Patent ID: 7689649

Claim:
A computer implemented method for enabling perception of personalization items associated with an instant messaging communications session, the method comprising: receiving, from an instant message sender system, information that indicates a user identifier of an intended instant message recipient, the user identifier of the intended instant message recipient being selected by an instant message sender from among one or more user identifiers of potential instant message recipients, the potential instant message recipients being users that are perceived by the instant message sender as being presently available to receive an instant message from the instant message sender; accessing the user identifier of the intended instant message recipient based upon the received information; accessing the personalization items based on the accessed user identifier of the intended instant message recipient, the personalization items being designated by the intended instant message recipient; and making perceivable the accessed personalization items to the instant messaging sender system for rendering in an instant messaging application user interface running on the instant messaging sender system; rendering of the personalization items in the user interface, wherein the rendering includes rendering of a window, wherein the rendering of the window includes displaying the personalization items and an input text field for inputting a text message by the instant message sender for delivery to the intended instant message recipient in an instant message, the displayed personalization items includes image items, wherein the rendering of the window makes the personalization items and the input text field displayed to the instant message sender prior to communication with the intended instant message recipient, wherein the selection by the instant message sender of the user identifier of the intended instant message recipient is an indication of an intention of the instant message sender to communicate with the intended instant message recipient, and wherein the rendering of the window at the instant messaging sender system occurs in response to the selection by the instant message sender of the user identifier of the intended instant message recipient from among the one or more user identifiers of potential instant message recipients.