Patent ID: 7152093

Claim:
A system for real-time communication between a plurality of separated users, comprising (a) at least one communication device for use by each of the plurality of users and each having an associated display and at least one associated client program; (b) at least one communication network to which at least first and second users can connect by logging in using their respective communication devices; (c) at least one service record for the first and second logged in users, each service record including user identification information and an associated location of at least one client program associated with the communication device where at least one user logged in; (d) a plurality of service servers, separate from each other and the communication devices, each replicating and having stored thereon at least one service record for the first user; (e) a plurality of service servers, separate from each other and the communication devices, each replicating and having stored thereon at least one service record for the second user (f) computer software for (i) causing display of a user identifier for at least the second user in a personalized list including a graphical icon representing at least one user on the display of at least the first user's communication device, and (ii) generating a signal in response to a first user selecting the displayed second user's identifier; and (g) collaboration initiation software that functions (i) to cause the retrieving of necessary addressing information of the second user, and (ii) to cause the establishing of a connection between the first and second users, and thereby (iii) to enable real-time communication including at least real-time text messages to be displayed on the display of at least one user, wherein the system is configured to indicate to the first user whether another user is not logged in and wherein the system is further configured to register the service capabilities for each user and to establish communications between the users based on the registered service capabilities.