OA16902A - Method and device for establishing contact relationship data in network communication system. - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and a device for establishing contact relationship data in a network communication system. The method comprises: selecting, according to a selection instruction, introduced persons from contacts of an introducer; sending introduction request messages to accounts of the introduced persons respectively; monitoring response instructions of the accounts of the introduced persons, and after detecting that the accounts of the introduced persons all return response instructions of agreeing on the introduction requests, establishing mutual-contact relationship data among the accounts of the introduced persons. The device comprises: an introduced person selection module, a message sending module, a response monitoring module, and a contact relationship data establishing module. The present invention improves the convenience and success rate of establishing contact relationship data.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ESTABLISHING CONTACT RELATIONSHIP DATA IN NETWORK COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

PRORITY [0001] This application claims priority of a CN patent application serial No. 20111034493 l.X, titled “method and apparatus for generating contact relationship data in a network communication system” and filed on November 4, 2011, which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The présent invention relates to network communication fields, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for generating contact relationship data in a network communication system.

BACKGROUND [0003] Currently, with the development of network communication technologies, network communication Systems for various segment fields are developed, and these Systems satisfy spécial communication 20 requirements of users in the segment fields.

[0004] Currently the most popular network communication Systems, for example, include the social network service (SNS) system and the instant message (IM) Systems. SNS is an internet service system dedicated to help people to create a social network. IM system is a 25 service system that can send and receive data services such as intemets messages instantly.

[0005] With the development of network communication Systems, the main fonction thereof gradually changes from the original basic communication functions to social fonctions. Currently almost ail the network communication Systems are expanding their convenience in social fonctions, in other words, by improving the information processing methods of these network communication Systems, letting the user is capable of getting the contact information of the people may be known by the user in a more convenient way, creating a social circle on the network in a more convenient way, and expanding their network social circle in a more convenient way.

[0006] In the existing network communication Systems that having social functions, each user has a number of contacts such as friends, classmates and families, and the user introducing one contact thereof to another is a common method for expanding social circles. However, in the existing network communication Systems, generating a contact relationship between strangers by the introduction of a common fried can only achieved by adding contacts. Generally, according to such a method both introduced users need to interact with an introducer for obtaining account information and introduction of the other user, if one of the introduced users would like to accept the introducing, in other words, he would like to add the other user as a contact, an existing process for adding contacts is executed. That îs, a contact adding request is sent to the other user; if the other user accepts the request, the network communication system generates a contact relationship data between the two users, and the two users can communicate with each other as contacts. [0007] However, in the method of generating a contact relationship between the strangers by the introduction of the common fried, the network communication system only offers little information, and the relationship information of the introduced user and the introducer is not reflected in the information stream of the contact adding operation. Thus, the success rate of the two introduced users becoming friends is low. · If the introduced users want to confirm that the other user is introduced by a 5 common friend, the introduced users hâve to communicate with the introducer to confirm the relationship of the other user and the introducer, and this process remarkably increases the number of human-machine interactions. The operations is not only complex, but also each human-machine interaction would trigger a computing process and 10 produce response results. As a resuit, a lot of resources of machine side (including clients, network servers, network bandwidth, and etc.,) are occupied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] In view of above problems, a primary object of the présent invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for generating contact relationship data in a network communication system, and improve the convenience and the success rate of generating contact relationship data.

[0009] The technical solution of the présent invention is achieved as 20 follows:

[0010] A method for generating contact relationship data in a network communication system includes: selecting introduced users from contacts of an introducer according to a selecting instruction; sending an introducing request to each of the user accounts of the introduced users;

monitoring response instructions from the user accounts of the introduced users, and generating contact relationship data between the introduced users after detecting that ail the user accounts of the introduced users retum response instructions for accepting the introducing request.

[0011] An apparatus for generating contact relationship data in a network communication System includes: an introduced user selecting module, a message sending module, a response monitoring module and a contact relationship data generating module.

