Collaborative application with indicator of concurrent users

Abstract

A system, method, and processor readable medium containing processor readable program code embodied therein are provided that enable network users to view one or more network user's status and to establish communications with the one or more network users using a user indicator in an electronic document (e.g., electronic mail message, hypertext markup language document). The user indicator may be a network user's login identification presented as a hypertext link to one or more communication options. The system may include an identification module for identifying the one or more network users. The identification module may identify a network user's login identification (e.g., the network user's name, employee number) and provide the network user's status using the user indicator. A status module, responsive to the identification module, provides the status of the network users. The status module may provide a visual indication of a network user's status using, for example, color coding, formatting, symbols, etc. A communication module for establishing a communication link with the one or more network users using the user indicator may also be provided. The communication module may be used to establish a variety of communications with one or more of the network users. For example, a user may chat, telephone, transmit an electronic mail message, share one or more application programs, whiteboard presentations, facsimile, or page to one or more of the network users by selecting the user indicator using a conventional computer mouse or keyboard.