Abstract:
Systems, methods and computer program products for hardware assists for building a user&#39;s buddy list through public group membership. Exemplary embodiments include identifying a member from the user&#39;s buddy list, identifying a skill possessed by the member of the user&#39;s buddy list, searching for a group having the skill, selecting the member from the user&#39;s buddy list, sending a request to an instant messaging server to obtain a list having all the public groups for the member, receiving a response from the instant messaging server, the response including the list having the public groups for the member, selecting from the list of public group including members that have the skill and performing at least one of adding the public group to a contact list and searching for additional public groups based on users included in the list of public groups of the member.

Description:
TRADEMARKS 
       [0001]    IBM® is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., U.S.A. Other names used herein may be registered trademarks, trademarks or product names of International Business Machines Corporation or other companies. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to IM buddy lists, and particularly to systems, methods and computer program products for building a user&#39;s buddy list through public group membership. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Background 
         [0005]    An instant messaging (IM) system includes public groups that contain users in the system and allows for the addition of the group, encompassing users to a contact list. In current IM systems, a given system requires prior knowledge of a group name or identifier before the addition of a group. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Exemplary embodiments include a method in a computer system having a display, the method for building a user&#39;s buddy list through a public group membership and including identifying a member from the user&#39;s buddy list, identifying a skill possessed by the member of the user&#39;s buddy list, searching for a group having the skill, selecting the member from the user&#39;s buddy list, requesting that all public groups in which the member belongs, be displayed on the display, including sending a request to an instant messaging server to obtain a list having all the public groups for the member, wherein the instant message server is configured to query a Lightweight Directory Assistance Protocol server to obtain the list having the public groups for the member, the query to the Lightweight Directory Assistance Protocol Server being in the form, Ldapsearch -h&lt;hostname&gt;&lt;filter&gt;&lt;attributes to return&gt;, receiving a response from the instant messaging server, the response including the list having the public groups for the member, selecting from the list of public group including members that have the skill and performing at least one of adding the public group to a contact list and searching for additional public groups based on users included in the list of public groups of the member. 
         [0007]    System and computer program products corresponding to the above-summarized methods are also described and claimed herein. 
         [0008]    Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantages and features, refer to the description and to the drawings. 
       TECHNICAL EFFECTS 
       [0009]    As a result of the summarized invention, technically we have achieved a solution which includes the ability to locate public groups based on existing known contacts. The public groups can then be added or traversed to locate new contacts or public groups. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system for building a user&#39;s buddy list through public group membership; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of a method  200  for building a user&#39;s buddy list through public group membership. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    In exemplary embodiments, the systems and methods described herein locate public IM groups based on an individual contact that allows the user to easily build contact lists and aids in discovery of new contacts. In exemplary embodiments, the user is thus able to easily add public groups and possibly locate similar contacts to the original known contact. In exemplary embodiments, the group returned from a search based on a user contains users that can then be searched to find the public groups they are members. This traversal process can be carried out iteratively to locate new contacts. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system  100  for building a user&#39;s buddy list through public group membership. The methods described herein can be implemented in software (e.g., firmware), hardware, or a combination thereof. In exemplary embodiments, the methods described herein are implemented in microcode, as an executable routine that is executed by a special or general-purpose digital computer, such as a personal computer, workstation, minicomputer, or mainframe computer. The system  100  therefore includes general-purpose computer  101 . 
         [0016]    In exemplary embodiments, in terms of hardware architecture, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the computer  101  includes a processor  105 , memory  110  coupled to a memory controller  115 , and one or more input and/or output (I/O) devices  140 ,  145  (or peripherals) that are communicatively coupled via a local input/output controller  135 . The input/output controller  135  can be, for example but not limited to, one or more buses or other wired or wireless connections, as is known in the art. The input/output controller  135  may have additional elements, which are omitted for simplicity, such as controllers, buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers, to enable communications. Further, the local interface may include address, control, and/or data connections to enable appropriate communications among the aforementioned components. 
         [0017]    The processor  105  is a hardware device for executing software, particularly that stored in memory  110 . The processor  105  can be any custom made or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with the computer  101 , a semiconductor based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set), a macroprocessor, or generally any device for executing software instructions. It is appreciated that the processor  105  can include a plurality of registers including GPRs, FPRs, scratch registers, etc. 
         [0018]    The memory  110  can include any one or combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory (RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, etc.)) and nonvolatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), tape, compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), disk, diskette, cartridge, cassette or the like, etc.). Moreover, the memory  110  may incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types of storage media. Note that the memory  110  can have a distributed architecture, where various components are situated remote from one another, but can be accessed by the processor  105 . 
