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`US 6,750,881 B1
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(12) United States Patent
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`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Jun. 15, 2004
`Appelman
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`USOO6750881B1
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`(75)
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`(54) USER DEFINABLE ON-LINE CO-USER
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`LISTS
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`Inventor: Barry Appelman, Great Falls, VA (US)
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`(73) Assignee: America Online, Inc., Dulles, VA (US)
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`(*) Notice:
`This patent issued on a continued pros-
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`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
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`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
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`term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`patent
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`154(a)(2).
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`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
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`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
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`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1185 days.
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`(21) Appl. No.: 08/803,692
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`Filed:
`Feb. 24, 1997
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`(22)
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`(51)
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`Int. Cl.7 ................................................ G06F 15/00
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`(52) us. Cl.
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`(58) Field of Search ................................. 345/329, 330,
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`345/331, 332; 395/20034, 200.35; 379/204,
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`201, 202, 913
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`(56)
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`References CitEd
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`Edward Baig, How to Practice Safe Surfing, Business Week,
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`Mark Moridian, Internet Online Services: Communication,
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`Jan. 27, 2003]. Retrieved from the Internet: URL:http://
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`consult.cern.ch/writeup/zephyr/subsectionstar2i2i3i
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`2~htm1~
`
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`
`
`Abbe Cohen et al., Inessential Zephyr, [online], [retrieved on
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`Jan. 28, 2003]. Retrieved from the Internet: URL:http://
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`www.mit.edu/afs/sipb/project/doc/izephyr/html/
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`izephyrhtmL
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`(List continued on next page.)
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`Przmary Exammer—Cao (Kevm) Nguyen
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`(74) Attorney) Agent or Firm—Fish & Richardson PC.
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`ABSTRACT
`(57)
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`Areal time notification system that tracks, for each user, the
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`logon status of selected co-users of an on-line or network
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`system and displays that information in real time to the
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`tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention
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`provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy
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`lists”, that track specific co-users in real-time automatically.
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`A user can create many separate buddy lists of co-users,
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`either with intersecting or disjoint lists of users, and label
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`these buddy lists according to the user’s preference. The user
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`can update a buddy hst or create new buddy lists whenever
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`necessary. When a user logs on to a system, the user’s set of
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`buddy lists is presented to the buddy list system. The buddy
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`list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into
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`the system with the entries on the user’s buddy list. Any
`matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and
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`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
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`logged on or just left the system.
`10 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
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`- y/ 2,
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`,,
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`fl
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`l
`1
`Logan System 4777 >
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`fl
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`7
`Buddy Lxst System
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`, 2
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`1
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`LG/HUAWEI EXHIBIT 1104
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`US 6,750,881 B1
`Page 2
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`Zephyr on Athena (AC—34) Draft, [online], [retrieved on
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`Jan. 27, 2003]. Retrieved from the Internet: URL:http://
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`web.rnit.edu/olh/zephyr/TOC.htrnl.
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`
`
`C. Anthony DellaFera et al., The Zephyr Notification Ser-
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`
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`vice, pp. 1—9.
`
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`
`
`Robert S. French et al., The Zephyr Prograrnrner’s Manual,
`
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`
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`
`
`Protocol Version ZEPHO.2, Apr. 5, 1989, pp. 1—82.
`
`
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`
`
`Carla J. Ferrnann, Distributed Consulting in a Distributed
`Environment, ACM SIGUCCS XVIII 1990, pp. 117—120.
`
`
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`
`
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`
`
`
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`
`
`Earll M. Murrnan et al., Perspectives on Project Athena,
`ACM SIGUCCS SVIII 1990, pp. 287—296.
`
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`* cited by examiner
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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`Sharon Belville et al., Zephyr at CERN, Jul. 15, 1993,
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`[online], [retrieved on Jan. 27, 2003]. Retrieved from the
`
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`URL:http://consult.cern.ch/Writeup/zephyr/
`Internet:
`rnain.htrnl.
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`ZEPHYR Answers, [online], [retrieved on Jan. 27, 2003].
`
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`Retrieved from the Internet: URL:http://web.rnit.edu/an-
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`swers/zephyr/.
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`
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`ZEPHYR(1) Manual Page, Jul. 1, 1988, [online], [retrieved
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`on Jan. 27, 2003]. Retrieved from the Internet: URL:http://
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`WWW.tru64uniX.cornpaq.corn/dernos/ossc—v51a/rnan—htrn/
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`zephyr—rnan.htrn.
