METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR MESSAGE CLASSIFICATION OF WEB E-MAIL

• US 20080091785A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TITUS Inc.
• Original Assignee: TITUS Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Brad P., Warrington, Connor, Pulfer, Charles E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,411 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]

Abstract

Web based e-mail classification is disclosed. A toolbar adds the ability to classify message such as web e-mail, calendar items and meeting appointments based on specific properties such as security classification, information type, document type, document retention, document caveats, and the like associated with the message. The toolbar through dropdown selections allows users to select the appropriate classification and properties based upon the content of the message. Administrators can predefine all the classification selections that are available to the user. E-mail classification properties are generated that are associated with the message by metadata insertion and by inserting visual markings that allow users to quickly identify the security, sensitivity, intended distribution or retention of the e-mail or calendar item. By utilizing the classification toolbar a user can classify an e-mail by one or more classification levels and be ensured that the message is delivered and processed in the appropriate manner.

Claims

1. A method for message classification in a web access client comprising the steps:

creating a message form within a web client window;

launching classification toolbar within the message form, the classification toolbar providing at least a first classification selection input;

populating classification selections in the classification toolbar based upon pre-defined classification criteria;

receiving a classification selection input, selected by a user, from the classification selections populated in the toolbar;

determining if classification input is valid based upon administrator defined classification policy; and

assigning x-header properties to the message metadata based upon the classification selections if the classification input is valid.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the web client is a Microsoft Outlook Web Access client.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

determining if an additional classification is required based upon the previous classification input; and

receiving an additional classification selection input, selected by the user, from the toolbar.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the pre-defined criteria are defined relative to one or more security levels, sensitivity levels, intended distribution groups or retention level.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the message form is based upon a previously created or received message form and wherein the classification selections are compared to previous classification selections and wherein classification selections that are lower than the previous selection are denied.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the message form is based upon a previously created or received message form and wherein the classification selections are compared to previous classification selection and wherein classification selections that are lower than the previous selection, a warning is displayed to the user that the classification of the e-mail has been lowered.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the message form is based upon a previously created or received message and wherein the classification selections are compared to previous classification selections and wherein the classification selections populated in the toolbar are limited to selections that are equal to or higher level than the previous classification.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of adding recognizable classification properties and visual markings to the message.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the visual markings comprises inserting a classification identifier into a subject line of the message.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the visual markings comprises inserting a classification identifier into a body of the message.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the classification identifier comprises prefix or postfix text added to the message body.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein the pre-defined classification criteria are based upon as user class associated with the user.

13. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of logging all classification actions taken by a user in a classification information database.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein the new message form is executed by Microsoft ComposeNote.js routine.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein the message further defines a calendar item and the classification data is stored with electronic meeting information in the calendar item itself.

16. A system for message classification in a web e-mail client comprising:

a memory; and

a processor for executing the steps of;

creating a message form within a web e-mail client window;

launching classification toolbar within the message form, the classification toolbar providing at least a first classification selection input;

populating classification selections in the classification toolbar based upon pre-defined classification criteria;

receiving a classification selection input, selected by a user, from the classification selections populated in the toolbar;

determining if classification input is valid based upon administrator defined classification policy; and

assigning x-header properties to the message metadata based upon the classification selections if the classification input is valid.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the web-email client is a Microsoft Outlook Web Access client.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the processor further executes the steps of:

determining if an additional classification is required based upon the previous classification input; and

receiving an additional classification selection input, selected by the user, from the toolbar.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the pre-defined criteria are defined relative to one or more security levels, sensitivity levels, intended distribution groups or retention level.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the message form is based upon a previously created or received message form and wherein the classification selections are compared to previous classification selections and wherein classification selections that are lower than the previous selection are denied.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the message form is based upon a previously created or received message form and wherein the classification selections are compared to previous classification selection and wherein classification selections that are lower than the previous selection, a warning is displayed to the user that the classification of the e-mail has been lowered.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the message form is based upon a previously created or received message and wherein the classification selections are compared to previous classification selections and wherein the classification selections populated in the toolbar are limited to selections that are equal to or higher level than the previous classification.

23. A computer readable medium containing instructions for message classification in a web e-mail client, the instructions which when executed by a processor perform the steps of:

creating a message form within a web e-mail client window;

launching classification toolbar within the message form, the classification toolbar providing at least a first classification selection input;

populating classification selections in the classification toolbar based upon pre-defined classification criteria;

receiving a classification selection input, selected by a user, from the classification selections populated in the toolbar;

determining if classification input is valid based upon administrator defined classification policy; and

assigning x-header properties to the message metadata based upon the classification selections if the classification input is valid.