Message Recall Using Digital Rights Management

• US 20080317228A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Byrum, Frank D., Kay, Jeffrey B., Manning, Sara L., Clagg, Steven Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/014 Providing recall services for goods or products
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

Email messages are recalled in accordance with restrictions attached to the message. Use of the message is limited per the restrictions. Example restrictions include printing restrictions, forwarding restrictions, exporting restrictions, copying restrictions, reading restrictions, and a expiration time of the message.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for recalling a message, the method comprising:

receiving an indication to recall the message;

responsive to receiving the indication to recall the message, attaching at least one restriction to the message, wherein use of the message is in accordance with the at least one restriction.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the message comprises an email message.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one restriction prevents printing of the message.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one restriction prevents forwarding of the message.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one restriction prevents exporting of the message.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the at least one restriction comprises an expiration time; and

if a recipient of the message has accessed the message, the message is deleted upon elapse of the expiration time.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one restriction limits at least one of printing of the message, forwarding of the message, exporting of the message, reading the message, and an amount of time the message is stored.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein prior to recall, the message comprises the at least one restriction, and attaching the at least one restriction comprises activating the at least one restriction.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein attaching the at least one restriction comprises replacing the message with a copy of the message having the at least one restriction.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one restriction is recipient specific.

11. A system for recalling a message, the system comprising:

an input/output portion configured to receive an indication to recall the message; and

a processing portion configure to;

responsive to receiving the indication to recall the message, attach at least one restriction to the message, wherein use of the message is in accordance with the at least one restriction; and

a memory portion configured to store the message and an indication of the at least one restriction.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the message comprises an email message.

13. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least one restriction prevents at least one of printing of the message, forwarding of the message, and exporting the message.

14. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least one restriction is recipient specific.

15. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

the at least one restriction comprises an expiration time; and

if a recipient of the message has accessed the message, the message is deleted upon elapse of the expiration time.

16. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least one restriction limits at least one of printing of the message, forwarding of the message, exporting of the message, reading the message, and an amount of time the message is stored.

17. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein prior to recall, the message comprises the at least one restriction, and attaching the at least one restriction comprises activating the at least one restriction.

18. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein attaching the at least one restriction comprises replacing the message with a copy of the message having the at least one restriction.

20. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 18, wherein the at least one restriction comprises at least one of:

a restriction upon printing of the email message;

a restriction upon forwarding of the email message;

a restriction upon exporting of the email message;

a restriction upon reading of the email message;

an expiration time of the email message.

19. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for recalling an email message by performing the steps of:

receiving an indication to recall the email message;

responsive to receiving the indication to recall the message, attaching at least one restriction to the email message, wherein use of the message is in accordance with the at least one restriction.