WO2015014310A1

WO2015014310A1 - Method, apparatus, and server for displaying information

Info

Publication number: WO2015014310A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/083519
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shilei LIU
Original assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
Priority date: 2013-08-02
Filing date: 2014-08-01
Publication date: 2015-02-05
Also published as: CN104348706A

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and servers for displaying informationare provided. By receiving and saving user information (user-info) set with respect to different contact groupings by a user, a mapping relationship table is established between the user-info of the user and the contact grouping of the user. The user has a contact list includingone or more contact groupings. When an operation request for obtaining the user-info of the user sent by a contact in the contact list is detected, the user-info corresponding to the contact in the contact list and stored in the mapping relationship table is obtained and displayed.

Description

METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SERVER FOR DISPLAYING

INFORMATION

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priorityto Chinese Patent Application No.2013103348144, filed on August02, 2013, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of internettechnology and, more particularly, relates to the field ofinstant messaging including methods, apparatus, and servers for displaying information.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Instant messaging software and social media softwareoften provide users with a function forconfiguring user information (user-info). Configuration of user-info can include configuration of user avatar, personalized signature, etc. To all contact information of a user under a same account, no matter how the user groups contacts, all contacts can see this user's information such as user avatar (e.g., an actual photo of the user) and personalized signature.

[0004] In other words, the user cannotrespectivelyconfigure different user avatars and personalized signatureswith respect to contact groupings. Further,the user cannot displayspecific user-info only tospecific contact(s). Currently, the displaying functionprovided by instant messaging softwareor social media software is limited for theuser-info. [0005] Thus, there is a need to overcome these and other problems of the prior art and to provide methods, apparatus, and servers for displaying information.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0006] One aspect or embodiment of the present disclosure includes an information displaying method. User-info (user information) set with respect to different contact groupings by a user is received and saved. The user has a contact list includingone or more contact groupings. A mapping relationship table is established between the user-info of the user and the contact grouping of the user. When an operation request for obtaining the user-info of the user sent by a contact in the contact list is detected, the user-info corresponding to the contact and stored in the mapping relationship table is obtained. The user-info of the user corresponding to the contact in the contact list of the user is displayed.

[0007] Another aspect or embodiment of the present disclosure includes an information displaying apparatus including an information receiving module, a relationship-table establishing module, an information obtaining module, and an information displaying module. The information receiving module is configured to receive and save user- info set with respect to different contact groupings by a user. The user has a contact list includingone or more contact groupings. The relationship-table establishing module is configured to establish a mapping relationship table between the user-info of the user and the contact grouping of the user. The information obtaining module is configured, when an operation request for obtaining the user- info of the user sent by a contact in the contact list is detected, to obtain the user-info corresponding to the contact and stored in the mapping relationship table. The information displaying module is configured to display the user-info of the user corresponding to the contact in the contact list of the user.

[0008] Another aspect or embodiment of the present disclosure includes a server. The server includes an information displaying apparatus. The information displaying apparatus includesan information receiving module, a relationship-table establishing module, an information obtaining module, and an information displaying module. The information receiving module is configured to receive and save user-info set with respect to different contact groupings by a user. The user has a contact list includingone or more contact groupings. The relationship-table establishing module is configured to establish a mapping relationship table between the user-info of the user and the contact grouping of the user. The information obtaining module is configured, when an operation request for obtaining the user-info of the user sent by a contact in the contact list is detected, to obtain the user-info corresponding to the contact and stored in the mapping relationship table. The information displaying module is configured to display the user-info of the user corresponding to the contact in the contact list of the user.

[0009] Other aspects or embodiments of the present disclosure can be understood by those skilled in the art in light of the description, the claims, and the drawings of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The following drawings are merely examples for illustrative purposes according to various disclosed embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. [0011] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary information displaying method consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0012] FIG. 2 depicts another exemplary information displaying method consistent with various disclosed embodiments; [0013] FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary information displaying apparatus consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0014] FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary information displaying server consistent with various disclosed embodiments;

[0015] FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary environment incorporating certain disclosed embodiments;

[0016] FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary computer system consistent with the disclosed embodiments; and

[0017] FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary process for synchronizing signature information set by a user to a server consistent with various embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0019] Methods, apparatus, and servers for displaying information are provided. As used herein, instant messaging software/ application can be software/ application that can send and receive Internet messages. Examples for instant messaging software/application can include, QQ, MSN, etc.

[0020] As used herein, the term "contact grouping" can include a grouping of one or more contacts from all contacts of the user based on user' s own requirements when using instant messaging software/application. The contact groupings can be formed according to a certain property or standard for each contact grouping. For example, a contact grouping can be formed according to a relationship of contacts (in a same contact grouping) with the user, or according to a time length (short or long) of contacts knowing the user, or according to located positionsof contacts. [0021] As used herein, the term "signature" or "signature information" can include descriptive information set by the user andcheckable by a contact of the user when using instant messaging software/application. Signature can be, e.g., information composed of texts, images, video clips,or combinations thereof. As used herein, the term "avatar" can be an image set by the user and checkable by a contact of the user when using instant messaging software/application. [0022] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary information displaying method consistent with various disclosed embodiments. In Step S01, user- info set with respect to different contact groupings by a user is received and saved. In Step S02, a mapping relationship table between the user-info and a corresponding contact grouping is established.

