System and method for managing an instant messaging contact list

• US 20070168443A1
• 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:
  US11/334,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20070168443A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method and system of managing an instant messaging contact list. A contact list is provided for each member of a user group. A status update is received relating to a target member. A determination is made whether the target member is contained on at least one user group member'"'"'s instant messaging contact list based on the status update. The target member is removed from the instant messaging contact list of the at least one user group member based on the determination.

Claims

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

providing a contact list for each member of a user group;

receiving a status update relating to a target member;

determining whether the target member is contained on at least one user group member instant messaging contact list based on the status update; and

removing the target member from the instant messaging contact list of the at least one user group member based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one group member belongs to a publish-subscribe group.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the determination is made at a location selected from the group consisting of the server and a client computer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein removing the at least group member is performed automatically.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein removing the group member is performed in response to a user prompt.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein removing the group member comprises deleting the group member from the instant message contact list.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein removing the at least one group member comprises archiving instant messaging contact information for the group member.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending the status update from a server to a client computer.

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

computer readable program code for providing a contact list for each member of a user group;

computer readable program code for receiving a status update relating to a target member;

computer readable program code for determining whether the target member is contained on at least one user group member instant messaging contact list based on the status update; and

computer readable program code for removing the target member from the instant messaging contact list of the at least one user group member based on the determination.

10. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein at least one group member belongs to a publish-subscribe group.

11. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein the determination is made at a location selected from the group consisting of the server and a client computer.

12. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein removing the at least group member is performed automatically.

13. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein removing the group member is performed in response to a user prompt.

14. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein removing the group member comprises deleting the group member from the instant message contact list.

15. The computer usable medium of claim 9 wherein removing the at least one group member comprises archiving instant messaging contact information for the group member.

16. The computer usable medium of claim 9 further comprising computer readable program code for sending the status update from a server to a client computer.

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

means for providing a contact list for each member of a user group;

means for receiving a status update relating to a target member;

means for determining whether the target member is contained on at least one user group member instant messaging contact list based on the status update; and

means for removing the target member from the instant messaging contact list of the at least one user group member based on the determination.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising means for sending the status update from a server to a client computer.