[0012] The introduced user selecting module is configured to select introduced users from contacts of an introducer according to a selecting instruction. The message sending module is configured to send an introducing request to each of the user accounts of the introduced users;. The response monitoring module is configured to monitor response instructions from the user accounts of the introduced users, and trigger the contact relationship data generating module to generale contact relationship data between the introduced users after detecting that ail the user accounts of the introduced users retum response instructions for accepting the introducing request.

[0013] Compared with the existing technique, the présent invention provides a method for generating contact relationship between strangers via introducing of an introducer. The System sends an introducing request to the introduced users automatically, and détermines whether to generate contact relationship data representing that the introduced users are contacts of each other according to response instructions from the introduced users, so that the convenience and success rate of generating contact relationship data between strangers is improved.

[0014] The above description is only an overview of the technical solutions of the présent invention. In order to understand the technical solutions of the présent invention more clearly, implement the technical solutions of the présent invention according to the following spécification, and make the purpose, the characteristics, and the advantages of the présent invention more easily to understand, hereinafter, combined with accompanying drawings, embodiments of the présent invention are described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method of the présent invention.

[0016] FIG. 2a is a schematic diagram showing a contact profile interface according to the présent invention.

[0017] FIG. 2b is a schematic diagram showing a contact selecting interface according to the présent invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the présent invention.

[0019] FIG. 4a is an interface schematic diagram of an introducing request sent to both the introduced users.

[0020] FIG. 4b is an interface schematic diagram of a new introducing request sent to one introduced user when the other introduced user accepts the introducing request. ' [0021] FIG. 4c is an interface schematic diagram of a message sent to the introduced users showing that the introducing process succeeds.

[0022] FIG. 4d is an interface schematic diagram of a message sent to the introducer showing that the introducing process succeeds.

[0023] FIG. 4e is an interface schematic diagram of a message sent to the introducer showing that the introducing process fails.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an apparatus of the présent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0025] The présent invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. Hereinafter, combined with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the présent invention, the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the présent invention are clearly and fully described as follows.

[0026] The aforementioned and other technical solutions, features and utilities of the présent invention will be clearly shown in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments accompanying with the drawings. According to the description of the embodiments, the intended purpose, the employed technical solutions and the advantages of the présent invention will be understood more deeply and concretely. However, it is to be noted that the accompanying drawings are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only, and it is not intended to limit the présent invention. * [0027] FIG 1 is a flowchart of a method of the présent invention. Referring to FIG 1, the flow includes the following steps:

[0028] Step 101: selecting introduced users from contacts of an introducer (that is, the current login user) according to a selecting instruction.

[0029] Step 102: sending an introducing request to each of user accounts of the introduced users.

[0030] Step 103: monitoring response instructions from the user accounts of the introduced users, and generating contact relationship data between the user accounts of the introduced users after detecting that ail the user accounts of the introduced user retum response instructions for accepting the introducing request.

[0031] FIG 2a and FIG 2b are schematic diagrams showing an operation that the introducer selects the introduced users from the contacts thereof according to an implementing example of the step 101. Referring to FIG 2a, triggering information “introduce friends” 201 is shown in a contact profile interface (assuming that the contact is B) of a current login user (assuming that the current login user is A). When the system detects that the triggering information 201 is clicked, a contact selecting interface of the current login user is displayed, as shown in FIG 2b. The selecting interface includes a contact list of the current login user, the contact list is configured to be selected by the current login user. The current login user can select one or more contacts from the contact list, and introduce the selected contacts to the contact B. When the system detects that the current login user already select one or more contacts and a “OK” button 202 is clicked, the current login user is defined as the introducer, and the selected contacts in FIG 2b will be introduced to the contact B.