[0023] A server receives and saves the user-info to be displayed, which is set by user A according to different contact groupings ininstant messaging softwareand/or social media software under a same account of user A. The serveralso saves a mapping relationship between the user- info set by user A (with respect to different contact groupings) and corresponding contact grouping. The server can establish a mapping relationship table, and can correspondingly store the user-info set by user A and the corresponding contact groupings in the established mapping relationship table. In one embodiment, the user-info includes, but is not limited to, user avatar, signature information, and other suitable information in one or more of an instant messaging software/applicationand/or a social media software/application used by the user.

[0024] For example, in a chat tool of QQ instant messaging software (i.e., Tencent QQ, an instant messaging software service developed by Tencent Holdings Limited), the user-info can include a user avatar and signature information of QQ personal information. For example, user A may have a QQ number having contact groupings including<family>, <friends>, and technology interactions>. The user-info set by user A for contact groupings of <family> and<friends>can include: a set avatarofan actual photo and/ora set signature information of'You are precious wealth in my life", while the user-info set by user A for the contact grouping of technology interactions>can include: a set avatarof a certain flower photo, a set signature information of, e.g., "Day-day study, good, good, up". Such user-info for different contact groupings can be uploaded to a server. The server receives and saves the user-info set by user A according to different contact groupings, and stores each contact grouping and corresponding user-info into the established mapping relationship table.

[0025] In one embodiment, user A can further set a functionto block a display of user A's user-info to a certain contact grouping. In this case, the user-info that the server receives and saves and that is set by user A according to the contact grouping can include: blocking the displaying of user-info of user Ato the certain contact grouping.

[0026] In Step S03, user-info corresponding to the contact that is stored in the mapping relationship table can be obtained. [0027] When an operation request for obtaining user-info of user A sent by a contact it is detected, the server searches for the contact grouping of the contact. When the contact grouping of the contact is found, then the server searches in the stored mapping relationship table, and obtains the user-info mapped by the contact grouping from the stored mapping relationship table. [0028] For example, in the chat tool of QQ, when one of contacts of user A, e.g., the contact C, logs inQQ of the contact C, the QQ tool pulls the contact list of the contact C and corresponding user-info of each contact in the contact list (such as the avatar and signature information of each contact). The contact C may use client software/application to send request to obtain user-info of user A, which can be detected by the server. The server can search for the user-info uploaded by user A and a mapping relationship table to find out that the contact C is in the <friend> contact grouping of user A. The server can then search in the mapping relationship table to obtain the user-info corresponding to the <friend> contact grouping set by user A.

[0029] In Step S04, the obtained user-info corresponding to the contact can be displayed.

The server pushes the obtained user-info of the contact to the corresponding client

software/application, and displays the obtained user-info based on the client software/application.

[0030] For example, when the server obtains the user-info corresponding to the <friend> contact grouping set by user A that is stored in the mapping relationship table, the user-info of user A includes, a set avatarof an actual photo and/ora set signature information of'You are precious wealth in my life". Based on the client software/application, in the QQ contact list of contact C, user A's avatar can be displayed as theactual photo of user A and user A'ssignature information can be displayed as "You are precious wealth in my life".

[0031 ] In one embodiment, during system initialization, the public user-info set by the user is displayed to all contacts of the user. For example, in the first several seconds of initialization when logging in QQ, user A may display public user-info to all contacts. The public user-info can include: an avatar of QQ Penguin doll without displaying any signature information. In this case, according to the user-info set by the user, the server can displaythe QQ Penguin doll avatar without displaying any signature information based on the client software/application.

[0032] In one embodiment, user A can further set a functionto block displaying of user

A's user-info to a certain contact grouping. For example, user A sets user-info corresponding to the contact grouping of technology interactions> as blockingdisplaying of the user-info. Then for all contacts in the contact list of the contact grouping of technology exchanging>, displayed user-info of user A can be correspondingly blank.

[0033] In the disclosed method, user-info set with respect to different contact groupings by a user can be received and saved. A mapping relationship table can be established between the user-info and a corresponding contact grouping. When an operation request for obtaining user-info of the user sent by a contact is detected, user-info stored in the mapping relationship table and corresponding to the contact can be obtained. The obtained user-info corresponding to the contact can then be displayed. In this manner, different user- info of a same usercan be displayed to different contacts and different contact groupings. Human-computer interactioncan then beimproved. In addition, becauseit may block the displaying of a portion or all of the user- info of the user to a certain contact and/or a certain contact grouping, security of the user-info of a user can be improved and private information of a user can be protected.

