Patent ID: 8001133

Claim:
A method of managing a contact list in a communication system, said method being performed by a server of the communication system, which is based on a client-server architecture, the contact list being stored in the server, said method comprising: a) in response to user manipulation, generating a contact identification (ID) representing a contact person in the communication system, and presenting the contact ID on the contact list; b) keeping track of a contact frequency between the user and the contact person; c) selecting an attribute in accordance with the contact frequency; d) presenting the attribute on the contact list, such that the attribute is associated with the contact ID, the attribute being presented on the contact list when the contact person is logged into the communication system; e) generating a client account for the user, and storing the contact list, the contact ID, the contact frequency, and a record of the selected attribute in the client account; f) detecting when the contact person logs out of the communication system, and one of removing and only partially presenting the selected attribute on the contact list; g) in response to the contact person again logging into the communication system, retrieving the record of the selected attribute and fully presenting the selected attribute on the contact list, such that the selected attribute is associated with the contact ID; and h) when there is a communication session between the user and the contact person, increasing the contact frequency by a predetermined amount, and if the increased contact frequency exceeds a predetermined value, selecting an updated attribute in accordance with the increased contact frequency, updating the record of the attribute to correspond to the updated attribute, and presenting the updated attribute on the contact list, such that the updated attribute is associated with the contact ID.