SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS IN COMMUNICATION SESSIONS USING A GRAPHICAL METAPHOR
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for linking participants in a communication session. The method includes presenting a set of connected graphical elements on a graphical user interface (GUI) representing a structure of the communication session and a trusted relationship between a first participant and a second participant in the communication session, establishing a bidirectional link between the first participant and the second participant, wherein the communication device exchanges trusted information between the first participant and the second participant, and displaying a depiction of the bidirectional link to at least one participant in the communication session. The method optionally includes negotiating a calendar event with the second participant via the bidirectional link based on the trusted information. Graphical elements associated with the first and second participants can depict one or more of presence, context, and persona information.
1 . A computer-implemented method of linking participants in a communication session, the method causing a communications device to perform steps comprising:
presenting a set of connected graphical elements on a graphical user interface (GUI) representing a structure of the communication session and a trusted relationship between a first participant and any second participant in the communication session;
establishing a bidirectional link between the first participant and the second participant, wherein the communication device exchanges trusted information between the first participant and the second participant; and
displaying a depiction of the bidirectional link to at least one participant in the communication session.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein graphical elements associated with the first participant and the second participant depict one or more of presence, context, and persona information.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the graphical elements depicting one or more of presence, context, and persona information comprise a dashboard of trusted options between the first participant and the second participant.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the trusted information includes calendar events.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , the method further causing the communications device to negotiate a calendar event with the second participant via the bidirectional link based on the trusted information.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the bidirectional link is selected from one of a hierarchy of types, each type indicating a different level of trust and access.
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the bidirectional link appearance signifies the selected one of the hierarchy of types.
8 . A system for linking participants in a communication session, the system comprising:
a processor;
a first module controlling the processor to present a set of connected graphical elements on a graphical user interface (GUI) representing a structure of the communication session and a trusted relationship between a first participant and any second participant in the communication session;
a second module controlling the processor to establish a bidirectional link between the first participant and the second participant, wherein the communication device exchanges trusted information between the first participant and the second participant; and
a third module controlling the processor to display a depiction of the bidirectional link to at least one participant in the communication session.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein graphical elements associated with the first participant and the second participant depict one or more of presence, context, and persona information.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the graphical elements depicting one or more of presence, context, and persona information comprise a dashboard of trusted options between the first participant and the second participant.
11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the trusted information includes calendar events.
12 . The system of claim 11 , the system further comprising a third module controlling the processor to negotiate a calendar event with the second participant via the bidirectional link based on the trusted information.
13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the bidirectional link is selected from one of a hierarchy of types, each type indicating a different level of trust and access.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the bidirectional link appearance signifies the selected one of the hierarchy of types.
15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to link participants in a communication session, the instructions comprising:
presenting a set of connected graphical elements on a graphical user interface (GUI) representing a structure of the communication session and a trusted relationship between a first participant and a second participant in the communication session;
establishing a bidirectional link between the first participant and the second participant, wherein the communication device exchanges trusted information between the first participant and the second participant; and
displaying a depiction of the bidirectional link to at least one participant in the communication session.
16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein graphical elements associated with the first participant and the second participant depict one or more of presence, context, and persona information.
17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the graphical elements depicting one or more of presence, context, and persona information comprise a dashboard of trusted options between the first participant and the second participant.
18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the trusted information includes calendar events.
19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , the instructions further comprising negotiating a calendar event with the second participant via the bidirectional link based on the trusted information.
20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the bidirectional link is selected from one of a hierarchy of types, each type indicating a different level of trust and access, and wherein the bidirectional link appearance signifies the selected one of the hierarchy of types.