Multi-modal participant lists
An instant messaging user may use a buddy list that includes a user-selected list of potential instant messaging recipients (“buddies”) to identify another instant messaging user with whom instant messages are to be exchanged. An instant messaging user also may use a buddy list for other purposes, such as to initiate playing of an on-line game or to invite participants to play an on-line game. Techniques are provided to transform a buddy list from one messaging-mode to another messaging-mode. The transformation may include, for example, substitution or re-ordering of groups of buddies, substitution of buddy icons associated with buddies, substitution of information displayed about buddies, and substitution of controls for directing operation of the buddy list.
1. A computer-implemented method for switching a participant list of potential message recipients from a first messaging mode to a second messaging mode, the method comprising:
displaying a participant list in a first messaging mode to a user, the participant list including communication participants selected by the user from participants with whom the user exchanges one or more messages in the first messaging mode and categories of communication participants;
receiving, from the user, an indication to switch to a participant list in a second messaging mode, the participant list in the second messaging mode including communication participants selected by the user from participants with whom the user exchanges one or more messages in the second messaging mode;
transforming the participant list from the first messaging mode to the second messaging mode in response to the received indication, such that the participant list displayed in the second messaging mode only includes categories of communication participants that are not included in the participant list displayed in the first messaging mode, and one or more participant identifiers associated with the categories in the participant list displayed in the second messaging mode is a participant that is not associated with one of the categories in the participant list displayed in the first messaging mode, and different information about participants is provided in the second messaging mode;
activating, in response to the transformation, a control related to the second messaging mode that enables the user to initiate communication associated with participants of the participant list in the second messaging mode; and
displaying the participant list in the second messaging mode to the user.
2. A computer-implemented method for switching a participant list of potential message recipients from a first messaging mode to a second messaging mode, the method comprising:
displaying a participant list in a first messaging mode to a user, the participant list including communication participants selected by the user from participants with whom the user exchanges one or more messages in the first messaging mode and categories of communication participants;
receiving, from the user, an indication to switch to a participant list in a second messaging mode, the participant list in the second messaging mode including communication participants selected by the user from participants with whom the user exchanges one or more messages in the second messaging mode;
transforming the participant list from the first messaging mode to the second messaging mode in response to the received indication, such that the participant list displayed in the second messaging mode includes at least one category of communication participant that is not included in the participant list displayed in the first messaging mode;
activating, in response to the transformation, a control related to the second messaging mode that enables the user to initiate communication associated with participants of the participant list in the second messaging mode; and
displaying the participant list in the second messaging mode to the user.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the participant list in the first messaging mode is configured for communicating via instant messaging.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the participant list in the second messaging mode is configured for communicating via a communication system other than instant messaging.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the participant list in the second messaging mode is configured for communicating via e-mail communication.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the participant list in the second messaging mode is disjoint from the participant list in the first messaging mode.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the participant list in the second messaging mode is a subset of the participant list in the first messaging mode.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the participant list in the first messaging mode is a subset of the participant list in the second messaging mode.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the participant list in the first messaging mode is configured for communicating with text messaging.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein different information about participants is provided in the second messaging mode.
11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the participant list in the second messaging mode are gaming participants.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for switching a participant list of potential message recipients from a first messaging mode to a second messaging mode, the computer program comprising instructions for:
displaying a participant list in a first messaging mode to a user, the participant list including communication participants selected by the user from participants with whom the user exchanges one or more messages in the first messaging mode and categories of communication participants;
receiving, from the user, an indication to switch to a participant list in a second messaging mode, the participant list in the second messaging mode including communication participants selected by the user from participants with whom the user exchanges one or more messages in the second messaging mode;
transforming the participant list from the first messaging mode to the second messaging mode in response to the received indication, such that the participant list displayed in the second messaging mode includes at least one category of communication participant that is not included in the participant list displayed in the first messaging mode;
activating, in response to the transformation, a control related to the second messaging mode that enables the user to initiate communication associated with participants of the participant list in the second messaging mode; and
displaying the participant list in the second messaging mode to the user.
13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the participant list in the first messaging mode is configured for communicating via instant messaging.
14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the participant list in the second messaging mode is configured for communicating with a communication system other than instant messaging.
15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the participant list in the second messaging mode is configured for communicating via e-mail communication.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the participant list in the second messaging mode is disjoint from the participant list in the first messaging mode.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the participant list in the second messaging mode is a subset of the participant list in the first messaging mode.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the participant list in the first messaging mode is a subset of the participant list in the second messaging mode.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the participant list in the first messaging mode is configured for communicating with text messaging.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein different information about participants is provided in the second messaging mode.