Structured communication using instant messaging

• US 20060026256A1
• Filed: 08/02/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Michaud, Dan M., Diddee, Sudhir
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

The present invention uses instant messaging to effectuate structured communication. A structured communication component is used in conjunction with an instant messaging component to allow an instant messaging user to quickly formulate a structured communication for transmission to one or more recipients. The recipients are presented with the structured communications such that they provide a structured response that is transmitted back to the sender. The responses from the various recipients can then be reviewed, such as in a desired report format, by the sender.

Claims

1. A messaging system, comprising:

an instant messaging system configured to send and receive instant messages and structured communication with the instant messages.

2. The messaging system of claim 1 wherein the instant messaging system comprises:

an instant messenger component configured to generate outgoing instant message communication based on a user input and receive incoming instant message communication; and

a structured communication component coupled to the instant messenger component and configured to generate outgoing structured communication in an outgoing instant message based on a user input and to receive incoming structured communication in an incoming instant message.

3. The messaging system of claim 2 wherein the structured communication component is configured to generate the outgoing structured communication in the outgoing instant message by placing a link to the outgoing structured communication in the outgoing instant message.

4. The messaging system of claim 3 wherein the structured communication component is configured to receive the incoming structured communication by identifying a link to the incoming structured communication in the incoming instant message.

5. The messaging system of claim 4 wherein the structured communication component is configured to follow the link to the incoming structured communication when the link is actuated by the user.

6. The messaging system of claim 5 and further comprising:

a structured communication server configured to provide the incoming structured communication for response by the user when the structured communication component follows the link actuated by the user.

7. The messaging system of claim 2 wherein the structured communication component is configured to generate the outgoing structured communication by placing the outgoing structured communication within the outgoing instant message.

8. The messaging system of claim 3 wherein the structured communication component is configured to receive incoming structured communication by arranging the incoming structured communication for response by the user within the incoming instant message.

9. The messaging system of claim 2 wherein the structured communication component is configured to generate the outgoing structured communication by providing a structured communication template for configuration by the user.

10. The messaging system of claim 9 wherein the structured communication template comprises a title portion configured to receive a user input indicative of title information corresponding to the structured communication.

11. The messaging system of claim 9 wherein the structured communication template comprises a question portion configured to receive a user input indicative of a question to be posed by the structured communication.

12. The messaging system of claim 9 wherein the structured communication template comprises a recipient portion configured to receive a user input indicative of a recipient of the structured communication.

13. The messaging system of claim 2 wherein the structured communication component is configured to receive a response to the outgoing structured communication by providing a report of the response for display to the user.

14. A messaging device, comprising:

an instant messaging component configured to provide a user interface displaying instant messaging features and an actuable structured communication feature, the structured communication feature, when actuated, causing a structured communication user interface to be displayed for configuration by a user to generate a structured communication.

15. The messaging system of claim 14 wherein the structured communication user interface comprises a title portion configured to receive title information corresponding to the structured communication.

16. The messaging system of claim 14 wherein the structured communication user interface comprises a questions portion configurable by the user to indicate one or more questions posed by the structured communication.

17. The messaging system of claim 16 wherein the questions portion is configurable by the user to identify allowed responses to the one or more questions.

18. The messaging system of claim 14 wherein the structured communication user interface comprises a recipient portion configurable by the user to identify one or more recipients of the structured communication.

19. The messaging system of claim 14 wherein the structured communication feature includes a results feature.

20. The messaging system of claim 19 wherein the results feature, when actuated, displays responses to the structured communication.

21. The messaging system of claim 14 wherein the instant messaging component is configured to generate a receipt user interface indicative of receipt of a structured communication in an instant message.

22. The messaging system of claim 21 wherein the receipt user interface includes a link to the received structured communication.

23. The messaging system of claim 21 wherein the receipt user interface comprises an instant message including the structured communication configured for response by the recipient and embedded into the instant message.

24. An instant messenger client component, comprising:

an instant messenger component configured to perform instant messenger communication; and

a structured communication component coupled to the instant messenger component and configured include in an outgoing instant message, outgoing structured communication having pre-defined response features.

25. The instant messenger client component of claim 24 wherein the structured communication component is configured to receive in an incoming instant message an incoming structured communication with pre-defined response features and provide the incoming structured communication for response by a user.

26. The instant messenger client component of claim 25 wherein the structured communication component is configured to generate the outgoing structured communication in response to a user input.

27. The instant messenger client component of claim 26 wherein the structured communication component is configured to provide a structured communication template, configurable by a user, to generate the outgoing structured communication.

28. The instant messenger client component of claim 27 wherein the structured communication template comprises a selectable title portion configured, when selected, to receive title information corresponding to the outgoing structured communication.

29. The instant messenger client component of claim 27 wherein the structured communication template comprises a selectable inquiry portion configured, when selected, to receive one or more inquiries to be posed by the outgoing structured communication.

30. The instant messenger client component of claim 29 wherein the inquiry portion is configured to receive a user input indicative of a type of response to be accepted by the structured communication.

31. The instant messenger client component of claim 30 wherein the inquiry portion is configured to receive a user input indicative of a plurality of substantive responses to be accepted by the structured communication.

32. The instant messenger client component of claim 27 wherein the structured communication template comprises a recipients portion configured to receive a user input indicative of recipients of the structured communication.

33. The instant messenger client component of claim 32 wherein the recipients portion is configured to receive a drag and drop user input to identify the recipients.

34. The instant messenger client component of claim 24 wherein the structured communication component is configured to store structured communications for re-use.

35. The instant messenger client component of claim 24 wherein the structured communication component is configured to receive responses to the outgoing structured communication.

36. The instant messenger client component of claim 35 wherein the structured communication component is configured to display the received responses in response to a user input.