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`US. Patent
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`Sheet 1 0f 7
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`~ 45 Buddy List System
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`Logon System
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`FIG. 1
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`Sheet 2 0f 7
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`Group Name
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`,, Work L'St
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`W
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`7
`7
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`Budcty Llst
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`Screen Name/Address
`Log Status
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`"John Smith"
`"In"
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`"Jane Doe"
`"Out"
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`"Simon Roe"
`"In"
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`7
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`FIG. 2a
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`_/ 736,,
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`User Name
`Block Status
`Exclusion List
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`"none"
`"John Smith"
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`"Jane Doe"
`"all"
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`”Simon Roe"
`"all except" W777»
`3
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`"Bob Jones"
`"none except"
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`FIG. 2b W
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`Inclusion List
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`—>
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`US. Patent
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`Sheet 3 0f 7
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`Budd}! Lists
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`_’|‘ 7
`t (213)
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`John Smith
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`Jane Roe
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`1
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`40
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`FIG. 4
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`Buddy List Preferences
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`1:91PM};so: ndmhen
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`,{jPiaysuuhdwhen
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`Sheet 4 0f 7
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`US 6,750,881 B1
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`FIG. 5
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`FIG. 6
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`Sheet 5 0f 7
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`US 6,750,881 B1
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`Search Member Directory
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`:urn'aonly members, oniihe
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`FIG. 7
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`90
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`Q Enterthe member's screen name to find out
`®$ what area Ufthe sewice he or she is
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`currently ueing.
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`FIG. 8
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`Sheet 6 0f 7
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`US 6,750,881 B1
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`and Instant Message
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`FIG. 9
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`”Group Invite (Chat or URL)
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`Scfaen, flamES mj Invite
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`1 1O
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`-Mes$a é, Td'flend, [Defaultz‘n’xju are infiited tar]
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`I
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`100
`.: Pmate Chat Room (" KeywoerawntePIace
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`ncatiun [Defaultchatj
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`FIG. 10
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`Sheet 7 0f 7
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`US 6,750,881 B1
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`USER
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`LOGON SYSTEM
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`202
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`BUDDY LIST SYSTEM
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`fiw
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`Logon System
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`User Logs On —H notifies Buddy
`1 System about User
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`1
`Buddy List System
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`‘————> fetches User's
`Buddy Lists
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`Buddy List entries
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`compared to Logon
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`System records
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`Logon System
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`notifies Buddy List
`System about
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`Logons/Logouts
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`FIG. 11
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`Buddy List System
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`displays Buddy
`Lists with indicator
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`markings
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`USER DEFINABLE ON-LINE CO-USER
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`US 6,750,881 B1
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`BACKGROUND
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`10
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`1. Field of the Invention
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`This invention relates to on-line communication
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`networks, and particularly to interpersonal communications
`on such networks.
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`2. Description of Related Art
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`An important aspect of an “online” system, such as the
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`proprietary system operated by America Online, Inc. (AOL)
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`or the public Internet system, is knowledge of the people/
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`municating with them through some selected protocol.
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`When a person “logs on” to a network system, they are in
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`effect identifying themselves to the system and announcing
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`their presence. On most systems, this presence is unique to
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`every user who is on the system. For example, on the AOL
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`network this presence is known as the “screen name”, but on
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`other systems it could be an Internet Protocol (IP) address or
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`An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is, in a sense, an online
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`address and may also have a user id and password. There can
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`connects to an ISP and then logs on to multiple systems), or
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`a combination of parallel and hierarchical (i.e., a user logs
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`on to multiple systems in parallel once connected to the ISP,
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`and then from one of those parallel systems logs on to yet
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`other systems. Thousands to millions of users may be
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`accessing such complex networks at any point in time.
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`Aproblem with networks on any size is tracking personal
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`relationships and maintaining knowledge of the people/
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`users/processes on that system. In the AOL network, a user
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`could use a LOCATE function to inquire from the system if
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`another user was currently logged into the system. In the
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`CompuServe network, a user can use a more limited
`“WHO’S HERE” function to determine who is present in a
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`forum conference.
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`The present invention addresses the problem of tracking
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`personal relationships and maintaining knowledge of the
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`people/users/processes on that system with a unique way of
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`establishing and maintaining user definable on-line co-user
`lists.