         [0019]    The software in memory  110  may include one or more separate programs, each of which comprises an ordered listing of executable instructions for implementing logical functions. In the example of  FIG. 1 , the software in the memory  110  includes the buddy list generation methods described herein in accordance with exemplary embodiments and a suitable operating system (OS)  111 . The operating system  111  essentially controls the execution of other computer programs, such the buddy list generation systems and methods described herein, and provides scheduling, input-output control, file and data management, memory management, and communication control and related services. 
         [0020]    The buddy list generation methods described herein may be in the form of a source program, executable program (object code), script, or any other entity comprising a set of instructions to be performed. When a source program, then the program needs to be translated via a compiler, assembler, interpreter, or the like, which may or may not be included within the memory  110 , so as to operate properly in connection with the OS  111 . Furthermore, the buddy list generation methods can be written as an object oriented programming language, which has classes of data and methods, or a procedure programming language, which has routines, subroutines, and/or functions. 
         [0021]    In exemplary embodiments, a conventional keyboard  150  and mouse  155  can be coupled to the input/output controller  135 . Other output devices such as the I/O devices  140 ,  145  may include input devices, for example but not limited to a printer, a scanner, microphone, and the like. Finally, the I/O devices  140 ,  145  may further include devices that communicate both inputs and outputs, for instance but not limited to, a network interface card (NIC) or modulator/demodulator (for accessing other files, devices, systems, or a network), a radio frequency (RF) or other transceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, a router, and the like. The system  100  can further include a display controller  125  coupled to a display  130 . In exemplary embodiments, the system  100  can further include a network interface  160  for coupling to a network  165 . The network  165  can be an IP-based network for communication between the computer  101  and any external server, client and the like via a broadband connection. The network  165  transmits and receives data between the computer  101  and external systems. In exemplary embodiments, network  165  can be a managed IP network administered by a service provider. The network  165  may be implemented in a wireless fashion, e.g., using wireless protocols and technologies, such as WiFi, WiMax, etc. The network  165  can also be a packet-switched network such as a local area network, wide area network, metropolitan area network, Internet network, or other similar type of network environment. The network  165  may be a fixed wireless network, a wireless local area network (LAN), a wireless wide area network (WAN) a personal area network (PAN), a virtual private network (VPN), intranet or other suitable network system and includes equipment for receiving and transmitting signals. 
         [0022]    As further described herein, an IM server  170  is communicatively coupled to the network  165 . In addition, a directory server  180  is further communicatively coupled to the network  165 . In exemplary embodiments, the directory server  180  can be a Lightweight Directory Assistance Protocol (LDAP) server as further described herein. 
         [0023]    If the computer  101  is a PC, workstation, intelligent device or the like, the software in the memory  110  may further include a basic input output system (BIOS) (omitted for simplicity). The BIOS is a set of essential software routines that initialize and test hardware at startup, start the OS  111 , and support the transfer of data among the hardware devices. The BIOS is stored in ROM so that the BIOS can be executed when the computer  101  is activated. 
         [0024]    When the computer  101  is in operation, the processor  105  is configured to execute software stored within the memory  110 , to communicate data to and from the memory  110 , and to generally control operations of the computer  101  pursuant to the software. The buddy list generation methods described herein and the OS  111 , in whole or in part, but typically the latter, are read by the processor  105 , perhaps buffered within the processor  105 , and then executed. 
         [0025]    When the systems and methods described herein are implemented in software, as is shown in  FIG. 1 , it the methods can be stored on any computer readable medium, such as storage  120 , for use by or in connection with any computer related system or method. In the context of this document, a computer readable medium is an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or means that can contain or store a computer program for use by or in connection with a computer related system or method. The buddy list generation methods described herein can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In exemplary embodiments, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer readable medium can be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection (electronic) having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (electronic), a read-only memory (ROM) (electronic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory) (electronic), an optical fiber (optical), and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM) (optical). Note that the computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via for instance optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. 
         [0026]    In exemplary embodiments, where the buddy list generation methods are implemented in hardware, the buddy list generation methods described herein can implemented with any or a combination of the following technologies, which are each well known in the art: a discrete logic circuit(s) having logic gates for implementing logic functions upon data signals, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having appropriate combinational logic gates, a programmable gate array(s) (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of a method  200  for building a user&#39;s buddy list through public group membership. At block  205 , an IM user identifies a member from the user&#39;s buddy list. In exemplary embodiments, the IM user can be searching for a public group to add to the user&#39;s IM buddy list. In exemplary embodiments, the user may already have “Joe Smith” is in the user&#39;s buddy list and knows that Joe Smith has skill XYZ. As such, at block  210 , the user identifies a particular skill associated with the member Joe Smith. At block  215 , the user searches for a group of people with skill XYZ in order to have a backup for Joe Smith when Joe Smith is off-line or busy. At block  220 , the user selects “Joe Smith” in the buddy list and chooses an exemplary option to show all public groups which Joe is a member as further described herein. At block  225 , the IM client (e.g., the computer  101 ) sends a request to the IM server  170  to obtain the list of groups for the specified user. As such, the search request includes returning all groups in which Joe Smith is a member. At block  230 , The IM server  170  queries the directory server  180 , which may be an LDAP server as described herein. In exemplary embodiments, in the case of the LDAP server, a simple LDAP search command can be sent to the LDAP server, in which the following commands are examples: 
         [0000]    ldapsearch -h spot.ibm.com
 
