Network contact management

• US 9,251,505 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Job, Sujith, Mishra, Lokesh, Tarkar, Pradosh A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): KHAN, SHAHID K
• Application Number:
  US13/247,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20130080912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management

Abstract

A contact management method and system is provided. The method includes presenting, by a computer processor via a dashboard of a graphical user interface, a user name icon associated with a user. The computer processor presents a list of names associated with users and receives a selection for a first contact name. A file sharing option between the user and a user associated with the first contact name is enabled. The computer processor receives a selection for a second contact name and in response presents an internal network contacts map comprising the user name icon connected to the first contact name via a first link and the user name icon connected to the second contact name via a second link. The first link comprises an attribute indicating the file sharing option and the second link comprises an attribute indicating that the file sharing option is not enabled.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting, by a computer processor of a computing apparatus via a dashboard of a graphical user interface, a user name icon associated with a first user;

presenting, by said computer processor via a contacts panel of said graphical user interface, a list of names associated with users associated with said first user;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user, a first selection for a first contact name of said names;

enabling, by said computer processor in response to an indication from said first user, a file sharing option between said first user and a user associated with said first contact name;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user, a second selection for a second contact name of said names;

presenting in response to said second selection, by said computer processor via said dashboard, an internal network contacts map comprising said user name icon connected to said first contact name via a first link and said user name icon connected to said second contact name via a second link, wherein said first link comprises a first attribute indicating said file sharing option, wherein said second link comprises a second attribute indicating that said file sharing option is not enabled between said first user and a second user associated with second contact name, and wherein said first attribute differs from said second attribute;

presenting, by said computer processor via said graphical user interface, a function selection menu on a first portion of the dashboard overlapping said internal network contacts map, a file upload menu on a second portion of the dashboard adjacent to said first portion, and an account listing menu on a third portion of said dashboard, wherein said function selection menu comprises a share file function, a host meeting function, a chat function, a survey function, and an external network selection function, wherein said file upload menu presents a file size limit and an upload location specification portion, and wherein said account listing menu presents account settings, activity settings, and a forms settings;

enabling, by said computer processor in response to an indication from said first user, functions of said account settings, said activity settings, and said forms settings between said first user and a user associated with said first contact name;

presenting, by said computer processor via said graphical user interface in response to a selection enabled by said external network selection function, an external network contacts map comprising a duplicate version of said user name icon connected to external contact name icons via additional external links, wherein said external contact name icons are associated with external users associated with said first user, wherein said external users are associated with a network that is external from a network associated with said internal network contacts map, and wherein said external network contacts map is presented in addition and adjacent to internal network contacts map; and

enabling, by said computer processor in response to an indication from said first user, file sharing options, online meeting options, and instant messaging options between said first user and said external users.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, by said computer processor via said dashboard, a file sharing icon adjacent to said first link, wherein said file sharing icon indicates said file sharing option, wherein said file sharing icon is associated with a hidden menu comprising a list of available shared files;

receiving, by said computer processor from said second user via said file sharing icon, a first command for displaying said hidden menu;

presenting, by said computer processor in response to said first command, said list of available shared files;

receiving, by said computer processor from said second user via said list of available shared files, a second command for downloading a first file of said available shared files;

retrieving, by said computer processor in response to said second command, said first file; and

transmitting, by said computer processor to said second user, said first file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said internal network contacts map additionally comprises said user name icon connected to additional contact names via additional links, wherein said additional contact names are associated with additional users associated with said first user, and wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, by said computer processor, a selection of a group of users of said additional users;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user via said user name icon, a second command for displaying a hidden command menu associated with a hidden menu comprising a list of available commands; and

presenting, by said computer processor in response to said second command, said hidden command menu.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user via said hidden command menu, a selection of a command for hosting a meeting; and

enabling, by said computer processor in response to said command for hosting said meeting, an online meeting between said first user and said group of users.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

presenting, by said computer processor via said dashboard, file sharing icons adjacent to each of said additional links;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user via one of said file sharing icons, a first command for displaying a hidden menu;

