Patent ID: 8577983

Claim:
A method for notifying an instant message recipient that the message has been received from a sender, the method comprising: providing a message server in communication with an apparatus designed to display a video program and provide an interface through which preferences by a recipient can be defined as to whether presence of the recipient is divulged to others on an instant messaging network associated with a particular video program while the recipient is watching the particular program; based on a first set of preferences defined by the recipient, allowing the apparatus to determine, upon initiation of the video program, whether the presence of the recipient on the instant messaging network should be made known to other users on the instant messaging network; if the presence of the recipient is to be made known to the other users on the instant messaging network, permitting the apparatus to inform the other users connected to the instant messaging network of the viewing activity of the recipient, and determine, based upon a second set of preferences defined by the recipient, a notification level for messages received by the recipient while the recipient is watching the particular program; and authorizing the apparatus to notify the recipient based on the notification level.