Patent ID: 7328247

Claim:
A computer processing network for providing an instant messaging (IM) environment, said network comprising: a plurality of client computer processing systems enabled to send and receive IM communications; connectivity to a plurality of public IM services, said public IM services being remote from said client computer processing systems and being independently configured to enable alternative IM capabilities for exchanges of said IM communications with respect to said client computer processing systems, said plurality of public IM services using a plurality of different public IM protocols for exchanging IM messages; and an IM server appliance remote from but operatively coupling said plurality of client computer processing systems to said plurality of public IM services for at least one of one-on-one and group communication, wherein said IM server appliance includes: an IM server for directing said IM communications between said plurality of client computer processing systems and said plurality of public IM services; a message logging server coupled to said IM server, said message logging server creating a log entry of said IM communications and storing said entry in a data store coupled thereto; and a plurality of public IM service gateways coupled to said IM server and said public IM services, said public IM service gateways translating messages from a native IM protocol employed within said IM server appliance to a public IM protocol executing on said public IM services, wherein said public IM service gateways are configured to conduct said IM communications with said public IM services using said different public IM protocols and to conduct said IM communications with said IM server using said native IM protocol, such that said IM server directs said IM communications to said client computer processing systems employing said native IM protocol.