AU766895B2 - Rules based electronic message management system - Google Patents
Rules based electronic message management system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU766895B2 AU766895B2 AU54152/01A AU5415201A AU766895B2 AU 766895 B2 AU766895 B2 AU 766895B2 AU 54152/01 A AU54152/01 A AU 54152/01A AU 5415201 A AU5415201 A AU 5415201A AU 766895 B2 AU766895 B2 AU 766895B2
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- electronic
- rules
- electronic message
- message
- messages
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
- H04L51/21—Monitoring or handling of messages
- H04L51/212—Monitoring or handling of messages using filtering or selective blocking
Description
S&FRef: 399190D2
AUSTRALIA
PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT
ORIGINAL
Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: CompuServe Incorporated 5000 Arlington Center Boulevard Columbus Ohio 43220 United States of America Michael S. Finney Michael L. Snider Robin R. Bard James W. Paynter Randall S. Wright Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower,Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Rules Based Electronic Message Management System The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c RULES BASED ELECTRONIC MESSAGE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
BACKGROUND AND SIUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a system for managing electronic messages, and particularly, to a system for managing delivery of electronic messages according to the message recipient's preferences.
Electronic mail, or e-mail, provides a convenient and easy means for two or more individuals to communicate electronically. E-mail systems today help users send text-based and binary messages through extensive communication networks so that two or more users, who may be in remote locations, can communicate. E-mail may also be used for delivery of important business, financial, sports and other types of information from centralized repositories. The use of e-mail today has become so pervasive that many users now need a way to manage the inflmu of messages sent to their electronic mailboxes.
Today, most e-mail messages are stored in an electronic mailbox until the recipient :reads them. To aid the recipient in reading, the e-mail system presents a list of messages in chronological order. Users manage these messages by manually selecting and reading those messages that are of interest. Users often scan either the sender information or the subject :i 20 heading to locate messages of interest. When the number of incoming messages is very large, the process of scanning and selecting messages to read may be very time consuming. Actually reading and responding to or forwarding the messages takes additional time. All message management decisions and related actions are left to the user.
S'Some e-mail systems today provide more sophisticated mechanisms-sometimes 25 referred to as "filter and forward" mechanisms-for orting, selecting, and responding to messages. With the mechanisms, users may define specific criteria-or rules-by which messages are presented and handled in order to meet their personal preferences. For example.
users define a rule so that all incoming messages are routed autonaaticallv to a dlifferent ulailuox or perhaps, a paging device. A rule may be defined so that an incomin2 message triggers the automatic sending of a related message to a specific group of users. Another rule may result in the sorting and presentation of messages according to a priority assigned by the sender. Some systems may allow users to define a Eqs of senders from whiom. the recipient is willing to receive messages while all other messages are discarded automatically. Some systems may also allow users to accept only those messages relating to particular topics. In many instances, messages may be presented according to a combination of preferences or rules l0 so that, for example, messages relating to a particular topic and from a specific sender may be forwarded automatically to a select group of users interested in the topic.
In addition to providing different rule sets for the filtering and forwarding of messages, e-mail systems may apply the rules at different times. For example, in many e-mail systems responsibility for the filtering and forwarding of messages is distributed among the servers responsible for distributing the messages to individual users. If the recipient's server is not available, then the rules are not applied. Therefore, a message that should be forwarded to interested parties will not be sent until the recipient's server is available to apply the rules and perform the necessary actions. -As a result, there may be a significant time delay between the time that a message is sent and the time that other interested parties learn of the message.
2 C Even. if the server is available, time delays may result because the message must go to the server responsible for servicing the recipient before the rules are applied. If the recipient has defined a rule for the message to be forwarded automatically, the message [fakes an unnecessary, intermediate stop at the server before being forwarded according to the intended recipient's rule.
-3- Rules may also be applied when messages arrive at a client that performs mail services. However, significant time delays may result if the client is not available. In addition, network traffic may increase as messages from the client must travel to a central distribution point before being forwarded to the appropriate location. The same problems that exist when a server applies rules late in the distribution process are present when a client applies the rules. The forwarding of messages to others is delayed until the message arrives at the client and the client is able to apply the rules.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic messaging system comprising: a first device capable of sending an electronic message; a second device capable of receiving said electronic message; a wide area network adapted for communication with said first device and said second device and adapted for transmission of electronic messages from said first device to said second device; at least one rule defining which electronic messages should be sent to said second device; a memory unit for storing said at least one rule; ;a distributor connected to said wide area network capable of applying said at least one rule to said electronic message from said first device during transmission of said electronic message to said second device.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for managing electronic messages, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first device capable of sending an electronic message; providing a second device capable of receiving said electronic message; providing a computer network adapted for communication with said first device and said second device and adapted for transmission of electronic messages between said first device and said second device; providing a distributor in said computer network; defining a set of rules for accepting electronic messages at said second device; applying said set of rules with said distributor to said electronic message during transmission of said electronic message from an initial point of entry into said computer network to said second device; and transmitting said electronic message to said second device via said computer network.
[R:\LIBL]00344.doc:BFD 3A- According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic messaging system comprising: a first device for sending electronic messages to a second device; a computer network for accepting said electronic messages from said first device and for delivering said electronic messages to said second device or a computer network linked to said second device; a set of rules defining which of said electronic messages should be sent to said second device; a memory unit for storing said rules; to computer network distributor for retrieving said rules from said memory unit, interpreting and applying said rules to said electronic message from said first device, and for transmitting said electronic messages in conformance with said rules.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of delivering electronic messages received at a computer network, said method comprising the steps of: defining a set of rules to be applied to electronic message addressed to an electronic message recipient, said set of rules defined by said electronic message recipient; receiving an electronic message at said computer network, said electronic message addressed to said electronic message recipient, and distributing via a computer network distributor said electronic messages in accordance with said set of rules defined by said electronic message recipient.
In the present invention, message management rules defined by the intended recipient are applied soon after the originator sends the message so that messages may be forwarded or new messages generated and sent to other users regardless of whether the message may be delivered immediately to the intended recipient. Using the present invention, users specify message selection criteria based on attributes of incoming messages. Next, users specify the action to be associated with messages that meet the selection criteria. A distributor then applies the rules at the beginning of the message distribution process so that the intended recipient's specified actions are carried out even if the intended recipient is unable to receive the message. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rule definition and application services are provided by an information service that has the ability to support a large number of users and the ability to accept incoming messages from a variety of other sources. The advantages of the [R:\LIBL]00344.doc:BFD 3B present invention are explained fuirther by the accompanying drawings and detailed description.
[R:\LIBL]00344.doc:BFD BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a flow chart of the steps for defflie rules to be applied to a recipient's incoming messages; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the sNystem organization for a preferred embodiment; Figure 3 is a flow chart of the steps for applying the user-defined rules to a recipient's incoming messages; and Figure 4 is a flow chart of the steps for applying the rules during message distribution.
DETAILED DESCRIPTON OF PREFERRED
ENMODIENT(S)
Referring now to Figure 1, there is a preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention. Preferably, to send a message to User C 22, User A connects to an information service wide area network 14 via a modem 12. User A may be, but is not required to be, a subscriber of the information service. User A may use other means for connecting to :the information service without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
User A's message may pass through one or more iniformation service mail servers before User workstation 22 may retrieve it via a modem 20. I some instances, the servers through whAich the message passes perform one or more operations on the message before sending it to the next server. Additionally, one server may call another server to provide information necessary to complete an operation.
20 When User A's message arrives at the information servrice to be delivered to User C at the point of distribution), User C's message delivery preferences are examined to .:determine if any, special rules should be applied to User A's message. Preferably, the in-formation service distributor 18 is responsible for applying the rules to User A's message.
Jf for example, User C wants a copy of all messages from User A to be sent directly to Users B 26 and D 28, the distributor will ensure that arrangements are made to send User A's message 24 to Users B and D, even if User C's electronic mailbox is unavailable or User C is not logged in.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a diagrammatic view of a preferred s embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the organization of servers responsible for the rule definition and application as well as message distribution.
Referring now to Figure 3, preferably, the rule definition process begins with the user specifying the message selection criteria 12. The selection criteria described herein is exemplary only. Fewer criteria or more detailed criteria may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Preferably, the user specifies the range of dates during which each rule will be active 14. Another selector may be an importance value such as high, normal, or low 16. A message type, such as text or binary, may be specified 18.
Preferably, the user may specify a subject or originator value 20, 22.
Next, the user specifies a message action to be performed when the message selection 15 criteria are met 24. The actions described herein are exemplary only. Other actions may be "specified as well without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. If the associated action is to create a new message 26, then preferably, the user specifies a list of new message recipients as well as a subject and body for the new message 28. Other options may be specified for the new message such as importance or type. If the associated action is S. 20 to forward the message 30, then preferably, the user specifies the forwarding address 32. If the associated action is to delete the incoming message 36, then preferably, an indicator for this action is associated with the message selection criteria 36.
