Method and apparatus for restricting instant messaging during a scheduled event

A network system including a server to which client devices are couplable, the server comprising:

• a server processor;
• a server storage, coupled to the server processor, containing application code that when executed by the server processor enables the following actions:
• hosting, by the server, an instant messaging session in which the client devices participate, the client devices being operable by respective client device users;
• storing, by the server, calendars of events for the respective client device users, the calendars including a list of attendees for a particular event;
• storing, by the server, IM restriction information that limits IM activity of attendees during the particular event;
• monitoring, by the server, the calendars of events to determine if any of the client device users is scheduled as an attendee for the particular event at the present time;
• and
• transmitting, by the server, the IM restriction information to the client devices of users scheduled as attendees of the particular event to limit the IM activity of the attendees during the event.

A computer program product stored on a computer operable medium for instant messaging (IM), the computer program product comprising:

• instructions for hosting, by a server, an instant messaging session in which client devices participate, the client devices being operable by respective client device users;
• instructions for storing, by the server, calendars of events for the respective client device users, the calendars including a list of attendees for a particular event;
• instructions for storing, by the server, IM restriction information that limits IM activity of attendees during the particular event;
• instructions for monitoring, by the server, the calendars of events to determine if any of the client device users is scheduled as an attendee for the particular event at the present time;
• and
• instructions for transmitting, by the server, the IM restriction information to the client devices of users scheduled as attendees of the particular event to limit the IM activity of the attendees during the event.