Patent ID: 8762475

Claim:
A method for providing integrated multi-session instant messaging, said method comprising: generating a user interface on a computing device of a local user, said user interface comprising a single instant messaging window, said messaging window having a window height and a window width; defining a conversation display area in the messaging window as a function of the window height and the window width; receiving instant messages associated with a plurality of concurrent instant messaging sessions between the local user and a plurality of remote users, wherein each messaging session is between the local user and a different one of the remote users; generating, for each of the plurality of concurrent instant messaging sessions, a distinct corresponding conversation pane within the conversation display area of the messaging window, each conversation pane having a message component for displaying text from at least one of the received instant messages associated with the corresponding messaging session; and associating a set of the conversation panes with the conversation display area, said set having a pre-determined number of conversation panes specified by the user, wherein the conversation panes of said set are horizontal tabs in the conversation display area that are sequentially stacked along the height of the messaging window so that the message components of the conversation panes of said set are simultaneously viewable in the conversation display area of the messaging window.