[0034] FIG. 2 depicts another exemplary information displaying method consistent with various disclosed embodiments. Compared with the information displaying method in FIG. 1, Step S03 in FIG. 1 can be replaced by following exemplary Steps as shown in FIG. 2. [0035] In Step SI 1, the mapping relationship table can be searched for whether the user- info set with respect to the contact is stored in the mapping relationship table. When the user- info is stored in the mapping relationship table, Step S12 can be implemented. When the user- info is not stored in the mapping relationship table, Step S13 can be implemented. [0036] In Step S 12, the user-info set with respect to the contact can be obtained. In Step

S13, the user- info corresponding to the contact grouping of the contact can be obtained. In one embodiment, the server provides the user with a function for setting certain user-info with respect to certain/different contacts. The server also receives and saves user-info set by the user with respect to different contact groupings and/or with respect to different contacts in a same contact grouping. In this case, user-info for a contact has a highest priority.

[0037] For example, in the chat tool of QQ, a user can set user-info displayed correspondingly to contact "mother" in a contact grouping of <family>as:a set avatar ofa photo showing mother is cooking and/or set signature information of'Mother cooks better and better". Such user- info can be sent to the server for the server to store the set user-info corresponding to the contact and the mapping relationship between the contact and the user-info.

[0038] When the server detects an operation request sent by a certain contact for obtaining user-info of user A, the server directly searches the mapping relationship table to identify whether the user-info of user A set with respect to the contact is stored in the mapping relationship table. When the user-info of user A set with respect to the contact is stored in the mapping relationship table, the server directly obtains the user- info of user A set with respect to the contact. For example, when the server detectsthe operation request for obtaining the user- info of user A initiated by contact"mother" in the <family> contact grouping, the server directly searches the mapping relationship table to obtain the user-info of user A set corresponding to contact "mother".

[0039] When the user-info of the user set with respect to a contact of the user is not stored in the mapping relationship table, the server searches for the contact grouping of the contact. When finding the contact grouping of the contact, the server searches in the stored mapping relationship table to obtain the user-info of the user mapped by the contact grouping from the stored mapping relationship table. For example, when the server detects an operation request for obtaining the user-info of user Ainitiated by contact Cin the contact grouping <friend>, and the server cannot find the user-info of the user corresponding to contact Cafter searching in the stored relation table, the server searches for the contact grouping of contact C. When the server finds the contact grouping of contact C, the server searches in the stored mapping relationship table and obtains the user-info of the user mapped by the contact grouping <friend> from the stored mapping relationship table.

[0040] As disclosed herein, user-info of a user can be set with respect to individual contacts directly, which provides improved flexibility for setting user-info and improves human- machine interactions.

[0041] FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary information displaying apparatus consistent with the embodiment. An exemplary information displaying apparatus includes: an information receiving module 01, a relationship-table establishing module 02, an information obtaining module 03, and/oran information displaying module 04.

[0042] The information receiving module 01 is configured to receive and save user-info set by a user with respect to different contact groupings of the user. The relationship-table establishing module 02 is configured to establish a mapping relationship table between the user- info of the user and a corresponding contact grouping of the user.

[0043] The information receiving module 01 receives and saves the user-info to be displayed, which is set by user A according to different contact groupings inan instant messaging softwareand/or a social media software under a same account of user A. The information receiving module 01 saves a mapping relationship between the user-info set by user A with respect to different contact groupings and corresponding contact grouping. The relationship- table establishing module 02 can establish a mapping relationship table, and can correspondingly store the user- info set by user A and the corresponding contact groupings in the established mapping relationship table. In one embodiment, the user-info includes, but is not limited to, user avatar, signature information, and other suitable information in one or more of an instant messaging software/applicationand/or a social media software/application used by the user.

[0044] For example, in a chat tool of QQ instant messaging software (i.e., Tencent QQ, an instant messaging software service developed by Tencent Holdings Limited), the user-info can include a user avatar and signature information of QQ personal information. For example, user A may have one QQ number having contact groupings including<family>, <friends>, and technology interactions>. The user-info set by user A for contact groupings of <family> and<friends>can include: a set avatarofan actual photo and/ora set signature information of'You are precious wealth in my life", while the user-info set by user A for the contact grouping of technology interactions>can include: a set avatarof a certain flower photo, a set signature information of, e.g., "Day-day study, good, good, up". Such user-info for different contact groupings can be uploaded to a server. The information receiving module 01 receives and saves the user-info set by user A with respect to different contact groupings. The relationship-table establishing module 02 stores each contact grouping and corresponding user-info into the established mapping relationship table.

[0045] In one embodiment, user A can further set a functionto block a display of user A's user-info to a certain contact grouping. In this case, the user-info that the information receiving module 01 receives and saves and that is set by user A according to the contact grouping can include: blocking the displaying of user-info of user Ato the certain contact grouping.

