# US 10,320,720 B2 · Method and device for providing user information in an instant messaging application

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,320,720 B2
- Document ID: US10320720B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/520,833
- Filed: 2015-10-10
- Published: 2017-11-02
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-20
- Assignees: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
- Applicants: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
- Inventors: Shuyan Liu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320720B2

## CPC

- H04L 51/04: Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
- H04L 51/046: Interoperability with other network applications or services
- H04L 51/08: Annexed information, e.g. attachments
- H04L 51/52: for supporting social networking services
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and devices for providing user information in an instant messaging application. The method may include: receiving a request of searching for a target user sent by an initiator user, the request carrying character feature description information of the target user provided by the initiator user; forwarding the request to a designated recipient user client terminal, and notifying a server of an event that the request has been initiated, so that the server monitors and records a forwarding situation of the request, wherein at least one forwarding path is formed after the request is forwarded, each forwarding path comprises at least two nodes, each of the nodes corresponds to one user, users on adjacent nodes are in a preset relationship, and a starting node corresponds to the initiator user; the forwarding situation comprises user identifiers corresponding to the nodes in the paths and processing mode information of the request; and when a processing mode of a user on one forwarding path is responding to the request, determining the user as a target node of the forwarding path; and receiving contact information of the user of the target node provided by the server, so as to display the contact information to the initiator user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for providing user information in an instant messaging application, comprising:
receiving a request of searching for a target user sent by an initiator user, the request carrying character feature description information of the target user provided by the initiator user;
forwarding the request to a designated recipient user client terminal;
notifying a server the request has been initiated, wherein the notification causes the server to record and send forwarding information that includes:
information associated with at least one forwarding path comprising at least two nodes, wherein:
each node of the at least two nodes corresponds to one user,
users on adjacent nodes are in a preset relationship, and
the at least two nodes includes a starting node corresponding to the initiator user; and
processing mode information corresponding to the at least two nodes, wherein the processing mode information indicates whether a node of the at least two nodes is a forwarding node or a target node, wherein the target node is determined based on a node of the forwarding path responding to the request; and
receiving contact information of the user of the target node provided by the server for displaying the contact information to the initiator user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein forwarding the request to a designated recipient user further comprises:
forwarding the request to a user selected, by the initiator user, from a list of friend users.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein forwarding the request to a designated recipient user further comprises:
forwarding the request to some or all users in a list of friend users of the initiator user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein forwarding the request to a designated recipient user further comprises:
forwarding the request to the designated recipient user anonymously.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, from the server, user information of intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located, for displaying the user information to the initiator user.

### Claim 6

A method for providing user information in an instant messaging application, comprising:
receiving a request of searching for a target user, the request carrying character feature description information of the target user provided by an initiator user;
displaying the character feature description information of the target user in a user interface, and providing a processing mode selection component;
processing the request according to a processing mode selected by a current recipient user, wherein the processing causes the server to monitor and record forwarding information that includes
information associated with at least one forwarding path formed according to the request, wherein:
each of the at least one forwarding path comprises at least two nodes,
each of the at least two nodes corresponds to one user,
users on adjacent nodes are in a preset relationship, and
a starting node of the at least two nodes corresponds to the initiator user; and
processing mode information corresponding to the at least two nodes, wherein the processing mode information indicates whether a node of the at least two nodes is a forwarding node or a target node, wherein the target node is determined based on a node of the forwarding path responding to the request; and
after the processing mode is selected by the current recipient user being responding to the request, receiving contact information of the user of the starting node provided by the server, for displaying the contact information to the current recipient user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein processing the request according to a processing mode selected by a current recipient user comprises:
after the processing mode is selected by the current recipient user being continuously forwarding the request, forwarding the request to a designated recipient user.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, further comprising:
receiving, from the server, user information of intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located, for displaying the user information to the current recipient user.

### Claim 9

A method for providing user information in an instant messaging application, comprising:
receiving an event notification message of an event sent by a client terminal of an initiator user, the event being that the initiator user has initiated a request of searching for a target user, the request carrying character feature description information of the target user;
monitoring and recording forwarding information that includes:
information associated with at least one forwarding path comprising at least two nodes, wherein:
each node of the at least two nodes corresponds to one user,
users on adjacent nodes are in a preset relationship, and
the at least two nodes includes a starting node corresponding to the initiator user; and
processing mode information corresponding to the at least two nodes, wherein the processing mode information indicates whether a node of the at least two nodes is a forwarding node or a target node, wherein the target node is determined based on a node of the forwarding path responding to the request; and
after a processing mode of a user on one forwarding path responds to the request, determining the user as the target node of the forwarding path; and
providing information of the user of the starting node and the user of the target node for each other.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, further comprising:
providing user information of intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located for the user of the starting node and the user of the target node.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, further comprising:
providing user information of intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located for users on the nodes of the forwarding path.

### Claim 12

A device for providing user information in an instant messaging application, comprising:
a request receiving unit used for receiving a request of searching for a target user sent by an initiator user, the request carrying character feature description information of the target user provided by the initiator user;
a forwarding and notifying unit used for forwarding the request to a designated recipient user client terminal, and notifying a server of the request has been initiated, wherein the notification causes the server to record and send forwarding information that includes:
information associated with at least one forwarding path comprising at least two nodes, wherein:
each node of the at least two nodes corresponds to one user,
users on adjacent nodes are in a preset relationship, and
the at least two nodes includes a starting node corresponding to the initiator user; and
processing mode information corresponding to the at least two nodes, wherein the processing mode information indicates whether a node of the at least two nodes is a forwarding node or a target node, wherein the target node is determined based on a node of the forwarding path responding to the request; and
a receiving unit used for receiving contact information of the user of the target node provided by the server for displaying the contact information to the initiator user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The device according to claim 12, wherein the forwarding and notifying unit is further used for:
forwarding the request to a user selected, by the initiator user, from a list of friend users.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The device according to claim 12, wherein the forwarding and notifying unit is further used for:
forwarding the request to some or all users in a list of friend users of the initiator user.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The device according to claim 12, wherein the forwarding and notifying unit is further used for:
forwarding the request to the designated recipient user anonymously.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The device according to claim 12, wherein the receiving unit is further used for:
receiving, from the server, user information of intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located, for displaying the user information to the initiator user.

### Claim 17

A device for providing user information in an instant messaging application, comprising:
a request receiving unit used for receiving a request of searching for a target user, the request carrying character feature description information of the target user provided by an initiator user;
a display unit used for displaying the character feature description information of the target user in a user interface, and providing a processing mode selection component;
a request processing unit used for processing the request according to a processing mode selected by a current recipient user, wherein the processing causes the server to record and send forwarding information that includes:
information associated with at least one forwarding path comprising at least two nodes, wherein:
each node of the at least two nodes corresponds to one user,
users on adjacent nodes are in a preset relationship, and
the at least two nodes includes a starting node corresponding to the initiator user; and
processing mode information corresponding to the at least two nodes, wherein the processing mode information indicates whether a node of the at least two nodes is a forwarding node or a target node, wherein the target node is determined based on a node of the forwarding path responding to the request; and
a receiving unit used for, after the processing mode is selected by the current recipient user being responding to the request, receiving contact information of the user of the starting node provided by the server, for displaying the contact information to the current recipient user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The device according to claim 17, wherein the request processing unit comprises:
a forwarding subunit used for, after the processing mode is selected by the current recipient user being continuously forwarding the request, forwarding the request to a designated recipient user.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The device according to claim 17, wherein the receiving unit is further used for:
receiving, from the server, user information of intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located, so as to display the user information to the current recipient user.

### Claim 20

A device for providing user information in an instant messaging application, comprising:
a notification receiving unit used for receiving an event notification message of an event sent by a client of an initiator user, the event being that the initiator user has initiated a request of searching for a target user, the request carrying character feature description information of the target user;
a forwarding situation monitoring unit used for recording and sending forwarding information that includes:
information associated with at least one forwarding path comprising at least two nodes, wherein:
each node of the at least two nodes corresponds to one user,
users on adjacent nodes are in a preset relationship, and
the at least two nodes includes a starting node corresponding to the initiator user; and
processing mode information corresponding to the at least two nodes, wherein the processing mode information indicates whether a node of the at least two nodes is a forwarding node or a target node, wherein the target node is determined based on a node of the forwarding path responding to the request
a target node determining unit used for, after a processing mode of a user on one forwarding path responds to the request, determining the user as the target node of the forwarding path; and
a first user information providing unit used for providing information of the user of the starting node and the user of the target node to each other.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The device according to claim 20, further comprising:
a second user information providing unit used for providing user information of intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located to the user of the starting node and the user of the target node.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The device according to claim 20, further comprising:
a third user information providing unit used for providing user information of respective intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located to users on the nodes of the forwarding path.