In the next step 38, the validity of the rule is established so that the distributor is able to carry out the specified actions when the message selection criteria are met. In step 40, the valid rules are Stored for later retrieval by the distributor. T1he Same Process may be used to define multiple rules. Preferably, the user is given the option of specifying an order i hc the rules should be applied to incorning me ssages.
Referring now to Figure 4, there is Shown the steps for applying the user-defined rules during message distribution. Initially, the message is sent to a mail server capable of retrieving information about the recipient 12. The mail server determines whether the recipient has defined rules for incoming messages 14. If the recipient has not defiried message management rules, then the message is delivered directly to the recipient 16. If the recipient has defined message management rules, then the recipient's rules are retrieved 18 and applied to the message 20. Finally, the message is delivered according the rules 22. For example, if the incoming message should result in the distribution of a new message to 5 other users, the mail server and distributor coordinate activities to ensue that the new message is created according to the rules specified by the recipient and that the new message is delivered to each of the other users.
Preferably, the retrieval and application of the message management rules are performed by a distributor working in conjunction with one or more mail servers. In an alternative embodiment, the rule retrieval and application and message delivery functions may be performed by one entity. Additionally, the functions may be performed by several entities.
More important than the number of entities involved is the point at which the rules are applied.
The present invention applies the rules soon after the message is sent by the originator so that greater efficiencies result.
The ability of the distributor to interpret user-defined rules and arrange for delivery of message based on those rules is unique to the present invention. The intended recipient's rules for message management are carried out regardless of whether the intended recipient is able to receive the message because the rules are applied substantially at the primary point of distribution. Several benefits result from the approach of the present invention. First, network traffic ay be reduced because any additional messages that should be sent as a result of the intended recipient's preferences are generated and sent from the central distribution point when User A's message arrives rather than from an alternative point that requires messages to be routed through the central distribution point anyway. Second, if the message should be forwarded directly to another recipient, network traffic may be reduced by eliminating the stop at the intended recipient's mailbox-especially if the message must return to the centralized distribution point. Finally, the present invention results in better resource utilization because messages that the intended recipient does not want to see may be discarded early in the distribution process. The elimination of unnecessary message stops, the elimination of the dependency of message delivery on the availability of intended recipient's mailbox, and the reduction in network traffic result in the more time delivery of important personal and ibusiness information in the form of electronic messages.
*e et* *5 S o
Claims (13)
1. An electronic messaging system comprising: a first device capable of sending an electronic message; a second device capable of receiving said electronic message; a wide area network adapted for communication with said first device and said second device and adapted for transmission of electronic messages from said first device to said second device; at least one rule defining which electronic messages should be sent to said second device; a memory unit for storing said at least one rule; a distributor connected to said wide area network capable of applying said at least one rule to said electronic message from said first device during transmission of said electronic message to said second device.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one rule applied to said electronic message causes the generation of one or more new messages to be sent to one or more different devices.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one rule applied to said electronic message may cause a message to be forwarded to a different device.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said distributor is part of an information service wide area network. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one rule is based on the originator of said electronic message. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one rule is based on the subject of said electronic message.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one rule is based on the priority of said electronic message. [R:\LiBL]00344.doc:BFD -9-
8. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one rule is based on the electronic message type.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein a recipient of message at said second device defines said at least one rule. A method for managing electronic messages, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first device capable of sending an electronic message; providing a second device capable of receiving said electronic message; providing a computer network adapted for communication with said first device and said second device and adapted for transmission of electronic messages between said first device and said second device; providing a distributor in said computer network; defining a set of rules for accepting electronic messages at said second device; applying said set of rules with said distributor to said electronic message during transmission of said electronic message from an initial point of entry into said computer network to said second device; and transmitting said electronic message to said second device via said computer network.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein a recipient of electronic messages at said second device defines said set of rules.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said distributor is part of an information service network.
13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of generating at least one new electronic message to be sent to one or more different devices in accordance with a rule from said set of rules applied to said electronic message.
14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of forwarding said electronic message to one or more different devices in accordance with a rule from said set of rules applied to said electronic message. [R:\LflBL]00344.doc:BFD An electronic messaging system comprising; a first device for sending electronic messages to a second device; a computer network for accepting said electronic messages from said first device and for delivering said electronic message to said second device or a computer network linked to said second device; a set of rules defining which of said electronic messages should be sent to said second device; a memory unit for storing said rules; a computer network distributor for retrieving said rules from said memory unit, interpreting and applying said rules to said electronic messages from said first device, and for transmitting said electronic messages in conformance with said rules.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein a recipient of electronic messages at said second device defines said set of rules.