[0046] The information obtaining module 03 is configured, when an operation request for obtaining user-info of the user sent by a contact is detected, to obtain user-info stored in the mapping relationship table and corresponding to the contact. [0047] When an operation request for obtaining user-info of user A sent by a contact it is detected, the information obtaining module 03 searches for the contact grouping of the contact. When the contact grouping of the contact is found, then the information obtaining module 03 searches in the stored mapping relationship table, and obtains the user-info mapped by the contact grouping from the stored mapping relationship table. [0048] For example, in the chat tool of QQ, when one of contacts of user A, e.g., the contact C, logs inQQ of the contact C, the QQ tool pulls the contact list of the contact C and corresponding user-info of each contact in the contact list (such as the avatar and

signatureinformation of each contact). The contact C may use client software/application to send request to obtain user-info of user A, which can be detected by the information obtaining module 03. The information obtaining module 03 can search for the user-info uploaded by user A and a mapping relationship table to find out that the contact C is in the <friend> contact grouping of user A. The information obtaining module 03 can then search in the mapping relationship table to obtain the user-info corresponding to the <friend> contact grouping set by user A. [0049] The information displaying module 04 is configured to display the obtained user- info with respect to the contact. The information displaying module 04 pushes the obtained user- info of the contact to the corresponding client application, and displays the obtained user-info based on the client application. [0050] For example, when the information obtaining module 03obtains the user-info corresponding to the <friend> contact grouping set by user A that is stored in the mapping relationship table, the user-info of user A includes, a set avatarof an actual photo and/ora set signature information of'You are precious wealth in my life". Based on the client

software/application, in the QQ contact list of contact C, user A's avatar can be displayed by the information displaying module 04 as theactual photo of user A and user A'ssignature

information can be displayed as "You are precious wealth in my life".

[0051 ] In one embodiment, during system initialization, the public user-info set by the user is displayed by the information displaying module 04 to all contacts of the user. For example, in the first several seconds of initialization when logging in QQ, user A may display public user-info to all contacts. The public user-info can include: an avatar of QQ Penguin doll without displaying any signature information. In this case, according to the user-info set by the user, the server can displaythe QQ Penguin doll avatar without displaying any signature information based on the client software/application.

[0052] In one embodiment, user A can further set a functionto block displaying of user A's user-info to a certain contact grouping. For example, user A sets user-info corresponding to the contact grouping of technology interactions> as blockingdisplaying of the user-info. Then for all contacts in the contact list of the contact grouping of technology exchanging>, user-info of user A displayed by the information displaying module 04 can be correspondingly blank. [0053] Using the disclosedapparatus, user-info set with respect to different contact groupings by a user can be received and saved. A mapping relationship table can be established between the user-info and a corresponding contact grouping. When an operation request for obtaining user-info of the user sent by a contact is detected, user-info stored in the mapping relationship table and corresponding to the contact can be obtained. The obtained user-info corresponding to the contact can then be displayed. In this manner, different user-info of a same usercan be displayed to different contacts and different contact groupings. Human-machine (or computer) interactioncan then beimproved. In addition, becauseit may block the displaying of a portion or all of the user-info of the user to a certain contact and/or a certain contact grouping, security of the user-info of a user can be improved and private information of a user can be protected.

[0054] Referring back to FIG. 3, the information obtaining module 03 is further configured to search the mapping relationship table to determine whether the user-info set with respect to the contact is stored in the mapping relationship table, when the operation request for obtaining the user-info of the user sent by the contact is detected. When the user- info set with respect to the contact is stored in the mapping relationship table, the information obtaining module 03 is further configured to obtain the user- info set with respect to the contact. When the user-info set with respect to the contact is not stored in the mapping relationship table, the information obtaining module 03 is further configured to obtain the user-info corresponding to the contact grouping of the contact.

[0055] In one embodiment, the server provides the user with a function for setting certain user-info with respect to certain/different contacts. The information receiving module 01 also receives and saves user- info set by the user with respect to different contact groupings and/or with respect to different contacts in a same contact grouping. In this case, user-info for a contact has a highest priority.

[0056] For example, in the chat tool of QQ, a user can set user-info displayed correspondingly to contact "mother" in a contact grouping of <family>as:a set avatar ofa photo showing mother is cooking and/or set signature information of'Mother cooks better and better". Such user- info can be sent to the server for the information receiving module 01 to store the set user-info corresponding to the contact and the mapping relationship between the contact and the user-info.

[0057] When the information obtaining module 03 detects an operation request sent by a certain contact for obtaining user- info of user A, the information obtaining module 03directly searches the mapping relationship table to identify whether the user-info of user A set with respect to the contact is stored in the mapping relationship table. When the user-info of user A set with respect to the contact is stored in the mapping relationship table, the information obtaining module 03directly obtains the user-info of user A set with respect to the contact. For example, when the information obtaining module 03detectsthe operation request for obtaining the user-info of user A initiated by contact"mother" in the <family> contact grouping, the information obtaining module 03directly searches the mapping relationship table to obtain the user-info of user A set corresponding to contact "mother".