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`SUMMARY
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`The invention implements a real time notification system
`tracks,
`for each user,
`the logon status of selected
`that
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`co-users of an on-line or network system and displays that
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`information in real time to the tracking user in a unique
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`graphical interface. The invention provides user definable
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`on-line co-user lists, or “buddy lists”, that track specific
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`co-users in real-time automatically.
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`Auser can create many separate buddy lists of co-users,
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`either with intersecting or disjoint lists of users, and label
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`these buddy lists according to the user’s preference. The user
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`can update a buddy list or create new buddy lists whenever
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`necessary. When a user logs on to a system, the user’s set of
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`buddy lists is presented to the buddy list system. The buddy
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`list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into
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`the system with the entries on the user’s buddy list. Any
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`2
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`matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and
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`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
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`logged on or just left the system.
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`The details of the preferred embodiment of the present
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`invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and
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`the description below. Once the details of the invention are
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`known, numerous additional innovations and changes will
`become obvious to one skilled in the art.
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`DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical network system 10
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`in which the invention can be implemented.
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`FIG. 2a is a set of symbolic data records showing the
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`basic types of data used by one embodiment of the invention
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`for a buddy list, and the conceptual relationship of data
`elements.
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`FIG. 2b is a set of symbolic data records showing the
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`basic types of data used by one embodiment of the invention
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`for a permissions list, and the conceptual relationship of data
`elements.
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`FIG. 3 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
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`invention, showing a buddy list window.
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`FIG. 4 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
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`invention, showing a buddy list setup window.
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`FIG. 5 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
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`invention, showing a buddy list create window.
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`FIG. 6 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
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`invention, showing a buddy list preferences window.
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`FIG. 7 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
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`invention, showing a search member directory window.
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`FIG. 8 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
`invention, showing a member location window.
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`FIG. 9 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
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`invention, showing an instant message window.
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`FIG. 10 is a graphical display of one implementation of
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`the invention, showing a buddy chat window.
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`FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an implementation of the
`invention.
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`Like reference numbers and designations in the various
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`drawings indicate like elements.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`Throughout this description, the preferred embodiment
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`and examples shown should be considered as exemplars,
`rather than as limitations on the present invention.
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`Overview
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`The invention implements a real time notification system
`tracks,
`for each user,
`the logon status of selected
`that
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`co-users and displays that information in real time to the
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`tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention
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`provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy
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`lists”, that track specific co-users in real-time automatically.
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`Such automatic monitoring is significant, because in a
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`system of any size there would be no way for a user to track
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`the comings and goings of thousands or millions of users
`each moment in time.
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`An important component of the buddy list system is that
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`a user can create many separate buddy lists of co-users,
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`either with intersecting or disjoint lists of co-users, and label
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`these buddy lists according to the user’s preference. The user
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`can update a buddy list or create new buddy lists whenever
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`necessary. When a user logs on to a system, the user’s set of
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`buddy lists is presented to the buddy list system. The buddy
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`Page 10 of 13
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`list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into
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`the system with the entries on the user’s buddy list. Any
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`matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and
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`logoff, a user’s buddy list is updated in real-time (or near
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`real-time,
`taking into account network and processing
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`delays) to reflect these changes. An indication can also be
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`added to show that a co-user just logged on or just left the
`system.
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`Hardware System
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`By way of example only, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a
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`typical network system 10 in which the invention can be
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`implemented. The network system 10 includes a plurality of
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`user stations 12 that preferably include a processor chassis
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`14 having a network link. The network link is for receiving
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`and transmitting data in analog or digital form over a
`communications link 16, such as a serial link, local area
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`network, wireless link, parallel link, etc. Also coupled to a
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`typical processor chassis 14 is a display 18, a keyboard 20,
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`and a pointing device 22 (e.g., a mouse).
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`The communications link 16 couples each user station 12
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`as a “client” to a logon system 24, which is typically a
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`software program executing on a remote server somewhere
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`on a network. The logon system 24 communicates with a
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`“Buddy List System” 26, which is preferably a software
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`program executing on a server somewhere on the network.
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`The Buddy List System 26 maintains a database 28 for
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`storing user information. The database 28 may be of any
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`type, such as relational or hierarchical, and may be central-
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`ized or distributed. For example, the database 28 may be
`stored at least in part on each user’s own station 12. In such
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`a case, the database 28 contents would be transmitted to the
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`Buddy List System 26 when the user logged into the system.
