Method and apparatus for dynamically creating historical groups in a messaging client

• US 20060085752A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paul, Christopher Joseph, Eagle, Brian Lee White, Kessen, Bethany Lyn, Beadle, Gary St. Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/965,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085752A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing user lists. A group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client on the communications device is identified. The identified group of instant messaging addresses is displayed visibly within a display in the communications device.

Claims

1. A method in a communications device for managing user lists, the method comprising:

identifying a group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client on the communications device; and

displaying the group of instant messaging addresses visibly within a display in the communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications device is selected from one of a desktop computer, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

tracking a number of messages sent between the user and an instant messaging address.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identifying step includes:

selecting the group of instant messaging addresses based on instant messaging addresses having a highest number of messages.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a history group in the instant messaging client.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a top level within a plurality of groups in the instant messaging client.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses dynamically changes as a frequency of use changes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step occurs each time the instant messaging client is started.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client is determined using a selected algorithm.

10. A data processing system in a communications device for managing user lists, the data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to identify a group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client on the communications device; and

display the group of instant messaging addresses visibly within a display in the communications device.

11. A data processing system in a communications device for managing user lists, the data processing system comprising:

identifying means for identifying a group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client on the communications device; and

displaying means for displaying the group of instant messaging addresses visibly within a display in the communications device.

12. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the communications device is selected from one of a desktop computer, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant.

13. The data processing system of claim 11 further comprising:

tracking means for tracking a number of messages sent between the user and an instant messaging address.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the identifying means includes:

selecting means for selecting the group of instant messaging addresses based on instant messaging addresses having a highest number of messages.

15. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a history group in the instant messaging client.

16. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a top level within a plurality of groups in the instant messaging client.

17. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses dynamically changes as a frequency of use changes.

18. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the identifying means occurs each time the instant messaging client is started.

19. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client is determined using a selected algorithm.

20. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for managing user lists, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for identifying a group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client on the communications device; and

second instructions for displaying the group of instant messaging addresses visibly within a display in the communications device.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the communications device is selected from one of a desktop computer, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant.

22. The computer program product of claim 20 further comprising:

third instructions for tracking a number of messages sent between the user and an instant messaging address.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the first instruction includes:

sub instructions for selecting the group of instant messaging addresses based on instant messaging addresses having a highest number of messages.

24. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a history group in the instant messaging client.

25. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a top level within a plurality of groups in the instant messaging client.

26. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses dynamically changes as a frequency of use changes.

27. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the identifying step occurs each time the instant messaging client is started.

28. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client is determined using a selected algorithm.