Patent ID: 7062533

Claim:
A method, in at least one server system for enabling at least one messaging session via a network between a plurality of client systems communicatively connected to said network, for specifying output of monitored user participation in said messaging session, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring, at said server system, a time status for at least one first user logged on at at least one first client system from among said plurality of client systems, wherein said time status comprises at least one from among a period of time said first user has been logged on at said first client system, a period of time said first user has remained inactive from participation in said messaging session while logged on at said first client system, and a period of time said first user has participated in said messaging session; assigning, at said server system, a separate output attribute from among a plurality of distinct graphical output attributes to represent said time status for output to each of a plurality of other users at a selection of said plurality of client systems according to each separate output preference from among a plurality of distinct graphical output attributes for each of said plurality of other users; and transmitting, from said server system, each said separate output attribute to each of said selection of said plurality of client systems for specifying at least one graphical output attribute of an online representation of said first user within a separate user interface at each of said selection of said plurality of client systems.