Methods and systems for developing an instant messaging network

• US 8,285,793 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Harik, Georges, Piscitello, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US13/430,570
• Time in Patent Office: 197 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709206-207, 709/203, 709217-218, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information

Abstract

An instant messaging (IM) system has an IM server connected to a communication network, and logic operable on the IM server enabling a first user to browse contacts associated with a second user. In some cases the first user can add and list contacts accessed by browsing the contacts associated with the second user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by at least one server and from a first computer associated with a first user, a first request to couple the first computer to the at least one server;

receiving, by the at least one server and from a second computer associated with a second user, a second request to couple the second computer to the at least one server;

receiving, by the at least one server and from the first computer, a third request to browse contacts associated with the second user;

in response to determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user, sending, by the at least one server and to the first computer, a message that identifies a third user, wherein the third user is a contact of the second user in a service provided by the at least one server;

receiving, by the at least one server and from the first computer, a request to the third user;

in response to receiving the request, sending, by the at least one server and to a third computer that is associated with the third user, a message that indicates the request to the third user, such that the first user becomes a contact of the third user when the third user accepts the request; and

in response to receiving, from the third computer, a message that indicates the third user has accepted the request, determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is a contact of the third user in the service provided by the at least one server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacts of the second user are included in a contact group, and wherein determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user further comprises:

determining, by the at least one server, whether the first user is included in the contact group;

when the first user is included in the contact group, determining, that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user; and

when the first user is not included in the contact group, determining, that the first user is not allowed to access the contacts of the second user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacts of the second user are grouped into a plurality of contact groups, and wherein determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user further comprises:

determining based at least in part on an access configuration specified by the second user, by the at least one server, that a contact group of the plurality of contact groups is not accessible to any other users of the service provided by the at least one server; and

in response to determining that the contact group of the plurality of contacts groups is not accessible to any other users of the service, determining, that the first user is not allowed to access contacts of the contact group of the plurality of contact groups.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacts of the second user are grouped into a plurality of contact groups, and wherein determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user further comprises:

determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is included in a first contact group;

determining, by the at least one server, whether users in the first contact group are allowed to access contacts of a second contact group based at least in part on an access configuration specified by the second user;

when users in the first contact group are allowed to access contacts of the second contact group, determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is allowed to access contacts included in the first contact group; and

when users in the first contact group are not allowed to access contacts of the second contact group, determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is not allowed to access contacts included in the first contact group.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacts of the second user are grouped into a plurality of contact groups, and wherein determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user further comprises:

determining, by the at least one server, that the third user and a fourth user are included in a first contact group;

determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is not allowed to determine that the third user is a contact of the second user based at least in part on an access configuration specified by the third user; and

determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is allowed to determine that the fourth user is a contact of the second user based at least in part on an access configuration specified by the fourth user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user further comprises:

determining, by the at least one server, a profile factor of the first user, wherein the profile factor is included in a user profile associated with the first user;

determining, by the at least one server, whether the profile factor of the first user matches a profile factor of at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, wherein the profile factor of the second user is included in a user profile associated with the second user;

when the profile factor of the first user matches the profile factor of the at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is allowed to access the at least one contact; and

when the profile factor of the first user does not match the profile factor of the at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is not allowed to access the at least one contact.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the profile factor of the first user is selected from a group consisting of a geographic location, area code, gender, occupation, and contact group.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the user profile of the first user comprises at least one of personal details, history details, individual interests, professional affiliations, career goals, and occupation details.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user further comprises:

determining, by the at least one server, a profile factor of the first user, wherein the profile factor is included in a user profile associated with the first user;

determining, by the at least one server, whether the profile factor of the first user matches a profile factor associated with a contact group that includes at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user;

when the profile factor of the first user matches the profile factor associated with the contact group, determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user included in the contact group; and

when the profile factor of the first user does not match the profile factor associated with the contact group, determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is not allowed to access the contacts of the second user included in the contact group.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user further comprises:

determining, by the at least one server, whether the first user has allowed the second user to access the contacts of the first user;

when the first user has allowed the second user to access the contacts of the first user, determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user; and

when the first user has not allowed the second user to access the contacts of the first user, determining that the first user is not allowed to access the contacts of the second user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the request received by the third user, further comprises a user profile associated with the first user.

12. A server comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic that is operable by the one or more processors to;

receive, from a first computer associated with a first user, a first request to couple the first computer to the at least one server;

receive, from a second computer associated with a second user, a second request to couple the second computer to the at least one server;

receive, from the first computer, a third request to browse contacts associated with the second user;

in response to determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user, send, to the first computer, a message that identifies a third user, wherein the third user is a contact of the second user in a service provided by the at least one server;

receive, from the first computer, a request to the third user;

in response to receiving the request, send, to a third computer that is associated with the third user, a message that indicates the request to the third user such that the first user becomes a contact of the third user when the third user accepts the request; and

in response to receiving, from the third computer, a message that indicates the third user has accepted the request, determine that the first user is a contact of the third user in the service provided by the at least one server.

13. The server of claim 12 wherein the logic is further operable by the one or more processors to:

determine whether the first user is included in the contact group;

when the first user is included in the contact group, determine that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user; and

when the first user is not included in the contact group, determine that the first user is not allowed to access the contacts of the second user.

