Patent ID: 7499926

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: determining that a consolidated instant messaging chat history is maintained at a selected instant messaging point of presence that is selected from a plurality of instant messaging points of presence, wherein one or more of the non-selected instant messaging points of presence include one or more local chat histories stored on one or more local nonvolatile storage devices, the local chat histories comprising a first plurality of instant messaging messages transmitted during one or more previous instant messaging sessions conducted between the non-selected instant messaging points of presence and one or more instant messaging participants, the instant messaging participants being different than the plurality of instant messaging points of presence; in response to the determination, retrieving, at the selected instant messaging point of presence, the plurality of instant messaging messages included at the non-selected instant messaging points of presence from the local chat histories of the non-selected instant messaging points of presence; creating an updated consolidated instant messaging chat history by storing, on a selected nonvolatile storage device accessible to the selected instant messaging point of presence, the retrieved instant messaging messages in the consolidated instant messaging chat history; in response to creating the updated consolidated instant messaging chat history, initiating, by the selected instant messaging point of presence, a passive instant messaging session; in response to initiating the passive instant messaging session, receiving, at the selected instant messaging point of presence, a second plurality of instant messaging messages, wherein the second plurality of instant messaging messages correspond to a plurality of messages transmitted during an active instant messaging session being concurrently conducted between a first of the non-selected instant messaging points of presence and one or more of the instant messaging participants; and storing the second plurality of instant messaging messages in the updated consolidated instant messaging chat history.