# US 2008/0189276 A1 · Method and apparatus for dynamically creating historical groups in a messaging client > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0189276 A1 - Document ID: US20080189276A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/062,025 - Filed: 2008-04-03 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2004-10-14 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Gary St. Mark Beadle; Bethany Lyn Kessen; Christopher Joseph Paul; Brian Lee White Eagle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080189276A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/107: Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing] - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: tracking a number of messages sent between the user and an instant messaging address. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses are displayed in a history group in the instant messaging client. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses dynamically changes as a frequency of use changes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step occurs each time the instant messaging client is started. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses dynamically changes as a frequency of use changes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the identifying means occurs each time the instant messaging client is started. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) 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. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) 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. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) 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. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) 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. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) 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. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) 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. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the group of instant messaging addresses dynamically changes as a frequency of use changes. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the identifying step occurs each time the instant messaging client is started. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) 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.