Patent ID: 8880615
Filing Date: 2014-11-04
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of managing a workflow using an instant messaging system to gather information about statuses of tasks included in the workflow, the method comprising: a server computer generating a first query that requests from a user a first status of a first task of the workflow; the server computer sending a first instant message that includes the first query to a first client computer via an instant message server that provides an instant messaging service to the first client computer; in real-time and via the instant message server, the server computer receiving from the first client computer a second instant message that includes one or more key words entered into the second instant message by the user, the one or more key words indicating the first status in response to the first query; the server computer determining that the first task is complete based on the one or more key words included in the second instant message and that the first task is required to be complete before a second task of the workflow is started; based in part on the one or more key words being included in the second instant message, the server computer automatically generating a second query that requests a second status of the second task of the workflow; the server computer sending a third instant message that includes the second query to a second client computer via an instant message server that provides an instant messaging service to the second client computer; the server computer receiving from the second client computer a fourth instant message that includes a second response to the second query; and the server computer determining that the second task is complete based on the one or more key words included in the second response.