User definable co-user lists with status indicators

• US 8,793,595 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• 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, Cao Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/615,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20130091438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 715/735, 715/706, 715/810, 715739-740, 715/733, 715/853, 715751-753, 715/759, 715/765, 715/744
• US Class Current: 715/753
• 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:

displaying a list of names on a display of a computing device, each name being associated with a co-user of a communications system selected by a user of the communications system;

determining, using at least one processor, which co-users in the list of names are currently logged into the communications system;

displaying a first indication in connection with a name that is associated with a co-user that is currently logged into the communications system; and

displaying a message interface on the display of the computing device upon user selection of the name associated with the co-user that is currently logged into the communications system, the message interface comprising a text area for composing an electronic message to the co-user associated with the selected name.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic message comprises an instant message.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying an addressee line automatically filled with the selected name.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising automatically positioning a curser in the text area upon display of the message interface.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first indication is updated in real-time.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying a second indication in place of the first indication when the co-user of the communications system logs out of the communications system.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the first indication comprises a symbol.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the symbol comprises a checkmark.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the second indication comprises a symbol.

10. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the first indication comprises bolding of a name.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the second indication comprises graying of a name.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the message interface comprises a window.

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

displaying a first selectable element; and

displaying a locate interface, the locate interface allowing the user to select a co-user and determine if the co-user is engaged in any chat sessions;

wherein the locate interface is displayed in response to user selection of the first selectable element.

38. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein the first selectable element is a button.

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

displaying a name field including an area for entering an additional name of an additional co-user of the communications system; and

displaying a first selectable element on the display;

wherein upon user selection of the first selectable element an additional co-user associated with the additional name is entered into the name field is added to the list of names associated with the user of the communications system.

40. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the first selectable element comprises an add button.

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

displaying a second selectable element on the display;

wherein upon user selection of the second selectable element, a selected name in the list of names is removed from the list of names associated with the user of the communications system.

42. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein the second selectable element comprises a remove button.

13. A graphical user interface produced on a computing device having a display associated therewith, the graphical user interface comprising:

a list of names, each name being associated with a co-user of a communications system selected by a user of the communications system;

a first indication displayed in connection with a name that is associated with a co-user determined to be currently logged into the communications system; and

wherein, upon selection of the name associated with the co-user that is currently logged into the communications system, a message interface is displayed, the message interface comprising a text area for composing an electronic message to the co-user associated with the selected name.

14. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 13, wherein the electronic message comprises an instant message.

15. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 13, wherein the message window comprises an addressee line automatically filled with the selected name.

16. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 13, wherein a cursor is automatically positioned in the text area upon display of the message interface.

17. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 13, wherein the first indication is updated in real-time.

18. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 17, further comprising displaying a second indication in place of the first indication when the co-user of the communications system logs out of the communications system.

19. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 18, wherein the first indication comprises a symbol.

20. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the symbol comprises a checkmark.

21. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 18, wherein the first indication comprises bolding of a name.

22. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the second indication comprises a symbol.

23. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 21, wherein the second indication comprises graying of a name.

24. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 13, wherein the message interface comprises a window.

43. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a first selectable element; and

a locate interface, the locate interface allowing the user to select a co-user and determine if the co-user is engaged in any chat sessions;

wherein the locate interface is displayed in response to user selection of the first selectable element.

44. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 43, wherein the first selectable element is a button.

45. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a name field including an area for entering an additional name of an additional co-user of the communications system; and

a first selectable element;

wherein upon user selection of the first selectable element an additional co-user associated with the additional name is entered into the name field is added to the list of names associated with the user of the communications system.

46. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 45, wherein the first selectable element comprises an add button.

47. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a second selectable element;

wherein upon user selection of the second selectable element, a selected name in the list of names is removed from the list of names associated with the user of the communications system.

48. The graphical user interface as recited in claim 47, wherein the second selectable element comprises a remove button.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions that, when executed, by a computing device having a display, cause the computing device to:

display a list of names, each name being associated with a co-user of a communications system selected by a user of the communications system;

determine which co-users in the list of names are currently logged into the communications system;

display a first indication in connection with a name that is associated with a co-user that is currently logged into the communications system; and

display a message interface upon selection of a name associated with the co-user that is currently logged into the communications system, the message interface comprising a text area for composing an electronic message to the co-user associated with the selected name.

26. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, wherein the electronic message comprises an instant message.

27. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, wherein the message window comprises an addressee line automatically filled with the selected name.

28. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, wherein a cursor is automatically positioned in the text area upon display of the message interface.

29. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, wherein the first indication is updated in real-time to reflect the real-time.

30. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to display a second indication in place of the first indication when the co-user of the communications system logs out of the communications system.

31. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 30, wherein the first indication comprises a symbol.

32. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 31, wherein the symbol comprises a checkmark.

33. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 30, wherein the first indication comprises bolding of a name.

34. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 31, wherein the second indication comprises a symbol.

35. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the second indication comprises graying of a name.

36. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, wherein the message interface comprises a window.

49. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to display:

a first selectable element; and

a locate interface, the locate interface allowing the user to select a co-user and determine if the co-user is engaged in any chat sessions;

wherein the locate interface is displayed in response to user selection of the first selectable element.

50. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 49, wherein the first selectable element is a button.

51. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to display:

a name field including an area for entering an additional name of an additional co-user of the communications system; and

a first selectable element;

wherein upon user selection of the first selectable element an additional co-user associated with the additional name is entered into the name field is added to the list of names associated with the user of the communications system.

52. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 51, wherein the first selectable element comprises an add button.

53. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to display:

display a second selectable element;

wherein upon user selection of the second selectable element, a selected name in the list of names is removed from the list of names associated with the user of the communications system.

54. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 53, wherein the second selectable element comprises a remove button.