Method and apparatus for dynamically creating historical groups in a messaging client

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing user lists. A group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client on the communications device is identified. The identified group of instant messaging addresses is displayed visibly within a display in the communications device.

1 . A method in a communications device for managing user lists, the method comprising: 
 identifying a group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client on the communications device; and    displaying the group of instant messaging addresses visibly within a display in the communications device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communications device is selected from one of a desktop computer, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 tracking a number of messages sent between the user and an instant messaging address.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the identifying step includes: 
 selecting the group of instant messaging addresses based on instant messaging addresses having a highest number of messages.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a history group in the instant messaging client.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a top level within a plurality of groups in the instant messaging client.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses dynamically changes as a frequency of use changes.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying step occurs each time the instant messaging client is started.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client is determined using a selected algorithm.  
   
   
       10 . A data processing system in a communications device for managing user lists, the data processing system comprising: 
 a bus system;    a communications unit connected to the bus system;    a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and    a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to identify a group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client on the communications device; and display the group of instant messaging addresses visibly within a display in the communications device.    
   
   
       11 . A data processing system in a communications device for managing user lists, the data processing system comprising: 
 identifying means for identifying a group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client on the communications device; and    displaying means for displaying the group of instant messaging addresses visibly within a display in the communications device.    
   
   
       12 . The data processing system of  claim 11 , wherein the communications device is selected from one of a desktop computer, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       13 . The data processing system of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 tracking means for tracking a number of messages sent between the user and an instant messaging address.    
   
   
       14 . The data processing system of  claim 13 , wherein the identifying means includes: 
 selecting means for selecting the group of instant messaging addresses based on instant messaging addresses having a highest number of messages.    
   
   
       15 . The data processing system of  claim 11 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a history group in the instant messaging client.  
   
   
       16 . The data processing system of  claim 11 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a top level within a plurality of groups in the instant messaging client.  
   
   
       17 . The data processing system of  claim 11 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses dynamically changes as a frequency of use changes.  
   
   
       18 . The data processing system of  claim 11 , wherein the identifying means occurs each time the instant messaging client is started.  
   
   
       19 . The data processing system of  claim 11 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client is determined using a selected algorithm.  
   
   
       20 . A computer program product in a computer readable medium for managing user lists, the computer program product comprising: 
 first instructions for identifying a group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client on the communications device; and    second instructions for displaying the group of instant messaging addresses visibly within a display in the communications device.    
   
   
       21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the communications device is selected from one of a desktop computer, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       22 . The computer program product of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 third instructions for tracking a number of messages sent between the user and an instant messaging address.    
   
   
       23 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein the first instruction includes: 
 sub instructions for selecting the group of instant messaging addresses based on instant messaging addresses having a highest number of messages.    
   
   
       24 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a history group in the instant messaging client.  
   
   
       25 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a top level within a plurality of groups in the instant messaging client.  
   
   
       26 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses dynamically changes as a frequency of use changes.  
   
   
       27 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the identifying step occurs each time the instant messaging client is started.  
   
   
       28 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the group of instant messaging addresses used most frequently by a user of an instant messaging client is determined using a selected algorithm.