Patent ID: 8825778
Filing Date: 2014-09-02
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for allowing selective display of past instant messages, comprising: establishing an instant messaging session among at least two participants, each participant having an associated computer system, all of the associated computing systems in communication across a network; displaying a list of instant messages between the at least two participants on monitors associated with the computing systems; selecting at least one instant message from said list of instant messages using an access control, wherein said access control comprises a selection identifier displayed next to each instant message in said list of instant messages and indicates which messages are to be shared and which messages are to be kept private; inviting at least one new participant to join the instant messaging session; and when the selected at least one instant message corresponds to the at least one new participant, displaying the selected at least one instant message on a monitor used by the at least one new participant.