Routing and displaying messages for multiple concurrent instant messaging sessions involving a single online identity

Abstract

Routing and displaying instant messages includes receiving a first request to establish a first instant messaging session associated with an instant messaging online identity assigned to a user using a first instant messaging controller. The first instant messaging session is established in response to the first request, where the first instant messaging session includes a first state. A second request from the user is received to establish a second instant messaging session associated with the instant messaging online identity assigned to the user using a second instant messaging controller that differs from the first instant messaging controller. The second instant messaging session is established in response to the second request, where the second instant messaging session includes a second state. An instant message designated for the instant messaging online identity assigned to the user is received and a determination is made on where to route the instant message based on routing criteria. The routing criteria includes the first state of the first instant messaging session and the second state of the second instant messaging session. The instant message is routed based on the determination of where to route to the instant message.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A method for routing instant messages, the method comprising:
 receiving, at an instant messaging server from an instant messaging online identity, an indication of a message type to be excluded from sending to one or more device types associated with the instant messaging online identity;   receiving, at the instant messaging server, a first instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity;   determining, at the instant messaging server, that the first instant message is of the message type to be excluded from sending to one or more device types;   when a device associated with the instant messaging online identity is of a same type as the one or more device types, not routing the first instant message to that device; and   when a device associated with the instant messaging online identity is not of a same type as the one or more device types, routing the first instant message to that device.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the message type includes an instant message type. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the device includes a cellular phone. 
     
     
         38 . A method for routing instant messages, the method comprising:
 receiving, at an instant messaging server from an instant messaging online identity, message routing criteria for message exclusion according to one or more of device, message type and sender category;   receiving, at the instant messaging server, a first instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity;   determining a message type and a sender category of the first instant message;   when the first instant message is determined to include a message type or a sender category contained in the message exclusion of the message routing criteria associated with a device and received from the instant messaging online identity, not routing the first instant message to that device; and   when the first instant message is determined to not include a message type or a sender category contained in the message exclusion of the message routing criteria associated with the device and received from the instant messaging online identity, routing the first instant message to that device.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the message type includes an instant message. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the device includes a cellular phone. 
     
     
         41 . A system configured for routing instant messages, the system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a computer readable medium coupled to the one or more processors having stored thereon software instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
 receiving, at an instant messaging server from an instant messaging online identity, message routing criteria for message exclusion according to one or more of device, message type and sender category; 
 receiving, at the instant messaging server, a first instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity; 
 determining a message type and a sender category of the first instant message; 
 when the first instant message is determined to include a message type or a sender category contained in the message exclusion of the message routing criteria associated with a device and received from the instant messaging online identity, not routing the first instant message to that device; and 
 when the first instant message is determined to not include a message type or a sender category contained in the message exclusion of the message routing criteria associated with the device and received from the instant messaging online identity, routing the first instant message to that device. 
   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the message type includes an instant message. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the device includes a cellular phone.