Patent ID: 8997007
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for indicating user availability, the method comprising: providing for display at a first client device associated with a first user, by at least one of one or more computing devices, one or more graphical representations associated with one or more users available to participate in a first synchronous communication session that enables communication between different client devices; receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, from the first client device, a selection of a graphical representation of a second user to engage with a second client device in the first synchronous communication session; determining that the second user is currently engaged in a second synchronous communication session that is different from the first synchronous communication session; and responsive to receiving, from the first client device, the selection of the graphical representation of the second user to engage with the second client device in the first synchronous communication session, determining that the second user is currently engaged in the second synchronous communication session that is different from the first synchronous communication session, coupling, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the first client device to at least one of the first and second synchronous communication sessions, wherein coupling the first client device to the at least one of the first and second synchronous communication sessions allows the first client device to join the second synchronous communication session and communicate with the second client device in the second synchronous communication session.