Dynamic identification of other users to an online user

Abstract

Informing a user of a large scale network dynamically of other network users includes determining dynamically an online context of the user. Other users presently within the online context of the user are identified and trait information is stored that is related essentially only to the user or to the other users in a users store associated with the online context. The user is informed dynamically of the other users based on the stored trait information, such as, for example, an age or other demographic identifier, or information indicative of an expertise, interest, preference, user type and/or other quality of the user or of the other individual.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of informing dynamically a user of a large scale network of other network users, the method comprising:
 determining dynamically an online context of the user;   identifying other users presently within the online context of the user;   storing trait information related essentially only to the user or to the other users in a users store related to the online context; and   informing the user dynamically of the other users based on the stored trait information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining an online context of the user comprises determining an Internet domain currently accessed by the user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining an online context of the user comprises determining a newsgroup currently accessed by the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining an online context of the user comprises determining a message board currently accessed by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining an online context of the user comprises determining a URL currently accessed by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining an online context of the user comprises determining an online context on which the user presently is focused. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying other users presently within the online context of the user comprises dynamically identifying users who enter the online context and users who leave the online context. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the trait information comprises information related an age of the user or of another user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the trait information comprises information related to a demographic identifier of the user or of another user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the trait information comprises information related to an expertise rating of the user or of another user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the trait information comprises information related to an interest of the user or of another user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the trait information comprises information related to a participation status of the user or of another user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the information related to the participation status comprises a visibility preference of the user or of the other user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the information related to the participation status comprises information defining the participation status of the user or of the other user based on multiple online contexts. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the trait information comprises trait information of an individual selected as an associate by the user or by another user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the trait information comprises information related to an online status of the user or of another user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the online status comprises a status of active, idle, away, and/or mobile. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising storing other information related essentially only to the user or to the other users in the users store related to the online context; and informing the user dynamically of the other users based on the stored other information. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the other information comprises information indicative of an identification of the user or of another user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the information indicative of an identification comprises an online identifier associated with the user or with the other user.