[0058] When the user-info of the user set with respect to a contact of the user is not stored in the mapping relationship table, the information obtaining module 03searches for the contact grouping of the contact. When finding the contact grouping of the contact, the information obtaining module 03searches in the stored mapping relationship table, and obtains the user- info of the user mapped by the contact grouping from the stored mapping relationship table. For example, when the information obtaining module 03 detects an operation request for obtaining the user-info of user A initiated by contact Cin the contact grouping <friend>, and the information obtaining module 03 cannot find the user-info of the user corresponding to contact Cafter searching in the stored relation table, the information obtaining module 03searches for the contact grouping of contact C. When the information obtaining module 03finds the contact grouping of contact C, the information obtaining module 03searches in the stored mapping relationship table and obtains the user-info of the user mapped by the contact grouping <friend> from the stored mapping relationship table.

[0059] As disclosed herein, user-info of a user can be set with respect to individual contacts directly of the user, which provides improved flexibility for setting user-info and improves human-machine interactions.

[0060] FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary information displaying server consistent with the embodiment. The exemplary server includes an information displaying apparatus 100. The information displaying apparatus 100 can include the apparatus depicted in FIG. 3. [0061] The information displaying apparatus 100 includes an information receiving module 01, a relationship-table establishing module 02, an information obtaining module 03, and an information displaying module 04.

[0062] The information receiving module 01 is configured to receive and save user-info set by a user with respect to different contact groupings of the user. The relationship-table establishing module 02 is configured to establish a mapping relationship table between the user- info of the user and a corresponding contact grouping of the user. [0063] The information receiving module 01 receives and saves the user-info to be displayed, which is set by user A according to different contact groupings ininstant messaging softwareand/or social media software (or application) under a same account of user A. The information receiving module 01 saves a mapping relationship between the user-info set by user A with respect to different contact groupings and corresponding contact grouping. The relationship-table establishing module 02 can establish a mapping relationship table, and can correspondingly store the user-info set by user A and the corresponding contact groupings in the established mapping relationship table. In one embodiment, the user-info includes, but is not limited to, user avatar, signature information, and other suitable information in one or more of an instant messaging software/applicationand/or a social media software/application used by the user.

[0064] For example, in a chat tool of QQ instant messaging software (i.e., Tencent QQ, an instant messaging software service developed by Tencent Holdings Limited), the user-info can include a user avatar and signature information of QQ personal information. For example, user A may have one QQ number having contact groupings including<family>, <friends>, and technology interactions>. The user-info set by user A for contact groupings of <family> and<friends>can include: a set avatarofan actual photo and/ora set signature information of'You are precious wealth in my life", while the user-info set by user A for the contact grouping of technology interactions>can include: a set avatarof a certain flower photo, a set signature information of, e.g., "Day-day study, good, good, up". Such user-info for different contact groupings can be uploaded to a server. The information receiving module 01 receives and saves the user-info set by user A with respect to different contact groupings. The relationship-table establishing module 02 stores each contact grouping and corresponding user-info into the established mapping relationship table.

[0065] In one embodiment, user A can further set a functionto block a display of user A's user-info to a certain contact grouping. In this case, the user-info that the information receiving module 01 receives and saves and that is set by user A according to the contact grouping can include: blocking the displaying of user-info of user Ato the certain contact grouping.

[0066] The information obtaining module 03 is configured, when an operation request for obtaining user-info of the user sent by a contact is detected, to obtain user-info stored in the mapping relationship table and corresponding to the contact. [0067] When an operation request for obtaining user-info of user A sent by a contact it is detected, the information obtaining module 03 searches for the contact grouping of the contact. When the contact grouping of the contact is found, then the information obtaining module 03 searches in the stored mapping relationship table, and obtains the user-info mapped by the contact grouping from the stored mapping relationship table. [0068] For example, in the chat tool of QQ, when one of contacts of user A, e.g., the contact C, logs inQQ of the contact C, the QQ tool pulls the contact list of the contact C and corresponding user-info of each contact in the contact list (such as the avatar and signature information of each contact). The contact C may use client software/application to send request to obtain user-info of user A, which can be detected by the information obtaining module 03. The information obtaining module 03 can search for the user-info uploaded by user A and a mapping relationship table to find out that the contact C is in the <friend> contact grouping of user A. The information obtaining module 03 can then search in the mapping relationship table to obtain the user-info corresponding to the <friend> contact grouping set by user A. [0069] The information displaying module 04 is configured to display the obtained user- info with respect to the contact. The information displaying module 04 pushes the obtained user- info of the contact to the corresponding client application, and displays the obtained user-info based on the client application. [0070] For example, when the information obtaining module 03obtains the user-info corresponding to the <friend> contact grouping set by user A that is stored in the mapping relationship table, the user-info of user A includes, a set avatarof an actual photo and/ora set signature information of'You are precious wealth in my life". Based on the client

information can be displayed as "You are precious wealth in my life".

[0071 ] In one embodiment, during system initialization, the public user-info set by the user is displayed by the information displaying module 04 to all contacts of the user. For example, in the first several seconds of initialization when logging in QQ, user A may display public user-info to all contacts. The public user-info can include: an avatar of QQ Penguin doll without displaying any signature information. In this case, according to the user-info set by the user, the server can displaythe QQ Penguin doll avatar without displaying any signature information based on the client software/application.

