Patent ID: 8055721

Claim:
A method, performed by a computer system, for delivering instant messages, comprising: detecting a collision between a plurality of instant messages simultaneously being sent to a receiving user; initiating, responsive to said detecting of said collision, an online negotiation between sending users of said plurality of messages simultaneously being sent to said receiving user, wherein said initiating said online negotiation comprises automatically starting at least one group chat session including as participants all of said sending users of said plurality of messages simultaneously being sent to said receiving user and displaying to each participant in said group chat session an indication that their associated instant message to said receiving user has collided with the other messages in said plurality of messages; detecting a result of said online negotiation between said sending users of said plurality of messages, said result of said online negotiation indicating a highest priority one of said plurality of instant messages simultaneously being sent to said receiving user; and delivering, responsive to said result of said online negotiation between said sending users of said plurality of messages, said highest priority one of said plurality of instant messages simultaneously being sent to said receiving user, such that delivery of said highest priority one of said plurality of instant messages simultaneously being sent to said receiving user is ensured to be prior to delivery of any other one of said plurality of instant messages simultaneously being sent to said receiving user.