Abstract: A system to monitor and report the use of communication software applications in a computing environment including an instant messaging system, that provides local users with information describing detected uses of communication software applications by remote users. The monitored communication applications may include, for example, electronic mail, voice over IP applications, on-line meetings, and other specific types of communication applications, as well as instant messaging activities. The system potentially stores specific information regarding each use of the monitored communication applications, and sends the communication application information to one or more server process that stores the information in association with a user identifier provided with the information.

Abstract: A system for providing a user status message in an instant messaging system that permits editing of the user status message by the owner of the status message and other users, and that displays information in the status message regarding the editing history of the status message. An edit history for each status message is provided, including a date and time stamp associated with each of a number of entries within the status message. Each entry in the status message is further provided with an indication of the user that authored the entry. The owner of the status message and users other than the owner of the status message are permitted to add entries to the status message through interfaces provided by the disclosed system. The system may further provide the ability to include links to additional information within the status message entries based on detection of strings of adjacent characters having a predetermined capitalization format.

Abstract: A system for providing a local awareness client program user with document access information describing accesses to documents by remote users. The system provides document access information describing the documents accessed by one or more remote users, the applications used to access those documents, the times the documents were accessed, and/or other information describing the documents or the access to such documents made by the remote users.

Abstract: A system for providing a local computer user with detailed activity information regarding remote users, in order to assist the local user in determining whether to initiate a communication session with a remote user. The system provides activity information describing the number of instant messaging sessions one or more remote users are currently involved in, the identities of participants in those sessions, activity levels, time period information, and other information. The system further provides detailed activity information describing recent instant messaging sessions of one or more remote users.