Recursive identification of individuals for casual collaborative conferencing

Abstract

A method for real-time communication among two or more individuals separated in space. The method includes the steps of determining that a first individual is likely to be interested in communicating with a second individual via a first communications link; retrieving information via the first communications link about one or more additional individuals from electronic memory means associated with the second individual; and establishing communication with at least one of the additional individuals based on the retrieved information.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . At least one non-transitory, processor-readable medium carrying instructions for execution by at least one processor to enable communications between users in a network, the instructions comprising:
 instructions executable by the at least one processor to monitor communication between a first user and at least one other user;   instructions executable by the at least one processor to record information relating to the communication between the first user and the at least one other user in a directory associated with the first user; and   instructions executable by the at least one processor to send to a second user, via a communications link connected to the directory associated with the first user, information relating to the communication between the first user and the at least one other user.   
     
     
         47 . The at least one medium of  claim 46 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions executable by the at least one processor to send to the second user, via a communications link connected to the directory associated with the first user, information related to the at least one other user. 
     
     
         48 . The at least one medium of  claim 47 , wherein the information related to the at least one other user comprises at least one of:
 an email address;   a name;   a login name; and   a picture.   
     
     
         49 . The at least one medium of  claim 46 , wherein the information relating to the communication comprises a frequency of communication. 
     
     
         50 . The at least one medium of  claim 46 , wherein the information relating to the communication comprises a form of communication. 
     
     
         51 . The at least one medium of  claim 46 , wherein the information relating to the communication comprises a subject of the communication. 
     
     
         52 . The at least one medium of  claim 46 , wherein the information relating to the communication comprises a topic of the communication. 
     
     
         53 . The at least one medium of  claim 46 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions executable by the at least one processor to receive permissions information from a user, the permissions information defining information relating to communication which can be accessed by others via the network. 
     
     
         54 . The at least one medium of  claim 53 , wherein the permissions information defines information relating to communication which can be accessed by the public. 
     
     
         55 . The at least one medium of  claim 53 , wherein the permissions information defines information relating to communication which can be accessed by specific persons designated by the first user. 
     
     
         56 . The at least one medium of  claim 53 , wherein the permissions information defines information relating to communication which can be accessed by by members of a specific group designated by the first user. 
     
     
         57 . The at least one medium of  claim 47 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions executable by the at least one processor to receive permissions information from a user, the permissions information defining information related to the at least one user which can be accessed by others via the network. 
     
     
         58 . The at least one medium of  claim 57 , wherein the permissions information defines information related to the at least one user which can be accessed by the public. 
     
     
         59 . The at least one medium of  claim 57 , wherein the permissions information defines the information related to the at least one user which can be accessed by specific persons designated by the first user. 
     
     
         60 . The at least one medium of  claim 57 , wherein the permissions information defines information related to the at least one user which can be accessed by members of a specific group designated by the first user. 
     
     
         61 . The at least one medium of  claim 46 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions executable by the at least one processor to enable the second user to communicate with the at least one other user. 
     
     
         62 . The at least one medium of  claim 61 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions executable by the at least one processor to receive permissions information from a user, the permissions information defining available forms of communication in which the second user can communicate with the at least one other user. 
     
     
         63 . The at least one medium of  claim 62 , wherein the available forms of communication comprise at least one of:
 voice;   interactive text;   internet chat;   email; and   video.   
     
     
         64 . The at least one medium of  claim 46 , configured for use in a conferencing application which monitors the communication between the first user and the at least one other user and records the information relating to the communication between the first user and the at least one other user in the directory associated with the first user. 
     
     
         65 . The at least one medium of  claim 64 , wherein the conferencing application creates the directory associated with the first user.