Patent ID: 7298831

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for distributing a chat messaging request for an intended recipient to a backup recipient, comprising: responsive to detecting, at an instant messaging communication service provider system for facilitating chat sessions via a network between a plurality of separate users enabled to log in to said instant messaging communication service provider at a plurality of separate client systems, a particular chat messaging request from a requester from among said plurality of users for initiating a communication with said intended recipient from among said plurality of users who is unavailable to respond to said chat messaging request, determining said backup recipient from among said plurality of users designated to receive said particular chat messaging request; opening, by said instant messaging communication service provider, a communication channel for a chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient; and recording, by said instant messaging communication service provider, a message log of at least one message entry for said chat messaging session between said requester and said backup recipient; and updating, from said instant messaging communication service provider, said intended recipient with said message log, such that when said intended recipient is unavailable to respond to said chat messaging request said intended recipient is enabled to monitor said chat messaging session resulting from said chat messaging request.