IM Buddy List Grouping and Sorting via Multi-Criteria Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current instant messaging (IM) platforms lack the ability to allow users to freely classify and customize their buddy lists, leading to inefficient management and presentation of large numbers of contacts, as existing systems only allow fixed grouping and sorting based on user-defined categories without considering different user concerns or additional data features.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that includes an IM server with a buddy database, user information database, and status database, along with an IM client featuring a grouping and sorting module, enabling users to group and sort buddies based on various criteria such as user-defined groups, latest logon time, and current status, allowing for customizable presentation of the buddy list.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If buddies are accumulated in the buddy list over time, then the quantity of buddies increases, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in searching and managing large numbers of contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the buddy list into multiple groups based on different classification criteria (e.g., contact frequency, status, custom categories). Each group represents a segmented portion of the overall buddy list, making it easier to navigate and manage large numbers of contacts by organizing them into manageable sections rather than presenting a single flat list.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multiple dimensions for organizing and searching buddies beyond simple alphabetical ordering. These dimensions include contact frequency, current status, custom user-defined categories, and other attributes, transforming the single-dimensional buddy list into a multi-dimensional structure that enables flexible searching and management from various perspectives.
2Device complexity
If all buddies are presented with the same position and importance in the buddy list, then the device complexity remains simple, but the adaptability deteriorates because it cannot reflect different user concerns for different buddies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic buddy list presentation where the ordering and grouping of buddies changes based on user actions, time, and selected criteria. The system can dynamically switch between different sorting methods (e.g., most recent contact, online status, custom groups) and allow users to interactively reorganize the list, making the structure adaptable rather than static while maintaining reasonable complexity through automated algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables flexible presentation by allowing changes in multiple parameters including sorting order, grouping criteria, display format, and filtering conditions. Users can modify these parameters to customize the buddy list according to their current needs, and the system adjusts the presentation accordingly without requiring complex structural changes to the underlying data model.
3Device complexity
If fixed grouping and sorting methods are used in existing IM platforms, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability deteriorates as users cannot freely classify and customize their buddy lists according to different concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal buddy list management system that can handle multiple classification and sorting methods through a unified framework. The same underlying system supports various grouping criteria (status, custom groups, contact frequency) and sorting methods, allowing it to adapt to different user needs without requiring separate specialized systems for each function, thus achieving high versatility with controlled complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform are provided. The system includes an IM server and an IM client having a communication connection with the IM server. The IM server stores at least two of: a buddy database, a user information database and a status database. The buddy database records a buddy list of each user, the user information database records detailed information of each user, and the status database records a current status of each user. The IM client groups and sorts buddies in the buddy list according to the buddy list or detailed information of a buddy or a current status of the buddy obtained by the IM client from the IM server, and presents the buddy list according to a grouping and sorting result. Users are enabled to select different presenting manners and search for buddies conveniently.