EP1195029A1

EP1195029A1 - Method for transmitting messages between two computers connected to a network and corresponding messaging system

Info

Publication number: EP1195029A1
Application number: EP01940664A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frédéric SOUSSIN; Bruno Jauneaud
Original assignee: Kanari World
Current assignee: Kanari World
Priority date: 2000-06-05
Filing date: 2001-06-01
Publication date: 2002-04-10
Also published as: WO2001095577A1; AU7417601A; FR2809901A1; US20020107929A1; US7103632B2; CA2380297A1; FR2809901B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for transmitting a message from a first computer (1, 2, 3) to at least a second computer (3, 2, 1), the method comprising a step which consists in inputting at the first computer transmission data in a header of the message, the method comprising a step of inserting in the message header at the first computer at least an instruction for management of a classification space executable by the second computer. The invention also concerns a corresponding messaging system.

Description

MESSAGING METHOD AND SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a method of transmitting a message between at least two computers connected by an external network such as a network of the Internet type or an internal network such as a corporate network of the Intranet type. The invention also relates to a corresponding messaging system.

The methods of transmitting messages of the known type are generally implemented using a messaging computer program installed in a memory of computers connected to the network. Using the messaging program, the user of the sending computer will create a message comprising, on the one hand, a header in which transmission information such as the address of the receiving computer and the subject of the message appear. message and, on the other hand, a body in which the user will place the text constituting the informative content of the message. The message is then sent after the sending computer has automatically completed the transmission information by adding, for example, the identification of the sending computer and timestamp data. The received messages are saved in the receiving computer to be included in an inbox of the messaging program. However, when the number of messages received is large, the time that the user must spend to process them (i.e. to read, classify, delete, reply to them ...) is relatively long. To automate the classification work, the user can configure filters in his messaging program which will allow the different messages received to be classified in specific spaces based, for example, on the name of the sender of the message, of the subject thereof ... However, in the case where a large number of messages received deal with the same subject or come from the same person, the processing time for messages received by the user from 1 computer receiver is still important.

In addition, it may be interesting, for example in the context of collaborative work ("group are"), that the different users of computers connected to a network use the same method of classifying messages by implementing the same classification. . This is only possible on condition of periodically checking the content of the computer of each of the users and of reorganizing the messages received if necessary, which is inconceivable most of the time, especially given the large number of computers connected in network (several hundred to several thousand in large companies), the geographic distance from these or the reluctance of users.

Furthermore, when a group of users of a network, such as employees of a company or individuals connected to the Internet, want to share information reactively through structured exchanges, they must use a dedicated server and train what is called a community. To do this, the user at the origin of the community must establish a list of the members of the community and a regulation defining the modalities of access of the members to the server and to the information which it contains. The establishment of such a community also requires that its members install software on their computer to interpret the communication protocol with the server, read and write the information that will be sent to it, download information recorded on the server ... The server, to which each of the members can connect via the aforementioned software, administers the community by managing member access, centralizes information sent by members, classifies and prioritizes this information. The server is also responsible for controlling the possibilities for members to intervene on the information to which they have access. The establishment of such a server is expensive, in particular because of the cost of the server when it is purchased, the cost of software using the specific protocol specific to the server used, the costs of managing the server. , costs of connecting members of the community to the server ... The installation of the server is also long and its use is not very reactive because any modification relating to the members of the community, their modalities of access or their possibilities of Intervention requires intervention at the server level, which must be carried out by qualified personnel. Thus, the use of such servers is particularly rigid, which goes against the desire for flexibility and flexibility of users who wish to reactively share the information arranged on the server. Furthermore, when the volume of information is too large on the server, the oldest information is deleted. This deletion is carried out at the discretion of the server manager without necessarily referring it to members of the community. The result is a decrease in the overall memory of the community.

Such exchanges of messages are regularly implemented by collaborative working groups (groupware) or discussion forums (newsgroups).

An object of the invention is to propose a new method for transmitting messages allowing reactive and structured exchanges.

In order to achieve this goal, a method is provided for transmitting a message from a first computer to at least a second computer, comprising the step of entering at the first computer transmission information in a header of the message and, according to the invention, the additional step of entering into the message head at the level of the first computer at least one instruction for managing a classification space executable by the second computer.

