Patent ID: 7975013

Claim:
A method of storing and retaining instant message content related to usage of a plurality of instant message applications subject to retention obligations, the method comprising: receiving a user request to access the plurality of instant message applications; accessing the plurality of instant message applications by requesting an instant message master log on credential from the user; mapping the instant message master log on credential of the user with instant message application specific log on credentials of the user associated with the plurality of instant message applications; based on the instant message master log on, opening instant message sessions of the plurality of instant message applications according to instant message application setting rules; based on the instant message master log on, retrieving at least one instant message retention rule associated with the user; based on the retrieved retention rule, trigger a function to record an instant message content associated with the instant message master logon; and storing the recorded instant message content of the instant message session based on the instant message retention rules associated with the instant message master log on of the user.