Instant messaging personalization

Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A computer implemented method for enabling perception of a personalization item in an instant messaging communications session, the method comprising : rendering, on an instant message recipient system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least an instant message recipient and an instant message sender; obtaining an identifier enabling identification of a personalization item of an individual instant message user; associating the identifier with the personalization item; obtaining the personalization item independently of a message used to obtain the identifier; and rendering the personalization item at the instant message recipient system.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the individual instant message user comprises the instant message sender.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the individual instant message user comprises the instant message recipient.

4. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the identifier comprises receiving the identifier in an instant message from an instant message sender system.

5. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the identifier comprises: storing one or more identifiers associated with one or more personalization items for one or more instant message users at an instant message host system;

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 receiving an identity of the individual instant message user at the instant message host system; accessing an identifier associated with the individual instant message user; and sending the associated identifier in a message from the instant message host system.

6. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the identifier comprises locating the identifier at the instant message recipient system.

7. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the identifier comprises retrieving the identifier from a remote data store.

8. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises : determining whether the personalization item associated with the received identifier is available at the instant message recipient system; retrieving the personalization item from the instant message recipient system if the personalization item is available at the instant message recipient system; and requesting the personalization item from a remote source and receiving the personalization item from the remote source at the instant message recipient system if the personalization item is not available at the instant message recipient system.

9. The method of claim 8 in which requesting the personalization item further comprises identifying the remote source.

10. The method of claim 8 in which requesting the personalization item comprises requesting the personalization item from an instant messaging host.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 11. The method of claim 8 in which requesting the personalization item comprises requesting the personalization item from a third-party server.

12. The method of claim 11 in which requesting the personalization item from a third-party server comprises requesting the personalization item from a server authorized as a partner to an instant messaging host.

13. The method of claim 8 in which requesting the personalization item from a remote source comprises requesting the personalization item from an instant message sender system.

14. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the identifier comprises receiving the identifier included with an instant message.

15. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the identifier comprises receiving the identifier upon a change in a presence state of the individual instant message user.

16. The method of claim 15 in which the individual instant message user comprises the instant message sender.

17. The method of claim 15 in which the individual instant message user comprises the instant message recipient.

18. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a graphic.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 19. The method of claim 18 in which the graphic comprises an icon.

20. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a sound.

21. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining wallpaper capable of being rendered on an instant messaging application user interface.

22. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining an animation sequence.

23. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a video segment.

24. The method of claim 1 in which the obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a customized binary object provided by the instant message sender.

25. The method of claim 24 in which obtaining the customized binary object comprises obtaining a customized binary object uploaded by the instant message sender to a server.

26. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a personalization item provided by a third party.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 27. The method of claim 26 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a personalization item enabled to be rendered in consideration of a payment.

28. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a personalization item configured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

29. The method of claim 28 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined length of time.

30. The method of claim 28 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined date.

31. The method of claim 28 in which the predetermined event comprises a predetermined number of uses.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising: determining whether the personalization item has expired, and disallowing display of the personalization item if the personalization item has expired.

33. The method of claim 1 in which the obtaining the identifier further comprises obtaining an identifier comprising a location of the personalization item.

34. The method of claim 33 in which the identifier further comprises an item type and a data size.

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Attorney Docket No.: 06975-293W01 35. The method of claim 33 wherein the identifier further comprises a flag.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the flag further comprises one or more of a custom item flag, an official item flag, a banned item flag, and a redirect to different item flag.

37. The method of claim 1 further comprising : determining whether the personalization item has been banned, and disallowing display of the personalization item if the personalization item has been banned.

38. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating the personalization item.

39. The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing an actual format of the personalization item to an expected format based upon the identifier.

40. A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program comprising: means for rendering, on an instant message recipient system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least an instant message recipient and an instant message sender; means for obtaining an identifier enabling identification of a personalization item of an individual instant message user; means for associating the identifier with the personalization item;

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 means for obtaining the personalization item independently of a message used to obtain the identifier; and means for rendering the personalization item at the instant message recipient system.

