Utilizing instant messaging to effectuate structured communication
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- an instant messaging system configured to send and receive instant messages,the instant messaging system comprising;
an instant messenger component configured to send and receive incoming instant message communication;
a survey generation component coupled to the instant messenger component and configured to open a survey construction component in a web browser to allow a user to construct a survey as a web page in the web browser based on user selections within the survey construction component, the survey generation component adapted to place a link to the survey in an outgoing instant message to multiple recipients when the survey is finalized within the web browser, wherein a survey comprises a communication that allows the multiple recipients to each choose one of a plurality of pre-defined responses to specific questions;
the survey construction component further configured to automatically generate the web page based on the user selections and to store the web page on a server accessible to the multiple recipients;
wherein the link is configured such that when one of the multiple recipients selects the link, a web page browser will launch and open the web page containing the survey; and
the survey generation component is further configured to provide an identifier of the outgoing instant message along with a list of potential recipients and to allow a user to select a recipient to receive the outgoing instant message by dragging and dropping a recipient identifier from the list of potential recipients to the outgoing instant message identifier.
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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.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
an instant messaging system configured to send and receive instant messages, the instant messaging system comprising; an instant messenger component configured to send and receive incoming instant message communication; a survey generation component coupled to the instant messenger component and configured to open a survey construction component in a web browser to allow a user to construct a survey as a web page in the web browser based on user selections within the survey construction component, the survey generation component adapted to place a link to the survey in an outgoing instant message to multiple recipients when the survey is finalized within the web browser, wherein a survey comprises a communication that allows the multiple recipients to each choose one of a plurality of pre-defined responses to specific questions; the survey construction component further configured to automatically generate the web page based on the user selections and to store the web page on a server accessible to the multiple recipients; wherein the link is configured such that when one of the multiple recipients selects the link, a web page browser will launch and open the web page containing the survey; and the survey generation component is further configured to provide an identifier of the outgoing instant message along with a list of potential recipients and to allow a user to select a recipient to receive the outgoing instant message by dragging and dropping a recipient identifier from the list of potential recipients to the outgoing instant message identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24)
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8. A messaging device, comprising:
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an instant messaging component configured to provide a user interface displaying instant messaging features and an actuable survey creation feature, the survey creation feature, when actuated, causing a survey creation user interface to be opened within a web browser and displayed for configuration by a user to generate a survey for in an outgoing instant message to be sent to multiple recipients, wherein a survey comprises a communication that allows the multiple recipients to each select one of a plurality of pre-defined responses to one or more questions; and the survey creation feature configured to automatically generate a web page configured to display the survey to allow the multiple recipients to select one of the pre-defined responses and provide each selection to a survey reporting component, store the web page on a server accessible to the multiple recipients, and place a link to the web page in the outgoing instant message, the link configured such that when one of the multiple recipients selects the link, a web page browser will launch and open the web page having the outgoing structured communication. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 23)
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25. A method for generating an instant message having a structured communication, the method comprising:
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launching an instant messenger graphical user interface; receiving a user input selection from the instant messenger graphical user interface to construct a survey to allow multiple recipients to each choose one of a plurality of pre-defined responses to at least one question; opening a survey construction component in a web browser in response to the user input selection; generating the survey and constructing the survey as a web page based on user selections within the survey construction component, the web page configured to display the survey to allow the multiple recipients to select one of the pre-defined responses; storing the web page on a server accessible to the multiple recipients; closing the web browser and returning to the instant messenger graphical user interface when the survey is constructed and stored; and placing a link to the web page in a first instant message within the instant messenger graphical user interface, the link configured such that when one of the multiple recipients selects the link, a web browser will launch and open the survey. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification