OA16889A - Contact display method, instant messaging client and server. - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a contact display method, an instant messaging software client, and a client server, which relate to the field of instant messaging. The method comprises: an instant messaging software client acquiring geographic position information of a contact from a client server; when receiving a request for displaying a first interface, the instant messaging software client displaying the first interface, and displaying the contact on a position, corresponding to the geographic position information, on the first interface. The instant messaging software client comprises a receiving module and a display module. In embodiments of the present invention, the geographic information of the contact is acquired, and the contact is displayed on the corresponding position of the map interface according to the geographic information of the contact, so a contact list does not need to be defined again, thereby simplifying the operation of the contact list, and contacts can be distinguished according to the geographic positions so that the display of the contact is more intuitional and it is convenient to perform an operation on contacts belonging to the same area simultaneously. comprises a receiving module and a display module. In embodiments of the present invention, the geographic information of the contact is acquired, and the contact is displayed on the corresponding position of the map interface according to the geographic information of the contact, so a contact list does not need to be defined again, thereby simplifying the operation of the contact list, and contacts can be distinguished according to the geographic positions so that the display of the contact is more intuitional and it is convenient to perform an operation on contacts belonging to the same area simultaneously

Description

SPECIFICATION

CONTACT DISPLAY METHOD, INSTANT MESSAGING CLIENT AND SERVER

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2011103204276, filed 5 before the Chinese Patent Office on October 20, 2011 and cntitled CONTACT DISPLAY METHOD. INSTANT MESSAGING CLIENT, AND SERVER, which is incorporated herein by référencé in its entirety.

TECHNICAL HELD

Tlie présent disclosure relates the field of instant messaging, and in particular, to a contact display method, an instant messaging client, and a server.

BACKGROUND

With development of Internet technologies, more and more people implement 15 communications using instant messaging software. Current instant messaging software prevailïng on the market ail display contacts of a user in the form of a list. Depending on actual requirements, the user may categorize the contacts into groups based on a spécifie social relationship, and display the contacts of the same category in a user-defined list. In addition, the user may further create a user-defined list named by using géographie location, and categorize and display the 20 contacts according to the géographie locations.

After analysis on the prior art, the inventor finds that the prior art has at least the following disadvantages:

Using the conventional categorization method, contacts in the same géographie location, for example, the same province or the same city, are arranged in the same list, which, however, 25 requires user's manu al operations. When there are more contacts or more distribution areas of the contacts arc involved, the user needs to perform the operations repeatedly or create a plurality of user-defîned lists, causing a complicated process and a low flexibility. In addition, compared with a gcneric mode of displaying contacts, such a lîst-based display mode has no essential improvement, and achieves less visual présentation and poor spatial and régional sense.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the présent disclosure provide a contact display method, an instant messaging client, and a server. The technical solutions are as follows:

An embodiment of the présent disclosure provides a contact display method, including:

acquiring, by an instant messaging client, géographie location information of a contact from a server, and upon receiving a request for displaying a First interface, displaying, by the instant messaging client, the first interface, and displaying the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; where the first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a près et map, 10 and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.

The acquiring, by an instant messaging client, géographie location information of a contact from a server specifically includes:

sending a request for géographie location information to the server; and receiving the géographie location information of the contact from the server, where the géographie location information is an administrative région name received by the server, or the géographie location information is an administrative région name acquired by the server according to received current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact

The géographie location information is determined by the server according to the received 20 administrative région name and the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact

After the displaying, by the instant messaging client the first interface, and displaying the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface, the method further includes:

upon receiving a request for operating a specified area of the first interface, sending, by the instant messaging client, the request to all first contacts, géographie location information of the first contact being the specified area.

After the displaying, by the instant messaging client, the first interface, and displaying the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface, 30 the method further includes:

upon receiving a request for a list of contacts in a specified area of the first interface.

acquiring, by tlie instant messaging client, ail first contacts, the géographie location information of the first contact being the specified area, and displaying ail first contacts in the specified area in the form of a preset number of lists.

An embodiment of the présent disclosure provides a contact display method, including:

acquiring, by a server, géographie location information of a contact; and upon receiving a request for géographie location information from an instant messaging client, sending the géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging client, such that the instant messaging client displays the first interface upon receiving a request for displaying the first interface, and displays the contact in a position, corresponding to the 10 géographie location information, on the first interface; where the first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a preset map, and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.

The acquiring. by a server, géographie location information of a contact specifically 15 includes:

receiving, by the server, an administrative région name input by the contact, and using the administrative région name as the géographie location information of the contact; or acquiring. by the server, current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact, acquiring a current administrative région name of the contact according to the current IP 20 address information or coordinate information of the contact, and using the current administrative région name of the contact os the géographie location information.

The acquiring, by a server, géographie location information of a contact specifically includes:

acquiring, by the server, current IP address information or coordinate information of the 25 contact, acquiring a current administrative région name of the contact according to the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact, judging whether the current administrative région name of the contact is consistent with locally stored géographie location information of the contact, if inconsislent, rcplacing the locally stored géographie location information of the contact with the current administrative région name of the contact, and using 30 the administrative région name as the geographical location information of the contact.

