Patent ID: 8352566

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: maintaining, in a storage device, a group of instant messaging participants that has a membership that includes at least one instant messaging participant selected for inclusion in the group by a founding instant messaging identity, the group being founded by the founding instant messaging identity; enabling, with at least one processor, a display of an instant messaging participant list that reflects online profile information for other instant messaging identities included in the instant messaging participant list and enables the founding instant messaging identity to initiate instant messaging sessions with the other instant messaging identities included in the instant messaging participant list, the displayed instant messaging participant list including a representation of the group of instant messaging participants that reflects the membership of the group of instant messaging participants; in response to the founding instant messaging identity adding a new member to the membership of the group of instant messaging participants, automatically adding a representation of the new member to the displayed representation of the group of instant messaging participants on the displayed instant messaging participant list; and enabling members of the group of instant messaging participants to initiate instant messaging sessions with the other instant messaging identities, including the new member, included in the group of instant messaging participants; wherein the founding instant messaging identity is the only member authorized to add members to or delete members from the group of instant messaging participants.