Patent ID: 8037139

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for switching a participant list of potential message recipients from a first messaging mode to a second messaging mode, the method comprising: displaying a participant list in a first messaging mode associated with general-purpose instant messaging communications; receiving, from a user, an indication to switch the participant list to a second messaging mode associated with special-purpose instant messaging communications; transforming the participant list from the first messaging mode to the second messaging mode in response to the received indication, the participant list displayed in the second messaging mode including information that is not included in the participant list displayed in the first messaging mode; activating, in response to the transformation, a control related to the second messaging mode that enables the user to initiate a function specific to the second messaging mode; and displaying the participant list in the second messaging mode, wherein receiving, from a user, an indication to switch the participant list to a second messaging mode comprises receiving, from a user, an indication to perform a function associated with the special-purpose instant messaging communications.