Systems and Methods for Conveying Information to an Instant Messaging Client

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.