Patent ID: 8954865
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing, by at least one processor, a stand-alone graphical object that conveys information regarding one or more contacts of a user in at least one messaging communications program that facilitates communications across a network, the stand-alone graphical object being configured to allow the user to perform an action otherwise available through an interface of the at least one messaging communications program regardless of whether the interface of the at least one messaging communications program is running when an operation corresponding to the action is performed; receiving status information regarding the one or more contacts of the user; and updating, regardless of whether the interface of the at least one messaging communications program is running, a visual representation of the stand-alone graphical object in response to the received status information, such that the visual representation of the stand-alone graphical object conveys the status information of the one or more contacts.