Patent ID: 7444297

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for sharing wish list information between buddies, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining a plurality of wish lists for a plurality of users, each of said wish lists being associated with a specific user by attaching said wish list to an instant messaging account, and comprising at least items offered for sale by a third party not associated with a wish list or buddy list, said items being identified by said associated user as being desired by that associated user; maintaining a plurality of buddy lists for a plurality of users, each buddy list being associated with a user's instant messaging account and comprising a listing of other users identified by the associated user as having a status such that they can read the associated user's wish list; making each wish list associated with each user automatically viewable to that associated user and to each of those user on that associated user's buddy list, and only to that associated user and to each of those users on that associated user's buddy list; receiving requests from multiple users to contribute funds towards a purchase of an item on an associated user's wish list as a gift for the associated user, said multiple users being on said associated user's buddy list; said multiple users contributing funds toward said purchase; storing an indication of an amount of contributed funds; electronically executing the purchase of the item as a gift for the second user when said contributed funds equal a purchase price of said item; and updating said second user's wish list to delete the purchased item.