By information, we mean a data which is used by a computer and is used in itself to inform a field which will be for example either displayed or memorized. Information is passive data. By instruction is meant active data, an element which is used or interpreted directly in the receiving computer by means of a computer program to cause a modification of the data or the organization of this data in the receiving computer. The instruction is an active datum: an order. Thus, it is possible to make the header of the message the vector of instructions which will be executed automatically by the receiving computer, here the second computer, upon receipt of the message and will trigger in this computer one or more operations for managing a classification space on this computer, such as actions capable of allowing the establishment or management of a community, classification or prioritization of messages, deletion or modification thereof. .. It is therefore the sender of the message who will decide on the classification of his messages in the receiving computer. It is also possible with this process to set up collaborative working groups or discussion forums without using a dedicated server.

According to a first particular characteristic, the management instruction is an instruction for creating a space for classifying messages in the second computer, or an instruction for modifying the properties of a message filing space on the second computer.

According to a second particular characteristic, the method comprises the step of introducing into the header of the message at least one classification information of the message in a classification space of the second computer and the second computer incorporates, means for automatically reading this information and classify the message accordingly in the second computer.

According to a third particular characteristic, the management instruction is an instruction to delete a message in the second computer or an instruction to modify a message in the second computer. Advantageously, the method comprises the step of introducing into the message header at least one message scheduling information with respect to a message appearing at least in the second computer and the second computer incorporates means for automatically reading this information and classify the message accordingly in the second computer.

It is thus possible to prioritize the messages with respect to each other, for example depending on whether certain messages are replies to other messages.

Preferably, the transmission method comprises the steps of creating a classification space in the first computer, of associating properties there and of creating the message to be sent in relation to this space, the management instruction being introduced automatically in the header of the message, and comprising an instruction for classifying the message in a corresponding classification space of the second computer or an instruction for creating the corresponding classification space in the second computer, the method then comprising the step of introducing the properties of the space in the header of the message simultaneously with the introduction of the management instruction. The sender of the message and the receiver of it then use the same classification method, this method having been chosen by the sender and being imposed on the receiver.

According to a preferred characteristic, a classification space having been created in the second computer by a message originating from the first computer, it comprises the step of sending to the first computer a message having a header containing an instruction to delete a address of the second computer in the first computer in relation to the filing space.

When the receiver of a message having caused the creation of a classification space on his computer does not wish or no longer use this space, it is enough for him to request the deletion of his access for that no more message linked to this space cannot be received from the transmitter. Thus, when the classification space created in the first computer is associated with a list of recipients of the messages which will be created in this space, the instruction requesting the stopping of the sending to the second computer of messages can be an instruction removing the address of the second computer in the above list.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the method comprises at the level of the first computer the steps of introducing integrity information into the header of the message and of coding at least this integrity information with an encryption algorithm before transmitting this message and, on the second computer, the steps to decode the integrity information, to check if the integrity information is correct and in the case otherwise ignore the management instruction contained in the message header.

Thus, any unauthorized modification of the header between sending and receiving the message is prohibited.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of associating an access authorization with at least one message, the access authorization making it possible for example to read and reply to the message or being limited to the reading of the message, the method including the step of introducing the access authorization in the header of the message or in properties of the filing space.

This makes it possible to recall for each message elements of a community regulation. According to a particular embodiment, the transmission method is implemented by means of a program installed in the first and second computers, the program allowing the transmission of messages, the reception of messages and the automatic execution of instructions contained in the header of messages when they are received.

Thus, the execution of the instructions is completely transparent to the user of the computer receiving the message. The invention also relates to a messaging system which comprises at least two computers which are connected to a network and incorporate a messaging program for sending and receiving messages via the network comprising a header, the messaging program including means for entering transmission information in the header of the messages to be sent, means for reading this transmission information in the header of the messages received, and means for executing at least one instruction contained in the header of the messages received when they are received. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the following description of a particular non-limiting embodiment of the invention. Reference will be made to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the architecture of a network of computers implementing the method according to the invention, - FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a message.

The method according to one invention is intended to ensure the transmission of messages between computers 1, 2, 3 connected to each other via a network 4, here of the Internet type. Computers 1, 2, 3 can also be connected to a local network such as a corporate network, for example of the Intranet type. Computers 1, 2, 3 are connected to network 4 either directly or through an access provider.

Each of these computers is here a PC type computer ("personal computer") and has a memory in which is recorded a messaging program which is suitable for implementing the method of transmitting messages according to the invention and for operating according to a P0P3 / SMTP type messaging standard. The program can also be adapted to operate according to another messaging standard, such as for example the IMAP4 protocol. Other types of computers can be used such as workstations, terminals, servers ...

