Name resolution

• US 9,235,815 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2011
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: O'Sullivan, Patrick, Raguillat, Fred, Stern, Edith H., Willner, Barry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chea, Philip
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Van Kim T
• Application Number:
  US13/164,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20120324020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/35 containing special prefixes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/365 Application layer names, e.g. buddy names, unstructured names chosen by a user or home appliance name
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4547 for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier

Abstract

A method, device and computer program product for name resolution in a collaborative environment may include receiving initiation of a collaboration from a user, where the collaboration includes actions from at least two applications. The method may also include determining an identity of the user initiating the collaboration. The method may further include retrieving an alias of the user and attaching the alias of the user to the collaboration.

Claims

1. A method for name resolution in a collaborative environment, comprising:

receiving, at a server, a first electronic communication generated by a first collaborative application from a user and a second electronic communication from the user generated by a second collaborative application that is different from the first collaborative application, wherein the first and second electronic communications are being sent by the user to a recipient;

determining an identity of the user sending the first and second electronic communications;

determining if a match exists between the identity of the user and an alias of the user that has been predefined by the user;

retrieving the alias of the user from a plurality of aliases stored on the server for the user based on at least a geographic area associated with the recipient of the first and second electronic communications, wherein the user has a different alias corresponding to each different geographic area of a plurality of geographic areas and wherein each different alias consists of a name predefined by the user; and

attaching the alias of the user to the first and second electronic communications in response to determining the match exists between the identity of the user and the alias of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising completing the first and second electronic communications to the recipient so that the recipient receives the alias of the user upon receipt of the first and second electronic communications.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that multiple aliases are available for the user and when multiple aliases are available, determining which alias to use based on a proximity of the recipient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applications using the first and second electronic communications comprises software applications which allows users to electronically communicate with each other.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining an identity of the user initiating the first and second electronic communications and retrieving an alias of the user occurs at a point of receipt of the electronic communications by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining an identity of the user initiating the first and second electronic communications and retrieving an alias of the user occurs at a point of initiation of the electronic communications by the sender.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving information regarding the alias from another server, and storing, at an identity server, the alias information for later retrieval.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the alias to another alias in response to one of the electronic communications being send to a new recipient in a different one of the geographic areas.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving an alias comprises:

retrieving one alias in response to the recipient being within an organization; and

retrieving another alias in response to the recipient not being within the organization.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the user to specify a specific alias for an individual;

recording both the specific alias and a real name of the individual, wherein the real name of the individual is automatically substituted for the specific alias in response to the user using the specific alias in communications to the individual.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a proper recipient in response to a plurality of recipients each having an alias that resolves to a same name by using proximity to select the alias corresponding to the recipient with whom the user has most recently communicated.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the alias of the user to the first and second electronic communications comprises substituting the alias of the user for another identity of the user.

13. A device for name resolution in a collaborative environment, comprising:

a processor;

a memory associated with the processor;

wherein the processor is configured for

receiving a creation of an artifact from a creator, wherein the artifact comprises a file that is created or modified which will be uploaded to a server;

determining an identity of the creator creating the artifact for upload;

determining if a match exists between the identity of the user and an alias of the user that has been predefined by the user;

retrieving the alias of the creator from a plurality of aliases stored in the memory for the creator based on at least a geographic area associated with a requestor for the artifact, wherein the creator has a different alias corresponding to each different geographic area of a plurality of geographic areas and wherein each different alias consists of a name predefined by the user; and

attaching the alias of the creator to the artifact in response to determining the match exists between the identity of the user and the alias of the user.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured for uploading the artifact to one of an initiation server or an artifact server.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured for receiving predefined preferences for how the creator is known by a user, wherein the user comprises an entity which downloads the artifact.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein artifact comprises a software application which allows a user to create or update a file for uploading to a network for later retrieval.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the artifact comprises an electronic communication.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured for retrieving preferences from the creator regarding an alias to attach to the artifact based on pre-defined preferences, and retrieving the alias to attach to the artifact based on the pre-defined preferences.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured for:

receiving a request for the artifact from the requestor; and

downloading the artifact from an artifact server.

20. A computer program product for name resolution in a collaborative environment, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured for receiving, at a server, initiation of an electronic communication from a user, wherein the electronic communication is being sent by the user to a recipient;

computer readable program code configured for determining an identity of the user initiating the electronic communication;

computer readable program code configured for determining if a match exists between the identity of the user and an alias of the user that has been predefined by the user;

computer readable program code configured for retrieving the alias of the user from a plurality of aliases stored on the server for the user based on at least a geographic area associated with the recipient of the first and second electronic communications, wherein the user has a different alias corresponding to each different geographic area of a plurality of geographic areas and wherein each different alias consists of a name predefined by the user; and

computer readable program code configured for attaching the alias of the user to the electronic communication in response to determining the match exists between the identity of the user and the alias of the user.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein electronic communication comprises a software application which allows users to electronically communicate with each other.