Patent ID: 9021031
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A machine-implemented method for selectively setting an availability of a user with respect to one or more contacts within a messaging service, the method comprising: identifying a user being logged into a messaging service and providing a set of two or more statuses selectable by the user while the user is logged into the messaging service, wherein each status of the set of two or more statuses is associated with a unique visual indication, wherein the messaging service maintains a list of a plurality of contacts associated with the user, the messaging service providing a normal mode and a selective availability mode, wherein while the user is in the normal mode, an availability status of the user is in a first status of the set of two or more statuses selectable by the user with respect to all of the plurality of contacts while the user is logged into the messaging service, and wherein while the user is in the selective availability mode, the availability status of the user is individually selectable from the set of two or more statuses with respect to each individual contact of the plurality of contacts, wherein the two or more statuses include at least an available status and an unavailable status, and wherein while the availability status of the user is in the available status with respect to a contact, the contact is displayed a first visual indication indicating to the contact that the user is logged onto the service and available for communication and the contact is able to communicate with the user, and while the availability status of the user is in the unavailable status with respect to a contact, the user is treated as being logged out of the messaging service with respect to the contact, such that the contact is provided with a second visual indication with respect to the user, the second visual indication indicating that the user is logged out of the service and not available for communication and the contact is not able to initiate communication with the user and is prohibited from communicating with the user through the messaging service, while the user remains logged into the messaging service; receiving an indication of the user entering the selective availability mode while the user is logged into the messaging service; and setting the availability status of the user at the messaging service to a selected status of the set of two or more statuses with respect to each of the plurality of contacts in response to receiving the indication, wherein the availability status of the user with respect to at least one contact of the plurality of contacts is set to the unavailable status and the availability status of the user with respect to at least another contact of the plurality of contacts is set to another status of the two or more statuses, wherein setting the availability status of the user with respect to a contact comprises displaying the unique visual indication associated with the availability status to the contact.