The messages 5 transmitted by means of the method in accordance with the invention conventionally comprise a header 6 and a body 7. In a conventional manner, a message 5 developed at using the messaging program of the invention, contains on the one hand transmission information appearing in the header 6 and on the other informative data constituting the message proper appearing in the body 7. The information of transmission include at least the address of the receiving computer possibly associated with an identification of the recipient such as the name of the user thereof, an identification of the sending computer, the type of messaging program used by the latter ci, local time stamp information, a subject of the message ... The informative data can be formed in a conventional way by a text and / or images, possibly in the format called HTML

(HyperText Markup Language). In general, the method according to the invention comprises the step of introducing into the header 6 of the message 5 at the level of the sending computer, at least one instruction for managing a classification space. which can be executed by the receiving computer. The computer program contained in the receiving computer is arranged to automatically interpret and execute the management instruction when the message is received. As a variant, provision may be made for arranging the computer program so that it requests the agreement of the user prior to the execution of the instruction by the latter.

By way of example, the transmission of messages between computers 1, 2 and 3 will now be described.

The user of computer 1 wishes to work in collaboration with the users of computers 2 and 3 and share information with them.

The user of computer 1 then creates a classification space A (for example in the form of a directory or an area of the memory of his computer) and associates properties with this space which specify the list of people (with their identification on the network such as the address of their computer) to which messages created in this space will be sent to users of computers 2 and 3, the access permissions to this space and its content. For example, the user of computer 2 can only read the messages exchanged while the user of computer 3 can read the messages exchanged, reply to them and delete the messages of which he is the author and that he placed in this space. This prerogative is also, of course, vested in the user of computer 1.

The user of computer 1 then creates a message a in space A, a message which will contain, in addition to the information to be shared, the conventional transmission information and management instructions which will be introduced into the in. -head of the message a before the transmission of the latter.

These management instructions include:

- an instruction to create, in computers 2 and 3, a classification space A with which the properties allowing the management of this space will be associated,

a classification instruction for the message a in the classification space A thus created,

- and integrity information.

Before sending the message a, the integrity information is coded using an encryption algorithm known to the messaging program and then formatted on 64 bits to correspond to the format of the message header. The message is then sent by the messaging program on the network 4 to computers 2 and 3. On receipt of the message, the messaging program decodes the integrity information by means of an internal decryption algorithm of the type known and checks the validity of the integrity information.

If the integrity information is correct, the e-mail program created in the computer corresponding a classification space A with the properties defined by the user of computer 1 and classifies the message a in space A thus created.

If the integrity information is not correct, the messaging program ignores the management instructions contained in the header and simply displays the message a as a conventional message, as it would make a message sent from a known type of messaging program that does not include any instructions in the messages.

The user of computer 3 can read message a. If it wishes to reply to message a with a message b, it specifies during the creation of message b that the latter constitutes the response to message a. The message program of computer 3 then introduces management instructions into the message header b containing:

an instruction for classifying the message b in the space A, an instruction for ordering the message b with respect to the other messages appearing in the space A, here specifying that the message b is a response to the message a,

- and integrity information.

The message b is then sent in the manner described above to computers 1 and 2. The program contained in these computers then executes the aforementioned instructions. To allow users of the receiving computers to see that the message b is a reply to the message a, the message b is for example displayed under the message a indented with respect thereto.

The user of computer 1 can then reply to message b or, as the user of computer 3 could also do, send a message c_ at the same hierarchical level as message a. The message ç_ will then appear on computers 1, 2, 3 according to the same alignment that the message has.

If one of the users of computers 2 or 3 does not wish to maintain space A on his computer, for example because the content of the corresponding information does not interest him, he just has to work out with the messaging program a message in the header of which is inserted an instruction requesting that the address of his computer be deleted from the properties associated with the space A. This deletion is carried out automatically upon receipt of this message by the messaging program of others computers. One can also imagine that from the identification of the sender appearing in the header of the message having created the space, the user's messaging program sends the deletion message to the sender who will automatically pass on (routing) to the other users sharing this space, at the next synchronization on the network of the computer creating the space. he . The procedure is the same for the transmission of messages d, e, f in space B created by the user of computer 3 in computer 2.

