User definable on-line co-user lists

• US 8,762,855 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• 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, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/719,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 715/733, 715/853, 715/758, 715/750, 715/743, 715736-737, 715751-753, 715/749, 715/744, 715/765
• 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

A real time notification system that tracks, for each user, the logon status of selected co-users of an on-line or network system and displays that information in real time to the tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy lists”, that track specific co-users in real-time automatically. A user can create many separate buddy lists of co-users, either with intersecting or disjoint lists of users, and label these buddy lists according to the user'"'"'s preference. The user can update a buddy list or create new buddy lists whenever necessary. When a user logs on to a system, the user'"'"'s set of buddy lists is 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 for permitting a user of an electronic network system to track the logon status of selected co-users of such system, comprising the steps of:

(a) associating an identification list of selected co-users with the user;

(b) accessing the user'"'"'s identification list;

(c) comparing the selected co-users on user'"'"'s identification list to logon records for such selected co-users maintained by a logon system;

(d) indicating to the user the logon status of the selected co-users on the user'"'"'s identification list according to such logon records; and

(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) under any of the following conditions;

(1) periodically;

or

(2) after any change in the logon status of co-users of the system;

or

(3) after any change in the logon status of the selected co-users on the user'"'"'s identification list;

thereby tracking the logon status of selected co-users of such system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing is performed by the logon system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user'"'"'s identification list is stored at least in part on the user'"'"'s station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (b), (c), and (d) are initially performed when the user logs on to the system.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the step of permitting the user to selectively block which co-users can add the user to identification lists for such co-users.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the user'"'"'s block selections are stored in a permissions list, and the user'"'"'s permissions list is stored at least in part on the user'"'"'s station.

7. The method of claim 1, further including the step of permitting the user to transmit a communication to at least one co-user on the user'"'"'s identification list having a logged on status.

8. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for permitting a user of an electronic network system to track the logon status of selected co-users of such system, and comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

(a) associate an identification list of selected co-users with the user;

(b) access the user'"'"'s identification list;

(c) compare the selected co-users on user'"'"'s identification list to logon records for such selected co-users maintained by a logon system;

(d) indicate to the user the logon status of the selected co-users on the user'"'"'s identification list according to such logon records; and

(e) repeat functions (c) and (d) under any of the following conditions;

(1) periodically;

or

(2) after any change in the logon status of co-users of the system;

or

(3) after any change in the logon status of the selected co-users on the user'"'"'s identification list;

thereby tracking the logon status of selected co-users of such system.

9. The computer program of claim 8, wherein the compare is performed by the logon system.

10. The computer program of claim 8, wherein the user'"'"'s identification list is stored at least in part on the user'"'"'s station.

11. The computer program of claim 8, wherein functions (b), (c), and (d) are initially performed when the user logs on to the system.

12. The computer program of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to permit the user to selectively block which co-users can add the user to identification lists for such co-users.

13. The computer program of claim 12, wherein the user'"'"'s block selections are stored in a permissions list, and the user'"'"'s permissions list is stored at least in part on the user'"'"'s station.

14. The computer program of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to permit the user to transmit a communication to at least one co-user on the user'"'"'s identification list having a logged on status.