Enabling 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.

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 user identities for users other than the registered user, wherein the user identities are associated with the first messaging service and the user identities are stored in a list associated with the registered user;   determining if at least one of the identified user identities has a matching user identity associated with the second messaging service; and   populating a database associated with the second messaging service with the matching user identities.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second messaging service and the first messaging service comprise instant messaging services. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the user identities associated with the first messaging service are included in a contact list associated with an instant messaging service of the first messaging service. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the user identities associated with the first messaging service comprise screen names. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the database associated with the second messaging service comprises a contact list for the registered user that is associated with an instant messaging service of the second messaging service. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising populating a contact list, associated with the second messaging service, for at least one of the other users with a user identifier for the registered user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining if each identified user identity has a matching user identity associated with the second messaging service comprises identifying if a unique portion of each identified user identity is identical to a unique portion of a user identity associated with the second messaging service. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining if each identified user identity has a matching user identity associated with the second messaging service comprises identifying if a unique portion of each identified user identity has at least a required amount of common features with a unique portion of a user identity associated with the second messaging service. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 determining a degree of uniqueness of an identified user identity; and 
 adjusting the required amount of common features between the unique portion of the identified user identity and the unique portion of a matching user identity associated with the second messaging service based on the determined degree of uniqueness of the identified user identity. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising obtaining approval to populate a database associated with the second messaging service with each matching user identity, wherein the approval is obtained from at least one of the registered user and the other user associated with the matching user identity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising obtaining approval to populate the database with each matching user identity, wherein the approval is obtained from at least one of the registered user and the other user associated with the matching user identity. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein obtaining approval to populate the database with each matching user identity comprises requesting confirmation from the other user associated with the matching user identity that the respective identified user identity is associated with the other user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining if at least one of the identified user identities has a matching user identity associated with the second messaging service comprises determining if each identified user identity has a matching user identity associated with the second messaging service. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining if at least one of the identified user identities has a matching user identity associated with the second messaging service comprises determining if profile data associated with each of the identified user identities matches profile data associated with a potential matching user identity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the matching user identities and the identified user identities comprise electronic mail addresses. 
     
     
         16 . An article comprising a machine-readable medium storing instructions for causing one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 registering a user of a first messaging service with a second messaging service;   identifying user identities for users other than the registered user, wherein the user identities are associated with the first messaging service and the user identities are stored in a list associated with the registered user;   determining if at least one of the identified user identities has a matching user identity associated with the second messaging service; and   populating a database associated with the second messaging service with the matching user identities.   
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 16  wherein the second messaging service and the first messaging service comprise instant messaging services. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 17  wherein the user identities associated with the first messaging service are included in a contact list associated with the first messaging service. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the user identities associated with the first messaging service comprise screen names. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the machine-readable medium stores instructions for causing one or more processors to perform further operations comprising populating a contact list, associated with the second messaging service, for at least one of the other users with a user identifier for the registered user.