the founding instant messaging identity, the group being founded by the founding instant messaging identity;
causing a display, to the founding instant messaging identity, of an instant messaging participant list that is configured to reflect online presence information for other instant messaging identities included in the instant messaging participant list and that is configured to enable the founding instant messaging identity to initiate instant messaging sessions with the other instant messaging identities included in the instant messaging participant list, the displayed instant messaging participant list including a representation of the group of instant messaging participants that reflects the membership of the group of instant messaging participants;
receiving a request, from a member of the group of instant messaging participants other than the founding instant messaging identity, to invite a new instant messaging participant to join the group of instant messaging participants, or to remove an old instant messaging participant from the group of instant messaging participants;
as a consequence of receiving the request to invite the new instant messaging participant to join the group of instant messaging participants, automatically transmitting an electronic invitation to join the group of instant messaging participants to the new instant messaging participant, the electronic invitation being transmitted in the form of a hyperlink contained in an electronic message;
upon acceptance of the invitation by the new instant messaging participant, determining that a change, which was not inspired by the founding instant messaging identity, in the membership of the group of instant messaging participants has occurred; and
automatically triggering, without involvement from the founding instant messaging identity, an updating of the displayed instant messaging participant list to reflect the change in the membership of the group of instant messaging participants;
wherein the founding instant messaging identity is the only member authorized to delete the group of instant messaging participants.
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Abstract
Systems and techniques for sharing information among members of a group. Information about all current members of a group is stored. Instructions are received from at least one current member to invite at least one prospective member to join the group and the invitation to join the group is sent to the prospective member. In the event that an affirmative response is received, the prospective member is added to the current members of the group and automatically updated services are provided to current members of the group.
121 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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maintaining, for a founding instant messaging identity, a group of instant messaging participants that has a membership that includes at least one instant messaging participant not explicitly selected for inclusion in the group by the founding instant messaging identity, the group being founded by the founding instant messaging identity; causing a display, to the founding instant messaging identity, of an instant messaging participant list that is configured to reflect online presence information for other instant messaging identities included in the instant messaging participant list and that is configured to enable the founding instant messaging identity to initiate instant messaging sessions with the other instant messaging identities included in the instant messaging participant list, the displayed instant messaging participant list including a representation of the group of instant messaging participants that reflects the membership of the group of instant messaging participants; receiving a request, from a member of the group of instant messaging participants other than the founding instant messaging identity, to invite a new instant messaging participant to join the group of instant messaging participants, or to remove an old instant messaging participant from the group of instant messaging participants; as a consequence of receiving the request to invite the new instant messaging participant to join the group of instant messaging participants, automatically transmitting an electronic invitation to join the group of instant messaging participants to the new instant messaging participant, the electronic invitation being transmitted in the form of a hyperlink contained in an electronic message; upon acceptance of the invitation by the new instant messaging participant, determining that a change, which was not inspired by the founding instant messaging identity, in the membership of the group of instant messaging participants has occurred; and automatically triggering, without involvement from the founding instant messaging identity, an updating of the displayed instant messaging participant list to reflect the change in the membership of the group of instant messaging participants; wherein the founding instant messaging identity is the only member authorized to delete the group of instant messaging participants. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a processing device; and a memory storage system storing instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to; maintain, for a founding instant messaging identity, a group of instant messaging participants that has a membership that includes at least one instant messaging participant not explicitly selected for inclusion in the group by the founding instant messaging identity, the group being founded by the founding instant messaging identity; cause a display, to the founding instant messaging identity, of an instant messaging participant list that is configured to reflect online presence information for other instant messaging identities included in the instant messaging participant list and that is configured to enable the founding instant messaging identity to initiate instant messaging sessions with the other instant messaging identities included in the instant messaging participant list, the displayed instant messaging participant list including a representation of the group of instant messaging participants that reflects the membership of the group of instant messaging participants; receive a request, from a member of the group of instant messaging participants other than the founding instant messaging identity, to invite a new instant messaging participant to join the group of instant messaging participants, or to remove an old instant messaging participant from the group of instant messaging participants; as