Patent ID: 8001190

Claim:
A computer-implemented method performed by a processor for providing an instant messaging session between two or more parties, comprising: receiving, at a server, an instant messaging session request from a first party addressed to an e-mail address associated with a second party, the e-mail address comprising a username and a hostname; generating, based on the instant messaging session request and by using the processor, a unique identifier; creating, by using the processor, a web page comprising an area in which the first party and the second party can enter an instant message communication; associating the web page with the unique identifier; sending an e-mail message to the e-mail address associated with the second party, the e-mail message comprising the instant messaging session request, an e-mail body, a flag indicating that the e-mail message is an enriched e-mail message, and the web page associated with the unique identifier embedded in the body of the e-mail message, wherein the web page is embedded in the e-mail body using either a link with a URL identifier or by rendering the web page, the embedded webpage being configured to be displayed in a web browser or email program of the second party independent of requiring the second party to run, on a device of the second party, a specific application program different from the web browser or email program to process and display the embedded webpage; receiving, at the server, an instant message communication from the second party entered via the embedded web page and independent of requiring the second party to run, on the device, a specific application program different from the web browser or email program for entering the instant message communication; determining whether to deliver the instant message communication from the second party to the first party based on the flag, wherein the instant message communication from the second party is not delivered to the first user when a presence of the flag is not detected in the e-mail message; utilizing the e-mail address associated with the second party as a screen name for the second party for purposes of the instant messaging session; and storing the received instant message communication in a storage device in association with the unique identifier so that the instant message communication can be later retrieved.