PREVENTING CO-USER ADDITION TO USER DEFINABLE CO-USER LISTS

• US 20130091434A1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Appelman, Barry
• Granted Patent: US 9,172,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/903 Querying for retrieval from the web G06F16/953
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• 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

Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking and displaying the logon status of selected co-users of an on-line or network system in real time to a tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy lists,” which track specific co-users in real-time automatically. When a user logs on to a system, one or more of the user'"'"'s buddy lists are presented to the buddy list system. The buddy list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into the system with the entries on the user'"'"'s buddy list. Any matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and logoff, a user'"'"'s buddy list is updated to reflect these changes. An indication can also be added to show that a co-user just logged on or just left the system.

Claims

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15. A method comprising:

maintaining, in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a first list of co-users associated with a first user of a communications system;

maintaining, in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a second list of co-users associated with a second user of the communications system;

receiving an indication from the first user to block the second user from adding the first user to the second list; and

preventing, using at least one processor, the addition of the first user to the second list.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving a request from the first user to block the second user.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising a list of co-users selected to be blocked by the first user.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving an indication that the first user has added the second user to the list of co-users selected to be blocked by the first user.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving an indication from the first user to block all co-users from adding the first user to lists of co-users associated with other users of the communications system.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising preventing the first user from receiving messages sent from the second user.

21. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first list of co-users comprises co-users selected by the first user.

22. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising presenting a graphical display of the first list of co-users to the first user when the first user logs into the communications system.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising indicating on the graphical display of the first list whether at least one co-user on the first list is currently logged into the communications system.

25. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising indicating on the graphical display of the first list a status of at least one co-user on the first list.

24. The method as recited in claim 0, wherein indicating on the graphical display of the first list whether at least one co-user on the first list is currently logged into the communications system comprises placing a symbol next to a name of the at least one co-user on the graphical display of the first list.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform steps comprising:

maintaining a first list of co-users associated with a first user of a communications system;

maintaining a second list of co-users associated with a second user of the communications system;

receiving an indication from the first user to block the second user from adding the first user to the second list; and

preventing the addition of the first user to the second list.

27. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving a request from the first user to block the second user.

28. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to maintain a list of co-users selected to be blocked by the first user.

29. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 28, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving an indication that the first user has added the second user to the list of co-users selected to be blocked by the first user.

30. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving an indication from the first user to block all co-users from adding the first user to lists of co-users associated with other users of the communications system.

31. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to block messages sent from the second user to the first user.

32. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the first list of co-users comprises co-users selected by the first user.

33. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to present a graphical display of the first list of co-users to the first user when the first user logs into the communications system.

34. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to indicate on the graphical display of the first list whether at least one co-user on the first list is currently logged into the communications system.

36. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to indicate on the graphical display of the first list a status of at least one co-user on the first list.

35. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 0, wherein indicating on the graphical display of the first list whether at least one co-user on the first list is currently logged into the communications system comprises placing a symbol next to a name of the at least one co-user on the graphical display of the first list.

37. A system comprising:

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium; and

at least one processor programmed to;

maintain, in the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a first list of co-users associated with a first user of a communications system;

maintain, in the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a second list of co-users associated with a second user of the communications system; and

prevent the addition of the first user to the second list upon receiving an indication from the first user to block the second user.

38. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving a request from the first user to block the second user.

39. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to maintain, in the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a list of co-users selected to be blocked by the first user.

40. The system as recited in claim 39, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving an indication that the first user has added the second user to the list of co-users selected to be blocked by the first user.

41. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving an indication from the first user to block all co-users from adding the first user to lists of co-users associated with other users of the communications system.

42. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to block messages sent from the second user to the first user.

43. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein the first list of co-users comprises co-users selected by the first user.

44. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to present a graphical display of the first list of co-users to the first user when the first user logs into the communications system.

45. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to indicate on the graphical display of the first list whether at least one co-user on the first list is currently logged into the communications system.

47. The system as recited in claim 44, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to indicate on the graphical display of the first list a status of at least one co-user on the first list.

46. The system as recited in claim 0, wherein indicating on the graphical display of the first list whether at least one co-user on the first list is currently logged into the communications system comprises placing a symbol next to a name of the at least one co-user on the graphical display of the first list.