[0032] No matter how many contacts are selected for the contact B by the introducer, the network communication system of the présent invention executes the method of the présent invention for the contact B and each of the introduced users. For example, the current login user selects a contact C, a contact D and a contact E, as shown in the FIG 2b, the network communication system defines the contact B and contact C as a pair of introduced users, defines the contact B and contact D as a pair of introduced users, and defines the contact B and contact E as a pair of introduced users, and then executes the method of the présent invention for each pair of introduced users. In the following embodiment, the présent invention is described taking a process of generating contact relationship data between the contact B and contact C as an example.

[0033] Of course, there are a variety of ways to select the introduced users from the contacts of the introducer according to the selecting instruction in the présent invention. For example, the current login user can select two contacts from the contact list of the introducer, and then the network communication system defines the two selected contacts as a pair of introduced users to execute the method of the présent invention.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the présent invention. Referring to FIG 3, the method includes following steps:

[0035] Step 301: selecting an introduced user B and an introduced user C from contacts of an introducer A, according to a selecting instruction of the introducer A.

[0036] Step 302: sending an introducing request to each of the user account of the introduced user B and introduced user C, respectively. The introducing request may be a system message.

[0037] FIG. 4a is an interface schematic diagram of an introducing request sent to both the introduced users. Referring to FIG 4a, assuming that the introducing request is sent to the introduced user C, the introducing request may include a name 401 of the introducer A, a name 402 and a brief introduction 403 of the introduced user B, and triggering information for accepting the introducing request or not. The triggering information includes triggering information 404 (e.g., a button tagged “agréé to add as a friend” shown in FIG 4a) for accepting the introducing request, and triggering information 405 (i.e., “ignore” shown in FIG 4a) for declïning the introducing request. The brief introduction 403 of the introduced user B may include a head portrait, a name, an industry, a company, and a school of the introduced user B. The introducing request received by the introduced user B is similar to the introducing request in the FIG 4a. Therefore, one introduced user could intuitively know the 5 detail information of the other introduced user according to the received introducing request, and the introducing request also confirms that the introducer and the other introduced user are known to each other (because the introducing request is a System message, but not a message from a user). As a resuit, the success rate of the introducing process is 10 improved.

[0038] The introducing request in the FIG 4a may further include intersection information 407 of the contacts of the introduced user C and the contacts of the introduced user B, in other words, include contacts known by both the introduced users B and C. In this way, the introduced 15 users can leam more about each other, thus the success rate of the introducing process is further improved. The introduced user may further click a certain user in the intersection information to add the user as a friend. In this way, the social circle is further expanded.

[0039] Step 303: monitoring whether the user accounts of the 20 introduced users retums response instructions for accepting the introducing request (by clicking “agréé to add as a friend” shown in FIG 4a), or the user accounts of the introduced users retums response instructions for declining the introducing request (by clicking “ignore” shown in FIG 4a). If any one of the introduced users retums the 25 response instruction for accepting the introducing request, a step 304 is executed. If any one of the introduced users retums the response instruction for declining the introducing request, a step 307 is executed.

[0040] Step 304: assuming that the introduced user B retums the response instruction for accepting the introducing request, deleting the introducing request sent to the other introduced user (that is the introduced user C), and sending a new introducing request to the user account of the introduced user C.

[0041] FIG. 4b is an interface schematic diagram of a new introducing request sent to one introduced user when the other introduced user accepte the introducing request. Referring to FIG 4b, the new introducing request sent to the introduced user C may include the name 10 401 of the introducer A, the name 402 of the other introduced user B, prompt information 406 (e.g., “she has already agréé to add you as her friend” shown in the figure,) indicating that the introduced user B has already accepted the introducing request, the brief introduction 403 of the introduced user B, and the triggering information for accepting the 15 introducing request or not. The triggering information includes triggering information 404 (e.g., a button tagged “agréé to add as a friend” shown in FIG 4b) for accepting the introducing request, and triggering information 405 (e.g., “ignore” shown in FIG 4b) for declining the introducing request. The brief introduction 403 of the introduced user B 20 may include a head portrait, a name, an industry, a company, and a schôol of the introduced user B.