41. The computer program of claim 40 in which the individual instant message user comprises the instant message sender.

42. The computer program of claim 40 in which the individual instant message user comprises the instant message recipient.

43. The computer program of claim 40 in which means for obtaining the identifier comprises means for receiving the identifier in an instant message from an instant message sender system.

44. The computer program of claim 40 in which means for obtaining the identifier comprises: means for storing one or more identifiers associated with one or more personalization items for one or more instant message users at an instant message host system; means for receiving an identity of the individual instant message user at the instant message host system; means for accessing an identifier associated with the individual instant message user; and means for sending the associated identifier in a message from the instant message host system.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 45. The computer program of claim 40 in which means for obtaining the identifier comprises means for locating the identifier at the instant message recipient system.

46. The computer program of claim 40 in which means for obtaining the identifier comprises means for retrieving the identifier from a remote data store.

47. The computer program of claim 40 in which means for obtaining the personalization item comprises: means for determining whether the personalization item associated with the received identifier is available at the instant message recipient system; means for retrieving the personalization item from the instant message recipient system if the personalization item is available at the instant message recipient system; and means for requesting the personalization item from a remote source and receiving the personalization item from the remote source at the instant message recipient system if the personalization item is not available at the instant message recipient system.

48. The computer program of claim 40 in which means for obtaining the identifier comprises means for receiving the identifier included with an instant message.

49. The computer program of claim 40 in which means for obtaining the identifier comprises means for receiving the identifier upon a change in a presence state of the individual instant message user.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 50. The computer program of claim 40 in which means for obtaining the personalization item comprises means for obtaining a personalization item configured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

51. A user interface on a display that enables perception of communications that leverage an instant messaging platform, the user interface comprising: a module for rendering an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least an instant message sender and an instant message recipient, the user interface being presented at a system display presented to the instant message recipient; a module for receiving a personalization item presented to the system display and associated with an individual instant message user the personalization item corresponding to an identifier obtained by an instant message recipient system, the identifier enabling identification of a personalization item of the individual instant message user;STDC0113 and a module for rendering the personalization item independently of a message used to obtain the identifier.

52. The user interface of claim 51 in which the individual instant message user comprises the instant message sender.

53. The user interface of claim 51 in which the individual instant message user comprises the instant message recipient.

54. The user interface of claim 51 in which the personalization item is rendered upon the occurrence of a change in a presence state of the individual instant message user.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 55. The user interface of claim 54 in which the individual instant message user comprises the instant message sender.

56. The user interface of claim 54 in which the individual instant message user comprises the instant message recipient.

57. The user interface of claim 51 in which the identifier is obtained by receiving the identifier from an instant message sender system in an instant message.

58. The user interface of claim 51 in which the identifier is obtaining from an instant message host system, the instant message host system storing one or more identifiers associated with one or more personalization items for one or more instant message users, the instant message host system receiving an identity of the individual instant message user and accessing an identifier associated with the individual instant message user.

59. The user interface of claim 51 in which the identifier is obtained by retrieving the identifier from the instant message recipient system.

60. The user interface of claim 51 in which the identifier is obtained by retrieving the identifier from a remote data store.

61. The user interface of claim 51 in which the personalization item comprises a graphic.

62. The user interface of claim 61 in which the graphic comprises an icon.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 63. The user interface of claim 51 in which the personalization item comprises a sound.

64. The user interface of claim 51 in which the personalization item comprises wallpaper capable of being rendered on an instant messaging application user interface.

65. The user interface of claim 51 in which the personalization item comprises an animation sequence.

66. The user interface of claim 51 in which the personalization item comprises a video segment.

67. The user interface of claim 51 in which the personalization item comprises a customized item provided by the instant message sender.

68. The user interface of claim 51 in which personalization item comprises a personalization item provided by a third party.

69. The user interface of claim 68 in which the personalization item is enabled to be rendered in consideration of a payment.

70. The user interface of claim 51 in which the personalization item is configured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

71. The user interface of claim 68 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined length of time.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 72. The user interface of claim 68 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined date.