The following management instructions can also be used. An instruction to modify the properties of a space allows for example to modify the conditions of access to the messages of this space, the subject of this space, the name of this space ...

An instruction for reorganizing a classification space makes it possible, for example, to modify the arrangement of the messages in a classification space.

An instruction to delete a filing space allows the creator of a space to delete it from the computers of other members of the workgroup. Instructions for modifying, deleting or archiving a message can be used.

An instruction to move a message or several messages from one classification space to another classification space makes it possible to modify the classification of this one.

A message replacement instruction allows the message whose header contains this information to replace a previously sent message. This is for example the case when the message is a corrected version of an earlier message. In this case, a timestamp datum expressed in universal time is advantageously introduced in the header of the message. To do this, it is provided in the computer program to specify the difference existing between local time and universal time so that the messaging program can calculate the date and time of transmission of the message in universal time. from the date and time of the broadcast in local time. Thus, when the messaging program connects the computer to the network, the messaging program first receives the messages from the other computers and compares the time stamping information in universal time of the messages received with that of the messages to be sent which are related to each other. When a message received is a corrected version of an earlier message and therefore incorporates in its header a reference to the earlier message and a message to be sent is a response to this earlier message and itself incorporates a reference to this, a comparison is made by the messaging program of the time stamping information in universal time of these two messages by the messaging program, which makes it possible to postpone the sending of the response message after the recipient has read the correction message and has possibly modified his response. In addition, other information linked to the content of the message itself, to its author, to its creation date, to a classification category or a classification subcategory, to a level of hierarchy, to a particular version of the message, to a reference to a message previously sent or received can be introduced in the header of the message under specific headings allowing the messaging program to extract this information to display or classify the message. Information indicating that it is impossible to copy, move and / or print the content of a message can also be introduced in the header of the message in order to safeguard for example the intellectual property rights of its author. Finally, we can also use the header of the message to include information that will constitute all the informative content of it. The advantage of having this information in the header of the message rather than in the body of the latter is that the extraction of this information can be carried out automatically by the messaging program of the receiving computer.

Thus, an address book sharing can be carried out by entering the corresponding data in the header of the message under different headings including for example the first name of the person to be referenced, his surname, his company, his function, his address. email address, website address, home address, city, state, business and personal phone ... These data will be automatically organized in the mail program of the receiving computer.

Of course, the messaging program will incorporate cryptographic means making it possible not only to code the header of the messages but also the body of it. Classification filters of the conventional type may also be provided in the messaging program.

Note that since the messaging program uses a standard messaging standard and is compatible with the standards referenced RFC 1521 and 1522

(MIME), messages sent using this program can be read by standard email programs that will simply ignore processing instructions.

In a particular application of the method according to the invention, a company X, which has acquired rights from a company Y operating the messaging program capable of implementing the method according to the invention, distributes to its customers or to prospects a version of this email program with a graphical interface in its colors. The distribution of the free messaging program may be part of an advertising offer. The messaging program used allows on the one hand the creation of main filing spaces which will for example be displayed automatically when the messaging program is started and on the other hand secondary filing spaces which will not be displayed automatically when the program is opened.

Company X has encryption parameters that allow it to encode at least main space creation instructions, while the messaging program provided to customers of Company X will incorporate parameters that allow it to decode the creation instructions. 'main areas.

Thus, only company X which has the appropriate encryption parameters will be able to create main filing spaces in the computers incorporating the e-mail program it has distributed. this allows to prevent competing companies from creating main spaces on these computers.

Company X can thus create spaces and send messages in them which may contain promotional offers, bank account statements, information on company X or its market, advertising ... The spaces may be "passive" in the receiving computers, that is to say without possibility for the users of the latter to send their own messages. They can be of type 1 to n (in the case of information from X to targeted users meeting certain criteria) or from 1 to 1 (in the case of bank account statements, for example).

As soon as one of the clients or one of the prospects of company X uses the messaging program, it can be expected that the messaging program will automatically connect the computer to the network to receive messages and automatically send a message to the company. Y operator of the messaging program. The message header will include information on the creation of primary spaces (number, for example for billing of company X by company Y), on the creation of secondary spaces (numbers, creators, object ...), the websites visited ... in order to constitute a database on customer habits.

