Patent ID: 7769811

Claim:
A computer implemented method for controlling the volume of an audible alert associated with an instant messaging communications session, the method comprising: rendering, on a first instant messaging user system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least an instant message recipient and an instant message sender; receiving notification of receipt of an instant message from the instant message sender; comparing an identity of the instant message sender with an identity of a participant engaged in an active instant messaging session with the instant message recipient; if based on results of comparing the identity of the instant message sender with the identity of the participant engaged in the active instant messaging session with the instant message recipient, determining that the instant message recipient presently is engaged in an active instant messaging session with the instant message sender and that the instant message received from the instant message sender is a subsequent instant message in the active instant messaging session after an initial instant message in the active instant messaging session; accessing an audible alert to be rendered to signal receipt of an instant message; as a consequence of having determined that the instant message received from the instant message sender is a subsequent instant message, adjusting a volume of the audible alert to be rendered to signal receipt of an instant message to an alternative volume differing from an initial volume played for the initial instant message; and rendering the audible alert at the adjusted volume to signal receipt of the instant message, wherein the audible alert is rendered on the same instant messaging user system on which the instant messaging application user interface is rendered.