An embodiment of the présent disclosure provides an instant messaging client, including:

o receiving module, configured to reçoive géographie location information of a contact from a server; and a displaying module, configured to: upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, display the first interface, and display the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie 5 location information, on the first interface; where the first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in seule to a preset map, and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.

The instant messaging client includes:

tO a sending module, configured to send a request for géographie location information to the server; and where the receiving module is conrespondingly configured to receive the géographie location information of the contact from the server, where the géographie location information is an administrative région name received by the server, or the géographie location information is an 15 administrative région name acquired by the server according to received current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact.

The géographie location information is géographie location information of the contact from the server, or the géographie location Information is determined by the server according to the received administrative région name and the current IP address information or coordinate 20 information of the contact.

The displaying module includes: a request processing unit and a request sending unit.

The request processing unit is configured to receive a request for operating a specified area of the first interface.

The request sending unit is configured to: upon receiving the request for operating a 25 specified area of the first interface, send the request to oil first contacts, géographie location information of the first contact being the specified area.

The displaying module includes:

an acquiring unit, configured to: when the instant messaging client receives a request for a list of contacts in a specified area of the first interface, acquire ail first contact, géographie 30 location information of the first contact is the specified area; and a displaying unit, configured to display al! first contacts, acquired by the acquiring unit, in

the specifïed area in the form of a preset number of lists.

The instant messaging client is a mobile terminal.

An embodiment of the présent disclosure provides a server, including:

an acquiring moduie, configured to acquire géographie location information of a contact; and a sending module, configured to: upon receiving a request for géographie location information from an instant messaging client, send the géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging client, such that the instant messaging client displays the first interface upon receiving a request for displaying the first interface, and displays the contact ln a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; where the 10 first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface Is a map in scale to a preset map, and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région ïn the preset map.

The acquiring module includes:

a receiving unit, configured to receive an administrative région name input by the contact, 15 and use the administrative région name as the géographie location information of the contact; or an acquiring unît, configured to: acquire current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact; acquire a current administrative région name of the contact according to the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact; and use the current administrative région name of the contact as the géographie location information.

The acquiring module includes:

an acquiring unit, configured to acquire current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact;

a judging unît, configured to acquire a current administrative région name of the contact according to the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact, and 25 judge whether the current administrative région name of the contact is consistent with locally stored géographie location information of the contact;

a replacing unit, configured to: when the judging unit judges that the current administrative région name of the contact is inconsistent the locally stored géographie location information of the contact, replace the locally stored géographie location information of the contact with the current 30 administrative région name of the contact, and use the administrative région name as the geographîcal location information of the contact

An embodiment of the présent disclosure provides a contact display system, including:

an instant messaging client, configured to: receivc géographie location information of a contact from a server; upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, display the first interface and display the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location 5 information, on the first interface; where the first interface Is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a preset map, and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map; and a server, configured to: acquire géographie location information of a contact; and upon JO receiving a request for géographie location information from an instant messaging client, send the géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging client, such that, upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, the instant messaging client displays the first interface, and display the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; where the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of 15 the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.

The technical solutions according to the embodiments of the présent disclosure nchieve the following bénéficiai ciTects:

Géographie location information of a contact is acquired, and the contact is displayed in a 20 corresponding position on a map interface according to the géographie location information of the contact. In this way, a contact list does not need to be re-defined, thereby simplifying operations on the contact list. In addition, contacts may be differentiated according to géographie locations thereof, such that the contacts are displayed more visually, facilitating simultaneous operations on the contacts pertaining to the same area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the présent disclosure or in the prior art more clearly, the following brlefly describes the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the 30 following description merely show some embodiments of the présent disclosure, and persons of ordinary skill in the art may dérivé other drawings based on these accompanying drawings

without créative efforts.

FIG 1 is o flowchart of a contact display method according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure;

FIG 2 is a flowchart of a contact display method according to an embodiment of the présent 5 disclosure;

FIG 3 is n flowchart of a contact display method according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure;

FIG 4 is a flowchart of a contact display method according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure;

FIG 5 is a flowchart of a contact display method according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure;

FIG 6 is a schematic structural diagrum of an instant messaging client according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure;

FIG 7 is a schematic structural diagram of another instant messaging client according to an 15 embodiment of the présent disclosure;

FIG 8 is a schematic structural diagram of still another instant messaging client according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure;

FIG 9 is a schematic structural diagram of still another instant messaging client according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure;

FIG 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a server according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure:

FIG 11 is n schematic structural diagram of another server according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure; and ·

FIG 12 is a schematic structural diagram of still another server according to an embodiment 25 of the présent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the présent disclosure clearer, the embodiments of the présent disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the 30 accompanying drawings.

FIG I is a flowchart of a contact display method according to an embodiment of the présent

disclosure. In this embodiment, interaction subjccts may be an instant messaging client and a server, where the instant messaging client may be a QQ client, a TM client, or the like, Referring to FIG 1, the method according to this embodiment specifically includes:

101. The instant messaging client acquires géographie location information of a contact from 5 a server.

In this embodiment. the géographie location information of the contact refers to an administrative région where the contact is located. For example, the administrative région where a contact A is currently located is Bcijing, géographie location information of contact A is Beijing. The name of the administrative région may be, for example, province, city, and municipality, and 10 may further be detailed to district or county according to seltings of a user of the instant messaging client, which is not limited in this embodiment.

