Method for Providing Internet Service Employing User Personal Distance Information

Abstract

A method for providing Internet services employing contact personal distance information by classifying contacts in a user's contact list with a certain classification. The method includes providing a contact list for each user that has an account with the service provider, and providing a personal distance classification for contacts in the contact list that identifies personal information between the user and the contacts in the contact list. The user can use the personal distance classification to allow the user to selectively communicate with the contacts in the contact list over the Internet using the classification. In one non-limiting embodiment, the personal distance classification includes classifying the contacts in the contact list as family members, friends or business associates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1( a)-1(c) are a representation of contact lists for three users;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram showing a method for determining what e-mail messages will be sent to a user and what e-mails will be rejected depending on whether the sender is identified on user controlled and service provider controlled access lists, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart diagram showing a method for performing an authorization process to determine whether to send an e-mail message to a user if the sender does not appear on any of the lists in the method shown in FIG. 2.

Claims

1. A method for classifying contacts for Internet users, said method comprising: providing a contact list for each user that has an account with a service provider where the contact list includes an e-mail address for each contact;providing a personal distance classification for contacts in the contact list that identifies personal distance information between the user and the contacts in the contact list; andusing the personal distance information to allow the user to selectively communicate with the contacts in the contact list over the Internet using the classification.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein providing a personal distance classification includes classifying the contacts in the contact list as family members, friends or business associates.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein providing a personal distance classification includes providing classifications that identify a plurality of friend circles for a single user.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein communicating with contacts in the contact list includes designating in the communication accessibility to the communication to a certain classification of contacts and a certain classification in the contact list of the contacts.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the classification is friends and friend's friends.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the communication includes posting a message on an electronic message board, and designating which classification of contacts can have access to the message.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the communication includes e-mail messages.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the contact information for a contact in the contact list includes using a pointer that points to a data storage area where the contact information is stored.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein a user of the service provider can update contact information in the contact list of other users based on the classification.

10. A method for providing a classification of contacts for Internet users, said method comprising: providing a contact list for each user that has an account with a service provider;providing a personal distance classification for contacts in the contact list that identifies personal distance information between the user and the contacts in the contact list, wherein the personal distance classification includes classifying the contacts in the contact list as family members, friends or business associates, and wherein providing a personal distance classification includes providing classifications that identify a plurality of friend circles for a single user; andusing the personal distance classification to allow the user to selectively communicate with the contacts in the contact list over the Internet.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein communicating with contacts in the contact list includes designating in the communication accessibility to the communication to a certain classification of contacts and a certain classification in the contact list of the contacts.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the classification is friends and friend's friends.

13. The method according to claim 10 wherein the communication includes posting a message on an electronic message board, and designating which classification of contacts can have access to the message.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein the communication includes e-mail messages.

15. The method according to claim 10 wherein the contact information for a contact in the contact list includes using a pointer that points to a data storage area where the contact information is stored.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein a user of the service provider can update contact information in the contact list of other users based on the classification.

17. A method for providing Internet services including user personal distance information, said method comprising: providing a contact list for each user that has an account with a service provider; andassigning a personal distance classification for contacts in the contact list that identifies personal distance information between the user and the contacts in the contact list.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein assigning a personal distance classification includes classifying the contacts in the contact list as family members, friends or business associates.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein assigning a personal distance classification includes providing classifications that identify a plurality of friend circles for a single user.