Enable web sites to receive and process e-mail

• US 20060129602A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Witriol, Daniel B., Leen, John M., Morton, Michael J., Silverstein, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US11/012,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

A system and method is provided that enables a Web site to receive and process e-mails. Authorized users of and e-mail enabled modules of the Web site are capable of receiving e-mails sent to the Web site. E-mails sent to the Web site are archived in the Web site. E-mails directed to the Web site are automatically embedded with links leading to the Web site. Repetitive information such as reply history in e-mails is trimmed and placeholders are provided for missing e-mails in a discussion thread.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for enabling a Web site to receive and process e-mail, comprising:

enabling e-mail functionality for a module of the Web site; and

creating a distribution list for the Web site, wherein the distribution list containing e-mail addresses of an authorized user of the Web site and of the e-mail enable module of the Web site.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising archiving e-mail sent to the distribution list in the Web site.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising automatically embedding a link to the Web site in e-mail addressed to the distribution list.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the module of a Web site is chosen from the group comprising a discussion board, a calendar, a document library, and an announcement list.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the Web site issues a request to manage an e-mail address associated with the Web site.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the request is performed by a directory management service.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the directory management service first seeks permission execute the request.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the permission may be granted either manually by a human or by an automated process.

9. A computer-implemented method for sending an e-mail to an e-mail enabled module of a Web site, comprising:

identifying the destination e-mail address in an incoming e-mail;

locating an e-mail enabled module associated with the destination e-mail address; and

associating the e-mail with the e-mail enabled module.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein an e-mail enabled module of the Web site is chosen from the group comprising a discussion board, a calendar, a document library, and an announcement list.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein locating an e-mail enabled module associated with the destination e-mail address includes searching a table containing an entry that maps the destination e-mail address with the e-mail enabled module.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein associating the e-mail with the e-mail enabled module includes identifying an e-mail handler associated with the e-mail enabled module, wherein the e-mail handler processes the e-mail before associating the e-mail with the e-mail enabled module.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein processing the e-mail includes authenticating the e-mail to ensure it comes from a welcomed sender.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein processing the e-mail includes ensuring the e-mail is not duplicated.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein processing the e-mail includes creating a placeholder for a missing e-mail that should have arrived before the e-mail being processed, if the e-mail being processed and the missing e-mail belong to the same discussion thread.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein processing the e-mail includes trimming the content of the e-mail.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein trimming the content of the e-mail includes abstracting reply history included in the e-mail into a link, the actuation of which leads to the reply history.

18. A computing system for sending an e-mail to an e-mail enabled module of a Web site, comprising:

(a) an e-mail client;

(b) an e-mail server; and

(c) a Web server, coupled with the e-mail client and the e-mail server, for;

(i) identifying the destination e-mail address in an e-mail;

(ii) locating an e-mail enabled module associated with the destination e-mail address; and

(iii) associating the e-mail with the e-mail enabled module.

19. The computing system of claim 18, wherein the e-mail enabled module of the Web site is chosen from the group comprising a discussion board, a calendar, a document library, and an announcement list.

20. The computing system of claim 18, wherein locating an e-mail enabled module associated with the destination e-mail address includes searching a table containing an entry that maps the destination e-mail address with the e-mail enabled module.

21. The computing system of claim 18, wherein associating the e-mail with the e-mail enabled module includes identifying an e-mail handler associated with the e-mail enabled module, wherein the e-mail handler processes the e-mail before associating the e-mail with the e-mail enabled module.

22. The computing system of claim 21, wherein the e-mail handler is custom designed to process e-mail for a particular e-mail enabled module of a Web site.

23. The computing system of claim 21, wherein processing the e-mail includes creating a placeholder for a missing e-mail that should have arrived before the e-mail being processed, if the e-mail being processed and the missing e-mail belong to the same discussion thread.

24. The computing system of claim 21, wherein processing the e-mail includes trimming the content of the e-mail.

25. The computing system of claim 24, wherein trimming the content of the e-mail includes abstracting reply history included in the e-mail into a link, the actuation of which leads to the reply history.

26. A computer-implemented method for enabling a Web site to receive and process e-mail, comprising:

associating a Web site with one or more e-mail addresses;

processing e-mail directed to an e-mail address of the Web site; and

archiving the e-mail in the Web site.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, further comprising automatically embedding a link to the Web site in e-mail directed to an e-mail address of the Web site.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, wherein the e-mail address of the Web site is mapped to an e-mail enabled module of the Web site.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the e-mail enabled module of the Web site is chosen from the group comprising a discussion board, a calendar, a document library, and an announcement list.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein processing an e-mail directed to an e-mail address of the Web site further includes:

locating an e-mail enabled module associated with the e-mail address; and

associating the e-mail with the e-mail enabled module.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, wherein locating an e-mail enabled module associated with the e-mail address includes searching a table containing an entry that maps the e-mail address with the e-mail enabled module.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, wherein associating the e-mail with the e-mail enabled module includes identifying an e-mail handler associated with the e-mail enabled module, wherein the e-mail handler processes the e-mail before associating the e-mail with the e-mail enabled module.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein the e-mail handler is custom designed to process e-mail for a particular e-mail enabled module of a Web site.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein processing the e-mail includes creating a placeholder for a missing e-mail that should have arrived before the e-mail being processed, if the e-mail being processed and the missing e-mail belong to the same discussion thread.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein processing the e-mail includes trimming the content of the e-mail.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 35, wherein trimming the content of the e-mail includes abstracting reply history included in the e-mail into a link, the actuation of which leads to the reply history.