US Patent 7499926 Maintaining and replicating chat histories

A consolidated instant messaging message history is maintained at a selected point of presence. Non-selected instant messaging points of presence include instant messaging messages that were transmitted during one or more instant messaging sessions conducted between the non-selected instant messaging points of presence and one or more instant messaging participants. The selected instant messaging point of presence retrieves instant messaging messages included at the non-selected instant messaging points of presence. The retrieved messages are stored on a storage device accessible to the selected instant messaging point of presence in a consolidated instant messaging chat history.