A method includes receiving a name associated with a user on a remote computer, the name including location data and a hash value uniquely associated with a data object representing the user and retrieving the data object from one of a local cache based on the hash value or a location identified by the location data. A system for managing objects representing users in an instant messaging conversation includes a data object representing a user, the data object having an object name including a location identifier and a hash value, the object name allowing, and an object store operable to retrieve the data object from a location identified by the location identifier and store the data object in a local cache based on the hash value.