Techniques for providing a user directory for communication within a communication system

• US 8,984,063 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2011
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCS Software LLC (d/b/a Bluebonnet Consulting Services & Software)
• Original Assignee: Back Micro Solutions LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wang, Jinsheng, Wang, Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Kyung H
• Application Number:
  US13/204,648
• Time in Patent Office: 1,319 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/204, 709/245
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2521 Translation architectures other than single NAT servers

Abstract

A group communication system is disclosed. The group communication system integrates a number of electronic communication tools to meet various communication needs among registered users in the system. To facilitate private communication among members in a group, a user directory is provided to allow an initiator to clearly view who he/she wants to communicate with. The user directory includes icons respectively associated with members in a group. Each of the icons can be enlarged when activated. Data from the communication is transported via a server device in the system based on respective identifiers (not email addresses) of the participants.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user directory for communication within a system, comprising:

displaying a user directory on a client machine, in response to a first registered user logging into a system via the client machine, wherein the user directory includes a plurality of registered users and the user directory is delivered from a first server module in the system, and wherein the plurality of users are associated with a respective identifier and icon;

browsing the user directory on the client machine, the client machine configured to display status updates of each of the plurality of registered users, wherein the status updates are provided by a second server module in the system configured to monitor activities of each of the plurality of registered users; and

displaying an image on the client machine in response to one of the plurality of registered users being selected as a second registered user by the first registered user to initiate message exchanging, the message exchanging including the first registered user uploading a message to a message list coupled to a store that is remotely located to the client machine;

in response to the first registered user uploading the message to the message list coupled to the store that is remotely located to the client machine;

establishing a level of access to the message list coupled to the store, wherein the store is independent of a file path and unnavigable to by the first and second registered users,

establishing a connection between the message list and the store by a secured channel to download the message, and

delivering the message from the first registered user to the second registered user in response to the second registered user being online in the system, and

wherein the message is delivered by a third server module in the system relying upon the respective identifier of the first and second registered users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective identifier is not an email address including an @ sign or a user name and a domain name in the email address.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the image is of a resolution greater than a resolution of the icon, allowing recognition of the second registered user in the image.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the respective identifier includes a plurality of numbers or a plurality of alphanumeric characters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the image comprises a facial part of the second registered user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user directory includes a plurality of groups, the first registered user being a member of each of the groups.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the groups is identified with a group descriptor.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of registered users are invited to join the groups, and wherein the groups are initiated by one of the plurality of registered users.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein delivery of the communication within the system is performed without using an email address including an @ sign or a user name and a domain name in the email address.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication further includes internal mail exchanging between the first and second registered users, the image associated with the respective unique identifier indicating a destination for an internal mail, the internal mail comprising a recipient area and a message area, wherein the recipient area is configured to be automatically filled with a name associated with the respective identifier of the second registered user.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording in a server device in the system the communication exchanged between the first and second registered users to allow a late-joined member of the group to access the communication.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations of the program comprising:

displaying a user directory on a client machine, in response to a first registered user logging into a system via the client machine, wherein the user directory includes a plurality of registered users and the user directory is delivered from a first server module in the system, and wherein the plurality of users are associated with a respective identifier and icon;

browsing the user directory on the client machine, the client machine configured to display status updates of each of the plurality of registered users, wherein the status updates are provided by a second server module in the system configured to monitor activities of each of the plurality of registered users; and

displaying an image on the client machine in response to one of the plurality of registered users being selected as a second registered user by the first registered user to initiate message exchanging, the message exchanging including the first registered user uploading a message to a message list coupled to a store that is remotely located to the client machine;

in response to the first registered user uploading the message to the message list coupled to the store that is remotely located to the client machine;

establishing a level of access to the message list coupled to the store, wherein the store is independent of a file path and unnavigable to by the first and second registered users,

establishing a connection between the message list and the store by a secured channel to download the message, and

delivering the message from the first registered user to the second registered user in response to the second registered user being online in the system, and

