Patent ID: 8099667

Claim:
A method for permitting a user of an electronic network system to track the logon status of selected co-users of the electronic network system, comprising the steps of: (a) authenticating the user using a logon system; (b) associating an identification list of selected co-users with the user; (c) accessing the identification list; (d) comparing the identification list to one or more logon records for each of the selected co-users, wherein the one or more logon records are maintained by the logon system; (e) based on the comparison of the identification list to the one or more logon records, indicating to the user the logon status of each of the selected co-users on the identification list; and (f) repeating steps (d) and (e) under any of the following conditions: (1) periodically; (2) after any change in the logon status of co-users of the system; or (3) after any change in the logon status of the selected co-users on the identification list: thereby tracking the logon status of each of the selected co-users of the electronic network system.