`Data Structure
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`FIG. 2a is a set of symbolic data records showing the
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`basic types of data used by the Buddy List System 26, and
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`the conceptual relationship of data elements. A Group Name
`table 30 stores user-defined group names for buddy lists.
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`Each user may define multiple buddy lists by group names
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`(two being shown by way of example). Each group name in
`the Group Name table 30 has an associated Buddy List table
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`32, comprising multiple records. Each Buddy List table 32
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`record corresponds to a co-user (“buddy”) that the user
`wishes to track. In the preferred embodiment, the record
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`includes data elements for the screen name (or address, such
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`as an Internet address) of a particular co-user to be tracked,
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`and the logon status of that user (e.g., codes for “In” or
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`“Out”).
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`FIG. 2b is a set of symbolic data records showing the
`basic types of data used by one embodiment of the invention
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`for a Permissions List 34, and the conceptual relationship of
`data elements. Each user in the system has an associated
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`Block Status code. If a user’s Block Status code is equiva-
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`lent to “none”, then no co-user may enter that user into the
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`co-user’s buddy lists. If a user’s Block Status code is
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`equivalent to “all”, then all co-users may enter that user into
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`their buddy lists. If a user’s Block Status code is equivalent
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`to “all except”, then all co-users except those entered in a
`linked Exclusion List 36 may enter that user into their buddy
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`lists. If a user’s Block Status code is equivalent to “none
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`except”, then only co-users entered in a linked Inclusion List
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`38 may enter that user into the co-user’s buddy lists. In one
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`embodiment, a user may only have one of an Inclusion List
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`36 and an Exclusion List 48.
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`Example Implementation
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`FIG. 3 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
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`invention, showing a Buddy List window 40 with a buddy
`list named “Home List” in a large scrollable area. Buddy list
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`names are like categories. Other buddy lists can be shown in
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`the same display. Indented underneath each buddy list are
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`the names (or addresses) of user-selected co-users compris-
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`ing that list. In the example shown, the “Home List” includes
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`three co-users and their status as “IN” (i.e., currently logged
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`into the system) or “OUT” (i.e., currently logged out of the
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`system). Any desired method or technique can be used to
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`indicate log status, such as distinct attributes (e.g., bolding
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`a name to indicate logged in, graying a name to indicated
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`logged out) or other symbols (e.g., checkmarks to indicate
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`logged in), etc. In still another embodiment, only logged in
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`members of a buddy list are displayed. In one embodiment,
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`an asterisk or other symbol appears next to the screen name
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`of the most recent co-user to log into the system, and
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`parentheses are placed around the screen name of the most
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`recent co-user to log out of the system.
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`In the preferred embodiment, a user can “minimize” a
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`buddy list to suppress display of all the co-users in that
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`group. This is preferably implemented so that a double click
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`on the buddy list name will cause all the screen names listed
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`beneath to disappear. In the preferred embodiment, mini-
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`mized buddy lists are indicated by a “+” symbol next to the
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`buddy list name. Double-clicking on the buddy list name
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`again displays all of the hidden co-users under that name. A
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`user can also keep tabs on each list by checking out the
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`numbers posted in parenthesis next to the buddy list names.
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`This number tells the user how many people on that list are
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`logged in out of the total number of screen names on the
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`buddy list. In the illustrated example, 2/3 means that two of
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`the three people on the “Home List” are currently online.
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`In the preferred embodiment, when the user first logs into
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`the system, the Buddy List window 40 opens, informing the
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`user which of the user’s buddy list members are currently
`online. The user can either close this window, or leave it
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`open while visiting other areas of the system. If the Buddy
`List window 40 is left open, the user has a current, real-time
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`list of all
`the user’s buddies in who are online at any
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`particular moment.
`The illustrated Buddy List window 40 shows a number of
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`buttons for setting up or using buddy lists. Included buttons
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`in the preferred embodiment are: LOCATE, for determining
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`which “chat room” a buddy is in at a particular moment; IM,
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`for sending an “Instant Message”; SETUP, for creating and
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`editing buddy lists or setting buddy list preferences; and
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`BUDDY CHAT, for inviting buddies to a private chat or a
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`favorite place in the system.
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`Setup
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`FIG. 4 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
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`invention, showing a Buddy List Setup window 50 with a
`buddy list named “Home List” in a scrollable area. Buttons
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`are provided for creating a new buddy list; editing a selected
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`buddy list; deleting a buddy list; viewing the members of a
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`selected buddy list; accessing a Member Directory for the
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`system; and accessing a preferences windows. In the pre-
`ferred embodiment, each buddy list is shown in the scrol-
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`lable area with a count of the number of co-users in each list.
