Automatic categorization of entries in a contact list

• US 8,910,056 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Valeski, Judson
• Primary Examiner(s): PITARO, RYAN F
• Application Number:
  US12/852,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20100325113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 715/752, 715/758, 715/745
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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]

Abstract

Entries within a participant list of an electronic communications system may be categorized automatically into one or more groups based on attributes of users represented in the participant list. Categorizing users includes maintaining a list of identifiers that are selected by a first user and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list. The list includes one or more categories into which the identifiers are categorized. At least one attribute associated with an identifier for which online presence information is to be made perceivable through the list and attributes stored relative to at least one of the categories are accessed. The attributes associated with the identifier are compared to the stored attributes. Based on results of the comparison, at least one category within the list that corresponds to the identifier is identified, and the identifier is categorized into the identified category.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

maintaining, in a storage device and on behalf of a first user, a list of identifiers representing one or more other users of the communication system and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list, the list including one or more categories into which listed identifiers are categorized based on attributes associated with the listed identifiers, each of the one or more categories reflecting attributes other than online presence;

accessing, from the storage device, at least one attribute associated with an identifier;

accessing at least one attribute stored relative to at least one of the one or more categories included within the list;

comparing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier to the at least one stored attribute;

automatically adding, using at least one processor, a new category in the list based on a result of the comparison; and

categorizing the identifier into the new category,

wherein adding the new category includes making perceivable a pre-existing category that was previously hidden.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the new category is added when the result indicates that the at least one attribute associated with the identifier does not match the at least one stored attribute.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the new category is added when the result indicates that the identifier cannot be categorized in the one or more categories included in the list.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the new category is added below the one or more categories in the list.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the new category is a sub-category of the one or more categories in the list.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein categorizing the identifier in the new category includes:

displaying a notification informing the first user that the new category is a suggested category for the identifier;

receiving an input from the first user; and

categorizing the identifier in the new category in response to the input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the new category is added without user input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute associated with the identifier is accessed from a profile associated with the identifier.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing at least one attribute associated with the identifier includes accessing at least one indication of communications between the first user and a second user corresponding to the identifier.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein accessing the at least one indication comprises accessing at least one indication from a group of indications comprising at least one of an instant message sent between the first user and the second user, an e-mail message sent between the first user and the second user, and a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone call between the first user and the second user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing at least one attribute associated with the identifier comprises accessing a time at which the first user exchanges a message with a second user corresponding to the identifier.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier comprises accessing a location of a second user corresponding to the identifier.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier includes accessing a frequency with which the first user exchanges messages with a second user corresponding to the identifier.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier comprises accessing a length of a message sent between the first user and a second user corresponding to the identifier.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of users is an electronic address book, an address book of an e-mail system, or a list of contacts in a social network of the first user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the list of users is a list of contacts in a social network of the first user.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage device storing programmable instructions, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

maintaining, on behalf of a first user, a list of identifiers representing one or more other users of the communication system and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list, the list including one or more categories into which listed identifiers are categorized based on attributes associated with the listed identifiers, each of the one or more categories reflecting attributes other than online presence;

accessing at least one attribute associated with an identifier;

accessing at least one attribute stored relative to at least one of the one or more categories included within the list;

comparing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier to the at least one stored attribute;

automatically adding a new category in the list based on a result of the comparison; and

categorizing the identifier into the new category,

wherein adding the new category includes making perceivable a pre-existing category that was previously hidden.

18. The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the new category is added when the result indicates that the identifier cannot be categorized in the one or more categories included in the list.

19. The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein categorizing the identifier in the new category includes:

displaying a notification informing the first user that the new category is a suggested category for the identifier;

receiving an input from the first user; and

categorizing the identifier in the new category in response to the input.

20. The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the at least one attribute associated with the identifier is based on at least one of a profile associated with the identifier, an indication of communications between the first user and a second user corresponding to the identifier, a time at which the first user exchanges a message with a second user corresponding to the identifier, a location of a second user corresponding to the identifier, a frequency with which the first user exchanges messages with a second user corresponding to the identifier, and a length of a message sent between the first user and a second user corresponding to the identifier.

21. The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the list of users is an electronic address book, an address book of an e-mail system, or a list of contacts in a social network of the first user.

22. The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein accessing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier comprises accessing a location of a second user corresponding to the identifier.

23. The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein accessing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier includes accessing a frequency with which the first user exchanges messages with a second user corresponding to the identifier.

24. A system comprising:

a storage device maintaining, on behalf of a first user, a list of identifiers representing one or more other users of a communication system and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list, the list including one or more categories into which listed identifiers are categorized based on attributes associated with the listed identifiers, each of the one or more categories reflecting attributes other than online presence;

a processor; and

a computer readable storage device storing instructions, which when executed on the processor, causes the processor to;

access at least one attribute associated with an identifier;

access at least one attribute stored relative to at least one of the one or more categories included within the list;

compare the at least one attribute associated with the identifier to the at least one stored attribute;

automatically add a new category in the list based on a result of the comparison; and

categorize the identifier into the new category,

wherein adding the new category includes making perceivable a pre-existing category that was previously hidden.