System and method for managing an instant messaging contact list

• US 20070168433A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Morgan, Fabian
• Application Number:
  US11/334,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20070168433A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A method and system for managing an instant messaging contact list. The method includes determining if at least one group member of the instant messaging contact list is active. A timestamp is assigned to the group member based on a determination of activity. It is determined whether the group member is inactive for a predetermined period of time. The instant messaging contact list is updated based on the determination of the inactivity.

Claims

1. A method of managing an instant messaging contact list, the method comprising:

determining if at least one group member of the instant messaging contact list is active;

assigning a timestamp to the group member based on the determination of activity;

determining whether the group member is inactive for a predetermined period of time; and

updating the instant messaging contact list based on the timestamp and the determination of the inactivity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the timestamp is assigned when the group member instant messages another group member.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the timestamp is assigned when the group member initiates an active online connection.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the instant messaging contact list comprises instant messaging contact information of the group member.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein updating the instant messaging contact list is performed automatically.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein updating the instant messaging contact list comprises sending a prompt to the group member.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein updating the instant messaging contact list comprises archiving IM contact information for the group member.

7. The method of claim I wherein updating the instant messaging contact list comprises deleting the group member from the instant messaging contact list.

9. A computer usable medium including a program for managing an instant messaging contact list, the medium comprising:

computer readable program code for determining if at least one group member of the instant messaging contact list is active;

computer readable program code for assigning a timestamp to the group member based on the determination of activity;

computer readable program code for determining whether the group member is inactive for a predetermined period of time; and

computer readable program code for updating the instant messaging contact list based on the timestamp and the determination of the inactivity.

10. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein the timestamp is assigned when the group member instant messages another group member.

11. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein the timestamp is assigned when the group member initiates an active online connection.

12. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein the instant messaging contact list comprises contact information of the group member.

13. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein updating the instant messaging contact list is performed automatically.

14. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein updating the instant messaging contact list is performed based on a user prompt.

15. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein updating the instant messaging contact list comprises sending a prompt to the group member.

16. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein updating the instant messaging contact list comprises deleting the group member from the instant messaging contact list.

17. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein updating the instant messaging contact list comprises archiving IM contact information for the group member.

18. A system of managing an instant messaging contact list, the system comprising:

means for determining if at least one group member of the instant messaging contact list is active;

means for assigning a timestamp to the group member based on the determination of activity;

means for determining whether the group member is inactive for a predetermined period of time; and

means for updating the instant messaging contact list based on the timestamp and the determination of the inactivity.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for storing the timestamp.