73. The user interface of claim 68 in which the predetermined event comprises a predetermined number of uses.

74. A computer implemented method for enabling perception of a personalization item associated with an instant messaging communications session, the method comprising: perceiving an identifier corresponding to an intended instant message recipient designated by an instant message sender system; accessing personalization items corresponding to the perceived identifier; and making perceivable the personalization items corresponding to the received identifier to the instant messaging sender system for rendering in an instant messaging application running on the instant messaging sender system, wherein the personalization items are made perceivable prior to communication with the intended instant message recipient.

75. The method of claim 74 further comprising storing one or more personalization items comprises storing one or more personalization items on the host system.

76. The method of claim 74 in which accessing personalization items comprises accessing personalization items on a host system.

77. The method of claim 76 further comprising communicating the personalization items from the host system to the instant message sender system.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 78. The method of claim 74 in which the personalization items are made perceivable prior to communication of an instant message with the intended instant message recipient system.

79. The method of claim 74 in which the personalization items are made perceivable before a communications session is established with the intended instant message recipient system.

80. The method of claim 74 in which the personalization items are made perceivable before the instant message sender system sends a message to the intended instant message recipient system.

81. The method of claim 74 in which the personalization items are made perceivable before the instant message sender system receives a message from the intended instant message recipient system.

82. The method of claim 74 in which perceiving the identifier comprises: receiving an identity of the intended instant message recipient; and accessing an identifier associated with the individual intended instant message recipient based upon the received identity.

83. The method of claim 74 in which perceiving the identifier comprises receiving an identifier comprising a location of the personalization item.

84. The method of claim 83 in which the location of the personalization item comprises a location on the host system.

85. The method of claim 74 in which accessing personalization items comprises accessing a graphic.

86. The method of claim 85 in which the graphic comprises an icon.

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Attorney Docket No.: 06975-293W01 87. The method of claim 74 in which accessing personalization items comprises accessing a sound.

88. The method of claim 74 in which accessing personalization items comprises accessing wallpaper capable of being rendered on an instant messaging application user interface.

89. The method of claim 74 in which accessing personalization items comprises accessing an animation sequence.

90. The method of claim 74 in which accessing personalization items comprises accessing a video segment.

91. The method of claim 74 in which accessing personalization items comprises accessing a customized binary object provided by the intended instant message recipient.

92. The method of claim 74 in which accessing personalization items comprises accessing a personalization item provided by a party other than the intended instant message recipient.

93. The method of claim 92 in which accessing personalization items comprises accessing a personalization item enabled to be rendered in consideration of a payment.

94. The method of claim 74 in which accessing personalization items comprises accessing a personalization item configured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 95. The method of claim 94 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined length of time or on passage of a predetermined date.

96. The method of claim 94 in which the predetermined event comprises a predetermined number of uses.

97. The method of claim 94 further comprising: determining whether the personalization item has expired, and disallowing access to the personalization item if the personalization item has expired.

98. The method of claim 74 in which perceiving the identifier further comprises receiving an identifier comprising a location of the personalization item.

99. The method of claim 98 in which the identifier further comprises an item type and a data size.

100. The method of claim 98 wherein the identifier further comprises a flag.

101. The method of claim 100 wherein the flag further comprises one or more of a custom item flag, an official item flag, a banned item flag, and a redirect to different item flag.

102. The method of claim 74 further comprising: determining whether the personalization item has been banned, and disallowing access to the personalization item if the personalization item has been banned.

103. A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program comprising instructions for:

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 perceiving an identifier corresponding to an intended instant message recipient designated by an instant message sender system; accessing personalization items corresponding to the perceived identifier; and making perceivable the personalization items corresponding to the received identifier to the instant messaging sender system for rendering in an instant messaging application running on the instant messaging sender system, wherein the personalization items are made perceivable prior to communication with the intended instant message recipient.

104. The computer program of claim 103 further comprising instructions for storing one or more personalization items.

105. The computer program of claim 103 in which the personalization items are made perceivable prior to communication of an instant message with the intended instant message recipient system.

106. The computer program of claim 103 in which the personalization items are made perceivable before a communications session is established with the intended instant message recipient system.

107. The computer program of claim 103 in which the personalization items are made perceivable before the instant message sender system sends a message to the intended instant message recipient system.

108. The computer program of claim 103 in which the personalization items are made perceivable before the instant message sender system receives a message from the intended instant message recipient system.

109. The computer program of claim 103 in which instructions for perceiving the identifier comprises instructions for: receiving an identity of the intended instant message recipient; and

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 accessing an identifier associated with the individual intended instant message recipient based upon the received identity.

110. The computer program of claim 103 in which instructions for accessing personalization items comprises instructions for accessing a personalization item configured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

111. The computer program of claim 110 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined length of time or on passage of a predetermined date.

112. The computer program of claim 110 in which the predetermined event comprises a predetermined number of uses.

113. A computer implemented method for enabling perception of a personalization item in an instant messaging communications session, the method comprising: rendering, on an instant message sender system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least an intended instant message recipient and an instant message sender; and rendering at the instant message sender system, a personalization item associated with the instant message recipient prior to communication with the intended instant message recipient system.

114. The method of claim 113 in which rendering at the instant message sender system comprises rendering at the instant message sender system prior to communication of an instant message with the intended instant message recipient system.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 115. The method of claim 113 in which rendering at the instant message sender system comprises rendering at the instant message sender system before a communications session is established with the intended instant message recipient system.

116. The method of claim 113 in which rendering at the instant message sender system comprises rendering at the instant message sender system before the instant message sender system sends a message to the intended instant message recipient system.

117. The method of claim 113 in which rendering at the instant message sender system comprises rendering at the instant message sender system before the instant message sender system receives a message from the intended instant message recipient system.

118. The method of claim 113 further comprising: associating the identifier with the personalization item; obtaining the personalization item from a source other than a message used to obtain the identifier; and rendering the personalization item at the instant message sender system.

119. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the identifier comprises: sending an identity of the intended instant message recipient to an instant message host system, the instant message host system storing one or more identifiers associated with one or more personalization items for the intended instant message recipient; and receiving an identifier associated with the individual intended instant message recipient in a message from the instant message host system.

120. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the identifier comprises locating the identifier at the intended instant message recipient system.

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 121. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the identifier comprises retrieving the identifier from a remote data store.

122. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises: determining whether the personalization item associated with the received identifier is available at the instant message sender system; retrieving the personalization item from the instant message sender system if the personalization item is available at the instant message sender system; and requesting the personalization item from a remote source and receiving the personalization item from the remote source at the instant message sender system if the personalization item is not available at the instant message sender system.

123. The method of claim 122 in which requesting the personalization item further comprises identifying the remote source.

124. The method of claim 122 in which requesting the personalization item comprises requesting the personalization item from an instant messaging host.

125. The method of claim 122 in which requesting the personalization item comprises requesting the personalization item from a third-party server.

126. The method of claim 125 in which requesting the personalization item from a third-party server comprises requesting the personalization item from a server authorized as a partner to an instant messaging host.

127. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the identifier comprises receiving the identifier upon a change in a presence state of the intended instant message recipient.

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Attorney Docket No.: 06975-293W01 128. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a graphic.

129. The method of claim 128 in which the graphic comprises an icon.

130. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a sound.

131. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining wallpaper capable of being rendered on an instant messaging application user interface.

132. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining an animation sequence.

133. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a video segment.

134. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a customized binary object provided by the intended instant message recipient.

135. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a personalization item provided by a party other than the intended instant message recipient.

136. The method of claim 135 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a personalization item enabled to be rendered in consideration of a payment.

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Attorney Docket No.: 06975-293W01 137. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a personalization item configured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

138. The method of claim 137 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined length of time or on passage of a predetermined date.

139. The method of claim 137 in which the predetermined event comprises a predetermined number of uses.

140. The method of claim 137 further comprising: determining whether the personalization item has expired, and disallowing display of the personalization item if the personalization item has expired.

141. The method of claim 113 in which obtaining the identifier further comprises obtaining an identifier comprising a location of the personalization item.

142. The method of claim 141 in which the identifier further comprises an item type and a data size.

143. The method of claim 141 wherein the identifier further comprises a flag.

144. The method of claim 143 wherein the flag further comprises one or more of a custom item flag, an official item flag, a banned item flag, and a redirect to different item flag.

145. The method of claim 113 further comprising: determining whether the personalization item has been banned, and

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Attorney Docket No. : 06975-293W01 disallowing display of the personalization item if the personalization item has been banned.

146. The method of claim 113 further comprising updating the personalization item.

147. A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program comprising instructions for: rendering, on an instant message sender system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least an intended instant message recipient and an instant message sender; and rendering at the instant message sender system, a personalization item associated with the instant message recipient prior to communication with the intended instant message recipient system.

148. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for rendering at the instant message sender system comprises instructions for rendering at the instant message sender system prior to communication of an instant message with the intended instant message recipient system.

149. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for rendering at the instant message sender system comprises instructions for rendering at the instant message sender system before a communications session is established with the intended instant message recipient system.

150. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for rendering at the instant message sender system comprises instructions for rendering at the instant message sender system before the instant message sender system sends a message to the intended instant message recipient system.

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Attorney Docket No.: 06975-293W01 151. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for rendering at the instant message sender system comprises instructions for rendering at the instant message sender system before the instant message sender system receives a message from the intended instant message recipient system.

152. The computer program of claim 147 further comprising instructions for: associating the identifier with the personalization item; obtaining the personalization item from a source other than a message used to obtain the identifier; and rendering the personalization item at the instant message sender system.

153. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for obtaining the identifier comprises instructions for: sending an identity of the intended instant message recipient to an instant message host system, the instant message host system storing one or more identifiers associated with one or more personalization items for the intended instant message recipient; and receiving an identifier associated with the individual intended instant message recipient in a message from the instant message host system.

154. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for obtaining the identifier comprises instructions for locating the identifier at the intended instant message recipient system.

155. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for obtaining the identifier comprises instructions for retrieving the identifier from a remote data store.

156. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for obtaining the personalization item comprises instructions for:

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Attorney Docket No.: 06975-293W01 determining whether the personalization item associated with the received identifier is available at the instant message sender system; retrieving the personalization item from the instant message sender system if the personalization item is available at the instant message sender system; and requesting the personalization item from a remote source and receiving the personalization item from the remote source at the instant message sender system if the personalization item is not available at the instant message sender system.

157. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for obtaining the personalization item comprises instructions for obtaining a graphic.

158. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for obtaining the personalization item comprises instructions for obtaining a sound.

159. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for obtaining the personalization item comprises instructions for obtaining wallpaper capable of being rendered on an instant messaging application user interface.

160. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for obtaining the personalization item comprises instructions for obtaining an animation sequence.

161. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for obtaining the personalization item comprises instructions for obtaining a video segment.

162. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for obtaining the personalization item comprises instructions for obtaining a customized binary object provided by the intended instant message recipient.

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Attorney Docket No.: 06975-293W01 163. The computer program of claim 147 in which instructions for obtaining the personalization item comprises instructions for obtaining a personalization item configured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

164. The computer program of claim 163 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined length of time or on passage of a predetermined date.

165. The computer program of claim 163 in which the predetermined event comprises a predetermined number of uses.

166. The computer program of claim 163 further comprising instructions for: determining whether the personalization item has expired, and disallowing display of the personalization item if the personalization item has expired.

167. The computer program of claim 147 further comprising instructions for: determining whether the personalization item has been banned, and disallowing display of the personalization item if the personalization item has been banned.

168. A computer implemented method for enabling perception of a personalization item in an instant messaging communications session, the method comprising : storing on a host system one or more personalization items associated with an instant messaging application operator; receiving a request from an instant messaging participant system for the personalization items associated with the instant messaging application operator; accessing the personalization items at the host system; and

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Attorney Docket No.: 06975-293W01 communicating the personalization items from the host system to the instant messaging participant system for rendering in an instant messaging application running on the instant messaging participant system.

169 The method of claim 168 in which receiving the request comprises: receiving an identifier enabling identification of a personalization item associated with the instant messaging application operator.

