Tracking email and instant messaging (IM) thread history

• US 20040054737A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daniell, W. Todd
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

Systems and methods for integrating instant messaging (IM) services and email services are described. In one embodiment, email messages and IM chat session transcripts are threaded to each other so that an email thread history may be traced back to an IM chat session transcript and, conversely, an IM thread history may be traced back to an email message.

Claims

1. A system for tracking thread history comprising:

logic adapted to generate a first globally-unique identifier (GUID) associated with an email message, the email message being associated with an instant messaging (IM) session, the IM session having a second GUID; and

logic adapted to store the first GUID and the second GUID in a thread history database, the first GUID being linked to the second GUID.

2. A system for tracking thread history comprising:

logic adapted to generate a first globally-unique identifier (GUID) associated with an instant messaging (IM) session, the IM session being associated with an email message, the email message having a second GUID; and

logic adapted to store the first GUID and the second GUID in a thread history database, the first GUID being linked to the second GUID.

3. A system for tracking thread history comprising:

logic adapted to generate a first globally-unique identifier (GUID) associated with a first instant messaging (IM) session, the IM session being associated with a second IM session, the second IM session having a second GUID; and

logic adapted to store the first GUID and the second GUID in a thread history database, the first GUID being linked to the second GUID.

4. A method for tracking thread history comprising:

generating a first globally-unique identifier (GUID) associated with an email message, the email message being associated with an instant messaging (IM) session, the IM session having a second GUID; and

storing the first GUID and the second GUID in a thread history database, the first GUID being linked to the second GUID.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the generating the first GUID comprises:

generating the first GUID in response to sending the email message.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the generating the first GUID comprises:

generating the first GUID in response to receiving the email message.

7. A method for tracking thread history comprising:

generating a first globally-unique identifier (GUID) associated with an instant messaging (IM) session, the IM session being associated with an email message, the email message having a second GUID; and

storing the first GUID and the second GUID in a thread history database, the first GUID being linked to the second GUID.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the generating the first GUID comprises:

generating the first GUID in response to establishing the IM session.

9. A method for tracking thread history comprising:

generating a first globally-unique identifier (GUID) associated with a first instant messaging (IM) session, the IM session being associated with a second IM session, the second IM session having a second GUID; and

storing the first GUID and the second GUID in a thread history database, the first GUID being linked to the second GUID.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the generating the first GUID comprises:

generating the first GUID in response to establishing the first IM session.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the generating the second GUID comprises:

generating the second GUID in response to establishing the second IM session.

12. A system for tracking thread history comprising:

means for generating a first globally-unique identifier (GUID) associated with an email message, the email message being associated with an instant messaging (IM) session, the IM session having a second GUID; and

means for storing the first GUID and the second GUID in a thread history database, the first GUID being linked to the second GUID.

13. A system for tracking thread history comprising:

means for generating a first globally-unique identifier (GUID) associated with an instant messaging (IM) session, the IM session being associated with an email message, the email message having a second GUID; and

means for storing the first GUID and the second GUID in a thread history database, the first GUID being linked to the second GUID.

14. A system for tracking thread history comprising:

means for generating a first globally-unique identifier (GUID) associated with a first instant messaging (IM) session, the IM, session being associated with a second IM session, the second IM session having a second GUID; and

means for storing the first GUID and the second GUID in a thread history database, the first GUID being linked to the second GUID.