# US 9,436,728 B1 · Methods and systems for developing an instant messaging network

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- Number: US 9,436,728 B1
- Document ID: US9436728B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/033,641
- Filed: 2013-09-23
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2003-09-24
- Assignees: Google Inc.
- Applicants: Google Inc.
- Inventors: Georges Harik; John Piscitello
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436728B1

## CPC

- H04L 51/04: Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
- G06F 16/245: Query processing
- G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management
- H04L 51/043: using or handling presence information
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An instant messaging (IM) system has an IM server connected to a communication network, and logic operable on the IM server enabling a first user to browse contacts associated with a second user. In some cases the first user can add and list contacts accessed by browsing the contacts associated with the second user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, from a first computing device associated with a first user of an instant messaging system, search criteria including one or more stored contacts;
automatically searching, by a server of the instant messaging system, for a match between any of the stored contacts and one or more users of the instant messaging system based on data including subscriber information of users of the instant messaging system; and
returning, by the server, an indication of one or more users of the instant messaging system matching the search criteria.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the search criteria further includes a category of subscriber information.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further including:
receiving an indication of a second user, the second user being an instant messaging contact of the first user; and
wherein automatically searching the data includes searching subscriber information of users of the instant messaging system that are contacts of the second user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein
searching subscriber information of contacts of the second user includes searching contacts of the second user being authorized for searching.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein
searching data including subscriber information includes searching a first database of subscriber information; and
in response to returning an indication of no users matching the search criteria, directing a search query including the search criteria to a different database.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein searching data including subscriber information includes searching subscriber information of contacts of a second user; and
in response to returning an indication of no users matching the search criteria associated with a first contact of the first user, directing a search query including the search criteria to a second contact of the first user.

### Claim 7

A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a first user of an instant messaging system, search criteria including one or more stored contacts;
automatically searching, by a server of the instant messaging system, for a match between any of the stored contacts and one or more users of the instant messaging system based on data including subscriber information of users of the instant messaging system; and
returning an indication of one or more users of the instant messaging system matching the search criteria.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory computer program product of claim 7, wherein the search criteria further includes a category of subscriber information.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory computer program product of claim 7, further including:
receiving an indication of a second user, the second user being an instant messaging contact of the first user; and wherein searching the data includes searching subscriber information of contacts of the second user.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The non-transitory computer program product of claim 9, wherein searching subscriber information of contacts of the second user includes searching contacts of the second user being authorized for searching.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory computer program product of claim 7, wherein searching data including subscriber information includes searching a first database of subscriber information; and
in response to returning an indication of no users matching the search criteria, directing a search query including the search criteria to a different database.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory computer program product of claim 7, wherein searching data including subscriber information includes searching subscriber information of contacts of a second user; and
in response to returning an indication of no users matching the search criteria associated with a first contact of the first user, directing a search query including the search criteria to a second contact of the first user.

### Claim 13

A computing system comprising:
at least one processor device, and at least one memory module coupled with the at least one processor device, the at least one processor device configured for:
receiving, from a first user of an instant messaging system, search criteria including one or more stored contacts;
automatically searching, by a server of the instant messaging system, for a match between any of the stored contacts and one or more users of the instant messaging system based on data including subscriber information of users of the instant messaging system; and
returning an indication of one or more users of the instant messaging system matching the search criteria.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The computing system of claim 13, wherein the search criteria further includes a category of subscriber information.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The computing system of claim 13, further including:
receiving an indication of a second user, the second user being an instant messaging contact of the first user; and
wherein searching the data includes searching subscriber information of contacts of the second user.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The computing system of claim 15, wherein searching subscriber information of contacts of the second user includes searching contacts of the second user being authorized for searching.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The computing system of claim 13, wherein searching data including subscriber information includes searching a first database of subscriber information; and in response to returning an indication of no users matching the search criteria, directing a search query including the search criteria to a different database.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The computing system of claim 13, wherein searching data including subscriber information includes searching subscriber information of contacts of a second user; and
in response to returning an indication of no users matching the search criteria associated with a first contact of the first user, directing a search query including the search criteria to a second contact of the first user.