14. The server of claim 12 wherein the logic is further operable by the one or more processors to:

determine a contact group of the plurality of contact groups is not accessible to any other users of the service provided by the at least one server based at least in part on an access configuration specified by the second user; and

in response to determining that the contact group of the plurality of contacts groups is not accessible to any other users of the service determine that the first user is not allowed to access contacts of the contact group of the plurality of contact groups.

15. The server of claim 12 wherein the logic is further operable by the one or more processors to:

determine a profile factor of the first user, wherein the profile factor is included in a user profile associated with the first user;

determine whether the profile factor of the first user matches a profile factor of at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, wherein the profile factor of the second user is included in a user profile associated with the second user;

when the profile factor of the first user matches the profile factor of the at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, determine that the first user is allowed to access the at least one contact; and

when the profile factor of the first user does not match the profile factor of the at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, determine that the first user is not allowed to access the at least one contact.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed by at least one server, perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a first computer associated with a first user, a first request to couple the first computer to the at least one server;

receiving, from a second computer associated with a second user, a second request to couple the second computer to the at least one server;

receiving, from the first computer, a third request to browse contacts associated with the second user;

in response to determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user, sending, to the first computer, a message that identifies a third user, wherein the third user is a contact of the second user in a service provided by the at least one server;

receiving, from the first computer, a request to the third user;

in response to receiving the request, sending, to a third computer that is associated with the third user, a message that indicates the request to the third user such that the first user becomes a contact of the third user when the third user accepts the request; and

in response to receiving, from the third computer, a message that indicates the third user has accepted the request, determining that the first user is a contact of the third user in the service provided by the at least one server.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that when executed by the at least one server, perform operations comprising:

determining whether the first user is included in the contact group;

when the first user is included in the contact group, determining, that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user; and

when the first user is not included in the contact group, determining, that the first user is not allowed to access the contacts of the second user.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that when executed by the at least one server, perform operations comprising:

determining a contact group of the plurality of contact groups is not accessible to any other users of the service provided by the at least one server based at least in part on an access configuration specified by the second user; and

in response to determining that the contact group of the plurality of contacts groups is not accessible to any other users of the service, determining that the first user is not allowed to access contacts of the contact group of the plurality of contact groups.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that when executed by the at least one server, perform operations comprising:

determining a profile factor of the first user, wherein the profile factor is included in a user profile associated with the first user;

determining whether the profile factor of the first user matches a profile factor of at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, wherein the profile factor of the second user is included in a user profile associated with the second user;

when the profile factor of the first user matches the profile factor of the at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, determining that the first user is allowed to access the at least one contact; and

when the profile factor of the first user does not match the profile factor of the at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, determining that the first user is not allowed to access the at least one contact.

20. A method comprising:

executing, by at least one server connected to a communication network, logic that enables a first user to browse contacts of a second user in response to determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user, wherein the logic allows an exchange of information between the first user and a third user if the first user and the third user are each contacts of the second user in a service provided by the at least one server, and wherein the exchange of information includes a request received by the third user such that the first user becomes a contact of the third user when the third user accepts the request.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

executing, by the at least one server connected to a communication network, logic that enables a first computer associated with the first user to couple to the at least one server, a second computer associated with the second user to couple to the at least one server, and a third computer associated with the third user to couple to the at least one server.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein executing logic that enables the first user to browse contacts of the second user further comprises:

receiving, by the at least one server and from the first computer associated with the first user, a request to browse contacts associated with the second user;

in response to determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user, sending, by the at least one server and to the first computer, a message that indicates the third user, wherein the third user is a contact of the second user in the service provided by the at least one server;

receiving, by the at least one server and from the first computer, the request to the third user such that the first user becomes a contact of the third user when the third user accepts the request.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

sending, by the at least one server and to the third computer, a first message that indicates the request to the third user; and

in response to receiving a second message that indicates the third user has accepted the request, determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is a contact of the third user in the service provided by the at least one server.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the contacts of the second user are included in a contact group, and wherein determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user further comprises:

determining, by the at least one server, whether the first user is included in the contact group;

when the first user is included in the contact group, determining, that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user; and

when the first user is not included in the contact group, determining, that the first user is not allowed to access the contacts of the second user.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the contacts of the second user are grouped into a plurality of contact groups, and wherein determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user further comprises:

determining, by the at least one server, a contact group of the plurality of contact groups is not accessible to any other users of the service provided by the at least one server based at least in part on an access configuration specified by the second user; and

in response to determining that the contact group of the plurality of contacts groups is not accessible to any other users of the service, determining, that the first user is not allowed to access contacts of the contact group of the plurality of contact groups.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein determining that the first user is allowed to access the contacts of the second user further comprises:

determining, by the at least one server, a profile factor of the first user, wherein the profile factor is included in a user profile associated with the first user;

determining, by the at least one server, whether the profile factor of the first user matches a profile factor of at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, wherein the profile factor of the second user is included in a user profile associated with the second user;

when the profile factor of the first user matches the profile factor of the at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is allowed to access the at least one contact; and

when the profile factor of the first user does not match the profile factor of the at least one contact included in the contacts of the second user, determining, by the at least one server, that the first user is not allowed to access the at least one contact.