Aol Inc.

Google Inc.

Facebook, Inc.

Bright Sun Technologies

Allen J Eichler

Edmund J Fish

June R Herold

An instant messaging user may use a buddy list that includes a user-selected list of potential instant messaging recipients ('buddies') to identify another instant messaging user with whom instant messages are to be exchanged. An instant messaging user also may use a buddy list for other purposes, such as to initiate playing of an on-line game or to invite participants to play an on-line game. Techniques are provided to transform a buddy list from one messaging-mode to another messaging-mode. The transformation may include, for example, substitution or re-ordering of groups of buddies, substitution of buddy icons associated with buddies, substitution of information displayed about buddies, and substitution of controls for directing operation of the buddy list.

Multi-modal participant lists

An instant messaging user may use a buddy list that includes a user-selected list of potential instant messaging recipients ('buddies') to identify another instant messaging user with whom instant messages are to be exchanged. An instant messaging user also may use a buddy list for other purposes, such as to initiate playing of an on-line game or to invite participants to play an on-line game. The buddy list may be used as an on-line game leaderboard that presents a list of players of the on-line game in ranked order.

Using a participant list to invite players to an on-line game

An instant messaging user may use a buddy list that includes a user-selected list of potential instant messaging recipients ('buddies') to identify another instant messaging user with whom instant messages are to be exchanged. An instant messaging user also may use a buddy list for other purposes, such as to initiate playing of an on-line game or to invite participants to play an on-line game.

Growing community of inventors

Waterford, VA, United States of America

Allen J Eichler