Method and system for interactively responding to instant messaging requests

• US 6,430,602 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Active Buddy, Inc.
• Inventors: Kay, Timothy, Hoffer, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Application Number:
  US09/643,262
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 709/102, 709/104, 709/105, 709/202, 709/206, 709/207, 709/225, 709/226, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/9, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A method and system for interactively responding to queries from a remotely located user includes a computer server system configured to receiving an instant message query or request from the user over the Internet. The query or request is interpreted and appropriate action is taken, such as accessing a local or remote data resource and formulating an answer to the user'"'"'s query. The answer is formatted as appropriate and returned to the user as an instant message or via another route specified by the user. A method and system of providing authenticated access to a given web page via instant messaging is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for interactively responding to queries from a user logged in to an instant messaging network, comprising the steps of:

logging a message processor in to the instant messaging network under a first screen-name, the user having the first screen-name as an authorized partner and being advised by the instant messaging network of the presence of the message processor;

receiving a query addressed to the first screen-name from the user via the instant messaging network in an instant messaging protocol;

parsing the query to extract the request;

evaluating the request in the message processor formulating an answer to the user'"'"'s query on the basis of the evaluated request;

generating an output message containing the answer; and

sending the output message to the user via the instant messaging network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the output message is sent to the user through the instant messaging network in the instant messaging protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of formulating an answer comprises:

passing the query to a query response server; and

receiving the answer from the query response server.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

accessing a profile associated with the user from a profile database; and

making at least a portion of the accessed profile available to the query response server.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of, upon, if no profile is available:

creating a profile associated with the user; and

storing the profile in the profile database.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of creating comprises the steps of:

soliciting profile information from the user and storing profile information provided by the user in the profile.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of soliciting comprises sending the user a cross-reference message in the instant messaging protocol directing the user to a web page configured to receive user input.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the cross-reference message includes an embedded URL, the URL containing a key associated with the web page.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of

receiving a notification from the query response server requesting additional data;

soliciting the requested additional data frown the user;

upon receipt of the additional data from the user, making the received additional data available to the query response server.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of saving the received additional data in a profile associated with the user.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a notification from the query response server requesting additional data;

accessing a profile associated with the user;

extracting the requested additional data from the user; and

making the additional data available to the query response server.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of, in the event that the requested additional data is not in the accessed profile:

soliciting the requested additional data from the user; and

saving the additional data in the profile.

13. The method of claim 1, including the additional steps of:

generating a new access key;

creating a secret URL including the new access key;

associating the secret URL with a selected web page; and

sending the secret URL to the first user in a message using the instant messaging protocol.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an access request from a second user using a hyper-text transfer protocol, the access request including a designated URL;

parsing the designated URL to extract a received access key;

identifying a designated web page associated with the received access key; and

allowing access by the second user to the designated web page.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first user and the second user are the same.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the selected web page and the designated web page are the same.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the association between the new access key and the selected web page is valid only for a predetermined period of time.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of invalidating the association between the new access key and the selected web page when the designated web page is the selected web page.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of storing at least a portion of the secret URL in a profile associated with the first user, the portion including the new access key;

the step of identifying comprising accessing a user profile associated with the second user;

the step of allowing access comprising access by the second user to the designated web page only if the received access key is in the user profile associated with the second user.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

storing the association between the new access key and the selected web page in a reference table;

the step of identifying comprising accessing the reference table to retrieve the designated web page associated with the received access key.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

associating the first user with the new access key;

the step of allowing access comprising allowing access by the second user to the designated web page only if the second user is associated with the received access key.

22. A method for interactively responding to requests from a user logged in to an instant messaging network, comprising the steps of:

logging a message processor in to the instant messaging network under a first screen-name, the user having the first screen-name as an authorized partner and being advised by the instant messaging network of the presence of the message processor;

receiving a message addressed to the first screen-name containing a request from the user via the instant messaging network in an instant messaging protocol;

parsing the message to extract the request;

evaluating the request to identify at least one designated action suitable for fulfilling request;

performing the at least one designated action;

generating an output message containing results of the performance of the designated action; and

sending the output message to the user via the instant messaging network.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the output message is sent to the user through the instant messaging network in the instant messaging protocol.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein, in the event that the request is a query for information:

the at least one designated action comprises passing the query to a query response server; and

the results comprise an answer received from the query response server.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

parsing the message to extract a user ID;

accessing a profile associated with the user ID, the profile containing information; and

making at least some of the information in the accessed profile available for use during at least one of the evaluating and performing steps.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein, in the event that the request is a request for profile maintenance, the at least one designated action comprises accessing a user profile associated with the user and updating the user profile as specified in the request.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the results comprise an indication regarding the success of the profile update.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of evaluating comprises:

determining if secondary information is required to fulfill the request; and

accessing the user profile to retrieve the secondary information.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of evaluating further comprises, in the event that the secondary information is not in the user profile, soliciting the secondary information from the user.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of, upon receipt of the secondary information, saving the secondary information in the profile.

