Patent ID: 7120672

Claim:
A method of sharing information in an instant messaging environment, comprising the computer-implemented steps of: providing an instant messaging interface for a first instant messaging application, wherein the instant messaging interface for the first instant messaging application includes a first region and a second region; providing an instant messaging interface for a second instant messaging application, wherein the instant messaging interface for the second instant messaging application includes a third region and a fourth region; wherein all content entered in the second region is displayed in substantially real-time in the fourth region; wherein all content entered in the fourth region is displayed in substantially real-time in the second region; wherein content in the first region is not automatically displayed in the instant messaging interface for the second instant messaging application; maintaining a list of items for a user of the first instant messaging application; receiving user input that selects a portion of content displayed within the first region of the instant messaging interface of the first instant messaging application; wherein the content displayed in the first region includes a set of items; wherein the portion selected by the user input includes a subset of items from the first set of items; in response to said receiving, storing data that reflects said selected portion of content; wherein the step of storing data includes updating said list of items to include the subset of items; and without affecting content displayed in said second and fourth regions, causing information to be displayed in said third region based on said stored data, wherein said data displayed in said third region is related to said portion of content selected in said first region; wherein said data displayed in the third region includes information relating to each item in said list of items.