[0072] In one embodiment, user A can further set a functionto block displaying of user A's user-info to a certain contact grouping. For example, user A sets user-info corresponding to the contact grouping of technology interactions> as blockingdisplaying of the user-info. Then for all contacts in the contact list of the contact grouping of technology exchanging>, user-info of user A displayed by the information displaying module 04 can be correspondingly blank. [0073] In the disclosedapparatus and server, user-info set with respect to different contact groupings by a user can be received and saved. A mapping relationship table can be established between the user-info and a corresponding contact grouping. When an operation request for obtaining user-info of the user sent by a contact is detected, user-info stored in the mapping relationship table and corresponding to the contact can be obtained. The obtained user-info corresponding to the contact can then be displayed. In this manner, different user-info of a same usercan be displayed to different contacts and different contact groupings. Human-computer interactioncan then beimproved. In addition, becauseit may block the displaying of a portion or all of the user-info of the user to a certain contact and/or a certain contact grouping, security of the user-info of a user can be improved and private information of a user can be protected.

[0074] The exemplary information displaying methods, apparatus, and servers, and systems can be implemented, for example, in an exemplary environment 500 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0075] FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary environment 500 incorporating certain disclosed embodiments. As shown in FIG. 5, environment 500 can include a server 504, a client (and/or a terminal) 506, and a communication network 502. The server 504 and the client 506 may be coupled through the communication network 502 for information exchange, such as webpage browsing, Internet searching, data downloading, etc. Although only one client 506 and one server 504 is shown in the environment 500, any number of clients 506 or servers 504 may be included, and other devices may also be included. [0076] Communication network 502 may include any appropriate type of communication network for providing network connections to the server 504 and client 506 or among multiple servers 504 or clients 506. For example, communication network 502 may include the Internet or other types of computer networks or telecommunication networks, either wired or wireless. [0077] A client, as used herein, may refer to any appropriate user terminal with certain computing capabilities, such as a personal computer (PC), a work station computer, a server computer, a hand-held computing device (tablet), a smart phone or mobile phone, or any other user-side computing device. [0078] A server, as used herein, may refer one or more server computers configured to provide certain server functionalities, such as database management and search engines. A server may also include one or more processors to execute computer programs in parallel.

[0079] The server 504 and the client 506 may be implemented on any appropriate computing platform. FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an exemplary computer system 600 capable of implementing the server 504 and/or the client 506. As shown in FIG. 6, the exemplary computer system 600 may include a processor 602, a storage medium 604, a monitor 606, a communication module 608, a database 610, peripherals 612, and one or more bus 614 to couple the devices together. Certain devices may be omitted and other devices may be included.

[0080] Processor 602 can include any appropriate processor or processors. Further, processor 602 can include multiple cores for multi-thread or parallel processing. Storage medium 604 may include memory modules, such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory modules, and mass storages, such as CD-ROM, U-disk, removable hard disk, etc. Storage medium 604 may store computer programs for implementing various processes, when executed by processor 602. [0081] Further, peripherals 612 may include I/O devices such as keyboard and mouse, and communication module 608 may include network devices for establishing connections through the communication network 502. Database 610 may include one or more databases for storing certain data and for performing certain operations on the stored data, such as webpage browsing, database searching, etc.

[0082] In operation, client 506 may cause server 504 to perform certain actions, such as an Internet search or other database operations. Server 504 may be configured to provide structures and functions for such actions and operations. More particularly, server 504 may include a data searching system for real-time database searching.

[0083] A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon. When being executed, the instructions cause one or more contact groupings processors of the information displaying apparatus to perform the method as disclosed herein. The information displaying apparatus can include one or more processors and the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0084] As disclosed herein, the user can set signature information and/or avatar with respect to different contacts (or different contact groupings) to satisfy user' scertain requirements and to effectively protect the user privacy. Conventionally, contacts of a user can only see signature information (and/or avatar) of the user in instant messaging software/application, no matter how the user groups the contacts. In a case when the user does not want a portion of his/her contacts to see the user's signature information, the user has to cancel the signature information on his/her side. In addition, current function for setting signature information only allows one piece of signature information to be set. For different grouping contacts, the user cannot specifically set and display different signature information specific to a different contact grouping.

[0085] The signature information set by the usercan have various types including, e.g., a contact signatures group signature, and a public signature. The contact signature can include signature information individually set by the user with respect to each contact. The contact signature can have a highest displaying priority. The group signature can include signature information set by the userwith respect to a contact grouping. For contacts in this contact grouping, in a case when no contact signature is set, the group signature can be displayed instead. The public signature can include signature information set by the user with respect to all of contact groupings and/or all of the contacts. In a case when no contact signature or no group signature is set, the public signature can be displayed.

[0086] For individual contact and individual contact grouping, the user can set a blocking signature. When the user sets blocking signature for an individual contact, this individual contact then cannot see any signature information of the user. When the user sets blocking information for an individual contact grouping, all contacts under this individual grouping cannot see any signature information of the user. When initializing system, the public signature can be displayed to all contact groupings.