wherein the message is delivered by a third server module in the system relying upon the respective identifier of the first and second registered users.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the respective identifier is not an email address including an @ sign or a user name and a domain name in the email address.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the respective identifier includes a plurality of numbers or a plurality of alphanumeric characters.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the image comprises a facial part of the second registered user.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the user directory includes a plurality of groups, the first registered user being a member of each of the groups.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein each of the groups is identified with a group descriptor.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the plurality of registered users are invited to join the groups, and wherein the groups are initiated by one of the plurality of registered users.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the communication further includes internal mail exchanging between the first and second registered users, the image associated with the respective unique identifier indicating a destination for an internal mail, the internal mail comprising a recipient area and a message area, wherein the recipient area is configured to be automatically filled with a name associated with the respective identifier of the second registered user.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein delivery of the communication within the system is performed without using an email address including an @ sign or a user name and a domain name in the email address.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising recording in a server device in the system the communication exchanged between the first and second registered users to allow a late-joined member of the group to access the communication.

22. A method for providing a user directory for communication within a system, comprising:

receiving, in a client machine, a user directory in response to a first registered user logging into a system via the client machine, wherein the user directory includes a plurality of registered users and the user directory is delivered from a first server module in the system, and wherein the plurality of users are associated with a respective identifier;

displaying the user directory on the client machine to allow the first registered user to browse status updates of each of the plurality of registered users, wherein the status updates are received from a second server module in the system configured to monitor activities of each of the plurality of registered users; and

displaying further on the client machine an image in response to one of the plurality of registered being selected as a second registered user by the first registered user to initiate message exchanging, the message exchanging including the first registered user uploading a message to a message list coupled to a store that is remotely located to the client machine;

in response to the first registered user uploading the message to the message list coupled to the store that is remotely located to the client machine;

establishing a level of access to the message list coupled to the store, wherein the store is independent of a file path and unnavigable to by the first and second registered users,

establishing a connection between the message list and the store by a secured channel to download the message, and

delivering the message from the first registered user to the second registered user in response to the second registered user being online in the system, and

wherein the message is delivered by a third server module in the system relying upon the respective identifier of the first and second registered users.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the respective identifier is not an email address including an @ sign or a user name and a domain name in the email address.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the image is of a resolution greater than a resolution of the icon, allowing recognition of the second registered user in the image.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the respective identifier includes a plurality of numbers or a plurality of alphanumeric characters.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the image comprises a facial part of the second registered.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the user directory includes a plurality of groups, the first registered user being a member of each of the groups.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein each of the groups is identified with a group descriptor.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the plurality of registered users are invited to join the groups, and wherein the groups are initiated by one of the plurality of registered users.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the communication further includes internal mail and file sharing.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein delivery of the communication within the system is performed without using an email address including an @ sign or a user name and a domain name in the email address.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations of the program comprising:

receiving, in a client machine, a user directory in response to a first registered user logging into a system via the client machine, wherein the user directory includes a plurality of registered users and the user directory is delivered from a first server module in the system, and wherein the plurality of users are associated with a respective identifier;

displaying the user directory on the client machine to allow the first registered user to browse status updates of each of the plurality of registered users, wherein the status updates are received from a second server module in the system configured to monitor activities of each of the plurality of registered users; and

displaying further on the client machine an image in response to one of the plurality of registered being selected as a second registered user by the first registered user to initiate message exchanging, the message exchanging including the first registered user uploading a message to a message list coupled to a store that is remotely located to the client machine;

in response to the first registered user uploading the message to the message list coupled to the store that is remotely located to the client machine;

establishing a level of access to the message list coupled to the store, wherein the store is independent of a file path and unnavigable to by the first and second registered users,

establishing a connection between the message list and the store by a secured channel to download the message, and

delivering the message from the first registered user to the second registered user in response to the second registered user being online in the system, and

wherein the message is delivered by a third server module in the system relying upon the respective identifier of the first and second registered users.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the respective identifier is not an email address including an @ sign or a user name and a domain name in the email address.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the image is of a resolution greater than a resolution of the icon, allowing recognition of the second registered user in the image.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the respective identifier includes a plurality of numerals or a plurality of alphanumeric characters.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the image comprises a facial part of the second registered user.

37. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the user directory includes a plurality of groups, the first registered user being a member of each of the groups.

38. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein each of the groups is identified with a group descriptor.

39. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 38, wherein the first registered user was invited to some of the groups each of which was initiated by one of the plurality of registered users.

40. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the communication further includes internal mail and file sharing.

41. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein the communication within the system is performed without using an email address including an @ sign or a user name and a domain name in the email address.