Method and system for providing contact management to chat session participants

• US 8,056,011 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fitzpatrick, Gregory P., Wu, Frederick Yung-Fung
• Primary Examiner(s): ZAHR, ASHRAF A
• Application Number:
  US11/761,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20070234216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 715/758
• US Class Current: 715/758
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A method and system for providing contact management to participants engaged in a communication session permits chat session participants to a communication session to determine common contacts that exist between the chat session participants. Dependent on the accessibility of the particular chat session participants'"'"' contact list, other chat session participants to the communication session can view the information located in the contact list. Moreover, a particular chat session participant to the communication session can give either a particular chat session participant or all the chat session participants to the communication session permission to modify their contact list. Permission to access or modify contact lists for chat session participants can be defined prior to establishment of the communication session and/or changed during the communication session.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising a display to present a GUI for providing contact management for chat session participants engaged in a chat session, the GUI comprising:

a chat display window for displaying communication for said chat session participants engaged in said chat session; and

at least one contact window, each displaying a contact list for a chat session participant engaged in said chat session, wherein said at least one contact window is located. in a first location within said chat display window or in a second location external to said chat display window, and wherein said at least one contact window is movable between said first location and said second location; and

a modifiable status icon associated with said contact list which indicates whether said contact list for the chat session participant is accessible by other chat session participants and, if said contact list is accessible, whether said contact list is modifiable by the other chat session participants.

2. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the modifiable status icon is located next to a corresponding communication text in said chat display window.