[0042] The introducing request in the FIG 4b may further include intersection information 407 of the contacts of the introduced user C and the contacts of the introduced user B, in other words, include contacts 25 known by both the introduced users B and C. In this way, the introduced users can leam more about each other, thus the success rate of the introducing process is further improved. The introduced user may further click a certain user in the intersection information to add the user as a friend. In this way, the social circle is further expanded.

[0043] In addition, the step 304 may be an optional step. A step 305 can be executed directly after detecting that any one introduced user retums a response instruction for accepting the introducing request in the step 303. .

[0044] Step 305: monitoring whether the user account of the other introduced user C retums a response instruction for accepting the new introducing request or not. If the user account of the other introduced user C retums a response instruction for accepting the new introducing request, a step 306 is executed. If the user account of the other introduced user C retums a response instruction for declining the new introducing request, the step 307 is executed.

[0045] Step 306: generating contact relationship data between the user accounts of the introduced user B and introduced user C, thus B and C become contacts of each other, and the introducing process is ended.

[0046] The step 306 may further send messages indicating that the introducing process succeeds to the introduced users and the introducer. Specifically, the messages may be sent to the introduced user B and the introducer A, or be sent to the both the introduced users B and C, and the introducer A.

[0047] FIG. 4c is an interface schematic diagram of a message sent to the introduced users showing that the introducing process succeeds. Referring to FIG 4c, assuming that the message is sent to the introduced user B, the message may include the name 401 of the introducer A, the name 408 of the other introduced user C, an information inputting box 409 and an information sending trigger 410 (such as a “send” button in the figure) of the information inputting box 409. The information shown in FIG 4c may further include intersection information 407 of the contacts of the introduced user B and the contacts of the introduced user C, in other words, include contacts known by both the introduced users B and C. In this way, the introduced user may further click a certain user in the intersection information to add the user as a friend. Accordingly, the social cîrcle is further expanded.

[0048] FIG. 4d is an interface schematic diagram of a message sent to the introducer showing that the introducing process succeeds. Referring to FIG 4d, the information sent to the introducer A at least includes the name 402 of the introduced user B, the name 408 of the introduced user C and prompt information 411 indicating that the introducing process succeeds.

[0049] Step 307: if detecting that at least one user account retums a response instruction for declining the introducing request, the présent introducing process is failed, and information for indicating that the introducing process fails may be further sent to the introducer.

[0050] FIG. 4e is an interface schematic diagram of a message sent to the introducer showing that the introducing process fails. Referring to FIG 4e, the information at least include the names 402 and 408 of the introduced users, a reason information 412 for the failure of the introducing process, an information inputting box 413 for sending inputted information to the introduced user who décliné the introducing request, and an information sending trigger 414 of the information inputting box 413.

[0051] Based on the above method, the présent invention further discloses an apparatus for generating contact relationship data in a network communication system. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an apparatus of the présent invention. Referring to FIG 5, an apparatus 500 for generating contact relationship data in a network communication system includes: an introduced user selecting module 501, a message sending module 502, a response monitoring module 503 and a contact relationship data generating module 504.

[0052] The introduced user selecting module 501 is configured to select introduced users from contacts of an introducer according tô a selecting instruction.

[0053] The message sending module 502 is configured to send an introducing request to each of user accounts of the introduced users.

[0054] The response monitoring module 503 is configured to monitor response instructions from the user accounts of the introduced users, and triggering the contact relationship data generating module 504 to generate contact relationship data between the introduced after the response monitoring module 503 detects that ail the user accounts of the introduced users retum response instructions for accepting the introducing request.

[0055] In one implementing example, the introducing request sent to the user accounts of the introduced users by the message sending module 502 includes the name of the introducer, the name and brief introduction of the other introduced user, and triggering information for accepting the introducing request or not, as shown in the FIG 4a.

