Systems and methods for conveying information to an instant messaging client

Abstract

A method comprising: providing a first client of an instant messaging service, the first client enabling a data service; receiving a request for the data service from a second client of the instant messaging service; and rendering client-controlled information regarding the first client available for persistent conveyance to the second client, the client-controlled information regarding the first client including data related to the data service. This allows a user associated with the second client to become aware of the data in a non-intrusive manner.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for execution by a first client of an instant messaging service, comprising:
 obtaining data from a data source; 
 causing client-controlled information regarding the first client to be included in a contact list for a second client of the instant messaging service when a data service associated with the first client is requested by the second client; and 
 causing the client-controlled information regarding the first client to include said data. 
 
     
     
       2. The method defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a generic address associated with the first client. 
 
     
     
       3. The method defined in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 using the generic address to identify the first client to the instant messaging service. 
 
     
     
       4. The method defined in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 informing the second client of the generic address associated with the first client. 
 
     
     
       5. The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein said obtaining is triggered by instantiation of the first client. 
     
     
       6. The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein said obtaining comprises pulling said data from the data source. 
     
     
       7. The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein said obtaining comprises receiving said data that is pushed from the data source. 
     
     
       8. The method defined in  claim 7 , further comprising communicating with the data source to cause said data to be pushed from the data source. 
     
     
       9. The method defined in  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said obtaining:
 receiving and storing a client-specific address associated with at least one authorized client. 
 
     
     
       10. The method defined in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving a client-specific address associated with the second client; 
 determining whether the client-specific address associated with the second client matches the client-specific address of at least one of the at least authorized client, 
 wherein said causing is performed only if the client-specific address associated with the second client marches the client-specific address of at least one of the at least one authorized client. 
 
     
     
       11. A method for execution by each respective first client from a plurality of first clients of an instant messaging service, comprising:
 obtaining respective data from a respective data source; 
 causing client-controlled information regarding the respective first client to be included in a respective contact list for a respective second client of the instant messaging service when a data service associated with the respective first client is requested by the respective second client; and 
 causing the client-controlled information regarding the respective first client to include said respective data. 
 
     
     
       12. The method defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 creating a plurality of specific addresses respectively associated with the plurality of first clients. 
 
     
     
       13. The method defined in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 using the plurality of specific addresses to respectively identify the plurality of first clients to the instant messaging service. 
 
     
     
       14. The method defined in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 informing each of the second clients of the respective one of the plurality of first clients. 
 
     
     
       15. The method defined in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 creating a generic address collectively associated with the plurality of first clients. 
 
     
     
       16. The method defined in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 using the generic address to collectively identify the plurality of first clients to the instant messaging service. 
 
     
     
       17. The method defined in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 informing each of the second clients of the generic address.