GB2350711A - Specifiable delete times for email messages - Google Patents
Specifiable delete times for email messages Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2350711A GB2350711A GB0003520A GB0003520A GB2350711A GB 2350711 A GB2350711 A GB 2350711A GB 0003520 A GB0003520 A GB 0003520A GB 0003520 A GB0003520 A GB 0003520A GB 2350711 A GB2350711 A GB 2350711A
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- Prior art keywords
- message
- delete
- delete time
- time
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
- G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
- G06Q10/107—Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
- Strategic Management (AREA)
- Marketing (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Economics (AREA)
- Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
- Operations Research (AREA)
- Quality & Reliability (AREA)
- Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
- Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
- General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
- Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
- Computer And Data Communications (AREA)
Abstract
An electronic mail (email) system allows a user to specify a delete time for automatically deleting an email message. Depending on the implementation, the user may be the sender of the message, the recipient, or the system administrator. The delete time may be specified as a duration of time following receipt of the message or as a specified date and time. In either case, when the specified delete time expires, the computer that received and stored the message to memory automatically deletes the message. In this way, control can be exercised to prevent the indefinite retention of email messages that may contain sensitive or other confidential information.
Description
2350711 SPECIFIABLE DELETE TIMES FOR EMAIL MESSAGES
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer networks that support the transmission of electronic mail (email) me3sages between nodes of the network.
Cross-Reference to Related AvOications
This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application serial number 08/900.793. filed on 7/25/97 as attorney docket no. Yak-er 7, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Descrimion of the Related Art Ty an email message to pical computer networks allow a user (i.e., an email sender) to send one or more other users (i.e., email recipients), who can then each decide independently if and v.-hen to read his or her copy of the email message. After an email message is read by a recipient. the recipient typically has the option of deleting the message or saving the message for future use. In some email systems, although a message has een deleted, it can still be recovered from an electronic "trash bin" containing such deleted messages, Only when the user explicitly empties the trash will email messages become irretrievable by the user. Some systems allow users to select an option whereby the trash is emptied whenever the user logs out of the email system, but this option is typically disabled by default.
One of the drawbacks to conventional email systems is that, unless the recipient explicitly deletes a message and then, if necessary. explicitly empties the trash, the message will be retained indefinitely in the memory of his or her computer. This can be problematic when email messages contains sensitive or confidential material.
Summarv Of The Inventio The present invention is directed to an email systern that allows a user to instruct the system to automatically delete an email message after a specified time or duration. Depending on the options provided in a particular implementation of such an email system, the user may be the sender of an email message, the recipient. or the system administrator. Again, depending on the implementation, this automatic message deletion may apply only to messages that have been read 2 by the recipient or it may apply to anN. message whether or not the message has been read b the recipient.
In one embodiment of the invention, the present invention is a method and apparatus for processing email messages by a computer. An email message is received and stored into memory.
wherein a user-specificd delete time is or has been assigned for the message. The message is then automatically deleted frorn the memory after expiration of the delete time.
Brief Description Of The Drawines
Fig. I shows a block diagram of an email messaging system, according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a flow diagram of the processing implemented by the system of Fig. I related to the preparation and sending of an email message; and Fig, 3 shows a flow diagram of the processing implemented by the system of Fig. I related to the receipt and handling of an email message.
Detailed Description
The present invention addresses a security problem related to email systems. In particular.
an email system of the present invention enables a user to specify a time for deleting an email message. The user may be the sender of the message, a recipient of the message, or the s% stem administrator for the computer network. The delete time may be specified in terms of a particular duration of time, e.g., a number of hours. days. or weeks, after transmission or receipt of the message. Alternatively, the delete time may be specified in terms of a time and date by hour. day.
month, and year. In one embodiment. the sender of the email message has the ability to specfl the delete time when preparing the message. Altematively or in addition, each recipient can speciR a default delete time for each email message he or she receives or a specific delete time for each different email message as the recipient reads that message. The system administrator ma, also be able to speciRl default delete times. including different delete times for different network us,:rs Typically, default delete times, whether set by recipients or system administrators. would be in terms of a particular duration of time rather than a time and date.
Fig. I shows a block diagram ofa node 100 of a computer network supporting the preparation and sending of outgoing eniail messages to one or more other network users as 3 the receipt and handling of incoming email messages from other network users, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The computer network can be any suitable type of computer network, such as a local area network or intranet or a wide area network or internet. Similar. node can be any suitable type of computer such as a desktop personal computer or a workstation.
