Patent ID: 7484175
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method in a data processing system for handling instant messages, the method comprising: responsive to receiving an instant message, determining whether a picture of a sender of the instant message is associated with the instant message, wherein the picture image of the sender is located in at least one of a local cache on the data processing system and a preexisting database of pictures on a remote data processing system as determined by a user selected preference, and wherein the determining step is automatically performed by an instant messaging process of a receiver of the instant message that determines whether the picture image of the sender is in the local cache or the preexisting database of pictures; and displaying the picture image of the sender with the instant message on a display in the data processing system if the picture image of the sender is associated with the instant message, wherein the picture image of the sender is stored in the preexisting database on the remote data processing system, and the preexisting database is used to provide pictures of users for a different user identification purpose other than instant messaging.