Methods and systems for developing an instant messaging network
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A server comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed by at least one server, perform operations comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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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. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
Specification