System and method for integrating an address book with an instant messaging application in a mobile station

• US 8,612,525 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2010
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hardy, Michael Thomas, Dunk, Craig A., Klassen, Gerhard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quang N
• Application Number:
  US12/813,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20100251138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 715/752, 709/206, 707/1
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

This relates to a method for operating a mobile station. The method includes grouping two or more member addresses into a group. The group is presented as a group data in a transient data list. A selection of an option to open a messaging session with the group is selected. A messaging session is opened, with the member addresses of the selected group.

Claims

1. A method for operating a mobile station comprising:

storing instant messaging data in an instant messaging database in the mobile station and address book data in an address book database in the mobile station, the instant messaging data including a listing of instant messaging contacts and corresponding instant messaging presence information, the address book data including address book contacts and, for each address book contact, at least one of a mailing address, a phone number, and an email address;

relating instant messaging data from the instant messaging database to address book data from the address book database;

grouping two or more address book contacts into a group, the address book contacts associated with corresponding instant messaging contacts;

presenting the group as a group data in a transient data list;

detecting a selection of an option to open a messaging session with the group; and

opening a messaging session with the address book contacts of the selected group;

wherein the group data comprises a group name and presence information about two or more contacts that are associated with the two or more address book contacts in the group;

wherein the presence information indicates a number of the contacts of the address book contacts in the group that are currently available to be contacted.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the group is an instant messaging group.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transient data list is a buddy list.

4. A mobile station comprising:

a hardware processor;

an instant messaging database for storing instant messaging data, the instant messaging data including a listing of instant messaging contacts and corresponding instant messaging presence information;

an address book database for storing address book data, the address book data including address book contacts and, for each address book contact, at least one of a mailing address, a phone number, and an email address;

an aggregated data and facilities database for relating instant messaging data from the instant messaging database to address book data from the address book database;

an address book application that is executable by the hardware processor to group two or more address book contacts into a group, the address book contacts associated with corresponding instant messaging contacts;

a transient data list in which the group is presented as a group data;

a user interface configured to detect a selection of an option to open a messaging session with the group; and

a messaging application configured to open a messaging session with the address book contacts of the selected group;

wherein the group data comprises a group name and presence information about two or more contacts that are associated with the two or more address book contacts in the group;

wherein the presence information indicates a number of the contacts of the address book contacts in the group that are currently available to be contacted.

5. The mobile station of claim 4 wherein the group is an instant messaging group.

6. The mobile station of claim 4 wherein the transient data list is a buddy list.

7. The mobile station of claim 4 wherein the messaging application is an instant messaging application.

8. A user interface for use in a mobile station, the mobile station including a system for integrating an address book application with an instant message (IM) application that includes an instant messaging database for storing instant messaging data, an address book database for storing address book data, and an aggregated data and facilities database for relating instant messaging data from the instant messaging database with address book data from the address book database, the address book data including address book contacts and, for each address book contact, at least one of a mailing address, a phone number, and an email address, the user interface comprising:

a hardware processor;

a buddy list that includes a list of IM handles that are stored in the instant messaging database and that are contactable using the instant messaging application;

a group contact list that provides address book data corresponding to one or more of the IM handles in the buddy list, the group contact list grouping two or more address book contacts into a group, the address book contacts stored in the address book database and associated with corresponding IM handles;

a transient data list in which the group is presented as a group data; and

a messaging application that is executable by the hardware processor, and when executed the messaging application being configured to detect a selection of an option to open a messaging session with the group and further configured to open a messaging session with the address book contacts of the selected group;

wherein the group data comprises a group name and presence information about two or more contacts that are associated with the two or more address book contacts in the group;

wherein the presence information indicates a number of the contacts of the address book contacts in the group that are currently available to be contacted.