Patent ID: 8554849

Claim:
A computer implemented method comprising: receiving, at a computer system on which an instant messaging application is executing, a first instant message in an instant messaging conversation involving a first instant messaging identifier and a second instant messaging identifier, the received first instant message being addressed to the first instant messaging identifier and from the second instant messaging identifier; determining that no instant messages addressed to the first instant messaging identifier and from the second instant messaging identifier had been received to the instant messaging conversation involving the first instant messaging identifier and the second instant messaging identifier prior to receipt of the first instant message; as a consequence of having determined that no instant messages addressed to the first instant messaging identifier and from the second instant messaging identifier had been received in the instant messaging conversation involving the first instant messaging identifier and the second instant messaging identifier prior to receipt of the first instant message, sounding, at the computer system, an audible alert at a first volume to signal the receipt of the first instant message; after receiving the first instant message and sounding the audible alert at the first volume, receiving, at the computer system, a second instant message in the instant messaging conversation involving the first instant messaging identifier and the second instant messaging identifier, the received second instant message being addressed to the first instant messaging identifier and from the second instant messaging identifier; determining that at least one previous instant message addressed to the first instant messaging identifier and from the second instant messaging identifier had been received in the instant messaging conversation involving the first instant messaging identifier and the second instant messaging identifier prior to receipt of the second instant message; and as a consequence of having determined that at least one previous instant message addressed to the first instant messaging identifier and from the second instant messaging identifier had been received in the instant messaging conversation involving the first instant messaging identifier and the second instant messaging identifier prior to receipt of the second instant message, sounding, at the computer system, the audible alert at a second volume that is different from the first volume to signal the receipt of the second instant message.