Patent ID: 7337210

Claim:
A method for performing instant messaging in a first computer system attached to a network of computer systems, comprising the steps of: receiving incoming instant messages for a first user in said first computer system from users of other computer systems attached to said network, said other computer systems attached to said network executing respective instant messaging applications; sending outgoing instant messages to said respective instant messaging applications executing in said other computer systems attached to said network; receiving a request for availability status of said first user from an instant messaging application executing in a second computer system attached to said network; and responsive to receiving said request for availability status, reporting availability status of said first user to said instant messaging application executing in said second computer system attached to said network, wherein said step of reporting availability status comprises automatically inferring whether said first user is available by calling a calendar application to access calendar data concerning said first user stored in at least one calendar data file maintained by said calendar application, said calendar application being an application independent of said instant messaging application.