Patent ID: 7284034
Filing Date: 2007-10-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of routing instant messages, the method comprising: determining to send an instant message to an intended recipient based on user recipient availability information provided by a user recipient presence service; defining, at runtime by a configurable delivery manager, a delivery policy to be used to route an instant message to an intended recipient of the instant message, wherein the delivery policy is based upon a configuration of the delivery manager, a user configuration of the intended recipient, and one or more available delivery mechanisms; displaying to a user sender, through a user interface, the user recipient availability information and while not contemporaneously displaying through the user interface any delivery mechanisms associated with the intended recipient, wherein the displaying allows for a user to select a user recipient for sending an instant message to and wherein a delivery policy is then defined for the selected user recipient; and routing the instant message to the intended recipient using the delivery policy.