Patent ID: 8185593

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: during an instant messaging session between a first computer system used by a first instant messaging participant and a second computer system used by a second instant messaging participant: displaying, on a display device accessible to the first computer system, a first plurality of received instant messaging messages sent to the first instant messaging participant from the second instant messaging participant and a second plurality of sent instant messaging messages sent from the first instant messaging participant to the second instant messaging participant, wherein the first plurality of received instant messaging messages and the second plurality of sent instant messaging messages are displayed in a time-based order in a first instant messaging session window; receiving a notification corresponding to a selected one of the first plurality of received instant messaging messages that is displayed in the first instant messaging session window, wherein the receiving further comprises retrieving an indicator included in the selected received instant messaging message when the selected received instant messaging message was received from the second computer system, wherein the indicator was added to the selected received instant messaging message by a computer system selected from the group consisting of the second computer system and an instant messaging server computer system that facilitates the instant messaging session; and in response to receiving the notification, displaying the selected received instant messaging message on the display device in a second instant messaging session window while including the selected received instant messaging message in the first instant messaging session window.