Method and apparatus for providing an instant message notification

A method for providing a notification that a request to initiate an instant conversation has been received, comprising:

• receiving said request to initiate an instant messaging conversation;
• in response to receiving said request, displaying a notification window comprising an identification of an instant messaging user associated with said request and a topic for said instant messaging conversation;
• determining whether a request has not been received to respond to said request to initiate an instant messaging conversation;
• in response to determining that said request was not received within a predetermined amount of time, gradually removing said notification window;
• and
• in response to determining that said request has been received within a predetermined amount of time initiating an instant messaging conversation with said user associated with said request.

A method for, providing a notification that an instant message has been received, comprising;

• receiving said instant message;
• in response to receiving said instant message, displaying a notification window comprising an identification of an instant messaging user associated with said instant massage and said instant message;
• determining whether said instant message is intended for an instant messaging client application window that is not a visible window or that is not a foreground window;
• in response to determining that said instant message is intended for a non-visible or non-foreground window, displaying said notification window as a visible foreground window;
• determining whether a request to reply to said instant message was received within a predetermined amount of time;
• and
• in response to determining that said request was not received, gradually removing said notification window.

A method for providing a notification that an instant message has been received from a business partner computer, comprising:

• receiving said instant message;
• in response to receiving said instant message, gradually displaying a notification window comprising an identification of a business partner associated with said instant message and said instant message;
• directing a web browser to a web site associated with said business partner in response to the selection of said identification of said business partner or said instant message;
• determining whether a selection of said identification of said business partner or said instant message was received within a predetermined amount of time;
• and in response to determining that said selection was not received gradually removing said notification window, wherein said identification of said business partner or said instant message may be selected until said notification window has been completely removed.