Patent ID: 7749084

Claim:
A gaming console, comprising: a memory; a microprocessor; a network interface; and an instantiated live network explorer module; the instantiated live network explorer module providing a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface: identifying a user of the console; obtaining by way of the network interface a first list including friends of the identified user and groups to which the identified user belongs; displaying to the user of the console in a corresponding display a first, centrally positioned node representative of the user, the first node being centrally positioned within the display, and additional nodes each positioned in a surrounding position of the display to collectively surround the centrally positioned first node, each additional surrounding node being representative of a friend of said user from the list or a group from the list to which said user belongs; receiving from the user a selection of one of the displayed additional surrounding nodes, the selected node corresponding to one of a friend of the user and a group of the user; and moving the selected node from the surrounding position thereof to the central position of the display.