Patent ID: 7917583

Claim:
A method, comprising: receiving a first video transmission at a network terminal of a first user; displaying the first video transmission to the first user; receiving a request at the network terminal to send a communication; displaying, to the first user in response to the received request, information identifying a second user and a status of the second user, wherein the information is displayed to the first user simultaneously with the first video transmission; receiving the communication and a destination of the communication from the first user, the destination including an identification of the second user; sending a first message, the first message including the identification of the second user, the communication, and data identifying the first video transmission; and detecting a change in a status of the first user, the detecting comprising: detecting whether the first user has used the network terminal within a specified period of time; detecting whether a commercial break is in progress in the first video transmission displayed to the first user; prompting the first user to act when the first user has not used the network terminal within the specified period of time; changing the status of the first user when the first user fails to act in response to the prompting; and modifying an availability of the first user to receive messages when the commercial break is in progress.