Enabling mapping identification of online identities between different messaging services

Abstract

A method and system for populating identities in a message service involves registering a user of a first messaging service with a second messaging service. User identities for users other than the registered user may be identified. These user identities may be associated with the first messaging service and may be stored in a list associated with the registered user. It is determined if each identified user identity has a matching user identity associated with the second messaging service. If so, a database associated with the second messaging service is populated with the matching user identities. Determining whether a matching user identity exists may be performed, for example, by making character strings comparisons between user identities or using a database that stores a mapping of first messaging service user identities to second messaging service user identities. The mapping database may be generated as corresponding user identities are discovered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for populating identities in a message service, the method comprising:
 registering a user of a first messaging service with a second messaging service;   identifying a first messaging service list, associated with the registered user, of user identities for other users of the first messaging service;   accessing a database containing a mapping of user identities associated with the first messaging service to user identities associated with the second messaging service;   comparing user identities within the first messaging service list to entries within the database; and   identifying user identities associated with the second messaging service that correspond to entries in the first messaging service list based on matches between the first messaging service list and the database.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising notifying the registered user of the identified user identities. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising populating a second messaging service list associated with the registered user with at least one of the identified user identities. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the second messaging service comprises an instant messaging service and the second messaging service list comprises a contact list associated with the instant messaging service for the registered user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein populating the second messaging service list is performed in response to receiving an authorization from the registered user to populate the second messaging service list with the at least one of the identified user identities. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first messaging service comprises an electronic mail service. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the first messaging service list comprises an address book associated with the electronic mail service. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first messaging service comprises an instant messaging service and the first messaging service list comprises a contact list associated with the instant messaging service for the registered user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising populating a second messaging service list, associated with a different user having an identified user identity, with a user identity for the registered user based on a match between the first messaging service list and the database. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein populating the second messaging service list is performed in response to receiving an authorization from the different user to populate the second messaging service list with the user identity for the registered user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first messaging service and the second messaging service comprise first and second instant messaging services, the first messaging service list comprises a contact list associated with the first instant messaging service, and the user identities comprise screen names for the first and second instant messaging services. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving an indication from the registered user of an identifier associated with the registered user for the first messaging service; and 
 adding an entry in the database mapping the identifier for the first messaging service to a user identity associated with the registered user for the second messaging service. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving an indication from the registered user of the first messaging service; and 
 accessing the first messaging service list based on the received indication. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein receiving the indication of the first messaging service further comprises receiving a password associated with the registered user for the first messaging service, wherein accessing the first messaging service list is further based on the received password. 
     
     
         15 . A method for managing identities in a message service, the method comprising:
 registering a user of a first messaging service with a second messaging service;   requesting an identification of a first user identifier for the registered user, wherein the first user identifier is associated with the first messaging service;   receiving the identification of the first user identifier; and   storing a mapping between the first user identifier and a second user identifier for the registered user, wherein the second user identifier is associated with the second messaging service.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 requesting a password associated with the first user identifier for the first messaging service; and 
 receiving the password associated with the first user identifier. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 using the first user identifier and the password to access the first messaging service; and 
 extracting data associated with the first user identifier from the first messaging service to the second messaging service. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first messaging service comprises an instant messaging service and the extracted data comprises a contact list associated with the instant messaging service. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 identifying user identities associated with the second messaging service that correspond to user identities in the contact list; and 
 populating a list associated with the registered user in the second messaging service with the corresponding second messaging service user identities. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein identifying user identities associated with the second messaging service comprises comparing the user identities in the contact list with stored mappings between user identities associated with the first messaging service and user identities associated with the second messaging service for additional users that have previously registered with the second messaging service.