Patent ID: 8082311

Claim:
A method of exchanging instant messages in a presence based messaging system, the method comprising: receiving, at a presence-based message system, first instant messaging content addressed to an intended user from a first user; receiving, at the presence-based message system, trusted instant messaging content addressed to the intended user from a trusted user; determining, at the presence-based message system, that the first user has normal privileges to exchange instant messages; determining, at the presence-based message system, that the trusted user has special privileges that enable the trusted user to exchange trusted instant messages; packaging, at the presence-based message system, the first instant messaging content as a first instant message; configuring, at the presence-based message system, the first instant message as an unofficial instant message using an unofficial format; packaging, based on determining that the trusted user has special privileges that enable the trusted user to exchange the trusted instant messages, the trusted instant messaging content as a trusted instant message; configuring, at the presence-based message system, the trusted instant message to be rendered using a trusted format that distinguishes unofficial instant messages from trusted instant messages using a presented seal that identifies the trusted instant message presented to the intended user as originating from the trusted user.