Patent ID: 8554785
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for managing user information in an instant messaging system, the method comprising: establishing, in a first computer access server, a first buddy table that stores buddy information of a user and a first reverse buddy table that stores reverse buddy information of the user; associating an identifier of the user with local buddy information of the user in the first buddy table; associating the identifier of the user with local reverse buddy information of the user; recording position information of a buddy in the first reverse buddy table; obtaining, by the first computer access server, contact information of contacts of the user who is logged into the first computer access server from a client device; updating the first buddy table and the first reverse buddy table stored locally at the first computer access server, based at least in part on the contact information and user information of the user, wherein the user information of the user includes identification information of the user; sending a notification, by the first computer access server, to notify a plurality of other computer access servers including a second computer access server of user information of the user, wherein the second computer access server stores a second buddy table and a second reverse buddy table locally; determining whether the identification information of the user exists in the second reverse buddy table of the second computer access server; storing, by the second computer access server which receives the notification, the user information of the user in the event that the second computer access server determines that the identification information of the user exists in the second reverse buddy table of the second computer access server; sending, by the first computer access server, status information of the contacts of the user to a client terminal of the user; and sending status information of the user to related contacts by the second computer access server, wherein the contact information of the contacts of the user comprises the buddy information and the reverse buddy information of the user.