Patent ID: 7275215

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: categorizing two or more instant messaging contact names for a single individual into a single meta contact wherein said two or more instant messaging contact names are associated with different instant messaging services; causing the meta contact to be displayed in a contact list, wherein the contact list includes a first section identifying individuals registered as “online” and a second section identifying individuals registered as “offline,” and wherein said meta contact is displayed in the first section of a contact list when one of the two or more instant messaging contact names registers as “online” even though a different one of the two or more instant messaging contact names registers as “offline;” causing other instant messaging contact names to be displayed alongside the meta contact in the contact list, wherein the other instant messaging contact names are not categorized into meta contacts; receiving a request from a sending user to transmit an instant message directed to said meta contact; and selecting one of the two or more instant messaging contact names within said meta contact to which to transmit said instant message based on a specified prioritization scheme configurable by the sending user, wherein said prioritization scheme is based on an order in which said instant messaging contact names appear within a meta contact list and wherein said order is graphically displayed beneath said meta contact within an instant messaging contact list.