31. A system for interactively responding to queries from a user logged in to an instant messaging service via an instant messaging network, comprising:

a message processor logged in to the instant messaging service under a first screen-name via the instant messaging network, the user having the first screen-name as an authorized partner and being advised by the instant messaging service of the presence of the message processor;

the message processor configured to;

receive an instant message query addressed to the first screen-name from the user;

parsing the message query to extract the request;

evaluating the request in the message processor formulate an answer to the user'"'"'s query on the basis of the evaluated request;

generate an output message containing the answer; and

send the output message to the user via the instant messaging network.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the message processor is further configured to send the output message to the user in an instant message protocol via the network.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the message processor is connected to a query response server, the message processor being configured to formulate an answer by passing the query to the query response server and receiving the answer from the query response server.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising a user profile database containing information associated with a plurality of users;

the message processor being configured to access a profile associated with the user from the profile database and make at least a portion of the accessed profile available to the query response server during answer formulation.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the message processor is configured to, if no profile is available, create a profile associated with the user and store the profile in the profile database.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the message processor is configured to create a profile by soliciting profile information from the user and storing profile information provided by the user in the profile.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the message processor is configured to solicit profile information by sending the user an instant message containing a cross-reference link directing the user to a web page configured to receive user input.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the cross-reference link includes an embedded URL, the URL containing a key associated with the web page.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the message processor is configured to:

receive a notification from the query response server requesting additional data;

solicit the requested additional data from the user in response to the receipt of an additional data notification; and

make received additional data available to the query response server.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the message processor is configured to save the received additional data in a profile associated with the user.

41. The system of claim 31, wherein the message processor is further configured to:

receive a notification from the query response server requesting additional data;

access a profile associated with the user;

extract the requested additional data from the user; and

make the additional data available to the query response server.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the message server is configured to, if the requested additional data is not in the accessed profile, solicit the requested additional data from the user and save the additional data in the profile.

43. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

a web server connected to the network; and

a key-web page association table indicating an association between a specific key and a designated URL;

the message processor being further configured to, in response to a determination that a user is to be granted authenticated access to a selected web page;

generate a new access key,

create a secret URL including the new access key;

associate the secret URL with the selected web page in the key-web page association table; and

send the secret URL to the first user in an instant message;

the web server configured to, in response to the receipt of a web-page access request from a second user, the access request including a designated URL;

parse the designated URL to extract a received access key,

identify a designated web page associated with the received access key in accordance with data in the key-web page association table;

aid

serve the designated web page to the second user.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the association between- the new access key and the selected web page is valid only for a predetermined period of time.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the web server is configured to invalidate the association between the new access key and the selected web page when the designated web page is the selected web page.

46. A system for interactively responding to requests from a user logged in to an instant messaging network, comprising:

a message processor logged in to the instant messaging service under a first screen-name via the instant messaging network, the user having the first screen-name as an authorized partner and being advised by the instant messaging service of the presence of the message processor;

the message processor configured to;

receive an instant message addressed to the first screen-name containing a request from the user via the instant messaging network;

parse the message to extract the request;

evaluate the request to identify at least one designated action suitable for fulfilling request;

perform the at least one designated action;

generate an output message containing results of the performance of the designated action; and

send the output message to the user via the instant messaging network.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the message processor is configured to send the output message to the user in an instant message protocol.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the message processor is configured to respond to a query for information by passing the query to a query response server and receiving an answer from the query response server.

49. The system of claim 46, further comprising a user profile database;

the message processor being further configured to;

parse the message to extract a user ID;

access a profile associated with the user ID, the profile containing information; and

make at least some of the information in the accessed profile available for use during request evaluation and action performance.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the processor is configured to respond to a profile maintenance request by accessing a user profile associated with the user and updating the user profile as specified in the request.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the message processor is configured to determine if secondary information is required to fulfill the request and, if so, access the user profile to retrieve the secondary information.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the message processor is further configured to solicit the secondary information from the user if the secondary information is not in the user profile.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the message processor is configured to save received secondary information in the user profile.