Methods and apparatus to manage message delivery in enterprise network environments

• US 10,250,539 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2015
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vmware LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: VMware, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Simpson, Glen Robert, Giannesini, Didier, Ross, Clive Ilan
• Primary Examiner(s): Donaghue, Larry D
• Application Number:
  US14/817,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20170041265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

An example method to manage delivery of messages in an enterprise network environment involves receiving a message from a user of the enterprise network environment via a social media network. The example method involves identifying an occupational position of the user and scanning the message for at least one of identifiers. The example method involves determining whether the message includes at least one of the identifiers. When the message does not include at least one of the identifiers, the example method involves delivering the message to at least one of a first plurality of users of an enterprise entity via the social media network, the first plurality of users characterized by a same occupational position as the user. When the message includes at least one of the identifiers, the example method involves identifying a different enterprise entity including a second plurality of users associated with at least one of the identifiers, at least one of the second plurality of users characterized by a different occupational position as the user. When the message includes at least one of the identifiers, the example method involves delivering the message to at least one of the second plurality of users via the social media network.

Claims

1. A method to manage delivery of messages in an enterprise network environment, the method comprising:

accessing, via a message application programmable interface (API), a message posted to a social media network by a user of the enterprise network environment;

identifying, by executing an instruction with a processor, an occupational position of the user;

scanning, by executing an instruction with the processor, the message for at least one of a plurality of identifiers;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, whether the message includes the at least one of the identifiers;

when the message does not include the at least one of the identifiers, delivering the message to at least one of a first plurality of users of an enterprise entity via the message API, the first plurality of users characterized by a same occupational position as the user;

when the message includes the at least one of the identifiers;

identifying, with the processor, a different enterprise entity including a second plurality of users associated with the at least one of the identifiers, at least one of the second plurality of users characterized by a different occupational position than the occupational position of the user; and

delivering the message to at least one of the second plurality of users via the message API, the message API to provide compatibility between different types of social media networks used by the first plurality of users and the second plurality of users by delivering the message using a Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of users belong, and the second plurality of users do not belong, to a same department of a company as the user.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the identifiers include at least one of symbols, characters, tags, or numbers.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further including storing, with a second processor, the message in a database when the message includes at least one of a certain type of identifier.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein delivering the message to the at least one of the first plurality of users or the at least one of the second plurality of users includes posting the message to at least one of a message hoard, a communication client, an instant message chat session, or a forum.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the identifiers corresponds to the second plurality of users when the message includes at least one of the identifiers.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein delivering the message to at least one of the second plurality of users includes hiding the message from a third plurality of users.

8. An apparatus to manage delivery of messages in an enterprise network environment, the apparatus comprising:

a social media network to access a message posted by a user of the enterprise network environment;

a tag processor to;

identify an occupational position of the user;

scan the message for at least one of a plurality of identifiers;

determine, using a computer-executable process, whether the message includes the at least one of the identifiers; and

when the message includes the at least one of the identifiers, identify an enterprise entity including a first plurality of users associated with the at least one of the identifiers, at least one of the first plurality of users characterized by a different occupational position than the occupational position of the user;

an application programmable interface to provide compatibility between different types of social media networks, the application programmable interface to;

deliver the message via Hypertext Transfer Protocol to at least one of a second plurality of users of a different enterprise entity when the message does not include at least one of the identifiers, the second plurality of users characterized by a same occupational position as the user; and

when the message includes at least one of the identifiers, deliver the message via the Hypertext Transfer Protocol to at least one of the first plurality of users.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the second plurality of users are to belong, and the first plurality of users are not to belong, to a same department of a company as the user.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the identifiers are to include at least one of symbols, characters, tags, or numbers.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, further including a ticket tracker to store the message in a database when the message includes at least one of a certain type of identifier.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein to deliver the message to the at least one of the first plurality of users or the at least one of the second plurality of users includes posting the message to at least one of a message board, a communication client, an instant message chat session, or a forum.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the at least one of the identifiers corresponds to the first plurality of users when the message includes the at least one of the identifiers.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein to deliver the message to the at least one of the first plurality of users includes hiding the message from a third plurality of users.

15. An article of manufacture comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to at least:

access via an application programmable interface (API) a message posted to a social media network by a user of an enterprise network environment;

identify an occupational position of the user;

scan the message for at least one of a plurality of identifiers;

determine, using a computer-executable process, whether the message includes the at least one of the identifiers;

deliver the message to at least one of a first plurality of users of an enterprise entity via the API when the message does not include the at least one of the identifiers, the first plurality of users characterized by a same occupational position as the user;

identify a different enterprise entity including a second plurality of users associated with the at least one of the identifiers when the message includes the at least one of the identifiers, at least one of the second plurality of users characterized by a different occupational position than the occupational position of the user;

deliver the message to at least one of the second plurality of users via the API when the message includes the at least one of the identifiers, the API to provide compatibility between different types of social media networks used by the first plurality of users and the second plurality of users by delivering the message using a Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

16. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the first plurality of users belong, and the second plurality of users do not belong, to a same department of a company as the user.

17. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the identifiers include at least one of symbols, characters, tags, or numbers.

18. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to deliver the message to the at least one of the first plurality of users or the at least one of the second plurality of users by posting the message to at least one of a message board, a communication client, an instant message chat session, or a forum.

19. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the at least one of the identifiers corresponds to the second plurality of users when the message includes the at least one of the identifiers.

20. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to deliver the message to the at least one of the second plurality of users and to hide the message from a third plurality of users.