Message processing using deactivation condition and after scheduled end time

• US 10,027,607 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Alfarano, Luca, Allampally, Srinivas, Bhagat, Gaurav, Boland, Conor T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Liangche A
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUANG, KAYLEE J
• Application Number:
  US14/993,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20160127278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Message processing includes activating an out-of-office function for a messaging account, wherein the out-of-office function has a scheduled end time. A determination is made, using a processor, that a current time is after the scheduled end time and that a deactivation condition for the out-of-office function has not occurred. Responsive to the determination, an out-of-office action is performed using the processor.

Claims

1. A computer hardware system, comprising:

a hardware processor programmed to initiate executable the following operations;

activating, for a messaging account, an out-of-office function having a scheduled end time and a deactivation condition; and

performing an out-of-office action upon

a current time being at least a predetermined amount of time after the scheduled end time, and

the deactivation condition not having occurred wherein

the messaging account is associated with a first messaging address, and

the out-of-office action includes;

selecting a message received while the out-of-office function is active, and

forwarding the selected message to a second messaging address.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the deactivation condition includes a user of the messaging account accessing the messaging account.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein

the accessing the messaging account includes the user checking the messaging account for a message.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein

the accessing the messaging account includes the user deactivating the out-of-office function.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein

the forwarding includes correlating the selected message with one of a plurality of forwarding rules, and

each of the forwarding rules specifies a different messaging address.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein

the out-of-office action includes:

identifying a messaging address to which a first automated reply was sent as part of the out-of-office function, and

sending, to the messaging address, a second automated reply different from the first automated reply.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein

the out-of-office action includes forwarding, responsive to a message being sent to the messaging account, the message to an alternative messaging address.

8. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having program code stored therein,

the program code executable by a computer hardware system to perform;

activating, for a messaging account, an out-of-office function having a scheduled end time and a deactivation condition; and

performing an out-of-office action upon

a current time being at least a predetermined amount of time after the scheduled end time, and

the deactivation condition not having occurred, wherein

the messaging account is associated with a first messaging address, and

the out-of-office action includes;

selecting a message received while the out-of-office function is active, and

forwarding the selected message to a second messaging address.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein

the deactivation condition includes a user of the messaging account accessing the messaging account.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein

the accessing the messaging account includes the user checking the messaging account for a message.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein

the accessing the messaging account includes the user deactivating the out-of-office function.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein

the forwarding includes correlating the selected message with one of a plurality of forwarding rules, and

each of the forwarding rules specifies a different messaging address.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein

the out-of-office action includes:

identifying a messaging address to which a first automated reply was sent as part of the out-of-office function, and

sending, to the messaging address, a second automated reply different from the first automated reply.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein

the out-of-office action includes forwarding, responsive to a message being sent to the messaging account, the message to an alternative messaging address.