Patent ID: 7921368

Claim:
A computer implemented method of providing, by an awareness client application process executing on a local computer system having at least one processor and a computer readable memory, a local user of said local computer system with updated status information regarding at least one remote user, comprising: obtaining, from an associated awareness server application process executing on a server computer system, an online status of said remote computer system user; presenting a representation of said remote computer system user, wherein said representation of said remote computer system user includes an online status icon associated with said remote computer system user, wherein said online status icon of said remote computer system user includes a graphical representation of whether said remote computer system user is currently available for an instant messaging communication session; obtaining an updated status message associated with said remote computer system user, wherein said updated status message includes personal detail information and activity information regarding said remote computer system user other than said online status of said remote computer system user; and modifying said online status icon associated with said remote computer system user to further include an additional visual indication that said updated status message associated with said remote computer system user is available for viewing by said local user of said local computer system, wherein said additional visual indication is separate and visually independent from said graphical representation of whether said remote computer system user is currently available for an instant messaging communication session also included in said online status icon, and wherein said modifying comprises superimposing said additional visual indication over at least a portion of said online status icon without presenting any contents of said updated status message to said local user of said local computer system.