Patent ID: 7831917

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: at a server computer, sending to a plurality of client devices associated with computer users in an ongoing online discussion information corresponding to: a geographic street map, icons for at least two meeting spots to be overlaid on the geographic street map, wherein the meeting spots have physical locations represented on the geographic street map, a plurality of icons representing at least some of the computer users in the ongoing online discussion, to be displayed at a same time as the geographic street map, wherein the at least some of the computer users are currently entered into two or more of the same meeting spots represented on the geographic street map, and an icon to initiate online communications between a respective client device and a first currently selected meeting spot, wherein the online communications is selected from the group consisting of: instant messaging, audio chat, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony, and video chat; receiving a request to initiate online communications between the first currently selected meeting spot and at least one client device in the ongoing online discussion in response to an activation of the icon to initiate online communications; and initiating online communications between the first currently selected meeting spot and the at least one client device in the ongoing online discussion while maintaining the ongoing online discussion.