Patent attributes
A chat room system interfaces with an automated processing system. When an interactive query message from a user is addressed to the automated processing system, the interactive query message is passed to the automated processing system. The automated processing system extracts one or more keywords from the interactive query message and obtains response information from a data structure based on the one or more keywords. The automated processing system then returns an interactive response to the user through instant messaging. When the interactive query message is not addressed to the automated processing system, the interactive query message is forwarded to a support group through a chat room system. When the interactive response exceeds a predetermined size, part of the interactive response may be sent through instant messaging and the remainder through e-mail.