170. The method of claim 168 in which receiving the request comprises receiving an identity of the instant messaging participant; and accessing the personalization items comprises accessing the personalization items associated with the received identity.

171. The method of claim 169 in which receiving the identifier further comprises receiving an identifier comprising a location on the host system of the personalization item.

172. The method of claim 171 in which the identifier further comprises an item type and a data size.

173. The method of claim 171 wherein the identifier further comprises one or more of a custom item flag, an official item flag, a banned item flag, and a redirect to different item flag.

174. The method of claim 168 in which the host comprises a server authorized as a partner to an instant messaging host.

175. The method of claim 168 in which storing the personalization items comprises storing a graphic.

176. The method of claim 175 in which the graphic comprises an icon.

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Attorney Docket No.: 06975-293W01 177. The method of claim 168 in which storing the personalization items comprises storing a sound.

178. The method of claim 168 in which storing the personalization items comprises storing wallpaper capable of being rendered on an instant messaging application user interface.

179. The method of claim 168 in which storing the personalization items comprises storing an animation sequence.

180. The method of claim 168 in which storing the personalization items comprises storing a video segment.

181. The method of claim 168 in which in which storing the personalization items comprises storing a personalization item configured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

182. The method of claim 181 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined length of time or the passage of a predetermined date.

183. The method of claim 181 in which the predetermined event comprises a predetermined number of uses.

184. The method of claim 181 further comprising: determining whether the personalization item has expired, and disallowing access to the personalization item if the personalization item has expired.

185. The method of claim 168 further comprising: determining whether the personalization item has been banned, and

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Attorney Docket No.: 06975-293W01 disallowing access to the personalization item if the personalization item has been banned.

186. The method of claim 168 further comprising creating an identifier for a personalization item based upon the application of an algorithm to at least a portion of data comprising the item.

187. The method of claim 186 further comprising determining if the personalization item is stored at the host system based upon the identifier; and, if the personalization item is stored at the host system, declining to redundantly store the personalization item at the host system.

188. The method of claim 187 further comprising determining whether the personalization item is an official item based upon the identifier; and displaying the personalization item if the personalization item is an official item.

189. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program comprising instructions for: storing on a host system one or more personalization items associated with an instant messaging application operator; receiving a request from an instant messaging participant system for the personalization items associated with the instant messaging application operator; accessing the personalization items at the host system; and communicating the personalization items from the host system to the instant messaging participant system for rendering in an instant messaging application running on the instant messaging participant system.

190. The computer program of claim 189 in which instructions for receiving the request comprises instructions for receiving an identifier enabling identification of a personalization item associated with the instant messaging application operator.

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Attorney Docket No.: 06975-293W01 191. The computer program of claim 189 in which instructions for receiving the request comprises instructions for receiving an identity of the instant messaging participant; and instructions for accessing the personalization items comprises instructions for accessing the personalization items associated with the received identity.

192. The computer program of claim 189 in which instructions for storing the personalization items comprises instructions for storing a graphic.

193. The computer program of claim 189 in which instructions for storing the personalization items comprises instructions for storing a sound.

194. The computer program of claim 189 in which instructions for storing the personalization items comprises instructions for storing wallpaper capable of being rendered on an instant messaging application user interface.

195. The computer program of claim 189 in which instructions for storing the personalization items comprises instructions for storing an animation sequence.

196. The computer program of claim 189 in which instructions for storing the personalization items comprises instructions for storing a video segment.

197. The computer program of claim 189 in which in which instructions for storing the personalization items comprises instructions for storing a personalization item configured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

198. The computer program of claim 197 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined length of time or the passage of a predetermined date.

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199. The computer program of claim 197 in which the predetermined event comprises a predetermined number of uses.

200. A computer implemented method for enabling perception of a personalization item in an instant messaging communications session, the method comprising: rendering, on an instant messaging participant system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least an instant messaging application operator and another instant messaging participant; identifying personalization items associated with the instant messaging application operator that are located external to the instant messaging participant system; and communicating personalization items associated with the instant messaging application operator to the instant messaging participant system.

