Front Message exchange system and method

• US 20040080534A1
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Douglas A. Quach
• Original Assignee: Douglas A. Quach
• Inventors: Quach, Douglas A.
• Application Number:
  US10/431,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080534A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• 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 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for enabling communications between members of a group comprises enabling a first member of the group to post a public electronic message and enabling the first member to assign the message to a second member of the group for handling.

Claims

1. A method for enabling communications between members of a group, comprising:

enabling a first member of said group to post a public electronic message; and

enabling said first member to assign said message to a second member of said group for handling.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling said second member to reassign said message to a third member of said group for handling.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling each member of said group to post electronic replies to said message.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising enabling each member of said group to edit only those replies posted by said respective member.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising preventing each member of said group from editing their respective replies subsequent to posting of other replies.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising preventing said first member from modifying said message subsequent to posting of replies to said message.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising enabling each member of said group to view said message along with a plurality of said replies to said message in a predefined order.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said predefined order is a chronological order.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling at least one of said first and said second members to close said message to prevent posting of replies to said message.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling said members of said group to change a status of said message when a current status of said message is one of a predetermined plurality of statuses.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling only said second member handling said message to change a status of said message when a current status of said message is one of a predetermined plurality of statuses.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing said members of said group from changing a status of said message when a current status of said message is Closed.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling said second member to view a list of public messages currently assigned to said second member.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling said first member to view a list of public electronic messages originated by said first member.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a member of said group to view a list of public electronic messages currently assigned to any other member of said group.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a member of said group to view a list of public electronic messages currently assigned to members of said group.

17. A method comprising:

receiving from a member of a group a request for a list of pubic electronic messages assigned to members of said group; and

providing said list to said member of said group.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising retrieving a plurality of public electronic messages assigned to said members of said group, said plurality of retrieved messages having a status other than closed.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising retrieving a plurality of public electronic messages assigned to a selected member of said group, said plurality of retrieved messages having a status other than closed.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising retrieving a plurality of public electronic messages assigned to said member of said group, said plurality of retrieved messages having a status other than closed.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising retrieving a plurality of public electronic messages assigned to said members of said group, said plurality of retrieved messages having a status other than closed and having been assigned by said member requesting said list.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said providing said list comprises displaying said retrieved public electronic messages in a list format to said member of said group.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said displaying comprises displaying information regarding each of said retrieved public electronic messages, said information comprising information selected from the group consisting of a message type, a message status, a topic subject, and a username of a member of said group assigned to handle said respective public electronic message.

24. A method comprising:

receiving from a first member of a group a request to post a reply to a public electronic message assigned to a second member of said group;

receiving information from said first member regarding said reply; and

posting said reply for access by members of said group.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein posting said reply comprises posting said reply upon determining that a status of said public electronic message is other than closed.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising displaying a user-interface to said first member for receiving said information from said first member.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said receiving information comprises receiving information selected from the group consisting of a reply body, a status and a driver for said public electronic message.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said posting said reply comprises posting said reply upon determining that a username of a driver for said public electronic message is valid.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said posting said reply comprises posting said reply upon determining that prior to receiving said request, said public electronic message was assigned to said first member for handling.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a request to update said posted reply;

receiving information regarding updating said posted reply; and

updating said posted reply for access by said members of said group.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said updating said posted reply comprises updating said posted reply upon determining that said request to update was received from said first member.

32. A method comprising:

receiving from a first member of a group a request to post a public electronic message;

receiving information from said first member regarding said public electronic message, said information comprising information identifying a second member of said group for handling said public electronic message; and

posting said public electronic message for access by members of said group.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising displaying a user-interface to said first member for receiving said information from said first member.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said receiving information comprises receiving information selected from the group consisting of a topic subject, a topic body, a message type, a message status, and a driver for said public electronic message.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein said posting said public electronic message comprises posting said public electronic message upon determining that a username of a driver for said public electronic message is valid.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving a request to update said public electronic message;

receiving information regarding updating said public electronic message; and

updating said public electronic message for access by said members of said group.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said updating said public electronic message comprises updating said public electronic message upon determining that said request to update was received from said first member.

38. A method for enabling communications between members of a group, comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface to a first member of said group;

enabling the receipt of a public electronic message from said first member; and

enabling the receipt of information regarding a second member of said group, said second member being assigned said public electronic message for handling.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising enabling the receipt of information regarding a third member of said group, said public electronic message being assigned by said second member to said third member for handling.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising enabling the receipt of an electronic reply to said public electronic message from any member of said group.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising enabling the receipt of an updated electronic reply to said public electronic message.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising presenting said public electronic message along with a plurality of electronic replies to said public electronic message in a predefined order to a member of said group.

43. The method of claim 38, further comprising enabling receipt of at least one instruction from at least one of said first and second members to close said message.

44. The method of claim 38, further comprising enabling receipt of information regarding a change in status of said message.

45. The method of claim 38, further comprising presenting to said second member a list of public electronic messages currently assigned to said second member.

46. The method of claim 38, further comprising presenting to said first member a list of public electronic messages originated by said first member.

47. The method of claim 38, further comprising presenting to a member of said group a list of public electronic messages currently assigned to any other member of said group.

48. The method of claim 38, further comprising presenting to a member of said group a list of public electronic messages currently assigned to members of said group.

49. A front message exchange system for enabling communications between members of a group, comprising:

a server; and

application logic operatively associated with said server and operable to;

enable a first member of said group to post a public electronic message; and

enable said first member to assign a second member of said group for handling said message.

50. The system of claim 49, said application logic further operable to enable said second member to reassign said message to a third member of said group for handling.

51. The system of claim 49, said application logic further operable to enable each member of said group to post electronic replies to said message.

52. The system of claim 51, said application logic further operable to enable each member of said group to edit only those replies posted by said respective member.

53. The system of claim 51, said application logic further operable to prevent each member of said group from editing their respective replies subsequent to posting of other replies.

54. The system of claim 51, said application logic further operable to prevent said first member from modifying said message subsequent to posting of replies to said message.

55. The system of claim 51, said application logic further operable to enable each member of said group to view said message along with a plurality of said replies to said message in a predefined order.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein said predefined order is a chronological order.

57. The system of claim 49, said application logic further operable to enable at least one of said first and said second members to close said message to prevent posting of replies to said message.

58. The system of claim 49, said application logic further operable to enable said members of said group to change a status of said message when a current status of said message is one of a predetermined plurality of statuses.

59. The system of claim 49, said application logic further operable to enable only said second member handling said message to change a status of said message when a current status of said message is one of a predetermined plurality of statuses.

60. The system of claim 49, said application logic further operable to prevent said members of said group from changing a status of said message when a current status of said message is Closed.

61. The system of claim 49, said application logic further operable to enable said second member to view a list of public messages currently assigned to said second member.

62. The system of claim 49, said application logic further operable to enable said first member to view a list of public electronic messages originated by said first member.

63. The system of claim 49, said application logic further operable to enable a member of said group to view a list of public electronic messages currently assigned to any other member of said group.

64. The system of claim 49, said application logic further operable to enable a member of said group to view a list of public electronic messages currently assigned to members of said group.