The acquiring, by an instant messaging client, géographie location information of a contact from a server specifically includes:

sending a request for géographie location information to the server; and receiving the géographie location Information of the contact from the server, where the géographie location information is an administrative région name received by the server, or the géographie location information is an administrative région name acquired by the server according to received current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact.

In another embodiment, the géographie location information is determined by the server 20 according to the received administrative région name and the current IP address information of the contact or coordinate information of the contact.

102. Upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, the instant messaging client displays the first interface, and displays the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; where the first interface is configured to dispiay contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scaie to a preset map, and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.

In this embodiment, a first interface is preset, where the first interface is configured to display a contact according to géographie location information of the contact, and the first 30 interface may be a map in scale to a preset map. For example, when the preset map is China map, the first interface is in scale to the China map, each of the régions on the first interface

corresponds to an administrative région in the China map. The size of the first interface is suitable for screen display, and the scale may be set by the user of the instant messaging client

Further, after the displaying the first interface, and displaylng the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface, the method further 5 includes:

Upon receiving n request for operation a specified area, sending the request to ail first contacts, where géographie location information of the first contact is the specified area. Further, after the displaying the first interface, and displaying the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface, the method further 10 includes:

Upon receiving a request for a list of contacts in n specified area of the first interface, acquiring ail second contacts, where the géographie location Information of the second contact is the specified area; and displaying ail first contacts in the specified area in the form of a list with a preset number of first contacts per page.

According to the method provided in this embodiment, géographie location information of a contact is acquired, and the contact is displayed in a corresponding position on a map interface according to the géographie location information of the contact. In this way, a contact list does not need to be re-defined, thereby simplifying operations on the contact list. In addition, contacts may be differentiated according to géographie locations thereof, such that the contacts are displayed 20 more visually, facilitating simullaneous operations on the contacts pertaîning to die same area.

FIG 2 is a flowchart of a contact display method according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure. In this embodiment, the execution subject is a server, where the server may be a QQ server, a TM server, or the like. Referring lo FIG 2, the method according to this embodiment spccifically includes:

201. The server acquires géographie location information of a contact.

202. Upon receiving n request for géographie location Information from an instant messaging client, the client sever sends the géographie location information of the contact lo the instant messaging client, such that the instant messaging client displays the first Interface upon receiving a request for displaying the first interface, and displays the contact in n position, conesponding to 30 the géographie location information, on the first interface; where lhe first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale lo a

preset map, and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.

The acquiring, by the server, géographie location information of a contact specifically includes:

'5 receiving, by the server, an administrative région name înput by the contact, and using the administrative région name as the géographie location information of the contact; or acquiring, by the server, current IP address information or coordinale information of the contact, acquiring a current administrative région name of the contact according to the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact, and using the current administrative 10 région name of the contact as the géographie location information.

The acquiring, by the server, géographie location information of a contact specifically includes:

acquiring, b y the server, current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact, acquiring a current administrative région name of the contact according to the current IP 15 address information or coordinate information of the contact, judging whether the current administrative région name of the contact is consistent with locally stored géographie location information of the contact, if inconsistent, replacing the locally stored géographie location information of the contact with the current administrative région name of the contact, ând using the current administrative région name as the geographical location information of the contact

RG 3 Is a flowchart of a contact display method according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure. In this embodiment, interaction subjects may be an instant messaging client and a server, where the instant messaging client may be a QQ client a TM client, or the like. Referring to RG 3, the method according to this embodiment specifically includes:

301. A server receives an administrative région name input by a contact.

A person skilled in the art may acquire that, when a user inputs an administrative région name on an instant messaging client, the instant messaging client sends the administrative région name to the server, and the server stores the administrative région name.

In this embodiment, step 301 is directed to contacts of the user of the instant messaging client; with respect to a server, the server receives administrative région names input by ali users 30 logging in to the server. For example, the server receives administrative région names input by users A. B, C, and D, whereas with respect to the instant messaging client, only contacts A and B

II are contacts of the user of the instant messaging client. The embodiments of the présent disclosure are described only from the perspective of the instant messaging client.

302. The server reçoives an administrative région name input by the contact, and uses the administrative région name as the géographie location information of the contact.

In this embodiment, the géographie location information may be a combination of a plurality of hierarchical-arranged administrative régions. For example, if the administrative région input by the contact is Chaoyang District, Beijing City, China, the géographie location information includes China, Beijing City, Chaoyang District

303. Upon receiving a request for géographie location information from the instant messaging client, die server sends the géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging clienL

In this embodiment, when the request for géographie location information îs reccived, ail géographie location information of the contact may be sent to the instant messaging client; altematively, only géographie location information preset on the instant messaging client may be sent according to predefîned setlings on the instant messaging client. In this case, step 303 may specifically include: upon receiving the request for géographie location information from the instant messaging client, sending, by the server according to géographie location information specified in the request for géographie location information, the specified géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging client. For example, if the géographie location information specified in the request for géographie location information sent by the instant messaging client is city, the server sends Beijing as the requested géographie location information to the instant messaging client. .

When the user desires to perform an operation related to the géographie location information, the user may trigger the request for géographie location information using an option or button provided on the instant messaging client, and the instant messaging client sends the request for the géographie location information to the server. For example, the operation related to the géographie location information may be displaying a contact according to the géographie location information thereof, and displaying the géographie location information of the contact.

304. Upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, the instant messaging client displays the first interface, and displays the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie information, on the first interface; where the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of

the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in a preset map.

In this embodiment, if the preset map is China map, each of the plurality of areas of the first interface corresponds to on administrative région in the China map, where a lier of the administrative région may be preset by the instant messaging client; and if the administrative 5 région is in the unit of city, the contacts are displayed according to the régional boundary of city in the map, and each of the contacts is displayed, according to the city specified by the géographie location information thereof, in the area of the map corresponding to the city. Preferably, if the number of contacts corresponding to an area is larger thon or equal to a preset threshold, the number of contacts is displayed in the area; and if the number of contacts corresponding to the 10 area is smaller than the preset threshold, name and nickname of each of the contacts are displayed in the area.

For example, the first interface includes a plurality of areas, where each of the plurality of areas corresponds to an administrative région in the China map. Herein, the case where the seule of the administrative région is city is only used as an example for description. Assuming that the 15 preset threshold is 5, if the number of contacts corresponding to area Beijing is 15 which is larger than the preset threshold 5, 15 may be displayed in the area; and if the number of contacts corresponding to area Shenzhen” is 2, i.e., contacts A and B, A and B are displayed in the area, where A and B are vertically displayed. Nevertheless, contacts may be displayed horizontaliy or in other manners, which is not limited in this embodiment

In this embodiment of the présent disclosure, the case where the preset map is China map is only used as an example for description. In other embodiments, the map corresponding to the first interface may be set by the user of the instant messaging client For example, the map corresponding to the first interface may be the world map, and in this case, the areas may be determined according to country boundaries or continent boundaries.

Further, after step 303 and prior to step 304, the method further includes: determining a preset map by the instant messaging client according to the géographie location information of the contact Specifically, the instant messaging client judges whether the géographie location information of the contact corresponds to an administrative région of China; if true, uses the China map os the preset map; and otherwise, uses the world map as the preset map, or queries 30 whether the user nceds to set the preset map as the world map, and détermines the preset map according to user’s sélection. To be spécifie, when the user selects the China map, the China map

is used os the preset map; and when the user selects the world map, the world map is used os the presel map. It should be noted that the judgment on whether the géographie location information corresponds to an administrative région of China may be performed according to presel China administrative régions or a high-tier géographie location indicated in user géographie location 5 Information. For example, if the user géographie location information is A City, It is acquired that

A city is an administrative région of China according to a preset database of China administrative région division. Still for example, if the user géographie location information îs A City, China, a high-tier géographie location indicated therein is China, and it is thus acquired that the user géographie location information corresponds to an administrative région of China.

This embodiment is described by using display of the entire first interface os an example.

With respect to practical operations, since the display of the first interface is subject to the client size, functions of zoom-in and zoom-out may be provided for the user. Specifically, upon rcceiving a request for zooming in a specified area of the first interface, the instant messaging client zooms in the area; displays a sub-area of the area, the sub-area being a administrative région 15 the lier of which is lower than that of the area; and displays contacts corresponding to the sub-area in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the area. For exemple, when the area is a province, the sub-area thereof may be a city and/or a district; when the areu is a city, the sub-area thereof may be a district. For example, upon rcceiving a request for zooming in area Beÿing of the first interface, the instant messaging client zooms in the area; displays the 20 sub-area, such os Chaoyang District, Dongcheng District, Haidian District or the like, of the area; and displays contacts corresponding to the sub-area or the number of contacts in a position of each of the sub-areas. Preferably, if the number of contacts corresponding to a sub-area is larger than or equal to a preset threshold, the number of contacts is displayed in the sub-area; and if the number of contacts corresponding to the sub-area is smaller than the preset threshold, nome and 25 nickname of each of the contacts are displayed in the sub-area.

305. Upon rcceiving a request for operating a specified area of the first interface, the instant messaging client sends the request to ail first contacts, géographie location information of the first contact being the specified area.

In this embodiment, the request refers to a contact-directed operation request for sending on 30 instant message or creating a group. When the operation request is directed to a specified area of the first interface, the request may be directed to ail first contacts in the area, or directed to a

specified contact in the area, which is implemented specifïcally according to un object of the operation request. When the operation request is to send a request for creatîng a group to ail first contacts, the operation request is sent to ail first contacts; and when the operation request is to send a request for creatîng a group to a specified contact of the first contacts, the operation request 5 ls sent to the specified contact of the first contacts. The first contact refers to a contact whose géographie location information is the specified area. For example, if the area is Shanghai, the first contact is a contact whose géographie location information is Shanghai.

Further, the first interface may further includes an index item of the géographie location information, where the index item is specifïcally géographie location information corresponding 10 to the contact of the user. When the user selects géographie location information, the first interface displays an area corresponding to the géographie location information. For example, if contacts of the user correspond to areas including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, when the user clicks Beijing, the first interface displays area Beijing and contacts corresponding to Beijing.

306. Upon receiving a request for a list of contacts in a specified area of the first interface, 15 the instant messaging client acquires ail first contacts, the géographie location information of the first contact being the specified area, and displays ail first contacts in the specified area in the form of a list with a preset number of first contacts per page.

In this embodiment, the request may bc specifïcally triggered by clicking a spécifie area by the user of the instant messaging client. When the user of the instant message client needs to view 20 contacts in a specified area, the user may click the area to trigger the request for a list of contacts. Upon receiving the request for a list of contacts in a specified area of the first interface, the instant messaging client acquires ail first contacts whose géographie location information is the specified area, and displays ail first contacts. Preferably, ali first contacts may be displayed in the specified area in a listing manner of displaying a preset number of contacts. When the number of first 25 contacts is larger than a preset threshold, the first contacts are displayed on a pluralily of pages, with a preset number of contacts being displayed on each page. This display method pertains to the prior art, which is not described herein any fuither.

It should be noled that, upon receiving a request for operating a specified area, the instant messaging client may perform operations on the contacts in the specified area according to the 30 request. Analogously, upon receiving a request for géographie location information of a specified contact, the instant messaging client may correspondingly display the specified contact in the area

of the first interface. For example, when the user of the instant messaging client clicks contact A and sends a request for displaying géographie location information of contact A, contact A is displayed in the area, corresponding to Shenzhen, of the first interface according to géographie location information Shenzhen of contact A, which may be marked using a specified identifier.

According to the method provided in this embodiment, géographie location information of a contact is acquired, and the contact is displayed in a corresponding position on a map interface according to the géographie location information of the contact. In this way, a contact list does not need to be re-defïned, thereby simplifying operations on the contact list. In addition, contacts may be differentîated according to géographie locations thereof, such that the contacts arc displayed 10 more visually, faciiilating simultaneous operations on the contacts pertaining to the same area.

FIG 4 is a flowehart of a contact display method according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure. In this embodiment, interaction subjects may be on instant messaging client and a server, where the instant messaging client may be a QQ client, a TM client, or the like. Referrïng to FIG 4, the method according to this embodiment specifically includes: 15 401. A server acquires current IP address information or coordînate information of a contact.

In this embodiment, when a user of an instant messaging client, i.e., a contact, logs in to a server, the server acquires an IP address of the contact when logging in to the server, and uses the acquired IP address as the current IP address information of the contact.

If the instant messaging client îs a mobile terminal, when an instant messaging client user, 20 i.e., a contact, logs in to a server, the server acquires coordînate information of the contact when logging in to the server, and uses the acquired coordînate information as the current coordînate information of the contact. The coordînate information may be acquired by means of GPS, or acquired by means of Location Based Services (LBS). A person skilled In the art may acquire that a GPS service-capable mobile terminai may acquire coordînate information thereof by means of 25 GPS positioning, and provides the acquired coordînate information to the server when Jogging in to the server. By means of the LBS, géographie location information (géographie coordinates or geodetic coordinates) of a mobile terminai user may be acquired using a radio communication network (for example, a GSM network or a CDMA network) provided by an operator or using extemal positioning (for example, GPS positioning); in addition, the LBS, under support of a 30 Géographie Information System (GIS) platform, provides a vaiue-added service for the user conccming a subscribed service thereof.

402. The server acquires a current administrative région name of the contact according to the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact; and uses the current administrative région name of the contact as the géographie location information.

In thts embodiment, after the contact logs in to the instant messaging client, the server may acquire a login IP address of the contact, and confirms the acquired logïn IP address with an IP address database, to acquire the géographie location information of the IP address of the contact,

i.e„ administrative région information desired by the server, including information of province, city, and the like. When the instant messaging client is a mobile terminal, the server may acquire coordinate information of the contact when logging In to the server, and confirms the acquired coordinate information with a coordinate database, to acquire the géographie location information of the coordinate information of the contact, i.e., administrative région information desired by the server, including information of province, city, and the like.

A person skilled in the art may acquire thaï both conversion of the IP address information into géographie location information and acquisition of géographie location information according 15 lo coordinate information pertain to the prior art, which are not described herein any further. It should be noted that the géographie location information generated when the contact logs in to the server may be stored on the server, and may be emptied when the contact logs out of the server, such that géographie location information of a contact is generated in real time once the contact logs in lo the server.

II should be noted that upon logging tn to the server, the instant messaging citent stores géographie location information thereof on the server, and altematively may acquire géographie location information of contacts thereof. The contacts may include on-line or off-line contacts. The géographie location information of the contacts is used for displaying the contacts locally based on géographie locations thereof. A range of contacts displayed based on the géographie location information may also be predefined on the instant messaging client as displaying ail contacts on the first Interface or displaying only on-line contacts on the first interface, which is not limited in this embodiment

403. Upon receiving a request for the géographie location information of n contact from the instant messaging client, the server sends the géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging client.

404. Upon receiving a request for displaying n first interface, the instant messaging client

displays the first interface, and dîsplays the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; where the first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a preset map, and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurulity of areas corresponding to 5 an administrative région in the preset map.

405. Upon receiving a request for operating a specified area of the first interface, the instant messaging client sends the request to ail first contacts, géographie location information of the first contact being the specified nrea.