a consequence of receiving the request to invite the new instant messaging participant to join the group of instant messaging participants, automatically transmit an electronic invitation to join the group of instant messaging participants to the new instant messaging participant, the electronic invitation being transmitted in the form of a hyperlink contained in an electronic message; upon acceptance of the invitation by the new instant messaging participant, determine that a change, which was not inspired by the founding instant messaging identity, in the membership of the group of instant messaging participants has occurred; and automatically trigger, without involvement from the founding instant messaging identity, an updating of the displayed instant messaging participant list to reflect the change in the membership of the group of instant messaging participants wherein the founding instant messaging identity is the only member authorized to delete the group of instant messaging participants. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
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maintain, for a founding instant messaging identity, a group of instant messaging participants that has a membership that includes at least one instant messaging participant not explicitly selected for inclusion in the group by the founding instant messaging identity, the group being founded by the founding instant messaging identity; cause a display, to the founding instant messaging identity, of an instant messaging participant list that is configured to reflect online presence information for other instant messaging identities included in the instant messaging participant list and that is configured to enable the founding instant messaging identity to initiate instant messaging sessions with the other instant messaging identities included in the instant messaging participant list, the displayed instant messaging participant list including a representation of the group of instant messaging participants that reflects the membership of the group of instant messaging participants; receive a request, from a member of the group of instant messaging participants other than the founding instant messaging identity, to invite a new instant messaging participant to join the group of instant messaging participants, or to remove an old instant messaging participant from the group of instant messaging participants; as a consequence of receiving the request to invite the new instant messaging participant to join the group of instant messaging participants, automatically transmitting an electronic invitation to join the group of instant messaging participants to the new instant messaging participant, the electronic invitation being transmitted in the form of a hyperlink contained in an electronic message; upon acceptance of the invitation by the new instant messaging participant, determine that a change, which was not inspired by the founding instant messaging identity, in the membership of the group of instant messaging participants has occurred; and automatically trigger, without involvement from the founding instant messaging identity, an updating of the displayed instant messaging participant list to reflect the change in the membership of the group of instant messaging participants wherein the founding instant messaging identity is the only member authorized to delete the group of instant messaging participants. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A computer-implemented method for controlling membership in an Internet network group having a plurality of members, the method comprising:
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maintaining an Internet network group for a founding member, the Internet network group including a plurality of members, the group being founded by the founding instant messaging identity; transmitting instructions to display online presence information for the plurality of members of the Internet network group, the online presence information including information identifying when one or more of the plurality of members of the Internet network group is capable of receiving Internet communications; enabling the founding member of the Internet network group to transmit communications to a second member of the Internet network group when online presence information indicates that the second member is capable of receiving Internet communications; receiving a request from a third member of the Internet network group, other than the founding member or the second member, to invite a new member to join the Internet network group; determining whether the third member of the Internet network group is authorized to invite the new member to join the Internet network group; as a consequence of determining that the third member of the Internet network group is authorized to invite the new member to loin the Internet network group, automatically transmitting an electronic invitation to join the Internet network group to the new instant messaging participant, the electronic invitation being transmitted in the form of a hyperlink contained in an electronic message; upon acceptance of the invitation by the new instant messaging participant, automatically updating the Internet network group maintained for the founding member by adding the new member to the Internet network group when the third member of the Internet network group is authorized to invite the new member to join the Internet network group; automatically transmitting, after the new member has been added to the Internet network group, instructions to display online presence information identifying when the new member is capable of receiving Internet communications; receiving a request from the third member of the Internet network group to remove an existing member from the Internet network group; determining whether the third member of the Internet network group is authorized to remove the existing member from the Internet network group; automatically updating the Internet network group maintained for the founding member by removing the existing member from the Internet network group when the third member is authorized to remove the existing member from the Internet network group; and automatically transmitting instructions not to display online presence information associated with the existing member after the existing member has been removed from the Internet network group; wherein the founding instant messaging identity is the only member authorized to delete the group of instant messaging participants. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification