Patent ID: 8132110

Claim:
A computer implemented method for intelligently enabling menu choices for a first client system storing an instant messaging application, the method comprising: rendering, on the first client system, an address book user interface comprising information related to one or more contacts; providing, to an instant messaging host system in communication with the first client system via a communication link, an indication of a selection of a contact from the address book user interface, wherein an email address is associated with the selected contact; rendering, on the first client system, a notification requesting additional information when the instant messaging host system is not capable of detecting the presence state of the selected contact; receiving, based on a determination of the presence state of the selected contact made by the instant messaging host system, information indicating when the selected contact is in one of a plurality of presence states, the plurality of presence states including at least one of an online state or an offline state, the presence state being determined by stripping a domain name from the email address to reverse look-up the presence state of the selected contact, wherein the selected contact is in the online state when a second client device associated with the selected contact has established a persistent connection to the instant messaging host system, and the selected contact is in the offline state when the second client device has not established a persistent connection to the instant messaging host system; enabling one or more menu options based upon the presence state of the selected contact determined by the instant messaging host system, wherein the enabled menu options are different among the plurality of presence states; and presenting, on the first client system, the enabled menu options to a user in a user interface.