Patent ID: 7266583
Filing Date: 2007-09-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for sharing contact list information between participants of a chat session, comprising: identifying a first chat session participant maintaining a first contact list containing contact information relating to contacts of said first chat session participant and identifying a second chat participant having a second contact list containing contact information relating to contacts of said second chat participant, said first chat session participant and said second chat session participant participating within a common chat session; providing the second chat session participant with access to contact information contained within the first contact list; selecting the first contact list; selecting the second contact list; comparing said first contact list and said second contact list; identifying common and non-common contacts between said first contact list and said second contact list; displaying common contacts in a first visual list and non-common contacts in a second visual list; determining whether said first contact list is modifiable by said second chat session participant and modifying said first contact list by said second chat session participant to include non-common contacts if said first contact list is modifiable by said second chat session participant, wherein modifying comprises the step of adding non-common contact information to said first contact list, the contact information pertaining to parties other than the first and second chat session participants; and providing the first chat session participant with access to contact information contained within said second contact list.