Solution that leverages an instant messaging system to manage ad hoc business process workflows
First Claim
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1. A method for utilizing an instant messaging system to manage the execution of ad hoc business processes comprising:
- identifying a user-created process definition entered into a user interface of an instant messaging client application by a user, wherein said process definition represents an ad hoc business process, and, wherein the process definition utilizes entities defined in a contact of the instant messaging (IM) client application;
creating the process definition by defining process flow controls for directing execution of the process definition based upon responses to the IMs received from the participants, wherein the process flow controls comprise at least a process continuation and a process termination;
during an instant messaging communication session and responsive to an invocation action invoked from the user interface of the instant messaging client application, executing the process definition; and
upon reaching a terminating condition defined within the process definition, presenting results of executing the process definition via the user interface, wherein the process definition created by the user interface is written in a standardized computing language.
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Abstract
A process definition entered into a user interface that is coupled with an instant messaging client application can be identified. The process definition can represent an ad hoc business process. The process definition can utilize entities defined in a contact of the instant messaging (IM) client application. The process definition can execute. Upon reaching a terminating condition defined within the process definition, results of executing the process definition can be presented via the user interface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for utilizing an instant messaging system to manage the execution of ad hoc business processes comprising:
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identifying a user-created process definition entered into a user interface of an instant messaging client application by a user, wherein said process definition represents an ad hoc business process, and, wherein the process definition utilizes entities defined in a contact of the instant messaging (IM) client application; creating the process definition by defining process flow controls for directing execution of the process definition based upon responses to the IMs received from the participants, wherein the process flow controls comprise at least a process continuation and a process termination; during an instant messaging communication session and responsive to an invocation action invoked from the user interface of the instant messaging client application, executing the process definition; and upon reaching a terminating condition defined within the process definition, presenting results of executing the process definition via the user interface, wherein the process definition created by the user interface is written in a standardized computing language. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system that utilizes an instant messaging system to manage the execution of ad hoc business processes comprising:
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an instant messaging system, comprising hardware and software, configured to convey instant messages (IMs) between a plurality of instant messaging client applications, said instant messaging system comprising; a process handler configured to interface with the IM system to; receive a process definition in a IM client user interface from a user; create the process definition by defining process flow controls for directing execution of the process definition based upon responses to the IMs received from participants, wherein the process flow controls comprise at least a process continuation and a process termination; and send and receive IMs in accordance with the process definition to execute the ad hoc business process, wherein said ad hoc business process is able to be invoked for the instant messaging user during an instant messaging session utilizing one of the plurality of instant messaging client applications; and a storage medium storing a plurality of process definitions, each of the process definitions representing an ad hoc business process that requires communication between a plurality of entities, wherein said plurality of entities are members of the instant messaging (IM) system; wherein the process definition is written in a standardized computing language that is interpretable by the process handler. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product that utilizes an instant messaging system to manage the execution of ad hoc business processes comprising:
a non-transitory computer usable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising; computer usable program code stored in the non-transitory storage medium configured to identify a user-created process definition entered into a user interface of an instant messaging client application by a user, wherein said process definition represents an ad hoc business process, and, wherein the process definition utilizes entities defined in a contact of the instant messaging (IM) client application; computer usable program code stored in the non-transitory storage medium configured to create the process definition by defining process flow controls for directing execution of the process definition based upon responses to the IMs received from the participants, wherein the process flow controls comprise at least a process continuation and a process termination; computer usable program code stored in the non-transitory storage medium configured to, during an instant messaging communication session and responsive to an invocation action invoked from the user interface of the instant messaging client application, execute the process definition; and computer usable program code stored in the non-transitory storage medium configured to upon reaching a terminating condition defined within the process definition, present results of executing the process definition via the user interface, wherein the process definition comprise process flow controls that define conditions for continuing and terminating execution of the process definition, wherein the defined conditions are based on expected responses from the participants. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification