Network server and computer system for providing access to user profiles

• US 9,716,678 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2015
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Pelkey, Casey J., Smith, Darren C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US14/936,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20160088122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

An example network server computer includes communication circuitry configured for communication with electronic devices of users; memory; and a processor configured to control the network server computer to at least receive, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users, user profiles and user preferences for respective users and store, in the memory, the received user profiles and user preferences; and provide access to user profiles in response to access requests received, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of user. Access to each respective user'"'"'s user profile is controlled in accordance with one or more of the user preferences of the respective user, and the one or more user preferences comprise a first preference setting for allowing all other users to access the user'"'"'s user profile and a second preference setting for allowing only friends on the user'"'"'s friend list to access the user'"'"'s user profile.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a web server computer; and

at least two electronic devices, each electronic device configured for enabling a user thereof to access the web server computer via the Internet,

wherein the web server computer comprises communication circuitry configured for communication with the electronic devices, memory and processing circuitry including a processor, the processing circuitry being configured to control the web server computer to at least;

receive, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users, user profiles and user preferences for respective users;

store, in the memory, the received user profiles and user preferences;

receive, via the communication circuitry, from an electronic device of a first user, a request from the first user for a second user to join a friend list of the first user and, based on the request, send to an electronic device of the second user, via the communication circuitry, a request for approval of the second user for addition of the second user onto the first user'"'"'s friend list;

in response to an approval, received via the communication circuitry, from an electronic device of the second user, add the second user to the first user'"'"'s friend list; and

provide access to user profiles in response to access requests received, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users,

wherein access to each respective user'"'"'s user profile is controlled in accordance with one or more of the user preferences of the respective user,

wherein the one or more user preferences comprise a first preference setting for allowing all other users to access the user'"'"'s user profile and a second preference setting for allowing only friends on the user'"'"'s friend list to access the user'"'"'s user profile, and

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the web server computer to provide, to an electronic device of a user, application program data indicative of an application program currently executed by an electronic device of each of one or more friends on a friend list of the user, even when the electronic device of the user is executing an application program different from the application programs currently executed by the electronic devices of the one or more friends.

2. A network server computer, comprising:

communication circuitry configured for communication with electronic devices of users;

memory; and

a processor configured to control the network server computer to at least;

receive, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users, user profiles and user preferences for respective users;

store, in the memory, the received user profiles and user preferences;

receive, via the communication circuitry, from an electronic device of a first user, a request from the first user for a second user to join a friend list of the first user and, based on the request, send to an electronic device of the second user, via the communication circuitry, a request for approval of the second user for addition of the second user onto the first user'"'"'s friend list;

in response to an approval, received via the communication circuitry, from an electronic device of the second user, add the second user to the first user'"'"'s friend list; and

provide access to user profiles in response to access requests received, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users,

wherein access to each respective user'"'"'s user profile is controlled in accordance with one or more of the user preferences of the respective user,

wherein the one or more user preferences comprise a first preference setting for allowing all other users to access the user'"'"'s user profile and a second preference setting for allowing only friends on the user'"'"'s friend list to access the user'"'"'s user profile, and

wherein the processor is configured to control the network server computer to provide, to an electronic device of a user, application program data indicative of an application program currently executed by an electronic device of each of one or more friends on a friend list of the user, even when the electronic device of the user is executing an application program different from the application programs currently executed by the electronic devices of the one or more friends.

3. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the user profile of a user identifies a website.

4. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the user profile of a user identifies one or more favorites.

5. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the user profile of a user comprises name information and/or gender information.

6. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the user profile of a user comprises an image.

7. The network server computer according to claim 6, wherein the image comprises a user image.

8. The network server computer according to claim 6, wherein the image is user-customized.

9. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to control the network server computer to delete a friend from a user'"'"'s friend list in response to a request from the friend, received via the communication circuitry.

10. The network server computer according to claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to control the network server computer to notify the user, via the communication circuitry, when the friend is deleted from the user'"'"'s friend list.

11. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the memory further stores a block list for a user and the processor is further configured to control the network server computer to block requests to the user for approval for addition onto friend lists of users identified in the block list.

12. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the one or more user preferences of a user further comprise a third preference setting for preventing any other user from accessing the user'"'"'s user profile.

13. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the user profile of a user specifies how much of the user'"'"'s user profile is accessible to other users.

14. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the one or more user preferences of a user further comprise a third preference setting for allowing access to the user'"'"'s user profile to particular other users.

15. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to control the network server computer to transmit, via the communication circuitry, an alert to a user when a friend on the user'"'"'s friend list logs into the network server computer.

16. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to control the network server computer to transmit, via the communication circuitry, alert information to a user when a friend on the user'"'"'s friend list logs out of the network server computer.

