Patent ID: 7281221

Claim:
A computer implemented method for facilitating the exchange of information between users in a networked computer environment, comprising: displaying a user interface on a display device, said user interface comprised of one or more icons, each said icon representing a physical locality comprised of a plurality of physical areas, wherein each icon is divided into a plurality of display areas, wherein each display area represents one of said physical areas; said icons displayed with a predetermined appearance depending upon the status of a physical locality such that the icons flash at a predetermined rate depending upon the status of the physical location; receiving one or more user inputs directly using said one or more icons to add information within one or more of said icons about the status of one or more locations, wherein said one or more user inputs are received from one or more clients located at said one or more locations; storing said user inputs in a memory; and directly selecting one or more icons to display information about one or more physical locations.