[0056] In one implementing example, the response monitoring module 503 is further configured to notify the message sending module 502 after detecting that any one of the user accounts of the introduced users returns a response instruction for accepting the introducing request.

The message sending module 502 is further configured for: after receiving a notification from the response monitoring module 503, deleting the introducing request sent to the other introduced user, and sending a new introducing request to the other introduced user. As shown in FIG 4b. the new introducing request may include the name of the introducer, the name of the other introduced user, prompt information indicating that the other introduced user has already accepted the introducing request, brief introduction of the other introduced user, and triggering information for accepting the new introducing request or not.

[0057] In one implementing example, the response monitoring module 503 is further configured to notify the message sending module 502 after detecting that ail the user accounts of the introduced users retum respond instructions for accepting the introducing request. The message sending module 502 is further configured for: sending information indicating that the introducing process succeeds to the introduced users after receiving a notification from the response monitoring module 503. As shown in FIG 4c, the information includes the name of the introducer, the name of the other introduced user, an information inputting box and an information sending trigger of the information inputting box. .

[0058] The information sent to the introduced users by the message sending module 502 may further include intersection information of contacts of the introduced user and contacts of the other contacts, as shown in FIG 4a, FIG 4b and FIG 4c.

[0059] In one implementing example, the response monitoring module 503 is further configured to notify the message sending module 502 after detecting that ail the user accounts of the introduced users retum response instructions for declining the introducing request. The message sending module 502 is further configured for sending information indicating that the introducing process fails to the user account of the introducer after receiving a notification from the response monitoring module 503. As shown in FIG 4e, the information at least include the names of the introduced users, a reason information for the failure of the introducing, an information inputting box for sending inputted information to the introduced user who décliné the introducing request, and an information sending trigger of the information inputting box.

[0060] In one implementing example, the response monitoring module 503 is further configured to notify the message sending module 502 after detecting that ail the user accounts of the introduced users retum respond instructions for accepting the introducing request. The message sending module 502 is further configured for sending information indicating that the introducing process succeeds to the introduced users after receiving a notification from the response monitoring module 503. As shown in FIG 4d, the information at least includes names of the introduced users, and prompt information indicating that the introducing process succeeds.

[0061] The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the présent invention, and are not intended to limit the présent invention. Any one of ordinarily skilled in the art would make replacements or modifications to the above technical solutions within the spirit and the scope of the présent invention to obtain équivalent embodiments, and these équivalent embodiments should also be included in the scope of the présent invention.

INDUSTRICAL PRACTICITY [0062] The présent invention provides a method for generating a contact relationship between strangers via introducing of an introducer. The system sends an introducing request to the target users automatically, and détermines whether to generate relationship data representing that the 5 introduced users are contacts of each other according to response instructions of the target users. so that the convenience and success rate of generating contact relationship data between strangers is improved.

Claims (14)

1. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

   1. A method for generating contact relationship data in a network communication system, characterized in that the method comprises:

   selecting introduced users from contacts of an introducer according to 5 a selecting instruction;

   sending an introducing request to each of user accounts of the introduced users; ' monitoring response instructions from the user accounts of the introduced users, and generating contact relationship data between the user 10 accounts of the introduced users after detecting that ail the user accounts of the introduced users retum response instructions for accepting the introducing request.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the introducing request sent to one of the introduced users comprises a name of the

   15 introducer, a name and a brief introduction of another of the introduced users, and triggering information for accepting the introducing request or not.
3. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that after detecting that user account of one of the introduced users retums a response