17. The network server computer according to claim 2, wherein the one or more user preferences of a user comprise one or more rules each having ON/OFF states.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program which, when executed by processing circuitry of a network server computer including memory and communication circuitry configured for communication with electronic devices of users, controls the network server computer to at least:

receive, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users, user profiles and user preferences for respective users;

store, in the memory, the received user profiles and user preferences;

receive, via the communication circuitry, from an electronic device of a first user, a request from the first user for a second user to join a friend list of the first user and, based on the request, send to an electronic device of the second user, via the communication circuitry, a request for approval of the second user for addition of the second user onto the first user'"'"'s friend list;

in response to an approval, received via the communication circuitry, from an electronic device of the second user, add the second user to the first user'"'"'s friend list; and

provide access to user profiles in response to access requests received, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users,

wherein access to each respective user'"'"'s user profile is controlled in accordance with one or more of the user preferences of the respective user,

wherein the one or more user preferences comprise a first preference setting for allowing all other users to access the user'"'"'s user profile and a second preference setting for allowing only friends on the user'"'"'s friend list to access the user'"'"'s user profile, and

wherein the program controls the network server computer to provide, to an electronic device of a user, application program data indicative of an application program currently executed by an electronic device of each of one or more friends on a friend list of the user, even when the electronic device of the user is executing an application program different from the application programs currently executed by the electronic devices of the one or more friends.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the memory further stores a block list for a user and the program further controls the network server computer to block requests to the user for approval for addition onto friend lists of users identified in the block list.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the one or more user preferences of a user further comprise a third preference setting for preventing any other user from accessing the user'"'"'s user profile.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the one or more user preferences of a user further comprise a fourth preference setting for allowing access to the user'"'"'s user profile to particular other users.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the one or more user preferences of a user comprise one or more rules each having ON/OFF states.

23. A computer system comprising:

multiple processing systems, each processing system comprising a processor, the multiple processing systems being configured and arranged to at least;

enable each one of multiple users to create a user profile and a friend list;

receive a request from a first user for a second user to join the first user'"'"'s friend list and, based on the request, notify the second user to request the second user'"'"'s approval for addition of the second user onto the first user'"'"'s friend list;

in response to the second user'"'"'s approval, add the second user to the first user'"'"'s friend list; and

provide access to user profiles in response to access requests received from users,

wherein access to each respective user'"'"'s user profile is controlled in accordance with one or more user preferences of the respective user,

wherein the one or more user preferences comprise a first preference setting for allowing all other users to access the user'"'"'s user profile and a second preference setting for allowing only friends on the user'"'"'s friend list to access the user'"'"'s user profile, and

wherein application program data indicative of an application program currently used by each of one or more friends on the friend list of a user is provided to a respective user, even when the respective user and the one or more friends of the respective user are currently using different application programs.

24. The computer system according to claim 23, wherein the multiple processing systems comprise electronic devices associated with each user, and a server computer in communication with the electronic devices.

25. The computer system according to claim 23, wherein the one or more user preferences of a user further comprise a third preference setting for preventing any other user from accessing the user'"'"'s user profile.

26. The computer system according to claim 25, wherein the one or more user preferences of a user further comprise a fourth preference setting for allowing access to the user'"'"'s user profile to particular other users.

27. A network server computer, comprising:

communication circuitry configured for communication with electronic devices of users;

memory; and

a processor configured to control the network server computer to at least;

receive, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users, user profiles and user preferences for respective users;

store, in the memory, the received user profiles and user preferences; and

provide access to user profiles in response to access requests received, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users,

wherein access to each respective user'"'"'s user profile is controlled in accordance with one or more of the user preferences of the respective user,

wherein the one or more user preferences comprise a first preference setting for allowing all other users to access the user'"'"'s user profile, a second preference setting for allowing only friends on the user'"'"'s friend list to access the user'"'"'s user profile, and a third preference setting for allowing no other user to access the user'"'"'s user profile, and

wherein the processor is configured to provide, to an electronic device of a user, application program data indicative of an application program currently executed by an electronic device of each of one or more friends on a friend list of the user, even when the electronic device of the user is executing an application program different from the application programs currently executed by the electronic devices of the one or more friends.

28. The network server computer according to claim 27, wherein the one or more user preferences of a user further comprise a fourth preference setting for allowing access to the user'"'"'s user profile to particular other users.

29. The network server computer according to claim 27, wherein the user profile of a user identifies a website.

30. The network server computer according to claim 27, wherein the user profile of a user identifies one or more favorites.

31. The network server computer according to claim 27, wherein the user profile of a user comprises name information and/or gender information.

32. The network server computer according to claim 27, wherein the user profile of a user comprises an image.

33. The network server computer according to claim 32, wherein the image comprises a user image.

34. The network server computer according to claim 32, wherein the image is user-customized.

35. The network server computer according to claim 27, wherein the user profile of a user specifies how much of the user'"'"'s user profile is accessible to other users.

36. A network server computer, comprising:

communication circuitry configured for communication with electronic devices of users;

memory; and

a processor configured to control the network server computer to at least;

receive, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users, user profiles and user preferences for respective users;

store, in the memory, the received user profiles and user preferences; and

provide access to user profiles in response to access requests received, via the communication circuitry, from electronic devices of users,

wherein access to each respective user'"'"'s user profile is controlled in accordance with one or more of the user preferences of the respective user, and

wherein the processor is configured to provide, to an electronic device of a user, game program data indicative of a game program currently executed by an electronic device of each of one or more friends on the friend list of the user, even when the electronic device of the user is executing an application program different from the game programs currently executed by the electronic devices of the one or more friends.