Automatic categorization of entries in a contact list
First Claim
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.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
24 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
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.
-
Specification