(&amp;(ObjectClass=groupOfUniqueNames)(uniquemember=“uid=L111111111,c=us,ou=spot, o=ibm.com”))
 
or
 
ldapsearch -h spot.ibm.com mail=user-user@us.ibm.com ibm-allgroups
 
         [0028]    The above-referenced examples are in the general form Ldapsearch -h &lt;hostname&gt;&lt;filter&gt;&lt;attributes to return&gt; for a LDAP server. The first above referenced example is a search setting the filter to a search that looks in all groups in the directory, and the LDAP returns the groups to which the member belongs. In the second example, a search for performance is conducted. In some LDAP directories, there is an attribute in the user&#39;s person record that has all the groups of which the user is a member. As such, the filter is a search to find the actual user, and attributes are specified to return as the attribute that contains all the groups to which the user belongs. For a particular host, the filter would read: host-allgroups. For an active directory, the filter would read: memberOf. 
         [0029]    Referring still to  FIG. 2 , at block  235 , the directory server  180  returns to the IM server  170 , a list of groups in which Joe Smith is a member. At block  240 , the IM server  170  returns the list of groups to the IM client, which displays the list of groups to the user on the display  130 . At block  245 , the user selects the public group that the wants to add to the user&#39;s buddy list. In this example, it is “Group XYZ”. The user is now able to view all members of “Group XYZ” and has a choice of alternate people to contact when Joe is off-line or busy. The resulting groups are then returned to the user conducting the search. The user may elect to add the public group to the contact list or search for new public groups based on the users listed in the result set. 
         [0030]    It is appreciated that all the groups that are returned for a particular user won&#39;t necessarily be the desired group. For example, several groups returned may include: Software Group; Lotus Support; Support; and Portal integration. As such, a user wanting to chat with the member would do so with a Portal Integration question, or possibly a general Support question. The user obtaining the results of the groups to which the member belongs, would logically decide what group to add to their buddy list. If they typically ask the member Portal Integration questions, then they would add the Portal Integration, if they typically ask Software Support questions, Lotus Support or Support would be the likely choice. 
         [0031]    The capabilities of the present invention can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware or some combination thereof. 
         [0032]    As one example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, for instance, computer usable media. The media has embodied therein, for instance, computer readable program code means for providing and facilitating the capabilities of the present invention. The article of manufacture can be included as a part of a computer system or sold separately. 
         [0033]    Additionally, at least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the capabilities of the present invention can be provided. 
         [0034]    The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention. 
         [0035]    While the preferred embodiment to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.