406. Upon receiving a request for a list of contacts in a specified area of the first interface, the instant messaging client acquires ail first contacts, the géographie location information of the first contact being the specified area, and displays ail first contacts in the specified area in the form of a list with a preset number of first contacts per page.

Steps 403-406 are analogous to steps 303-306, and nre not described herein any further.

According to the method provided in this embodiment, géographie location information of a contact is acquired, and the contact is displayed in a corresponding position on a map interface according to the géographie location information of the contact. In this way, a contact list does not need to be re-defined, thereby simplifyîng operations on the contact list In addition, contacts may be differentiated according to géographie locations thereof, such that the contacts are displayed more visually, facilitating simultaneous operations on the contacts pertainîng to the same area.

FIG. 5 is a flowehart of a contact display method according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure. In this embodiment, interaction subjects may be an instant messaging client and a server, where the instant messaging client may be a QQ client, a TM client, or the like. Referring to FIG. 5, the method according to this embodiment specifically includes:

501. A server receives an administrative région name input by a contact.

502. The server receives an administrative région name input by the contact, and uses the administrative région name as the géographie location information of the contact

Steps 501-502 are analogous to steps 301-302, and are not described herein any further.

503. When the contact logs in to the server, the server acquires current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact.

Step 503 is analogous to step 401, and is not described herein any further.

504. The server acquires a current administrative région name of the contact according to the

current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact.

Step 504 is analogous to step 402, and is not described herein any further.

505. The server judges whether the current administrative région name of the contact is consistent with locally stored géographie location information of the contact.

If consistent, step 508 is performed.

If inconsislent, step 506 is performed.

In this embodiment, the géographie location when the contact logs in to the server is different from the géographie location indicated in data input by the contact; when the server has a permission to acquire the géographie location information generated in real time when the contact 10 logs in to the server, the server acquires the login IP address information or coordinate information of the contact, acquires the current administrative région name of the contact according to the IP address information or coordinate information, and judges whether the current administrative région name of the contact is consistent with the géographie location information locally stored on the server. If consistent, step 508 is performed; and if inconsistent, step 506 is 15 performed. For example, if the géographie location stored in the data of contact A is Shenzhen” and a preset server of the contact may acquire the géographie location information of the contact when iogging in to the server, when contact A logs in to the server, the server acquires login IP address information or coordinate information of contact A, acquires the current administrative région name Beijing of contact A according to the IP address information or coordinate 20 information, and judges that the current administration région of contact A is inconsistent with the géographie location information stored on the server. In this case, step 506 is performed.

506. The server replaces the locally stored géographie location information of the contact with the current administrative région name of the contact, and uses the current administrative région nome as the géographie location information of the contact

In this embodiment through replacement, the géographie location information of the contact is acquired in real time. This facilitâtes interaction between a user and contacts of the user, improves user expérience, and achieves more visual display of the contacts.

507. Upon receiving a request for the géographie location information of a contact from the instant messaging client, the server sends the géographie location information after (lie replacement to the instant messaging client, and step 509 is performed.

508. Upon receiving a request for the géographie location information of a contact from the

instant messaging client, the server sends the géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging client, and step 509 is performed.

509. Upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, the instant messaging client displays the first interface, and dispiays the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; where the first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a preset map, and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.

510. Upon receiving a request for operating a specîfied area of the first interface, the instant 10 messaging client sends the request to ail first contacts, géographie location information of the first contact being the specified area.

In this embodiment, upon receiving a géographie location information-specific request with respect to a contact, the instant messaging client performs corresponding operations on the contact with the géographie location information according to the spécifie content of request.

511. Upon receiving a request for a list of contacts in a specified area of the first interface, the instant messaging client acquires ail first contacts, the géographie location information of the first contact being the specified area, and displays ail first contacts in the specified area in the form of a list with a preset number of first contacts per page.

Steps 509-511 are anaiogous to steps 304-306, and are not described herein any further.

It should be noted that upon logging in to the server, the instant messaging client stores géographie location information thereof on the server, and altematively may acquire géographie location information of contacts thereof. The contacts may include on-line or off-linc contacts. The géographie location information of the contacts is used for displaying the contacts locally based on géographie locations thereof. A range of contacts displayed based on the géographie location information may also be predefined on the instant messaging client as displaying ail contacts on the first interface or displaying only on-line contacts on the first interface,'which is not limited in this embodiment.

FIG 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an instant messaging client according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure. Referring to FIG 6, the instant messaging client according 30 to this embodiment includes:

a receiving module 601, configured to receive géographie location information of a contact

from a server, and a displaying module 602, configured to: upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, display the first interface, and display the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location Information, on the first interface; where the first interface is configured to 5 display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a preset map, and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.

FIG 7 is a schematic structural diagram of another instant messaging client according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure. Referring to FIG 7, the instant messaging client according 10 to this embodiment further includes:

a sending module 603, configured to send a request for géographie location information to the server.

Correspondingly, the receiving module 601 is configured to receive the géographie location information of the contact from the server, where the géographie location information is an 15 administrative région name received by the server, or the géographie location information is an administrative région name acquired by the server according to received current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact.

ln another embodiment, the géographie location information is the géographie location information of the contact sent by the server, or the géographie location information is determined 20 by the server according to the received administrative région name and the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact.

