Social Group Instant Messaging Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing instant messaging services on social networking sites do not effectively integrate messaging functionality with social groups, making it difficult for users to communicate with contacts organized into groups and requiring separate searches for availability and communication.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that provides integrated instant messaging functionality by allowing users to view and manage contacts within social groups, displaying their availability status, and enabling instant messaging sessions directly from the social networking site, eliminating the need for separate contact lists and messaging applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If instant messaging functionality is provided independently from social groups, then messaging can be performed, but user convenience deteriorates and communication efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges instant messaging functionality with social group management by integrating the messaging interface directly into the social group contact list. Users can initiate messages directly from the group contact view without switching to a separate messaging application, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining system integration through unified architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The social networking site is enhanced with multi-functionality by combining social group management and instant messaging capabilities within a single platform. The system serves both as a social organization tool and a communication tool, eliminating the need for separate applications and improving overall user convenience.
2Productivity
If contact availability information is not displayed, then system complexity is reduced, but communication efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by displaying contact availability status (online/offline) in advance within the social group contact list. This allows users to assess contact availability before initiating communication, improving communication efficiency by avoiding messages to unavailable users while adding minimal display complexity.
3Loss of time
If separate contact lists and messaging applications are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the contact list view and messaging initiation into a single integrated interface within the social group section. Users can directly message contacts from the group contact list without navigating to separate messaging applications, significantly reducing time consumption while implementing moderate system integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and machine-implemented method for providing integrated instant messaging functionality in a social networking service, the method including receiving a request from a user having a first user account at a social networking service to view contacts belonging to a social group associated with the first user account, wherein the social group is maintained at the social networking service, identifying one or more contacts belonging to the social group in response to the request, determining a status associated with a user account for each of the identified one or more contacts, the status indicating whether each of the one or more contacts is available for instant messaging communication and providing a listing including the identified one or more contacts and the status associated with each of the identified one or more contacts for display to the user at a social networking site of the social networking service.