Patent ID: 7606862

Claim:
A computer implemented method for managing user status values in an instant messaging system, wherein the user status values indicate an availability to participate in an instant messaging session, the computer implemented method comprising: receiving a first request from a second user to designate a do not disturb status that is associated with the second user such that a group of first users cannot initiate a new instant messaging session with the second user, wherein the group of first users comprises a buddy list of the second user; receiving a second request from the second user to designate a subset of the group of first users such that the subset of the group of first users is authorized to initiate the new instant messaging session with the second user while a remainder of the group of first users cannot initiate the new instant messaging session with the second user; the second user receiving a request from a first user of the group of first users to initiate the new instant messaging session with the second user; determining whether the second user has designated the do not disturb status; in response to determining that the second user has designated the do not disturb status, determining whether the first user of the group of first users is included in the subset of the group of first users; in response to determining that the first user is not included in the subset of the group of first users, denying the request from the first user to initiate the new instant messaging session with the second user, and displaying a message to the first user that the new instant messaging session cannot be initiated; and in response to determining that the first user is included in the subset of the group of first users, displaying chat session windows for the first user and the second user for initiating the new instant messaging session with the second user.