Patent ID: 8843834

Claim:
A machine-implemented method performed by a machine for initiating a chat session, the method comprising: monitoring user activities of a remote user with respect to a data processing system that are unrelated to chat services, the user activities including a mobile phone communication session between a local user of the data processing system and the remote user; receiving a request to initiate a chat session between the local user and the remote user; determining whether the mobile phone communication session ended within a predetermined period of time prior to the request; based on the determination that the mobile phone communication session ended within the predetermine period of time, selecting a first chat service account from a list of a plurality chat service accounts associated with the remote user based on the monitored user activities, wherein the first chat service account is associated with the mobile phone of the remote user; initiating a chat session using the selected first chat service account of the remote user and a second chat service account selected for the local user; exchanging, via the first and second chat service accounts, content of the chat session with the mobile phone of the remote user over an SMS (short message service) communications channel; and displaying information within a chat window indicating that the chat session is conducted between the first and second chat service accounts.