Method for assigning tasks to providers using instant messaging notifications
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- correlating a work request to a provider based on content of the work request; and
notifying the provider of the work request using an instant message service.
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Abstract
A method and system for correlating a work request to a provider based on content of the work request and delegating the work request to the provider using an instant message (IM) service. An instant message service including those offered by existing IM service providers is used to notify a provider that a request has been received requesting work to be performed. The instant message may include a link to details of the work being requested, establish an electronic mail communication, point to a web site or initiate an application that communicates with web-enabled services on a server connected to the Internet.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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correlating a work request to a provider based on content of the work request; and notifying the provider of the work request using an instant message service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing instant message notifications to providers, comprising:
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receiving a search request for work to be done; selecting a human provider from multiple providers associated with a keyword in the search request to fulfill the work in response to receipt of the request; and delivering the work to the human provider selected using an instant message service.
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13. A method of delegating work using instant message notifications, comprising:
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registering a human provider to receive instant message notifications related to work request(s) and associating the provider with a category or keyword; correlating a request for work with the provider in accordance with the associated keyword(s); determining availability of the provider to receive an instant message notification of the request; and delegating the request for work to the provider(s) via an instant message using an instant message service of the provider. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A system, comprising:
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an instant message service for delivering work to at least one provider; a requester unit for submitting the work to be performed by the at least one provider; and a server for correlating the work to the at least one provider based on content of the work.
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16. An interface, comprising:
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a display window for displaying description of work requested via an instant message service; and an input control enabling a human provider to acknowledge receipt of the work requested.
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17. A computer readable storage controlling a computer having a data structure for delivering work to human service providers, comprising:
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provider identifiers, including; instant message credentials; provider online status identifiers; category and/or keyword identifiers; item location identifiers.
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18. A method of delegating work using instant message notifications, comprising:
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registering a human provider to receive instant message notifications related to work and associating the provider with contents of a database including a type of work category, provider instant messaging credentials and provider status, and creating an instant message account for a provider without an existing instant message account; verifying registration of the provider to receive instant message notifications related to the work by sending a verification instant message to the provider requiring the provider to login to a system manager; adding the provider to an instant message provider buddy list; updating an online list of providers that are online when the provider is online and offline; correlating a request for work with providers in accordance with the associating; determining availability of the provider to receive an instant message notification of the work responsive to the request using the online list; delegating the request for the work to the provider via an instant message notification using an instant message service of the provider with the instant message describing the work, providing references to additional information about the request, including a URL of an application to assist in the work and an acceptance control initiating an acceptance instant message; delegating the request for the work to another provider when the provider does not accept the request; flagging the provider as online but unavailable for work when the provider accepts the request via the acceptance instant message; and notifying the provider via a completion instant message when completion of the work has been recorded.
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Specification