Method and system for transaction communication

• US 20070174403A1
• Filed: 08/15/2003
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Barry, Mona
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method and system for transaction communication are described. Using transaction data stored on a transaction system, communication between two parties is facilitated by identifying the relevant parties to each other and providing, through the transaction system, an option for them to communicate via instant messaging. The content of any instant messaging session may also be saved to the transaction system.

Claims

1. A method for transaction communication in a transaction system, the method comprising:

identifying to a first party to a transaction a second party to the transaction when data associated with the transaction is accessed by the first party through the transaction system;

indicating to the first party through the transaction system an instant messaging presence of the second party;

presenting to the first party through the transaction system an option to communicate with the second party via instant messaging; and

establishing an instant messaging session between the first party and the second party when the first party selects the option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data includes function information for the second party.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the function information is used in identifying the second party to the first party.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data includes instant messaging contact information for the second party.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the instant messaging contact information is used in establishing the instant messaging session between the first party and the second party.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging presence of the second party is determined by querying an instant messaging server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging session is established through the transaction system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing an instant messaging session between the first party and the second party includes:

prompting the first party to install an instant messaging client if the instant messaging client is not installed;

starting the instant messaging client if the instant messaging client has not been started; and

prompting the first party to login to the instant messaging client if the first party is not already logged in to the instant messaging client.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

saving the content of the instant messaging session on the transaction system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein saving the content of the instant messaging session on the transaction system is performed automatically.

11. A transaction system for transaction communication, the transaction system comprising:

a transaction engine;

a storage subsystem connected to the transaction engine, the storage subsystem capable of storing data associated with a transaction, the data including identities of a first party and a second party associated with the transaction;

an interface subsystem connected to the transaction engine, the interface subsystem capable of displaying to the first party the identity of the second party when the first party accesses the data through the transaction system, the interface subsystem capable of displaying to the first party an option to communicate with the second party via instant messaging, the interface subsystem capable of displaying to the first party an instant messaging presence of the second party; and

an instant messaging subsystem connected to the transaction engine, the instant messaging subsystem capable of at least assisting in determining the instant messaging presence of the second party and at least assisting in establishing the instant messaging session between the first party and the second party.

12. The transaction system of claim 11, wherein the instant messaging subsystem is further capable of saving a content of the instant messaging session on the storage subsystem.

13. A user interface for transaction communication in a transaction system, the user interface comprising:

a transaction information display for displaying to a first party to a transaction data associated with the transaction;

a party identification display for displaying to the first party a second party to the transaction when the data is accessed by the first party through the transaction system;

an instant messaging presence display for displaying to the first party through the transaction system an instant messaging presence of the second party;

an instant messaging option for presenting the first party through the transaction system an option to communicate with the second party via instant messaging; and

an instant messaging chat window for allowing the first party to have an instant messaging session with the second party when the first party selects the instant messaging option.

14. The user interface of claim 13, further comprising:

a save option for allowing the first party to save a content of the instant messaging session.

15. The user interface of claim 13, wherein the instant messaging session occurs through the transaction system.

16. An apparatus for transaction communication in a transaction system, the apparatus comprising:

means for identifying to a first party to a transaction a second party to the transaction when data associated with the transaction is accessed by the first party through the transaction system;

means for indicating to the first party through the transaction system an instant messaging presence of the second party;

means for presenting to the first party through the transaction system an option to communicate with the second party via instant messaging; and

means for establishing an instant messaging session between the first party and the second party when the first party selects the option.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

means for saving the content of the instant messaging session on the transaction system.

18. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for transaction communication in a transaction system by:

identifying to a first party to a transaction a second party to the transaction when data associated with the transaction is accessed by the first party through the transaction system;

indicating to the first party through the transaction system an instant messaging presence of the second party;

presenting to the first party through the transaction system an option to communicate with the second party via instant messaging; and

establishing an instant messaging session between the first party and the second party when the first party selects the option.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further including program instructions for saving the content of the instant messaging session on the transaction system.