Patent ID: 7823073

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: logging on to a presence-based network by a user using a computing device including a processor executing instructions stored in a computer-readable storage media, the processor being configured by the instructions for implementing an instant messaging application used to perform the logging on; ascertaining a physical location of the computing device provided to the presence-based network; defining a group to which the user belongs, said group being defined by the instant messaging application for automatically identifying members of the group to the user when the members are logged on to the presence-based network, wherein the presence-based network determines location information associated with one or more members of the group who are logged onto the presence-based network; identifying a plurality of physical places as contacts in the instant messaging application, the user able to send messages addressed to the plurality of physical places identified as contacts using the instant messaging application; and sending a message from the computing device addressed to a particular one of the physical places identified as a contact by the instant messaging application, those members of the group determined by the presence-based network to be at a location of the particular physical place receiving the message through the presence-based network, and members of the group determined by the presence-based network to not be at the location of the particular physical place not receiving the message, the computing device not necessarily being at the location of the particular physical place.