Patent ID: 7774711

Claim:
A computer-implemented method performed by a processor for categorizing users of a communication system, the method comprising: maintaining, in a storage device and on behalf of a first user, a list of identifiers representing users of the communication system and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list, the list including two or more categories into which listed identifiers are categorized based on attributes associated with the listed identifiers, each of the two or more categories reflecting attributes other than online presence; accessing, from the storage device, at least one attribute associated with an identifier, wherein the identifier is included within the list but not categorized within either of the two categories, and online presence information for the identifier is made perceivable through the list; accessing attributes stored relative to at least one of the two or more categories included within the list; comparing the at least one attribute associated with the identifier to the stored attributes; automatically identifying, based on results of the comparison and without user input, at least one of the two or more categories included within the list as corresponding to the identifier; and categorizing the identifier into the identified category.