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`FIG. 5 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
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`invention, showing a Buddy List Create window 60. A user
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`can enter a buddy list group name and a screen name for
`each co-user to be tracked. A list of buddies on a particular
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`list are also displayed, along with a button allowing removal
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`of an existing buddy. After entry of all necessary data in such
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`a window, the user’s Group Name table 30 and the appro-
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`priate Buddy List table 32 are updated using conventional
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`data processing techniques. Editing a buddy list can be done
`from the same or a similar window.
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`FIG. 6 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
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`invention, showing a Buddy List Preferences window 70. In
`the preferred embodiment,
`these Preferences include the
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`following:
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`Page 11 of 13
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`Show me my Buddy List(s) immediately after I sign onto
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`AOL. This option opens the Buddy List window 40
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`(FIG. 3) when the user logs on to the system.
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`Play sound when buddies sign-on. This option enables a
`sound to play when one of the co-users on a user’s
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`buddy list program logs on (“BuddyIn”).
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`Play sound when buddies sign-off. This option enables a
`sound to play when one of the co-users on a user’s
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`buddy list program logs off (“BuddyOut”).
`Allow all members to add me to their lists/invitations.
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`This option grants permission for all co-users to add the
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`user to their buddy lists and send the user “Buddy Chat
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`Invitations” and other information. If set, the appropri-
`ate user record in the Permissions List
`table 34 is
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`marked with a code for “all” in the Block Status field.
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`Block all members from adding me to their
`lists/
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`invitations. This option restricts all co-users from add-
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`ing the user to their buddy lists and from sending the
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`user “Buddy Chat Invitations” and other information. If
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`set, the appropriate user record in the Permissions List
`table 34 is marked with a code for “none” in the Block
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`Status field.
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`Allow only the members below. This option restricts all
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`members from adding the user to their buddy lists and
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`from sending the user “Buddy Chat Invitations” and
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`other information, except for those co-users specifically
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`listed where provided in the window. If set, the appro-
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`priate user record in the Permissions List table 34 is
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`marked with a code for “none except” in the Block
`Status field, and an Inclusion List 38 is linked to the
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`user for storing the names of included co-users.
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`Block only the members below. This option grants per-
`mission for all other members to add the user to their
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`buddy lists and send the user “Buddy Chat Invitations”
`and other information, except for those co-users spe-
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`cifically listed where provided in the window. If set, the
`appropriate user record in the Permissions List table 34
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`is marked with a code for “all except” in the Block
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`Status field, and an Exclusion List 36 is linked to the
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`user for storing the names of excluded co-users.
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`Sound Library. Allows a user to select sound events for
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`“BuddyIn” and “BuddyOut”.
`In the preferred embodiment, the Inclusion List 38 and the
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`Exclusion List 36 options are mutually exclusive. In this
`way, a user can control who sees the user logging on and off
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`the system. Although the user can be placed on the buddy list
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`of a co-user, if the user blocks visibility through the use of
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`these controls,
`the co-user does not see the logon/logoff
`status of that user.
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`FIG. 7 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
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`invention, showing a Search Member Directory window 80.
`In the preferred embodiment, this feature is accessed from
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`the Buddy List Setup window 50 (FIG. 4), and allows
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`searching a system directory in known fashion for screen
`names or addresses of co-users, for entry into buddy lists.
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`Locate
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`FIG. 8 is a graphical display of one implementation of the
`invention, showing a member location window 90. In the
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`preferred embodiment,
`this feature is accessed from the
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`Buddy List window 40 (FIG. 3). Selecting a co-user’s name
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`from a buddy list and activating the LOCATE button will
`cause the system to determine whether the selected co-user
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`is in a chat area or not. If no co-user is selected and the
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`LOCATE button is activated, a member location window 90
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`is displayed with the input field blank, for entry of a co-user
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`name. This feature using the existing locate functions of the
`system.
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`10
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`25
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`Page 12 of 13
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`US 6,750,881 B1
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`6
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`Instant Messages
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`Once a co-user is displayed on a user’s buddy list,
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`indicating that
`the co-user is currently logged into the
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`network system, the preferred embodiment of the invention
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`enables a simple way of communicating with that co-user.
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`FIG. 9 is a graphical display of on