The basic block diagram of Fig. I shows the general functionality supported by a node of an email system.
In particular, transmitter 104 of Fig. I transmits outgoing email messages from node 100, receiver 106 receives incommg email messages, and memory 108 stores incoming emai I messagcs.
Processor 102 coordinates the activities of the other components of node 100, including the preparation and transmission of outgoing email messages as well as the receipt, storage. reading, and deleting of incoming email messages. Depending on the implementation, an email sN stem can be designed to provide some or all of the following options to network users:
o A sender of an email message can select a delete time (e.g., via either a specified date and time or a specified duration) for each outgoing message.
o The sender can set a default delete time in terms of a specified duration for each of Ills or her email messages. In addition, the sender can vary the delete time from message to message.
0 The sender can vary the delete time from recipient to recipient for a single email niessa,,c 0 The sender has the option of speclRIng that the message be deleted only after the message has been read by the recipient or whether or not the message has been read.
0 The sender has the option of spccl-Ing that the message be deleted as soon as it is read bN a recipient, whether or not the specified delete time has expired.
0 The recipient or system administrator can set a default delete time (e. g.. typicall a specified duration) for all incoming messages.
0 The recipient has the option of specifying that the message be deleted either (a) onk aftcr the message has been read by the recipient or (b) whether or not the message has been read 0 The recipient can set a specific delete time as each incoming message is read b\ the recipient.
4 0 The recipient can override a delete time specified by the sender.
In anv event, assuming that the relevant conditions are met, after the expiration of a specified delete time, processor 102 of Fig. I will automatically delete the corresponding email message. where "delete" may mean "make the message unavailable to the recipient," in which case, it is equivalent to sending an email message to a trash bin and then emptying the trash for conventional email systems. Depending on the implementation. the term'-delete" as understood for the present invention may also imply an operation that completely erases the corresponding region of memory 108, so that even system administrators using special memory reconstruction routines cannot recover the message.
Fig. 2 shows a flow diagram of the processing implemented by node 100 of Fig, I %%hen the user is a sender of an outgoing email message, according to one embodiment of the present invention. In that case, the user prepares an email message for one or more recipients (step 202 of Fig. 2), optionally specifying an automatic delete time for the message (step 204) and \\ hether or not that automatic delete time applies to unread messages (step 206). The sender then transmits the email message to the recipient( ) (step 208), where the automatic deletion instructions are embedded in the email message according to some appropriate specified protocol.
Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram of the processing implemented by node 100 of Fig. I \\hen the user is a recipient of an incoming email message. according to one embodiment of the present invention. Prior to receiving an email message. the recipient optionally specifies a default automatic delete time for his or her incoming email messages (step 302 of Fig. 3) and \\ hethcr Or not that automatic delete time applies to unread messages (step 304). After the recipient recen es an incoming email message (step 306) and after expiration of the specified delete time, asstiming all other conditions are met (e.g.. a flag has been set indicating that the message has been read i I' only read messages are to be deleted). the processor automatically deletes the message (step 308) Each incoming email message. \% ith its embedded delete time information. is assi gned a receipt time by the processor indicating the time of receipt of the email message by the rccipictit When the delete time is specified as a particular date and time, the processor compares the delete time with the local time kept by the machine to determine when to delete the message Whcti the delete time is specified as a particular duration (e.g.. in number of days or hours). the proccslr compares the local time to the sum of the message receipt time and the specified delete tinic to determine when to delete the mcssa,,c --. 5 In addition to applying at the individual computers where email messages are received, the present invention can also be applied within computer servers that are responsible for storing, and distributing email messages to individual recipients.
It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.
6
Claims (20)
1. A method for processing electronic mail (email) messages by a computer, comprising the steps of (a) receiving an email message and storing the message into memoryl (b) assigning a user-specified delete time for the message, and (c) automatically deleting the message from the memory after expiration of the delete time.
2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the delete time is assigned when the message is prepared by a sender.
3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the delete time is explicitly selected by the sender for the 10 - message.
4. The invention of claim 2, wherein the delete time is a default delete time that is automatically assigned to the message when the sender prepares the message.
5. The invention of claim 1, wherein the delete time is assigned afterthc message is received.
6. The invention of claim 5, wherein the delete time is explicitly selected by a recipient N%hen the message is read.
7. The invention of claim 5. %%herein the delete time is a default delete time that is automatically assigned to the message when the message is received.
