User definable co-user lists

• US 8,584,018 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Appelman, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/615,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20130091433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 715/733, 715/853, 715751-753, 715/759, 715/744, 715/765, 709/201, 709/205
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/903 Querying for retrieval from the web G06F16/953
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking and displaying the logon status of selected co-users of an on-line or network system in real time to a tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy lists,” which track specific co-users in real-time automatically. When a user logs on to a system, one or more of the user'"'"'s buddy lists are presented to the buddy list system. The buddy list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into the system with the entries on the user'"'"'s buddy list. Any matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and logoff, a user'"'"'s buddy list is updated to reflect these changes. An indication can also be added to show that a co-user just logged on or just left the system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

maintaining a co-user list in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the co-user list comprising a list of co-users of a communications system selected by a user of the communications system;

determining, using at least one processor, that a first co-user on the co-user list is logged into the communications system;

determining, using the least one processor, that a second co-user on the co-user list is not logged into the communications system; and

providing a first indication when the user logs into the communications system, the first indication indicating that the first co-user is currently logged into the communications system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a first username associated with the first co-user when the user logs into the communications system.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first indication comprises a symbol next to the first username.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the symbol comprises a checkmark.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

determining that the first co-user has logged out of the communications system; and

changing the first indication to a second indication to signal that the first co-user has logged out of the communication system.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein changing the first indication to the second indication comprises removing the symbol next to the first username.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first indication comprises bolding the first username.

8. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

determining that a third co-user on the co-user list has logged into the communications system; and

providing an indication that the third co-user is logged into the communications system.

9. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising updating in real time the first indication and the second indication to reflect the real-time log in status of the first co-user and the second co-user.

10. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising facilitating the exchange of electronic messages between the user and the first co-user upon selection of the first username by the user.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the electronic messages comprise instant messages.

12. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising providing a third indication that signals which co-user on the co-user list was the most recent co-user to log into the communications system.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the third indication comprises a symbol next to a username of the co-user that was the most recent co-user to log into the communications system.

14. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising providing a fourth indication that indicates which co-user on the co-user list was the most recent co-user to log out of the communications system.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining, using at least one processor, that a co-user on the co-user list is logged into the communications system comprises:

accessing one or more logon records, the one or more logon records being maintained by a logon system; and

comparing the co-user list to the one or more logon records.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing a second indication when the user logs into the communications system, the second indication indicating that the second co-user is currently logged out of the communications system.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the second indication comprises a lack of the first indication.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising displaying a second username associated with the second co-user when the user logs into the communications system;

and

wherein the second indication comprises graying the second username.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform steps comprising:

maintaining a co-user list, the co-user list comprising a list of co-users of a communications system selected by a user of the communications system;

determining that a first co-user on the co-user list is logged into the communications system;

determining that a second co-user on the co-user list is not logged into the communications system; and

providing a first indication when the user logs into the communications system, the first indication indicating that the first co-user is currently logged into the communications system.

20. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to:

display a first username associated with the first co-user when the user logs into the communications system.

21. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the first indication comprises a symbol next to the first username.

22. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the symbol comprises a checkmark.

23. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 21, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor:

determine that the first co-user has logged out of the communications system; and

change the first indication to a second indication to signal that the co-user has logged out of the communication system.

24. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein changing the first indication to the second indication comprises removing the symbol next to the first username.

25. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the first indication comprises bolding the first username.

26. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor:

determine that a third co-user on the co-user list has logged into the communications system; and

provide an indication that the third co-user is logged into the communications system.

27. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to update in real time the first indication to reflect the real-time log in status of the first co-user.

28. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to facilitate the exchange of electronic messages between the user and the first co-user upon selection of the first username by the user.

29. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the electronic messages comprise instant messages.

30. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to provide a third indication that indicates which co-user on the co-user list was the most recent co-user to log into the communications system.

31. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 30, wherein the third indication comprises a symbol next to a username of the co-user that was the most recent co-user to log into the communications system.

32. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to provide a fourth indication that indicates which co-user on the co-user list was the most recent co-user to log out of the communications system.

33. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, wherein determining that one or more co-users on the co-user list are logged into the communications system comprises:

accessing one or more logon records, the one or more logon records being maintained by a logon system; and

comparing the co-user list to the one or more logon records.

34. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to provide a second indication when the user logs into the communications system, the second indication indicating that the second co-user is currently logged out of the communications system.

35. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 34, wherein the second indication comprises graying of a second username associated with the second co-user.

37. The system as recited in claim 33, further comprising instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least on processor, cause the system to:

display a first username associated with the first co-user when the user logs into the communications system.

38. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein the first indication comprises a symbol next to the first username.

39. The system as recited in claim 38, wherein the symbol comprises a checkmark.

40. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein the first indication comprises bolding the first username.

41. The system as recited in claim 38, further comprising instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least on processor, cause the system to:

determine that the first co-user has logged out of the communications system; and

changing the first indication to a second indication to signal that the first co-user has logged out of the communication system.

42. The system as recited in claim 41, wherein changing the first indication to the second indication comprises removing the symbol next to the first username.

43. The system as recited in claim 37, further comprising instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least on processor, cause the system to:

determine that a third co-user on the co-user list has logged into the communications system; and

provide an indication that the third co-user is logged into the communications system.

44. The system as recited in claim 37, further comprising instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least on processor, cause the system to update in real time the first indication to reflect the real-time log in status of the first co-user.

45. The system as recited in claim 37, further comprising instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least on processor, cause the system to facilitate the exchange of electronic messages between the user and the first co-user upon selection of the first username by the user.

46. The system as recited in claim 45, wherein the electronic messages comprise instant messages.

47. The system as recited in claim 37, further comprising instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least on processor, cause the system to provide a third indication that signals which co-user on the co-user list was the most recent co-user to log into the communications system.

48. The system as recited in claim 47, wherein the third indication comprises a symbol next to a username of the co-user that was the most recent co-user to log into the communications system.

49. The system as recited in claim 37, further comprising instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least on processor, cause the system to provide a fourth indication that signals which co-user on the co-user list was the most recent co-user to log out of the communications system.

50. The system as recited in claim 37, further comprising instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least on processor, cause the system to provide a second indication when the user logs into the communications system that the second user is not currently logged into the communications system.

51. The system as recited in claim 50, wherein the second indication comprises graying a second username associated with the second co-user.

36. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions hereon that, when executed by the at least on processor, cause the system to;

maintain, in the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a co-user list comprising a list of co-users of a communications system selected by a user of the communications system;

determine that a first co-user on the co-user list is logged into the communications system;

determine that a second co-user on the co-user list is not logged into the communications system; and

provide a first indication when the user logs into the communications system that the first co-user is currently logged into the communications system.

52. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein determining, using at least one processor, that one or more co-users on the co-user list are logged into the communications system comprises:

accessing one or more logon records, the one or more logon records being maintained by a logon system; and

comparing the co-user list to the one or more logon records.