Patent ID: 8140633

Claim:
A method for forwarding instant messages, comprising: receiving, by a primary instant messaging processing client device, an incoming instant message from a sender's instant messaging processing device; detecting by the primary instant messaging processing client device a selection of forwarding of instant messages to at least one of a plurality of secondary instant messaging processing client devices; and automatically forwarding, by the primary instant messaging processing client device, the incoming instant message received from the sender's instant messaging processing device to a secondary instant messaging processing client device based upon a forwarding priority order and having a currently available presence to receive a forwarded instant message, wherein the secondary instant messaging processing client device is selected from the plurality of secondary instant messaging processing client devices, wherein the forwarding priority order is determined prior to receiving the incoming instant message and is set by a recipient user of the primary instant messaging processing client device, wherein the secondary instant messaging processing client is determined to have a currently available presence based on at least received confirmation that the secondary instant messaging processing client is presently connected to an instant messaging network and confirmation that a user of the secondary instant messaging processing client is currently available to receive an instant message.