[0087] The signature information and settings thereof can be synchronized to a server. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, public signature can be displayed to all contacts/contact groupings when initializing the system (Step 710). Blocking signature can be set by the user to all contacts (Step 720). Contact signature can be set by the user to selected individual contacts (Step 730) and synchronized to the server (Step 760). Group signature can be set by the user to selected individual contact groupings (Step 740) and synchronized to the server (Step 760).

Public signature can be set by the user (Step 750) and synchronized to the server (Step 760).

Once synchronized, the server can update settings and contents of all signature information (Step 770). Signature information can be displayed to the contact(s) according to the user's settings. [0088] In this manner, in the instant messaging software/application, a user may set one or more pieces of signature information and/or one or more avatar; and the user can set different signature information and/or different avatar with respect to (e.g., to be seen and displayed to) a different contact/ contact grouping; and the user can set blocking signature and avatar information with respect to a specific contact/ contact grouping.

[0089] It should be understood that steps described in various methods of the present disclosure may be carried out in order as shown, or alternately, in a different order.

Therefore, the order of the steps illustrated should not be construed as

limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, certain steps may be performed simultaneously.

[0090] In the present disclosure each embodiment is progressively described, i.e., each embodiment is described and focused on difference between embodiments. Similar and/or the same portions between various embodiments can be referred to with each other. In addition, exemplary apparatus and/or systems are described with respect to corresponding methods. [0091] The disclosed methods, apparatus, and/or systems can be implemented in a suitable computing environment. The disclosure can be described with reference to symbol(s) and step(s) performed by one or more computers, unless otherwise specified. Therefore, steps and/or implementations described herein can be described for one or more times and executed by computer(s). As used herein, the term "executed by computer(s)" includes an execution of a computer processing unit on electronic signals of data in a structured type. Such execution can convert data or maintain the data in a position in a memory system (or storage device) of the computer, which can be reconfigured to alter the execution of the computer as appreciated by those skilled in the art. The data structure maintained by the data includes a physical location in the memory, which has specific properties defined by the data format. However, the embodiments described herein are not limited. The steps and implementations described herein may be performed by hardware.

[0092] As used herein, the term "module" or "unit" can be software objects executed on a computing system. A variety of components described herein including elements, modules, units, engines, and services can be executed in the computing system. The methods, apparatus, and/or systems can be implemented in a software manner. Of course, the methods, apparatus, and/or systems can be implemented using hardware. All of which are within the scope of the present disclosure. [0093] A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand that the units/modules included herein are described according to their functional logic, but are not limited to the above descriptions as long as the units/modules can implement corresponding functions. Further, the specific name of each functional module is used to be distinguished from one another without limiting the protection scope of the present disclosure. [0094] In various embodiments, the disclosed units/modules can be configured in one apparatus (e.g., a processing unit) or configured in multiple apparatus as desired. The

units/modules disclosed herein can be integrated in one unit/module or in multiple units/modules. Each of the units/modules disclosed herein can be divided into one or more sub- units/modules, which can be recombined in any manner. In addition, the units/modules can be directly or indirectly coupled or otherwise communicated with each other, e.g., by suitable interfaces.

[0095] One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that suitable software and/or hardware (e.g., a universal hardware platform) may be included and used in the disclosed methods, apparatus, and/or systems. For example, the disclosed embodiments can be implemented by hardware only, which alternatively can be implemented by software products only. The software products can be stored in computer-readable storage medium including, e.g., ROM/RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc. The software products can include suitable commands to enable a terminal device (e.g., including a mobile phone, a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to implement the disclosed embodiments.

[0096] Note that, the term "comprising", "including" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that the process, method, article, or apparatus containing a number of elements also include not only those elements, but also other elements that are not expressly listed; or further include inherent elements of the process, method, article or apparatus. Without further restrictions, the statement "includes a " does not exclude other elements included in the process, method, article, or apparatus having those elements.

[0097] The embodiments disclosed herein are exemplary only. Other applications, advantages, alternations, modifications, or equivalents to the disclosed embodiments are obvious to those skilled in the art and are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY AND ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

[0098] Without limiting the scope of any claim and/or the specification, examples of industrial applicability and certain advantageous effects of the disclosed embodiments are listed for illustrative purposes. Various alternations, modifications, or equivalents to the technical solutions of the disclosed embodiments can be obvious to those skilled in the art and can be included in this disclosure.

[0099] Methods, apparatus, and servers for displaying information are provided. By receiving and saving user information (user-info) set with respect to different contact groupings by a user, a mapping relationship table is established between the user- info of the user and the contact grouping of the user. The user has a contact list including one or more contact groupings When an operation request for obtaining the user-info of the user sent by a contact in the contact list is detected, the user-info corresponding to the contact in the contact list and stored in the mapping relationship table is obtained and displayed.

