Multiple personalities in chat communications

Abstract

The same user is able to project different personalities while visiting different chat rooms. The personalities are tailored to the chat room being visited. Different personalization items (e.g., an icon or avatar, wallpaper, sounds, a smiley set, and text style) are provided based upon the chat room that the user is visiting. The personalization items may be customized based upon the identity of the chat room (such as a particular chat room, the type of chat room, or the content of the chat room). The personalization items may be host based and may leverage instant messaging (“IM”) personalization items. The personalization items may be user selected or user provided.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor;   a memory, operatively connected to the at least one processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving a login for a user; 
 in response to receiving the login, providing access to a communications system, wherein the access includes access to profile data for the user, the profile data including at least a first persona associated with a first personalization item and a second persona associated with a second personalization item; 
 initiating a communications session between the user and another user; 
 causing the second persona to be displayed rather than the first persona during the communications session. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first personalization item is a screen name. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the communications session is an instant messaging session. 
     
     
         24 . They system of  claim 21 , wherein the access includes access to edit the profile data. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein determining includes determining that the communication session is work related. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first personalization item is an image and the second personalization item is a different image. 
     
     
         27 . The system of claim of  claim 21 , the method further comprising:
 prior to initiating the communications session, receiving a change to the first personalization item.   
     
     
         28 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor;   a memory, operatively connected to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving a first login; 
 verifying a first user's identification based on the first login; 
 based on verifying the first user's identification, allowing access to change a first participant's personalization items; 
 receiving, using a first connection, a change to a first personalization item of the first participant's personalization items; 
 receiving a second login, 
 verifying a second user's identification using the second login; 
 based on verifying the second user's identification, allowing access to change the first participant's personalization items; 
 receiving, using a second connection, a change to a second personalization item of the first participant's personalization items; 
 receiving an indication that the first participant has entered a chat communications session, the communications session having a category; 
 causing, based on the category, the second personalization item to be rendered rather than the first personalization item. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the first personalization item is a first image and a second personalization item is a second image. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the first user is the first participant. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the chat communications session is an instant messaging service. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the first participant's personalization items are associated with a profile. 
     
     
         33 . They system of  claim 32 , wherein the profile includes a buddy list. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein, receiving the indication that the first participant has entered the chat communications session comprises:
 receiving an indication that a buddy from the buddy list is online;   receiving a message from the buddy.   
     
     
         35 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first login;   verifying a first user's identification based on the first login;   based on verifying the first user's identification, allowing access to change a first participant's personalization items;   receiving, using a first connection, a change to a first personalization item of the first participant's personalization items;   receiving a second login,   verifying a second user's identification using the second login;   based on verifying the second user's identification, allowing access to change the first participant's personalization items;   receiving, using a second connection, a change to a second personalization item of the first participant's personalization items;   receiving an indication that the first participant has entered a communications session, the communications session having a category;   causing, based on the category, the second personalization item to be rendered rather than the first personalization item.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the first personalization item is a first image and a second personalization item is a second image. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the first user is the first participant. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the first participant's personalization items are associated with a profile. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the communications session is an instant messaging session, and the profile includes a buddy list. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein receiving the indication that the first participant has entered the communications session comprises:
 receiving an indication that a buddy from the buddy list is online;   receiving a message from the buddy.