8. The invention of claim 1. wherein, after the expiration of the delete time, the message Is deleted only after it has been read.
9. The invention of claim 1. %%herein. after the expiration of the delete time, the mcssa."'C is deleted whether or not it has been read.
10. The invention of claim 1. %%herein each email message can have a different delete unic
11. An apparatus method for processing email messages. comprising.
D (a) means for receiving an email message and storing the message into memorN - 7 (b) means for assigning a user-specified delete time for the message. and (c) means for automatically deleting the message from the memory after expiration of the delete time.
12. An apparatus for processing email messages, comprising:
(a) a memory device adapted to store an email message- and (b) a processor adapted to automatically delete the stored message from the memory device after expiration of a user-assigned delete time for the message.
13. The invention of claim 12, wherein the delete time is assigned when the message is prepared by a sender.
14. The invention of claim 13. wherein the delete time is explicitly selected by the sender Ior the message.
15. The invention of claim 13. wherein the delete time is a default delete time that is automatically assigned to the message when the sender prepares the message.
16. The invention of claim 12, wherein the delete time is assigned after the message is recen cd by the apparatus.
17. The invention of claim 16. %% herein the delete time is explicitly selected by a recipient Mien the message is read.
18. The invention of claim 16. wherein the delete time is a default delete time that is automatically assigned to the message by the processor when the message is receivcd.
19. The invention of claim 12. \%hcrein. after the expiration of the delete time. the mess,Wc i-,-; deleted by the processor only after it has been read.
20. The invention of claim 12. %%hcrcin. after the expiration of the delete time. the mcs-,;j--,c is deleted whether or not it has been read.
2 1. The invention of claim 12. \\herein each email message can have a different delete unic
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US25564799A | 1999-02-22 | 1999-02-22 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0003520D0 GB0003520D0 (en) | 2000-04-05 |
| GB2350711A true GB2350711A (en) | 2000-12-06 |
Family
ID=22969280
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0003520A Withdrawn GB2350711A (en) | 1999-02-22 | 2000-02-15 | Specifiable delete times for email messages |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU1635400A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2298274A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2350711A (en) |
Cited By (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2371383A (en) * | 2000-08-30 | 2002-07-24 | Nec Corp | Method of transmitting and receiving electronic mail, and communicating terminal |
| GB2382683A (en) * | 2001-12-03 | 2003-06-04 | Skinkers Ltd | A message processing system |
| US7035904B1 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2006-04-25 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation | Text message delivery features for an interactive wireless network |
| US7117248B1 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2006-10-03 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation | Text message delivery features for an interactive wireless network |
| WO2007045557A1 (en) * | 2005-10-21 | 2007-04-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method for enabling records management |
| WO2007056822A1 (en) * | 2005-11-17 | 2007-05-24 | Steven Begley | Mail status notification system |
| EP2357593A1 (en) * | 2010-02-12 | 2011-08-17 | Research In Motion Limited | System and method for controlling event entries |
| EP2410474A1 (en) * | 2010-07-20 | 2012-01-25 | Research In Motion Limited | System and method for controlling the deletion of data associated with electronic groups |
| US8151116B2 (en) * | 2006-06-09 | 2012-04-03 | Brigham Young University | Multi-channel user authentication apparatus system and method |
| US8364764B2 (en) | 2002-01-09 | 2013-01-29 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Method, system, and apparatus for providing self-destructing electronic mail messages |
| US8521821B2 (en) | 2009-03-17 | 2013-08-27 | Brigham Young University | Encrypted email based upon trusted overlays |
| CN104126192A (en) * | 2012-02-20 | 2014-10-29 | 微软公司 | Time-managed electronic mail messages |
| US9438549B2 (en) | 2007-09-27 | 2016-09-06 | International Business Machines Corporation | Controlling expiration of electronic mail single store attachments |
| CN109714477A (en) * | 2018-12-21 | 2019-05-03 | Tcl移动通信科技（宁波）有限公司 | Mobile terminal email storage control method, mobile terminal and storage medium |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5786817A (en) * | 1995-05-31 | 1998-07-28 | Sony Corporation | Method and apparatus for setting retention period of e-mail based on visual screen selection |