201. The method of claim 200 in which identifying the personalization items further comprises identifying a remote source location for the personalization items.

202. The method of claim 200 in which identifying the personalization items further comprises identifying the personalization items located on an instant messaging host.

203. The method of claim 200 in which identifying the personalization items comprises identifying a graphic.

204. The method of claim 203 in which the graphic comprises an icon.

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205. The method of claim 200 in which identifying the personalization items comprises identifying a sound.

206. The method of claim 200 in which identifying the personalization items comprises identifying wallpaper capable of being rendered on an instant messaging application user interface.

207. The method of claim 200 in which identifying the personalization items comprises identifying an animation sequence.

208. The method of claim 200 in which identifying the personalization items comprises identifying a video segment.

209. The method of claim 200 in which identifying the personalization items comprises identifying a customized binary object uploaded by the instant messaging participant to a server.

210. The method of claim 200 in which identifying the personalization items comprises identifying a personalization item enabled to be rendered in consideration of a payment for such rendering.

211. The method of claim 200 in which in which identifying the personalization items comprises identifying a personalization item configured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

212. The method of claim 211 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined length of time or the passage of a predetermined date.

213. The method of claim 211 in which the predetermined event comprises a predetermined number of uses.

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214. The method of claim 211 further comprising: determining whether the personalization item has expired, and disallowing display of the personalization item if the personalization item has expired.

215. The method of claim 200 further comprising: determining whether the personalization item has been banned, and disallowing display of the personalization item if the personalization item has been banned.

216. The method of claim 200 further comprising updating the personalization item.

217. The method of claim 200 in which communicating personalization items comprises: obtaining an identifier enabling identification of a personalization item associated with the instant messaging application operator; obtaining the personalization item from a source other than a message used to obtain the identifier; and rendering the personalization item at the instant messaging participant system.

218. The method of claim 217 in which obtaining the identifier comprises: sending an identity of the instant messaging participant to an instant messaging host system; and receiving one or more identifiers in a message from the instant messaging host system, the identifiers being associated at the instant messaging host system with one or more personalization items, the personalization items being associated with the identity of the instant messaging participant.

219. The method of claim 217 in which obtaining the identifier comprises retrieving the identifier from a remote data store.

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220. The method of claim 217 in which obtaining the identifier comprises receiving the identifier upon a change in a presence state of the instant messaging participant.

221. The method of claim 217 further comprising obtaining a location of the personalization item with the identifier.

222. The method of claim 221 in which the identifier further comprises an item type and a data size.

223. The method of claim 221 wherein the identifier further comprises one or more of a custom item flag, an official item flag, a banned item flag, and a redirect to a different item flag.

224. The method of claim 217 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises : obtaining an identifier enabling identification of a personalization item associated with the instant messaging application operator; determining whether the personalization item associated with the received identifier is available at the instant messaging participant system; retrieving the personalization item from the instant messaging participant system if the personalization item is available at the instant messaging participant system; and requesting the personalization item from a remote source and receiving the personalization item from the remote source at the instant messaging participant system if the personalization item is not available at the instant messaging participant system.

225. The method of claim 224 in which requesting the personalization item further comprises identifying the remote source.

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226. The method of claim 224 in which requesting the personalization item comprises requesting the personalization item from an instant messaging host.

227. The method of claim 200 further comprising creating an identifier for a personalization item based upon the application of an algorithm to at least a portion of data comprising the item.

228. The method of claim 227 wherein creating an identifier comprises creating an identifier for a personalization item stored at the instant message participant system.

229. The method of claim 227 further comprising determining if the personalization item is stored at the host system based upon the identifier; and, if the personalization item is stored at the host system, declining to redundantly store the personalization item at the host system.

230. The method of claim 229 further comprising determining whether the personalization item is an official item based upon the identifier; and displaying the personalization item if the personalization item is an official item.

231. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program comprising instructions for: rendering, on an instant messaging participant system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least an instant messaging application operator and another instant messaging participant; identifying personalization items associated with the instant messaging application operator that are located external to the instant messaging participant system; and

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communicating personalization items associated with the instant messaging application operator to the instant messaging participant system.