### Claim 23

A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a set of instructions that is executable by at least one processor of a device for providing user information in an instant messaging application to cause the device to perform a method for providing user information in an instant messaging application, the method comprising:
receiving a request of searching for a target user sent by an initiator user, the request carrying character feature description information of the target user provided by the initiator user;
forwarding the request to a designated recipient user client terminal;
notifying a server the request has been initiated, wherein the notification causes the server to record and send forwarding information that includes:
information associated with at least one forwarding path comprising at least two nodes, wherein:
each node of the at least two nodes corresponds to one user,
users on adjacent nodes are in a preset relationship, and
the at least two nodes includes a starting node corresponding to the initiator user; and
processing mode information corresponding to the at least two nodes, wherein the processing mode information indicates whether a node of the at least two nodes is a forwarding node or a target node, wherein the target node is determined based on a node of the forwarding path responding to the request; and
receiving contact information of the user of the target node provided by the server for displaying the contact information to the initiator user.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 23, wherein the set of instructions is executable by the at least one processor of the device to cause the device to further perform forwarding the request to a designated recipient user by:
forwarding the request to a user selected, by the initiator user, from a list of friend users.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 23, wherein the set of instructions is executable by the at least one processor of the device to cause the device to further perform forwarding the request to a designated recipient user by:
forwarding the request to some or all users in a list of friend users of the initiator user.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 23, wherein the set of instructions is executable by the at least one processor of the device to cause the device to further perform forwarding the request to a designated recipient user by:
forwarding the request to the designated recipient user anonymously.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 23, wherein the set of instructions is executable by the at least one processor of the device to cause the device to further perform:
receiving, from the server, user information of intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located, so as to display the user information to the initiator user.

### Claim 28

A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a set of instructions that is executable by at least one processor of a device for providing user information in an instant messaging application to cause the device to perform a method for providing user information in an instant messaging application, the method comprising:
receiving a request of searching for a target user, the request carrying character feature description information of the target user provided by an initiator user;
displaying the character feature description information of the target user in a user interface, and providing a processing mode selection component;
processing the request according to a processing mode selected by a current recipient user and sending forwarding information to a server, wherein the forwarding information includes:
information associated with at least one forwarding path comprising at least two nodes, wherein:
each node of the at least two nodes corresponds to one user,
users on adjacent nodes are in a preset relationship, and
the at least two nodes includes a starting node corresponding to the initiator user; and
processing mode information corresponding to the at least two nodes, wherein the processing mode information indicates whether a node of the at least two nodes is a forwarding node or a target node, wherein the target node is determined based on a node of the forwarding path responding to the request; and
after the processing mode is selected by the current recipient user being responding to the request, receiving contact information of the user of the starting node provided by the server, for displaying the contact information to the current recipient user.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 28, wherein the set of instructions is executable by the at least one processor of the device to cause the device to further perform processing the request according to a processing mode selected by a current recipient user by:
upon the processing mode selected by the current recipient user being continuously forwarding the request, forwarding the request to a designated recipient user.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 28, wherein the set of instructions is executable by the at least one processor of the device to cause the device to further perform:
receiving, from the server, user information of intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located, so as to display the user information to the current recipient user.

### Claim 31

A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a set of instructions that is executable by at least one processor of a device for providing user information in an instant messaging application to cause the device to perform a method for providing user information in an instant messaging application, the method comprising:
receiving an event notification message of an event sent by a client terminal of an initiator user, the event being that the initiator user has initiated a request of searching for a target user, the request carrying character feature description information of the target user;
recording forwarding information that includes:
information associated with at least one forwarding path comprising at least two nodes, wherein:
each node of the at least two nodes corresponds to one user,
users on adjacent nodes are in a preset relationship, and
the at least two nodes includes a starting node corresponding to the initiator user; and
processing mode information corresponding to the at least two nodes, wherein the processing mode information indicates whether a node of the at least two nodes is a forwarding node or a target node, wherein the target node is determined based on a node of the forwarding path responding to the request;
after a processing mode of a user on one forwarding path responds to the request, determining the user as the target node of the forwarding path; and
providing information of the user of the starting node and the user of the target node for each other.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 31, wherein the set of instructions is executable by the at least one processor of the device to cause the device to further perform:
providing user information of intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located for the user of the starting node and the user of the target node.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 31, wherein the set of instructions is executable by the at least one processor of the device to cause the device to further perform:
providing user information of intermediate nodes on the forwarding path where the target node is located for users on the nodes of the forwarding path.