| WO1998058321A1 (en) * | 1997-06-17 | 1998-12-23 | Purdue Pharma Lp | Self-destructing document and e-mail messaging system |
| WO2000017768A1 (en) * | 1998-09-23 | 2000-03-30 | Ogilvie John W L | Self-removing email |
-
2000
- 2000-02-08 CA CA 2298274 patent/CA2298274A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-02-11 AU AU16354/00A patent/AU1635400A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-02-15 GB GB0003520A patent/GB2350711A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5786817A (en) * | 1995-05-31 | 1998-07-28 | Sony Corporation | Method and apparatus for setting retention period of e-mail based on visual screen selection |
| WO1998058321A1 (en) * | 1997-06-17 | 1998-12-23 | Purdue Pharma Lp | Self-destructing document and e-mail messaging system |
| WO2000017768A1 (en) * | 1998-09-23 | 2000-03-30 | Ogilvie John W L | Self-removing email |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| GroupWise 4.1 Reference manual, 1994-95, p. 1,2,50,51,93-95 WordPerfect, Novell Applications Group * |
Cited By (24)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2371383A (en) * | 2000-08-30 | 2002-07-24 | Nec Corp | Method of transmitting and receiving electronic mail, and communicating terminal |
| GB2371383B (en) * | 2000-08-30 | 2003-01-22 | Nec Corp | Method of transmitting and receiving electronic mail,and communication terminal |
| US6968361B2 (en) | 2000-08-30 | 2005-11-22 | Nec Corporation | Method of transmitting and receiving electronic mail and communication terminal |
| US7035904B1 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2006-04-25 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation | Text message delivery features for an interactive wireless network |
| US7117248B1 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2006-10-03 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation | Text message delivery features for an interactive wireless network |
| GB2382683A (en) * | 2001-12-03 | 2003-06-04 | Skinkers Ltd | A message processing system |
| US9397964B2 (en) | 2002-01-09 | 2016-07-19 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Method, system, and apparatus for providing self-destructing electronic mail messages |
| US8725809B2 (en) | 2002-01-09 | 2014-05-13 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Method, system, and apparatus for providing self-destructing electronic mail messages |
| US8364764B2 (en) | 2002-01-09 | 2013-01-29 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Method, system, and apparatus for providing self-destructing electronic mail messages |
| US7720825B2 (en) | 2005-10-21 | 2010-05-18 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method for enabling records management |
| WO2007045557A1 (en) * | 2005-10-21 | 2007-04-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method for enabling records management |
| WO2007056822A1 (en) * | 2005-11-17 | 2007-05-24 | Steven Begley | Mail status notification system |
| US8151116B2 (en) * | 2006-06-09 | 2012-04-03 | Brigham Young University | Multi-channel user authentication apparatus system and method |
| US9438549B2 (en) | 2007-09-27 | 2016-09-06 | International Business Machines Corporation | Controlling expiration of electronic mail single store attachments |
| US8521821B2 (en) | 2009-03-17 | 2013-08-27 | Brigham Young University | Encrypted email based upon trusted overlays |
| EP2357593A1 (en) * | 2010-02-12 | 2011-08-17 | Research In Motion Limited | System and method for controlling event entries |
| EP2410474A1 (en) * | 2010-07-20 | 2012-01-25 | Research In Motion Limited | System and method for controlling the deletion of data associated with electronic groups |
| CN104126192A (en) * | 2012-02-20 | 2014-10-29 | 微软公司 | Time-managed electronic mail messages |
| EP2817779A4 (en) * | 2012-02-20 | 2015-10-21 | Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc | Time-managed electronic mail messages |
| US9374331B2 (en) | 2012-02-20 | 2016-06-21 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Time-managed electronic mail messages |
| US9553837B2 (en) | 2012-02-20 | 2017-01-24 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Time-managed electronic mail messages |
| CN104126192B (en) * | 2012-02-20 | 2017-03-01 | 微软技术许可有限责任公司 | Time management formula email message |
| AU2013222703B2 (en) * | 2012-02-20 | 2017-12-14 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Time-managed electronic mail messages |
| CN109714477A (en) * | 2018-12-21 | 2019-05-03 | Tcl移动通信科技（宁波）有限公司 | Mobile terminal email storage control method, mobile terminal and storage medium |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU1635400A (en) | 2000-08-24 |
| CA2298274A1 (en) | 2000-08-22 |
| GB0003520D0 (en) | 2000-04-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |