Patent ID: 7447996

Claim:
A computer apparatus, the computer apparatus comprising: a computer-usable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to implement a device for displaying gender-based avatar representations of users in instant messaging communications, the device comprising: a username analysis component implemented within an instant messaging system providing for communication between a first user and a second user each having a user account registered with the instant messaging system, the username analysis component performing an anthroponomastic analysis of a username for the first user to assign a probable gender for the first user, the probable gender being selected from male, female, and neutral; and an interface component implemented within a user interface provided by an instant messaging client application to the first user on a first client system and the second user on a second client system when the first user and the second user are participating in a communication session with one another via the instant messaging system, the interface component displaying the username for the first user and a gender-based avatar representation indicative of the probable gender for the first user to the second user in a current contact area of a communication session window provided by the user interface.