232. The computer program of claim 231 in which instructions for identifying the personalization items further comprises instructions for identifying a remote source location for the personalization items.

233. The computer program of claim 231 in which instructions for identifying the personalization items further comprises instructions for identifying the personalization items located on an instant messaging host.

234. The computer program of claim 231 in which instructions for identifying the personalization items comprises instructions for identifying a graphic.

235. The computer program of claim 231 in which instructions for identifying the personalization items comprises instructions for identifying a sound.

236. The computer program of claim 231 in which instructions for identifying the personalization items comprises instructions for identifying wallpaper capable of being rendered on an instant messaging application user interface.

237. The computer program of claim 231 in which instructions for identifying the personalization items comprises instructions for identifying an animation sequence.

238. The computer program of claim 231 in which instructions for identifying the personalization items comprises instructions for identifying a video segment.

239. The computer program of claim 231 in which instructions for identifying the personalization items comprises instructions for identifying a customized binary object uploaded by the instant messaging participant to a server.

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240. The computer program of claim 231 in which in which instructions for identifying the personalization items comprises instructions for identifying a personalization item configured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

241. The computer program of claim 240 in which the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined length of time or the passage of a predetermined date.

242. The computer program of claim 240 in which the predetermined event comprises a predetermined number of uses.

243. The computer program of claim 240 further comprising instructions for: determining whether the personalization item has expired, and disallowing display of the personalization item if the personalization item has expired.

244. The computer program of claim 231 further comprising instructions for: determining whether the personalization item has been banned, and disallowing display of the personalization item if the personalization item has been banned.

STDCDBPG0491* 245. The computer program of claim 231 in which communicating personalization items comprises instructions for: obtaining an identifier enabling identification of a personalization item associated with the instant messaging application operator; obtaining the personalization item from a source other than a message used to obtain the identifier; and rendering the personalization item at the instant messaging participant system.

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246. The computer program of claim 245 in which instructions for obtaining the identifier comprises instructions for: sending an identity of the instant messaging participant to an instant messaging host system; and receiving one or more identifiers in a message from the instant messaging host system, the identifiers being associated at the instant messaging host system with one or more personalization items, the personalization items being associated with the identity of the instant messaging participant.

247. The computer program of claim 245 in which instructions for obtaining the identifier comprises instructions for retrieving the identifier from a remote data store.

248. The computer program of claim 245 in which instructions for obtaining the identifier comprises instructions for receiving the identifier upon a change in a presence state of the instant messaging participant.

249. The computer program of claim 245 further comprising instructions for obtaining a location of the personalization item with the identifier.

250. The computer program of claim 249 in which the identifier further comprises an item type and a data size.

251. The computer program of claim 249 wherein the identifier further comprises one or more of a custom item flag, an official item flag, a banned item flag, and a redirect to a different item flag.

252. The computer program of claim 245 in which instructions for obtaining the personalization item comprises instructions for: obtaining an identifier enabling identification of a personalization item associated with the instant messaging application operator;

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determining whether the personalization item associated with the received identifier is available at the instant messaging participant system; retrieving the personalization item from the instant messaging participant system if the personalization item is available at the instant messaging participant system; and requesting the personalization item from a remote source and receiving the personalization item from the remote source at the instant messaging participant system if the personalization item is not available at the instant messaging participant system.

253. The computer program of claim 252 in which instructions for requesting the personalization item comprises instructions for requesting the personalization item from an instant messaging host.

254. The computer program of claim 221 further comprising instructions for creating an identifier for a personalization item based upon the application of an algorithm to at least a portion of data comprising the item.

255. The computer program of claim 254 wherein instructions for creating an identifier comprises instructions for creating an identifier for a personalization item stored at the instant message participant system.

256. The computer program of claim 254 further comprising instructions for determining if the personalization item is stored at the host system based upon the identifier; and, if the personalization item is stored at the host system, declining to redundantly store the personalization item at the host system.

257. The computer program of claim 256 further comprising instructions for determining whether the personalization item is an official item based upon the identifier; and displaying the personalization item if the personalization item is an official item.