[00100] In this manner, different user-info of a same user can be displayed to different contacts and/or different contact groupings. Human-machine (or computer) interaction can then be improved. In addition, because it may block the displaying of a portion or all of the user-info of the user to a certain contact and/or a certain contact grouping, security of the user-info of a user can be improved and private information of a user can be protected. REFERENCE SIGN LIST

Information receiving module 01

Relationship-table establishing module 02

Information obtaining module 03

Information displaying module 04

Information displaying apparatus 100

Environment 500

Communication network 502

Server 504

Client 506

Processor 602

Storage medium 604

Monitor 606

Communications 608

Database 610

Peripherals 612

Bus 614

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An information displaying method, comprising:

receiving and saving user-info (user information) set with respect to different contact groupingsby a user, wherein the user has a contact list comprising one or more contact groupings; establishing a mapping relationship table between the user-info of the user and the contact grouping of the user;

when an operation request for obtaining the user-info of the user sent by a contact in the contact list is detected, obtaining the user-infocorresponding to the contact and stored in the mapping relationship table; and

displaying the user-info of the user corresponding to the contact in the contact list of the user.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining the user-info

corresponding to the contact and stored in the mapping relationship table comprises:

searching for a contact grouping of the contact, when the operation request for obtaining the user-info of the user sent by the contact is detected; and

obtainingthe user-info mapped by the contact grouping stored in the mapping relationship table, according to the contact grouping of the contact.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving and saving theuser-info set with respect to different contact groupings by the user comprises:

receiving and saving the user-info set with respect to different contacts in the contact grouping by the user.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of obtaining the user-info corresponding to the contact and stored in the mapping relationship table comprises:

searching the mapping relationship table to determine whether the user-info set with respect to different contacts is stored in the mapping relationship table, when the operation request for obtaining the user-info of the user sent by the contact is detected;

when the user-infoset with respect todifferent contacts is stored in the mapping relationship table, obtaining the user-infoset with respect todifferent contacts; and

when the user-infoset with respect todifferent contacts is not stored in the mapping relationship table, obtaining the user-info corresponding to the contact grouping of the contact.

5. The method according to any claim of claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the step of receiving and saving the user-infoset with respect to different contact groupings by the user comprises: receiving and saving information for blocking a displaying of the user-infoset with respect to different contact groupings andset with respect to different contacts by the user.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of displaying the user-info corresponding to the contact comprises:

displayingthe user-info as a blank, when the user-infocorresponding to the contact includes the information for blocking the displaying of the user- info.

7. The method according to any claim of claims 1-4, further comprising: displaying theuser-info set by the user as public information to all the contacts in the contact list corresponding to the user in a system initialization.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user has the contact list in one or more of an instant messaging application and a social media application.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user-info of the user is set to have different contents for different contact groupings, and wherein the user-info comprises avatar, the signature information, or a combination thereof.

10. An information displaying apparatus, comprising:

an information receiving module, configured to receive and save user-infoset with respect to different contact groupings by a user, wherein the user has a contact list comprising one or more contact groupings;

a relationship-table establishing module, configured to establish a mapping relationship table between the user-infoof the user and the contact grouping of the user;

an information obtaining module configured, when an operation request for obtaining the user-info of the user sent by a contact in the contact list is detected, to obtain the user-info corresponding to the contact and stored in the mapping relationship table; and

an information displaying module, configured to display the user-info of the user corresponding to the contact in the contact list of the user.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the information obtaining module is configured to search for a contact grouping of the contact, when the operation request for obtaining the user-info of the user sent by the contact is detected; and

wherein the information obtaining module is also configured to obtain the user-info mapped by the contact grouping stored in the mapping relationship table, according to the contact grouping of the contact.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the information receiving module is configuredto receive and save the user-infoset with respect to different contacts in the contact groupings by the user.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the information obtaining module is configured to search the mapping relationship table to determine whether the user-info set with respect to different contacts is stored in the mapping relationship table, when the operation request for obtaining the user-info of the user sent by the contact is detected;

when the user-info set with respect to different contacts is stored in the mapping relationship table, to obtain the user- info set with respect to different contacts; and

when the user-info set with respect to different contacts is not stored in the mapping relationship table, to obtain the user-info corresponding to the contact grouping of the contact.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 12, wherein the information receiving module is further configured to receive and save information for blocking a displaying of theuser-infoset with respect to different contact groupings andset with respect to different contacts by the user.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the information displaying module is further configured to display the user-info as a blank, when the user-infocorresponding to the contact includes the information for blocking the displaying of the user-info.

16. The apparatus according to any claim of claims 10-13, wherein the information displaying module is further configured to display theuser-info set by the user as public information to all the contacts in the contact list corresponding to the userin a system

initialization.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the user has the contact list in one or more of an instant messaging application and a social media application.

18. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the user-info of the user is set to have different contents for different contact groupings, and wherein the user-info comprises avatar, the signature information, or a combination thereof.

19. A server, comprising:

an apparatus comprising: an information receiving module, configured to receive and save user-info set with respect to different contact groupings by a user, wherein the user has a contact list comprising one or more contact groupings;

a relationship-table establishing module, configured to establish a mapping relationship table between the user-info of the user and the contact grouping of the user;

20. The server according to claim 19, wherein the information receiving module is configured to receive and save the user-info set with respect to different contacts in the contact groupings by the user.