FIG 8 is a schematic structural diagram of still another instant messaging client according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure. Referring to FIG 8, the displaying module 602 includes: a request processing unit 602a and a request sending unit 602b.

The request processing unit 602a is configured to receive a request for operating a specifïed area of the first interface.

Tlie request sending unit 602b is configured to: upon the request processing unit 602a receives the request for operating a spccificd area of the first interface, send the request to ail first contacts, géographie location information of the first contact being the specifïed area.

FIG 9 is a schematic structural diagram of still another instant messaging client according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure. Referring to FIG 9, the displaying module 602 includes:

an acquiring unit 602c, configured to: acquire ali first contact when the instant messaging client receives a request for a list of contacts in a specified area of the first interface, géographie location information of the first contact being the specified area; and a displaying unit 602d, configured to display ail first contacts, acquired by the acquiring unit, 5 in the specified area in the form of a list with n preset number of first contacts per page.

In this embodiment, the instant messaging client may be specifically a mobile terminal or PC installed with an instant messaging client. The instant messaging client according to this embodiment is based on the same inventive concept as the method for displaying a contact providcd in the embodiments of the présent disclosure, where the spécifie implémentation is 10 elaborated in the method embodiments, which is not be detailed herein any further.

FIG 10 is n schematic structural diagram of a server according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure. Referring to FIG 10, the server according to this embodiment includes:

an acquiring module 1001, configured to acquire géographie location information of a contact; and a sending module 1002, configured to: upon receiving a request for géographie location information from an instant messaging client, send the géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging client, such that the instant messaging client displays the first interface upon receiving a request for displaying the first interface, and displays the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; where the 20 first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a preset map, and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.

FIG 11 is a schematic structural diagram of another server according to an embodiment of theprésentdisclosure.Referring toFIG II, theacquiring module 1001 includes:

a receiving unit 1001a, configured to receive an administrative région name input by the contact, and use the administrative région name as the géographie location information of the contact; or an acquiring unit 1001 b, configured to: acquire current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact; acquire a current administrative région name of the contact according 30 to the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact; and use the current administrative région name of the contact as the géographie location information.

FIG 12 is a schematic structural diagram of still another server according to an embodiment of the présent disclosure. Referring to FIG 12, the acquiring module 1001 includes:

an acquiring unit 1001c, configured to acquire current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact;

a judging unit lOOld, configured to acquire a current administrative région name of the contact according to the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact, and judge whether the current administrative région name of the contact is consistent with locally stored géographie location information of the contact;

a replacing unit 1001e, configured to: when the judging unit lOOld judges that the current administrative région name of the contact is inconsistent with the locally stored géographie location information of the contact, replace the locally stored géographie location information of the contact with the current administrative région name of the contact, and use the current administrative région name as the geographical location information of the contact.

The instant messaging client is such a mobile terminal as mobile phone, MP3 or PDÀ.

The server provided in this embodiment is based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiments. Therefore, the detailed implémentation may refer to the description of the method embodiments of the présent disclosure, which is not detailed here.

An embodiment of the présent disclosure further provides a contact display system. The system includes:

an instant messaging client, configured to: receive géographie location information of a contact from a server, and upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, display the first interface and display the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; where the first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map In scale to a preset map, and the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map; and a server, configured to: acquire géographie location information of a contact; and upon receiving a request for géographie location information from an instant messaging client, send the géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging client, such that, upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, the instant messaging client displays the first interface, and display the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location

information, on the first interface; where the first interface includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of ureas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.

The system provided in this embodiment includes the above-described instant messaging client and server, and is based on the same inventive concept as the method embodiment.

Therefore, the detailed implémentation may refer to the description of the method embodiments of the présent disclosure, which is not detailed here.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art should understand that ail or part of steps of the preceding methods may bc implcmented by hardware or hardware following instructions of programs. The programs may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and may be 10 executed by at least one processor. The storage medium may be a read-only memory, a magnetic disk, or a compact disc-read only memory.

Described above are merely preferred embodiments of the présent disclosure, but are not intended to limit the présent disclosure. Any modification, équivalent replacement, or improvement made without departing from the spirit and principle of the présent disclosure 15 should fall within the protection scope of the présent disclosure.

Claims (18)

1. What is claimcd is:

   1. A contact display method, comprising:

   acquiring, by an instant messaging client, géographie location information of a contact from a 5 server, and upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, displaying, by the instant messaging client, the first interface, and displaying the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; wherein the first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a preset map, and 10 the first interface comprises a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring, by nn instant messaging client, géographie location information of a contact from a server specifically comprises:

   sending a request for géographie location information to the server; and

   15 receiving the géographie location information of the contact from the server, wherein the géographie location information is nn administrative région name received by the server, or the géographie location information is an administrative région name acquîred by the server according to received current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact
3. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the géographie location information is 20 determined by the server according to the received administrative région name and the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contacL
4. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the displaying, by the instant messaging client, the first interface, and displaying the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface, the method further comprises:

   25 upon receiving a request for operating a specifïed area of the first interface, sending, by the instant messaging client, the request to ail first contacts, géographie location information of the first contact being the specifïed area.
5. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein after the displaying, by the instant messaging client, the first interface, and displaying the contact in a position, conesponding

   30 to the géographie location information, on the first interface, the method further comprises:

   upon receiving a request for a list of contacts in a specified area of the first interface, acquiring, by the instant messaging client, ail first contacts, the géographie location information of the first contact being the specified area, and displaying ail first contacts in the specified area in the form of a list with a preset number of first contacts per page.

