Automatic contact list aliasing in a collaboration system

Abstract

In one embodiment, an addition of an identifier to a contact list can be detected. The identifier can identify an entity in a first collaboration system. Data can be searched to find a different identifier that identifies the entity in at least a second collaboration system. The different identifier can be added to the contact list.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A system for managing a contact list in a collaboration system, the system comprising:
 an addition detector comprising a set of instructions that are stored on a storage medium that are able to be executed by a processor, wherein said addition detector is configured to detect the addition of an identifier to a contact list, wherein the identifier identifies an entity in a first collaboration system;   an alias searcher comprising a set of instructions that are stored on a storage medium that are able to be executed by a processor, wherein said, alias searcher is configured to search data to find a different identifier that identifies the entity in at least a second collaboration system; and   a contact list manager comprising a set of instructions that are stored on a storage medium that are able to be executed by a processor, wherein said contact list manager is configured to add to the contact list the different identifier, wherein the different identifier is not present in the contact list before being added to the contact list by the contact list manager.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the alias searcher is configured to
 search at least one computer-based document containing the identifier that identifies the entity in the first collaboration system, and   find within the computer-based document the different identifier that identifies the entity in the second collaboration system.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the alias searcher is configured to search responsive to the addition of the identifier. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the alias searcher is configured to
 present, via a computer-controlled output device, the different identifier that identifies the entity in the second collaboration system, and   receiving, responsive to presenting the different identifier, user input that indicates the different identifier is to be added to the contact list, wherein the adding of the different identifier occurs responsive to and contingent upon receiving the user input.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the alias searcher is configured to search an index of user identifiers that includes a group of user identifiers, wherein the group of user identifiers includes a plurality of identifiers identifying the entity, wherein said plurality of identifiers comprises said identifier of the first collaboration system and said different identifier. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the addition detector is configured to detect the presence of the identifier within the contact list after it has been added to the contact list. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the addition detector is configured to detect an action related to adding the identifier to the contact list before the identifier is inserted into the contact list. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer-readable storage medium; and   computer-readable program code embodied in the computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable program code comprises a set of instructions able to be executed by a processor, wherein said computer-readable program code is configured to:   detect the addition of an identifier to a contact list, wherein the identifier identifies an entity in a first collaboration system,   search data to find a different identifier that identifies the entity in at least a second collaboration system, and   add to the contact list the different identifier that identifies the entity in the second collaboration system.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein the computer-readable program code is configured to
 search at least one computer-based document containing the identifier that identifies the entity in the first collaboration system, and   find within the computer-based document the different identifier that identifies the entity in the second collaboration system.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein said second collaboration system is external of the first collaboration system, and wherein said first collaboration system and said second collaboration system are remotely located from each other and are connected to each other via a network, wherein said identifier and said different identifier are both email addresses of the entity, wherein the searching occurs responsive to detecting the addition of the identifier, and wherein the adding occurs responsive to finding the different identifier. 
     
     
         20 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising:
 computer usable program code stored in a tangible storage medium, if said computer usable program code is executed by a processor it is operable to establish a contact list in a first collaboration system, said contact list comprising at least one record for an entity;   computer usable program code stored in a tangible storage medium, if said computer usable program code is executed by a processor it is operable to search a second collaboration system remotely located from said first collaboration system for one or more identifiers of the entity;   computer usable program code stored in a tangible storage medium, if said computer usable program code is executed by a processor it is operable to present via a user interface the one or more identifiers of the entity resulting from the searching, wherein the presenting step occurs automatically without a user of the user interface manually inputting the one or more identifiers of the entity;   
       computer usable program code stored in a tangible storage medium, if said computer usable program code is executed by a processor it is operable to provide within the user interface a user selectable option to add the one or more identifiers to the contact list; and
 computer usable program code stored in a tangible storage medium, if said computer usable program code is executed by a processor it is operable to, responsive to a user selection of the user selectable option, add at least one of the one or more identifiers to the record of the contact list, wherein in absence of the user selection of the user selectable option, the one or more identifiers are not added to the record of the contact list.