Provision could be made for a user also interested in another company, in this case company Z, to be able, for example from the website of this company, to request that a corresponding main (or secondary) space be created on his computer. The user will then be taken to the website of a company responsible for managing the main areas on the distributed messaging programs or to the website of the company Y operating them, whatever the company that made this distribution. This allows users to control the creation of spaces and avoid clogging up their computers.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and it is possible to make variant embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Method for transmitting a message (5) from a first computer (1, 2, 3) to at least a second computer (1, 2, 3), the method comprising the step of introducing at the level of the first computer for transmission information in a header (6) of the message, characterized in that the method comprises the step of introducing into the header of the message at the level of the first computer at least one instruction for managing 'a filing space executable by the second computer.

2. Transmission method according to claim 1, characterized in that the management instruction is an instruction for creating the message classification space in the second computer (1, 2, 3).

3. Transmission method according to claim 1, characterized in that the management instruction is an instruction for removing access to the space for classifying messages in the second computer (1, 2, 3).

4. Transmission method according to claim 1, characterized in that the management instruction is an instruction to modify the properties of a space for classifying messages in the second computer (1, 2, 3).

5 transmission method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it comprises the step of introducing into the header (6) of the message (5) at least information classification of the message (5) in a filing space of the second computer and in that the second computer incorporates means for automatically reading this information and classifying the message correspondingly in the second computer.

6. Transmission method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the management instruction is an instruction to delete or modify a message in the second computer (1, 2, 3), if the latter comes from the first computer (1, 2, 3).

7. Transmission method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the step of introducing into the header of the message at least one information of ordering of the message with respect to a message appearing at least in the second computer and in that the second computer incorporates means for automatically reading this information and classifying the message correspondingly in the second computer.

8. Transmission method according to claim

1, characterized in that it comprises the steps of creating a classification space in the first computer (1, 2, 3), of associating properties there and of creating the message to be sent (5) in relation to this space , the management instruction being automatically introduced into the header (6) of the message (5).

9. Transmission method according to claim 8, characterized in that the management instruction comprises an instruction for classifying the message in the corresponding classification space of the second computer.

10. A transmission method according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that the management instruction comprises an instruction for creating the corresponding classification space in the second computer, the method comprising the step of introducing the space properties in the message header simultaneously with the introduction of the management statement.

11. Transmission method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, a classification space having been created in the second computer by a message from the first computer, it comprises the step of sending to the first computer a message having a header containing an instruction to delete an address from the second computer in the first computer in relation to the filing space.

12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, at the level of the first computer (1, 2, 3), the steps of introducing integrity information into the header (6) of the message (5) and to encode at least this integrity information with an encryption algorithm before transmitting this message, and in that the method comprises, at the second computer, the steps of decoding the integrity information, of checking whether the integrity information is exact and, if not, ignore the management instruction contained in the header of the message.

13. Transmission method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the step of associating an access authorization with at least one message.

14. A transmission method according to claim 13, characterized in that the access authorization makes it possible to read and respond to the message.

15. Transmission method according to claim 13, characterized in that the access authorization is limited to the reading of the message.

16. Transmission method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that it comprises the step of introducing the access authorization in one header of the message.

17. Transmission method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that it comprises the step of introducing the access authorization in properties of a filing space.

18. Transmission method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the step of introducing into the header of the message timestamping information expressed in universal time.

19. Transmission method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is implemented by means of a program installed in the first and second computers, the program allowing the transmission of messages, the reception of messages and the automatic execution of the instructions contained in the header of the messages when they are received.

20. Transmission method according to claim 19, characterized in that the program operates according to a protocol of the P0P3 / SMTP type.

21. Transmission method according to claim 19, characterized in that the program operates according to an IMAP4 type protocol.

22. Transmission method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission information comprises at least one address of the second computer.

23. Transmission method according to claim 22, characterized in that the transmission information comprises at least one of the following information:

- an identification of the first computer,

- time stamp information,

- the type of mail program used by the first computer, - a subject of the message.

24. Messaging system for implementing a method according to claim 1 comprising at least two computers (1, 2, 3) which are connected to a network (4) and incorporate a messaging program for sending and receiving via the message network (5) comprising a header (6), the messaging program including means for entering transmission information in the header of messages to be sent and means for reading this transmission information in the header of received messages, characterized in that that the messaging program comprises means for executing at least one instruction contained in the header of the messages received when they are received.

25. messaging system according to claim 24, characterized in that the messaging program comprises means for, when it is put into operation, introduce into the header of a message parameters related to its use and send this message to a predetermined computer connected to the network.