   20 instruction for accepting the introducing request the method further comprises:

   deleting the introducing request sent to user account of another of the introduced users and sending an new introducing request to the user account of another of the introduced user, wherein the new introducing 25 request comprises a name of the introducer, a name of the another of the introduced users, prompt information indicating that the another of the introduced users has already accepted the introducing request, brief introduction of the another of the introduced users, and triggering information for accepting the new introducing request or not.
4. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, after detecting that ail the user accounts of the introduced users retum response instructions for accepting the introducing request, the method further comprises:

   sending information indicating that the introducing process succeeds to a user account of the introducer, wherein the information indicating that the introducing process succeeds comprises the name of the introducer, the name of the another of the introduced users, an information inputting box and an information trigger of the information inputting box.
5. 5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the introducing request further comprises intersection information of contacts of the one of introduced users and contacts of the another of the introduced users.
6. 6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that after detecting that at least one user account of the introduced users retums a response instruction for declining the introducing request, the method further comprises:

   sending information indicating that the introducing process fails to a user account of the introducer, wherein the information indicating that the introducing process fails at least comprises: the names of the introduced users, reason information showing why the introducing process fails, an information inputting box for sending inputted information to the introduced user who déclinés the introducing request, and an information sending trigger ofthe information inputting box.
7. 7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that after detecting that ail the use accounts of the introduced users retum response instructions for accepting the introducing request the method further comprises: sending information indicating that the introducing process succeeds to a user account of the introducer, wherein the information indicating that the introducing process succeeds at least comprises names of the introduced users, and prompt information indicating that the introducing process succeeds.
8. 8. An apparatus for generating contact relationship data in a network communication system, characterized in that the apparatus comprises: an introduced user selecting module, a message sending module, a response monitoring module, and a contact relationship data generating module; - the selecting module being configured to select introduced users from contacts of an introducer according to a selecting instruction;

   the message sending module being configured to send an introducing request to each of user accounts of the introduced users;

   the response monitoring module being configured to monitor response instructions from the user accounts of the introduced users, and generate contact relationship data between the user accounts of the introduced users after detectîng that ail the user accounts of the introduced users retum response instructions for accepting the introducing request.
9. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the introducing request sent to one of the introduced users comprises a name of the introducer, a name and a brief introduction of another of the introduced users, and triggering information for accepting the introducing request or not.
10. 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the response monitoring module is further configured to notify the message sending module after detecting that one of the user accounts of the introduced users retum response instructions for accepting the introducing request;

    and the message sending module is further configured to delete the introducing request sent to user account of another of the introduced users and sending an new introducing request to the user account of another of 5 the introduced user, wherein the new introducing request comprises a name of the introducer, a name of the another of the introduced users, prompt information indicating that the another of the introduced users has already accepted the introducing request, brief introduction of the another of the introduced users, and triggering information for accepting the new 10 introducing request or not.
11. 11. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the response monitoring module is further configured to notify the message sending module after detecting that ail the user accounts of the introduced users retum response instructions for accepting the introducing request;

    15 the message sending module is further configured to send information indicating that the introducing process succeeds to a user account of the introducer, wherein the information indicating that the introducing process succeeds comprises the name of the introducer, the name of the another of the introduced users, an information inputting box and an information 20 trigger of the information inputting box.
12. 12. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the introducing request further comprises intersection information of contacts of the one of introduced users and contacts of the another of the introduced users.

    25
13. 13. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the response monitoring module is further configured to notify the message sending module after detecting that at least one user account of the introduced users retums a response instruction for declining the introducing request;

    the message sending module is further configured to send information indicating that the introducing process fails to a user account of the introducer, wherein the information indicating that the introducing process fails at least comprises: the names of the introduced users, reason information showing why the introducing process fails, an information inputting box for sending inputted information to the introduced user who déclinés the introducing request, and an information sending trigger of the information inputting box.
14. 14. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the response monitoring module is further configured to notify the message sending module after detecting that ail the use accounts of the introduced users retum response instructions for accepting the introducing request;

    the message sending module is further configured to send information indicating that the introducing process succeeds to a user account of the introducer, wherein the information indicating that the introducing process succeeds at least comprises names of the introduced users, and prompt information indicating that the introducing process succeeds. ·