US 7,899,862 B2 · Dynamic identification of other users to an online user

Abstract

Informing a user of a large scale network dynamically of other network users includes determining dynamically an online context of the user. Other users presently within the online context of the user are identified and trait information is stored that is related essentially only to the user or to the other users in a users store associated with the online context. The user is informed dynamically of the other users based on the stored trait information, such as, for example, an age or other demographic identifier, or information indicative of an expertise, interest, preference, user type and/or other quality of the user or of the other individual.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims68

Dependent claims

A method of informing a user of other network users, the method comprising:

executing instructions on one or more processing devices such that the one or more processing devices perform the following:
determining an online context of a user, the online context being one or more of a web site currently accessed by the user, an Internet domain currently accessed by the user, a newsgroup currently accessed by the user, or a URL currently accessed by the user;
determining an online context of other users;
storing trait information for the user;
comparing the online context of the user to the online context of the other users;
storing trait information for the other users when the other users enter the online context of the user and removing the stored trait information for the other users when the other users leave the online context of the user;
comparing the stored trait information for the user to the stored trait information for the other users;
based on the comparison, identifying a group of the other users sharing the online context of the user and at least one trait with the user, the number of users in the group of the other users being less than the number of the other users;
and
causing presentation, to the user, of an indicator before the user is in communication with any member of the identified group, the indicator identifying at least one user as a member of the group of the other users sharing the online context of the user and the at least one trait with the user.

7 more elements

A method of informing a user of other users, the method comprising:

executing instructions on one or more processing devices such that the one or more processing devices perform the following:
determining an online context of a user, the online context being one or more of a web site currently accessed by the user, an Internet domain currently accessed by the user, a newsgroup currently accessed by the user, or a URL currently accessed by the user;
determining an online context of other users;
accessing a contact list for the user that identifies one or more of the other users as contacts of the user;
analyzing the online context of the user, the online context of the other users, and the accessed contact list for the user that identifies one or more of the other users as contacts of the user;
storing trait information for the contacts of the user when the contacts of the user enter the online context of the user and removing the stored trait information for the contacts of the user when the contacts of the user leave the online context of the user;
comparing the stored trait information for the user to the stored trait information for the contacts of the user;
based on the analysis, identifying a group of the other users sharing the online context, at least one trait with the user, and who are contacts of the user, the number of users in the group of the other users being less than the number of the other users;
and
enabling presentation, to the user, of an indicator before the user is in communication with any member of the identified group, the indicator identifying at least one user as a member of the group of the other users sharing the online context with the user, at least one trait with the user, and who are contacts of the user.

7 more elements

A computer-implemented method for sharing one or more matching online traits between a user and a buddy of the user in an instant messaging communications system comprising:

identifying, using a processor, one or more files requested by a first buddy user associated with a buddy list, the buddy list including the first buddy user and a second buddy user;
determining, using a processor, that the second buddy user has requested one or more of the one or more files requested by the first buddy user;
identifying, using a processor, one or more on-line traits associated with the first buddy user;
storing the one or more on-line traits associated with the first buddy user;
identifying, using a processor, one or more on-line traits associated with the second buddy user;
storing the one or more on-line traits associated with the second buddy user when the second buddy user requests one or more of the one or more files requested by the first buddy user;
based on the determination that the second buddy user has requested one or more of the one or more files requested by the first buddy user, comparing the one or more on-line traits associated with the first buddy user with the one or more on-line traits associated with the second buddy user;
and
sending an identification of the second buddy user to the first buddy user, before the first buddy user is in communication with the second buddy user, when the second buddy user has requested one or more of the one or more files requested by the first buddy user, and when the one or more on-line traits associated with the first buddy user correspond to the one or more on-line traits associated with the second buddy user.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description8,518 words

Summary103 words

#This invention relates to identification of online users.

#Online users of the Internet have virtually on-demand access to information such as news, weather, financials, sports, and entertainment as well as the ability to generate electronic messages and to participate in online discussion groups. Many online users may access simultaneously the same or similar online locations and may desire information regarding other individuals accessing those locations. The wealth of available online locations, the large quantity of users who may access the online locations, and the wealth of information associated with the users may impede an online service provider's ability to provide the desired information.

Brief description of the drawings8 figures

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for dynamically identifying other users to an online user.

#FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a process implementable by the system of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a user identification system.

Detailed description8,263 words

#Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

#An online service provider may display dynamically and in real time information of other users presently viewing the same web page as the user. For instance, the user may perceive when buddy list members view a web page concurrently with the user, or may perceive when other users having a shared trait with the user (e.g., male over 35) view a web page concurrently with the user, or combination of connectivity criteria and trait matching information may be used to identify others who concurrently perceive common web pages or other contact such as television programming. The user may perceive other users based on a trait of the other users and/or based on a trait of the user.

#Referring briefly to FIG. 6, a graphical user interface (GUI) 600 displays dynamically and in real time a list of other users presently accessing the same online NFL sports channel as the user. The GUI indicates numerical counts of the number of other users accessing the channel. The GUI may display and order the list of users based on traits, such as, for example, expertise, age and/or gender. The GUI also may be configured to rank and order the other users based on expertise. In any event, the GUI 1000 will update dynamically as the user navigates to other sites on the, presenting to the user in real-time the other users accessing those sites concurrently with the user.

Facts

Application

10/715,211Filed 18 Nov 2003 · us provisional application

Priority

18 Nov 2002

Published

US 2004/0148347 A129 Jul 2004

Granted

1 Mar 2011

Term ends

16 Feb 2027

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 1,186 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification6 codes

H04L 67/54
Network services: presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
H04L 51/04
User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail: real-time or…
H04L 67/306
Profiles: user profiles
H04L 67/535
Network services: tracking the activity of the user

Family

Application60/426,806Us provisional application · filed 18 Nov 2002

Application60/427,947Us provisional application · filed 21 Nov 2002

Application60/428,263Us provisional application · filed 22 Nov 2002

Application60/428,262Us provisional application · filed 22 Nov 2002

Application60/488,376Us provisional application · filed 21 Jul 2003

Application60/488,388Us provisional application · filed 21 Jul 2003

Application60/488,749Us provisional application · filed 22 Jul 2003

US 2004/0148347 A1Pre-grant publication · published 29 Jul 2004

US 7,899,862 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

18 Nov 2002Priority claimedParent application 60/426,806
18 Nov 2003Application filedUS 10/715,211
3 May 2004Assigned to America Online, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
29 Jul 2004PublishedUS 2004/0148347 A1
14 Dec 2009Assigned to Bank of American, N.A. AS Collateral Agentsecurity agreement
31 Dec 2009Assigned to Aol LLCchange of name
31 Dec 2009Assigned to Aol Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
16 Nov 2010Assigned to Aol Inc, Aol Advertising Inc, Going Inc, Lightningcast LLC, Mapquest, Inc, Netscape Communications Corporation, Quigo Technologies LLC, Sphere Source, Inc, Tacoda LLC, Truveo, Inc, Yedda, Inctermination and release of security interest in patent rights
1 Mar 2011GrantedUS 7,899,862 B2
3 Jul 2012Assigned to Facebook, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
20 Dec 2021Assigned to Meta Platforms, Inc.change of name
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
16 Feb 2027Term endsEstimated, includes 1,186 days of adjustment

Dynamic identification of other users to an online user

Life of this patent

Dynamic identification of other users to an online user

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims68

Description8,518 words

Drawings

Classification6 codes

Life of this patent

Description8,518 words