presenting, by said computer processor in response to said first command, a list of available shared files;

receiving, by said computer processor from said second user via said list of available shared files, a second command for selecting a first file of said available shared files; and

retrieving, by said computer processor in response to said second command, said first file; and

transmitting, by said computer processor to said group of users, said first file.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user via said hidden command menu, a selection of an instant messaging command; and

enabling, by said computer processor in response to said instant messaging command, an instant messaging session between said first user and said group of users.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, by said computer processor, a selection of an additional group of users of said external users;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user via said hidden command menu, a selection for a command for hosting a meeting; and

enabling, by said computer processor in response to said command for hosting said meeting, an online meeting between said first user, said group of users, and said additional group of users.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first attribute comprises a first color, wherein said second attribute comprises a second color, and wherein said first color differs from said second color.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a process for supporting computer infrastructure, said process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in the computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing the method of claim 1.

10. A computing system comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the computer processor implements a method comprising:

presenting, by said computer processor via a dashboard of a graphical user interface, a user name icon associated with a first user;

presenting, by said computer processor via a contacts panel of said graphical user interface, a list of names associated with users associated with said first user;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user, a first selection for a first contact name of said names;

enabling, by said computer processor in response to an indication from said first user, a file sharing option between said first user and a user associated with said first contact name;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user, a second selection for a second contact name of said names;

presenting in response to said second selection, by said computer processor via said dashboard, an internal network contacts map comprising said user name icon connected to said first contact name via a first link and said user name icon connected to said second contact name via a second link, wherein said first link comprises a first attribute indicating said file sharing option, wherein said second link comprises a second attribute indicating that said file sharing option is not enabled between said first user and a second user associated with second contact name, and wherein said first attribute differs from said second attributes

presenting, by said computer processor via said graphical user interface, a function selection menu on a first portion of the dashboard overlapping said internal network contacts map, a file upload menu on a second portion of the dashboard adjacent to said first portion, and an account listing menu on a third portion of said dashboard, wherein said function selection menu comprises a share file function, a host meeting function, a chat function, a survey function, and an external network selection function, wherein said file upload menu presents a file size limit and an upload location specification portion, and wherein said account listing menu presents account settings, activity settings, and a forms settings;

enabling, by said computer processor in response to an indication from said first user, functions of said account settings, said activity settings, and said forms settings between said first user and a user associated with said first contact name;

presenting, by said computer processor via said graphical user interface in response to a selection enabled by said external network selection function, an external network contacts map comprising a duplicate version of said user name icon connected to external contact name icons via additional external links, wherein said external contact name icons are associated with external users associated with said first user, wherein said external users are associated with a network that is external from a network associated with said internal network contacts map, and wherein said external network contacts map is presented in addition and adjacent to internal network contacts map; and

enabling, by said computer processor in response to an indication from said first user, file sharing options, online meeting options, and instant messaging options between said first user and said external users.

11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting, by said computer processor via said dashboard, a file sharing icon adjacent to said first link, wherein said file sharing icon indicates said file sharing option, wherein said file sharing icon is associated with a hidden menu comprising a list of available shared files;

receiving, by said computer processor from said second user via said file sharing icon, a first command for displaying said hidden menu;

presenting, by said computer processor in response to said first command, said list of available shared files;

receiving, by said computer processor from said second user via said list of available shared files, a second command for downloading a first file of said available shared files; and

retrieving, by said computer processor in response to said second command, said first file; and

transmitting, by said computer processor to said second user, said first file.

12. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said internal network contacts map additionally comprises said user name icon connected to additional contact names via additional links, wherein said additional contact names are associated with additional users associated with said first user, and wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, by said computer processor, a selection of a group of users of said additional users;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user via said user name icon, a second command for displaying a hidden command menu associated with a hidden menu comprising a list of available commands; and

presenting, by said computer processor in response to said second command, said hidden command menu.

13. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user via said hidden command menu, a selection of a command for hosting a meeting; and

enabling, by said computer processor in response to said command for hosting said meeting, an online meeting between said first user and said group of users.

