An instant messaging system for providing transparent participation of
third parties in instant messaging, the system comprising: a first server
and a second server configured to create a first chat session between a
first chat party and a second chat party, communication in the first chat
session being bidirectional between the first chat party and the second
chat party, the first chat session being a sub-chat of a chat thread, the
first server is further configured to create a second chat session
between the first chat party and a third chat party, communication in the
second chat session being bi-directional between the first chat party and
the third chat party, the second chat session being another sub-chat of
the chat thread, the third chat party enabled to passively participate in
the first chat session while actively communicating with the first chat
party, and the third chat party and second chat session being transparent
to the second chat party.