Patent ID: 7185057

Claim:
A method for specifying messaging session outputs, comprising the steps of: receiving a message entry associated with a particular topic from among a plurality of available topics from a sending user who is from among a plurality of users participating in a messaging session, wherein said sending user inserts said message entry in said messaging session in association with said particular tonic, wherein at least one receiving user from among said plurality of users participating in said messaging session is intended to receive said message entry, wherein said messaging session facilitates network based communication via an instant messaging channel between said plurality of users; and assigning a separate output attribute to said message entry for each said receiving user, wherein each said separate output attribute is assigned according to a plurality of receiving user specified output preferences for said particular topic, wherein each of said plurality of receiving user specified output preferences is associated with one from among each said receiving user, such that output of said message entry is uniquely specified for each said receiving user.