14. The computing system of claim 13, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting, by said computer processor via said dashboard, file sharing icons adjacent to each of said additional links;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user via one of said file sharing icons, a first command for displaying a hidden menu;

presenting, by said computer processor in response to said first command, a list of available shared files;

receiving, by said computer processor from said second user via said list of available shared files, a second command for selecting a first file of said available shared files; and

retrieving, by said computer processor in response to said second command, said first file; and

transmitting, by said computer processor to said group of users, said first file.

15. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user via said hidden command menu, a selection of an instant messaging command; and

enabling, by said computer processor in response to said instant messaging command, an instant messaging session between said first user and said group of users.

16. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, by said computer processor, a selection of an additional group of users of said external users;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user via said hidden command menu, a selection for a command for hosting a meeting; and

enabling, by said computer processor in response to said command for hosting said meeting, an online meeting between said first user, said group of users, and said additional group of users.

17. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

wherein said first attribute comprises a first color, wherein said second attribute comprises a second color, and wherein said first color differs from said second color.

18. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, said computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of a computing system implements a method comprising:

presenting, by said computer processor via a dashboard of a graphical user interface, a user name icon associated with a first user;

presenting, by said computer processor via a contacts panel of said graphical user interface, a list of names associated with users associated with said first user;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user, a first selection for a first contact name of said names;

enabling, by said computer processor in response to an indication from said first user, a file sharing option between said first user and a user associated with said first contact name;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user, a second selection for a second contact name of said names;

presenting in response to said second selection, by said computer processor via said dashboard, an internal network contacts map comprising said user name icon connected to said first contact name via a first link and said user name icon connected to said second contact name via a second link, wherein said first link comprises a first attribute indicating said file sharing option, wherein said second link comprises a second attribute indicating that said file sharing option is not enabled between said first user and a second user associated with second contact name, and wherein said first attribute differs from said second attributes;

presenting, by said computer processor via said graphical user interface, a function selection menu on a first portion of the dashboard overlapping said internal network contacts map, a file upload menu on a second portion of the dashboard adjacent to said first portion, and an account listing menu on a third portion of said dashboard, wherein said function selection menu comprises a share file function, a host meeting function, a chat function, a survey function, and an external network selection function, wherein said file upload menu presents a file size limit and an upload location specification portion, and wherein said account listing menu presents account settings, activity settings, and a forms settings;

enabling, by said computer processor in response to an indication from said first user, functions of said account settings, said activity settings, and said forms settings between said first user and a user associated with said first contact name;

presenting, by said computer processor via said graphical user interface in response to a selection enabled by said external network selection function, an external network contacts map comprising a duplicate version of said user name icon connected to external contact name icons via additional external links, wherein said external contact name icons are associated with external users associated with said first user, wherein said external users are associated with a network that is external from a network associated with said internal network contacts map, and wherein said external network contacts map is presented in addition and adjacent to internal network contacts map; and

enabling, by said computer processor in response to an indication from said first user, file sharing options, online meeting options, and instant messaging options between said first user and said external users.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting, by said computer processor via said dashboard, a file sharing icon adjacent to said first link, wherein said file sharing icon indicates said file sharing option, wherein said file sharing icon is associated with a hidden menu comprising a list of available shared files;

receiving, by said computer processor from said second user via said file sharing icon, a first command for displaying said hidden menu;

presenting, by said computer processor in response to said first command, said list of available shared files;

receiving, by said computer processor from said second user via said list of available shared files, a second command for downloading a first file of said available shared files;

retrieving, by said computer processor in response to said second command, said first file; and

transmitting, by said computer processor to said second user, said first file.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said internal network contacts map additionally comprises said user name icon connected to additional contact names via additional links, wherein said additional contact names are associated with additional users associated with said first user, and wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, by said computer processor, a selection of a group of users of said additional users;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first user via said user name icon, a second command for displaying a hidden command menu associated with a hidden menu comprising a list of available commands; and

presenting, by said computer processor in response to said second command, said hidden command menu.