Instant messaging real-time buddy list lookup

• US 20070016878A1
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kalyanaraman, Raghu, Forlenza, Randolph, Kaemmerer, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/816
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• 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

The invention disclosed is a computer program for displaying one or more entries from a buddy list. The computer program receives a partial input in a text entry field and displays a result set in a result field, wherein the result set comprises entries from the buddy list having data that matches the partial input.

Claims

1. A computer-readable memory having a computer program for performing a method of displaying one or more entries from a buddy list, the method comprising:

receiving a partial input in a text entry field; and

displaying a result set in a result field, the result set comprising entries from the buddy list having data that matches the partial input.

2. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the partial input is a first partial input and the method further comprises:

receiving a second partial input in the text entry field; and

refreshing the result set so that only entries from the buddy list having data that matches the first partial input combined with the second partial input are displayed in the result field.

3. The computer-readable memory of claim 2 wherein the first partial input is a first character and the second partial input is a second character.

4. The computer-readable memory of claim 2 wherein the first partial input is a first string of characters and the second partial input is a second string of characters.

5. A computer comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a display device;

a buddy list in the memory; and

a computer program in the memory, the computer program comprising instructions for causing the processor to

display a user interface having a text entry field and a result field,

receive a partial input in the text entry field, and

display a result set in the result field, the result set comprising entries from the buddy list having data that matches the partial input.

6. The computer of claim 5 wherein the partial input is a first partial input, and the computer program further comprises instructions for causing the processor to:

receive a second partial input in the text entry field; and

refresh the result set so that only entries from the buddy list having data that matches the first partial input combined with the second partial input are displayed in the result field.

7. The computer of claim 6, wherein the first partial input is a first character and the second partial input is a second character.

8. The computer of claim 6, wherein the first partial input is a first character string and the second partial input is a second character string.

9. In a computer having a graphical user interface, including a display and a selection device, a method of providing a list of entries from a buddy list, the method comprising:

displaying a text entry field;

displaying a result field;

receiving a partial input signal indicating the entry of one or more characters in the text entry field; and

in response to the partial input signal, performing a search of the buddy list for partial matches to the characters represented by the partial input signal and displaying the partial matches in the result field.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the partial input signal is a first partial input signal and the method further comprises:

receiving a second partial input signal indicating the entry of at least one additional character in the text entry field; and

in response to receiving the second partial input signal, combining the characters represented by the first partial input signal with the characters represented by the second partial input signal, performing a search of the buddy list for partial matches to the combined characters, and displaying the partial matches in the result field.