17. A method of delivering electronic messages received at a computer network, said method comprising the steps of: defining a set of rules to be applied to electronic message addressed to an electronic message recipient, said set of rules defined by said electronic message recipient; receiving an electronic message at said computer network, said electronic o• message addressed to said electronic message recipient; and distributing via a computer network distributor said electronic messages in accordance with said set of rules defined by said electronic message recipient. :•mssge18. The method of 18 wherein the step of distributing said electronic message comprises the step of retrieving said set of rules from a memory unit at said computer network, interpreting and applying said set of rules to said electronic messages, and delivering one or more electronic messages to one or more electronic message recipients in accordance with said set of rules. DATED this Twenty-ninth Day of June, 2001 CompuServe Incorporated Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:\LIBL]00344.doc:BFD
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU54152/01A AU766895B2 (en) | 1995-05-08 | 2001-06-29 | Rules based electronic message management system |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/436571 | 1995-05-08 | ||
| AU48757/99A AU731288B2 (en) | 1995-05-08 | 1999-09-16 | Rules based electronic message management system |
| AU54152/01A AU766895B2 (en) | 1995-05-08 | 2001-06-29 | Rules based electronic message management system |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU48757/99A Division AU731288B2 (en) | 1995-05-08 | 1999-09-16 | Rules based electronic message management system |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU5415201A AU5415201A (en) | 2001-09-06 |
| AU766895B2 true AU766895B2 (en) | 2003-10-23 |
Family
ID=29256076
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU54152/01A Expired AU766895B2 (en) | 1995-05-08 | 2001-06-29 | Rules based electronic message management system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU766895B2 (en) |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4531184A (en) * | 1981-01-30 | 1985-07-23 | Reuters, Ltd. | Conversational video system having contact selection control |
| US5276869A (en) * | 1990-09-10 | 1994-01-04 | International Business Machines Corporation | System for selecting document recipients as determined by technical content of document and for electronically corroborating receipt of document |
| US5283856A (en) * | 1991-10-04 | 1994-02-01 | Beyond, Inc. | Event-driven rule-based messaging system |
-
2001
- 2001-06-29 AU AU54152/01A patent/AU766895B2/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4531184A (en) * | 1981-01-30 | 1985-07-23 | Reuters, Ltd. | Conversational video system having contact selection control |
| US5276869A (en) * | 1990-09-10 | 1994-01-04 | International Business Machines Corporation | System for selecting document recipients as determined by technical content of document and for electronically corroborating receipt of document |
| US5283856A (en) * | 1991-10-04 | 1994-02-01 | Beyond, Inc. | Event-driven rule-based messaging system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU5415201A (en) | 2001-09-06 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| AU706649B2 (en) | Rules based electronic message management system | |
| US5057935A (en) | Method for confirmation of document recipient in a data processing system | |
| USRE40804E1 (en) | Filter-in method for reducing junk e-mail | |
| EP1040584B1 (en) | Apparatus and method for controlling delivery of unsolicited electronic mail | |
| US6816884B1 (en) | System and method for creating conversationally-styled summaries from digesting email messages | |
| US6779022B1 (en) | Server that obtains information from multiple sources, filters using client identities, and dispatches to both hardwired and wireless clients | |
| US20030115270A1 (en) | High performance email relay system technical field | |
| US9615221B1 (en) | Device message management system | |
| US6453341B1 (en) | System for routing electronic mails | |
| US6941304B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for performing enterprise email management | |
| US5210869A (en) | Method and system for automated transmission of failure of delivery message in a data processing system | |
| US8280965B2 (en) | Method and system for managing electronic mail | |
| US8452840B2 (en) | E-mail response time estimation on compose or send | |
| WO2000029988A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for performing enterprise email management | |
| JP2003524329A (en) | Multi-mode message routing and management | |
| US20060224621A1 (en) | E-mail response system | |
| AU766895B2 (en) | Rules based electronic message management system | |
| AU731288B2 (en) | Rules based electronic message management system | |
| US6836895B2 (en) | Hybrid electronic e-mail server system and method | |
| US20030135574A1 (en) | Independent notification of urgent messages | |
| Jakobs | User requirements vs. OSI application services | |
| JPH04318726A (en) | Message managing device for electronic mail system | |
| KR20020085336A (en) | Method for email forwarding system and email auto reply system | |
| JPH04222139A (en) | Message storing system for mail data base | |
| WO2000036802A2 (en) | Ip-based message system and method |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) |