   5
6. 6. A contact disp!ay method, comprising:

   acquiring, by a server, géographie location information of a contact; and upon receiving a request for géographie location information from an instant messaging client, sending the géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging client, such that the instant messaging client displays the first interface upon receiving a request for displaying the 10 first interface, and displays the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; wherein the first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a preset map, and the first interface comprises a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.

   15
7. 7. The method according to daim 6, wherein the acquiring, by a server, géographie location information of a contact specifically comprises:

   receiving, by the server, an administrative région name input b y the contact, and using the administrative région name as the géographie location information of the contact; or acquiring, b y the server, current IP address information or coordinate information of the 20 contact, acquiring a current administrative région name of the contact according to the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact, and using the current administrative région name of the contact as the géographie location information.
8. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the acquiring, by a server, géographie location information of a contact specifically comprises:

   25 acquiring, by the server, current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact, acquiring a current administrative région name of the contact according to the current IP address information or coordinate information of lhe contact, judging whether the cunent administrative région name of the contact is consistent with locally stored géographie location information of the contact, if inconsistent, replacing the locally stored géographie location 30 information of the contact with the current administrative région name of the contact, and using the current administrative région name as the geographical location information of the contact.
9. 9. An instant messaging client, comprising:

   a receiving module, configured to receive géographie location information of a contact from a server; and

   5 a displaying module, configured to: upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, display the first interface, and display the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; wherein the first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a preset map, and the first interface comprises a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an 10 administrative région in the preset map.
10. 10. The instant messaging client according to claim 9, further comprising:

    a sending module, configured to send n request for géographie location information to the server, wherein the receiving module is correspondingly configured to receive the géographie location 15 information of the contact from the server, wherein the géographie location information is an administrative région name received by the server, or the géographie location information is an administrative région name acquired by the server according to received current IP address information or coord inate information of the contact.
11. 11. The instant messaging client according to claim 9, wherein the géographie location 20 information is the géographie location information of the contact sent by the server, or the géographie location information is determined by the server according to a received administrative région name and current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact
12. 12. The instant messaging client according to claim 9, wherein the displaying module comprises: a request processing unit and a request sending unit; wherein

    25 the request processing unit is configured to receive a request for operating n specified area of the first interface; and the request sending unit is configured to: upon receiving the request for operating a specified area of the first interface, send the request to ail first contacts, géographie location information of the first contact being the specified area.

    30
13. 13. The instant messaging client according to any one of daims 9 to 12, wherein the displaying module comprises:

    an acquiring unit, configured to: when the instant messaging client receives a request for a list of contacts in a specified area of the first interface, acquire ail first contact, géographie location information of the first contact is the specified area; and

    5 a displaying unit, configured to display oil first contacts, acquired by the acquiring unit, in the specified area in the form of a preseï number of iists.
14. 14. The instant messaging client according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the instant messaging client is a mobile terminal.
15. 15. A server, comprising:

    10 an acquiring module, configured to acquire géographie location information of a contact; and a sending module, configured to: upon receiving a request for géographie location information from an instant messaging client, send the géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging client, such that the instant messaging client displays the first interface upon receiving q request for displaying the first interface, and displays the contact in a position, 15 corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; wherein the first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a preset map, and the first interface comprises a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the preset map.
16. 16. The server according to ciaim 15, wherein the acquiring module comprises:

    20 a receiving unit, configured to receive an administrative région name input b y the contact, and use the administrative région name as the géographie location information of the contact; or an acquiring unit, configured to: acquire current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact; acquire a current administrative région name of the contact according to the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact; and use the current 25 administrative région name of the contact as the géographie location information.
17. 17. The server according to claim 15, wherein the acquiring module comprises:

    an acquiring unit, configured to acquire current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact;

    o judging unit, configured to acquire a current administrative région name of the contact 30 according to the current IP address information or coordinate information of the contact, and judge whether the current administrative région name of the contact is consistent with locally stored géographie location information of the contact; and ' a replacing unit, configurcd to: when the judging unit judges that the current administrative région name of the contact is inconsistent with the locally stored géographie location information of 5 the contact, replace the locally stored géographie location Information of the contact with the current administrative région name of the contact, and use the administrative région name as the geographical location information of the contact.
18. 18. A contact display system, comprising:

    an instant messaging client, configured to: rcceive géographie location information of a contact 10 from a server; and upon recciving a request for displaying a first interface, display the first interface and display the contact in a position, corresponding to the géographie location information, on the first interface; wherein the first interface is configured to display contacts according to géographie locations, the first interface is a map in scale to a preset map, and the first interface comprises a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région in the 15 preset map; and a server, configured to: acquire géographie location information of a contact; upon recciving a request for géographie location information from un instant messaging client, send the géographie location information of the contact to the instant messaging client, such thaï, upon receiving a request for displaying a first interface, the instant messaging client displays the first interface, and 20 display the contact in a position, conespondîng to the géographie location information, on the first interface; wherein the first interface comprises a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to an administrative région In the preset map.