Instant Messaging Conversation Management via Automatic Archiving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Instant Messaging (IM) conversation management on communication devices is hindered by large lists of conversations, making it difficult to locate desired conversations and limiting the effectiveness of the graphical user interface (GUI), as many conversations become idle or irrelevant, leading to clutter and resource inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to maintain a list of IM conversations, monitoring activity, automatically removing idle conversations after a defined period and archiving them, with an archive interface for accessing old conversations, and automatically managing archive size to prevent resource overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large list of IM conversations is maintained in the GUI, then users can access more conversations, but the GUI becomes less effective and users take longer to locate desired conversations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the conversation list into two distinct segments: an active conversation list displayed in the main GUI and an archive of older conversations stored separately. This segmentation allows the active list to remain compact and easy to navigate while still providing access to a large number of conversations through the archive system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts older or less frequently accessed conversations from the main active conversation list and moves them to a separate archive. This extraction reduces the size of the active list, making it easier to navigate, while preserving access to the full history of conversations through the archive interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If many IM conversations are maintained simultaneously, then users can engage in more conversations, but the system consumes more resources and creates clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automatic archiving mechanism that discards older conversations from the active list by moving them to the archive when they become inactive or old. This discarding action reduces the number of active conversations maintained in memory, freeing up system resources while preserving the ability to recover these conversations later through the archive interface.
3Loss of information
If old conversations are kept in the active list, then users can access conversation history, but the list becomes cluttered and less relevant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conversation storage into active and archived portions, with the active list containing only relevant, recently accessed conversations and the archive containing historical conversations. This segmentation maintains list relevance and clarity in the active view while preserving full conversation history accessibility through the archive.
Solution Approach 2:
The archive serves as an intermediary between the active conversation list and the full conversation history. It provides a buffer that preserves historical conversations without cluttering the active list, allowing users to access old conversations through this intermediate archive interface rather than having them mixed with active conversations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for managing IM conversations is provided. In response to idle time and, preferably, read message status, particular current conversations are removed from a list of current conversations. The removed conversations may be moved to an archive which may be automatically maintained in response to size constraints. An archive interface is facilitated to review conversations, save all or portions thereof, delete, etc. The archived conversations are preferably associated with the contact for the conversation to show a history of conversations.