METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING AN INSTANT MESSAGING SYSTEM TO GATHER INFORMATION FOR A BACKEND PROCESS
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of using an instant messaging system to gather information for a backend process, said method comprising:
- automatically generating a query for information by a backend process of a computing system, said information accessible by a client computing unit of a plurality of client computing units, said plurality of client computing units being in communication via a network with an instant message server that provides an instant messaging service to said plurality of client computing units, said query not being initiated by any end user associated with any client computing unit of said plurality of client computing units, and said backend process being an automated server process separate from said instant message server and not executing on any client computing unit of said plurality of client computing units;
sending a first instant message that includes said query from said backend process to said client computing unit via said instant message server;
receiving, by said backend process in real-time and from said client computing unit via said instant message server, a second instant message that includes a final response to said query, wherein said final response is selected from a group consisting of;
said information placed in said second instant message by an end user utilizing said client computing unit or by an automatic execution of a software agent residing on said client computing unit, said automatic execution not requiring an interaction with said client computing unit by any end user, anda notification that does not include said information, said notification indicating that said end user is not available to provide said information to said backend process.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for using an instant messaging system to gather information for a backend process. A query for information accessible by a client of a plurality of clients is automatically generated by the backend process. The backend process is separate from the plurality of clients and from an instant message server that provides an IM service to the plurality of clients. The query is sent from the backend process to the client via the IM server. In real-time via the IM server, the backend process receives a response to the query from the client. The response is either (1) the requested information, which is placed in the response by an end user using the client or by an automated software agent residing on the client, or (2) a notification that indicates that the end user is unavailable to provide the requested information.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of using an instant messaging system to gather information for a backend process, said method comprising:
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automatically generating a query for information by a backend process of a computing system, said information accessible by a client computing unit of a plurality of client computing units, said plurality of client computing units being in communication via a network with an instant message server that provides an instant messaging service to said plurality of client computing units, said query not being initiated by any end user associated with any client computing unit of said plurality of client computing units, and said backend process being an automated server process separate from said instant message server and not executing on any client computing unit of said plurality of client computing units; sending a first instant message that includes said query from said backend process to said client computing unit via said instant message server; receiving, by said backend process in real-time and from said client computing unit via said instant message server, a second instant message that includes a final response to said query, wherein said final response is selected from a group consisting of; said information placed in said second instant message by an end user utilizing said client computing unit or by an automatic execution of a software agent residing on said client computing unit, said automatic execution not requiring an interaction with said client computing unit by any end user, and a notification that does not include said information, said notification indicating that said end user is not available to provide said information to said backend process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computing system comprising a processor and a computer-readable memory unit coupled to said processor, said memory unit containing instructions that when executed by said processor implement a method of using an instant messaging system to gather information for a backend process, said method comprising:
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automatically generating a query for information by a backend process of a computing system, said information accessible by a client computing unit of a plurality of client computing units, said plurality of client computing units being in communication via a network with an instant message server that provides an instant messaging service to said plurality of client computing units, said query not being initiated by any end user associated with any client computing unit of said plurality of client computing units, and said backend process being an automated server process separate from said instant message server and not executing on any client computing unit of said plurality of client computing units; sending a first instant message that includes said query from said backend process to said client computing unit via said instant message server; receiving, by said backend process in real-time and from said client computing unit via said instant message server, a second instant message that includes a final response to said query, wherein said final response is selected from a group consisting of; said information placed in said second instant message by an end user utilizing said client computing unit or by an automatic execution of a software agent residing on said client computing unit, said automatic execution not requiring an interaction with said client computing unit by any end user, and a notification that does not include said information, said notification indicating that said end user is not available to provide said information to said backend process. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium including computer-usable program code for using an instant messaging system to gather information for a backend process, said computer program product comprising:
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computer-usable code for automatically generating a query for information by a backend process of a computing system, said information accessible by a client computing unit of a plurality of client computing units, said plurality of client computing units being in communication via a network with an instant message server that provides an instant messaging service to said plurality of client computing units, said query not being initiated by any end user associated with any client computing unit of said plurality of client computing units, and said backend process being an automated server process separate from said instant message server and not executing on any client computing unit of said plurality of client computing units; computer-usable code for sending a first instant message that includes said query from said backend process to said client computing unit via said instant message server; computer-usable code for receiving, by said backend process in real-time and from said client computing unit via said instant message server, a second instant message that includes a final response to said query, wherein said final response is selected from a group consisting of; said information placed in said second instant message by an end user utilizing said client computing unit or by an automatic execution of a software agent residing on said client computing unit, said automatic execution not requiring an interaction with said client computing unit by any end user, and a notification that does not include said information, said notification indicating that said end user is not available to provide said information to said backend process. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A process for supporting computing infrastructure, said process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in a computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing a method of using an instant messaging system to gather information for a backend process, said method comprising:
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automatically generating a query for information by a backend process of a computing system, said information accessible by a client computing unit of a plurality of client computing units, said plurality of client computing units being in communication via a network with an instant message server that provides an instant messaging service to said plurality of client computing units, said query not being initiated by any end user associated with any client computing unit of said plurality of client computing units, and said backend process being an automated server process separate from said instant message server and not executing on any client computing unit of said plurality of client computing units; sending a first instant message that includes said query from said backend process to said client computing unit via said instant message server; receiving, by said backend process in real-time and from said client computing unit via said instant message server, a second instant message that includes a final response to said query, wherein said final response is selected from a group consisting of; said information placed in said second instant message by an end user utilizing said client computing unit or by an automatic execution of a software agent residing on said client computing unit, said automatic execution not requiring an interaction with said client computing unit by any end user, and a notification that does not include said information, said notification indicating that said end user is not available to provide said information to said backend process. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification