Patent ID: 7552183

Claim:
An instant messaging (IM) server which provides services for post delivery instant message redirection when a first device having a first media access control address is logged onto the IM server and subsequently a second device having a second media access control address logs onto the IM server, the instant messaging server comprising: memory for storing a program for providing instant messaging services; and a processor, functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program and operative to: transmit an instant message from a sender to a recipient at the first media access control (MAC) address of the recipient, such that the instant message has been delivered to the first MAC address; determine if the instant message transmitted from the sender to the recipient is received by the recipient, wherein the determination comprises at least one of: receiving a notification that the recipient is typing in a chat window; and receiving a notification that the chat window of the recipient has been closed; recognize that: the second device of the recipient is logged onto the IM server, no notification has been received indicating that the recipient is typing in the chat window, and no notification has been received indicating that the chat window of the recipient has been closed; retransmit the instant message to the second MAC address of the recipient in response to receiving a notification of a change in the first MAC address of the recipient to the second MAC address of the recipient before the notification that the recipient is typing in the chat window and before the notification that the chat window has been closed; wherein the retransmitting step comprises resending the instant message received at the first device of the recipient to the second device of the recipient in response to the recognizing step; wherein the first device is automatically logged off in response to the second device being logged onto the IM server; and wherein the instant message is not read on the first device before the first device is automatically logged off the IM server.