Patent ID: 7620902

Claim:
A computing device comprising a processing unit configured according to computer executable instructions, a memory, and a group interaction application comprising the computer executable instructions maintained in the memory and executed on the processor to present a graphical user interface to enable interaction among defined members in social networks, comprising: a first display area having: a first section including at least one action icon selectable by a first member, the at least one action icon including a launch social space icon, a launch group activity icon, and an invite new member icon, and a second section including: at least one social space icon, each at least one social space icon corresponding to a social network to which the first member belongs and providing a link to a social space corresponding to the at least one social space icon, the link to the social space comprising a link to a social space window; a second display area including a side bar for providing social network status, the side bar having a user-selectable icon corresponding to each at least one social space icon, the user-selectable icon presenting status information of the each at least one social space icon including a numerical indication of a fraction of total group members active in the each at least one social space, wherein if the first member hovers a cursor over the user-selectable icon, a presence indication of active group members in the each at least one social space is provided; and a third display area for providing a notification of a change associated with one of the at least one social space, the notification including: an iconic representation of the one of the at least one social space, a textual description of the change, an user selectable entry point to an activity or a file associated with the change, and an expandable options menu, wherein: the second display area is visible independent of a visible presence of the first or the third display areas, and the third display area is visible when the change associated with the one of the at least one social space occurs and one of: a new member of the one of the at least social space activates, the first member is active in the one of the at least one social space, or the first member is operating a computing device for accessing the one of the at least one social space.