System and method for managing contacts in an instant messaging environment

• US 20040017396A1
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerulean Studios LLC
• Original Assignee: Cerulean Studios LLC
• Inventors: Werndorfer, Scott M., Kurtz, Kevin W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,275,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is described for instant messaging comprising: categorizing two or more instant messaging contact names into a single meta contact; receiving a request to transmit an instant message directed to the meta contact; selecting one of the two or more instant messaging contact names within the meta contact to which to transmit the instant message based on a specified prioritization scheme.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

categorizing two or more instant messaging contact names into a single meta contact;

receiving a request to transmit an instant message directed to said meta contact; and

selecting one of the two or more instant messaging contact names within said meta contact to which to transmit said instant message based on a specified prioritization scheme.

2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

opening an instant messaging session with said one selected instant messaging contact name.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein categorizes comprises concurrently highlighting said two or more instant messaging contact names and generating a command to create said meta contact.

4. The method as in claim 3 wherein said command to generate said meta contact is generated by right-clicking a mouse to generate a menu and selecting a “

create meta-contact”

option from said menu.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein said prioritization scheme is based on an order in which said instant messaging contact names appear within a meta contact list.

6. The method as in claim 5 wherein said order is graphically displayed beneath said meta contact within an instant messaging contact list.

7. The method as in claim 5 wherein said prioritization scheme further comprises:

selecting a first contact name which appears relatively lower in said order than a second contact name if said first contact name is registered on its respective instant messaging service as “

online”

whereas said second contact name is registered on its respective instant messaging service as “

offline.”

8. The method as in claim 5 wherein said prioritization scheme further comprises:

selecting a first contact name which appears relatively lower in said order than a second contact name if said first contact name is registered on its respective instant messaging service as “

idle”

whereas said second contact name is registered on its respective instant messaging service as “

offline.”

9. The method as in claim 1 wherein said two or more instant messaging contact names are associated with different instant messaging services.

10. An instant messaging graphical user interface comprising:

a contact list including at least one meta contact entry, said meta contact entry representing two or more different contact names for the same individual, said meta contact entry selectable via a mouse pointer or other cursor control device,

wherein upon selecting said meta contact, an instant messaging session is initiated with one of said two or more different contact names based on a specified prioritization scheme.

11. The GUI as in claim 10 wherein said prioritization scheme comprises an order in which said contact names appear beneath said meta contact entry.

12. The GUI as in claim 10 wherein said two or more contact names appear as said mouse pointer or other cursor control device is passed over said meta contact entry.

13. The GUI as in claim 10 wherein, as said mouse pointer is passed over each of said two or more contact names, information related to each of said contact names appears in a pop-up window.

14. The GUI as in claim 10 wherein each of said contact names registered as being online on their respective instant messaging services are highlighted to indicate an online status.

15. The GUI as in claim 10 generating said meta contact entry comprises:

concurrently highlighting said two or more instant messaging contact names within said contact list and generating a command to create said meta contact.

16. The GUI as in claim 15 wherein said command to generate said meta contact is generated by right-clicking a mouse to generate a menu and selecting a “

create meta-contact”

option from said menu.

17. A method comprising:

executing a supplemental program from within an instant messaging client, said supplemental program having a specified function and maintaining information related to its function;

programming said instant messaging client with a character string representing said information;

identifying said character string within a text entry field of an instant messaging window; and

substituting said character string with said information prior to transmitting said instant message to a destination client.

18. The method as in claim 17 wherein said supplemental program is an audio player and wherein said information comprises titles of audio tracks.

19. The method as in claim 17 wherein said supplemental program is a plugin for retrieving news headlines from a Web server and wherein said information comprises one or more of said news headlines.

20. The method as in claim 17 wherein said supplemental program is a plugin for retrieving stock quotes from a Web server and wherein said information comprises one or more of said stock quotes.