METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MESSAGE CUSTOMIZATION

• US 20090006565A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Velusamy, Umashankar, Hughts, George Louis JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,312,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/289 Phrasal analysis, e.g. finite state techniques or chunking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for customizing messages. The apparatus includes a communications unit and a processing unit. The communications unit can be configured to receive a message from a sender and intended for one or more target recipients. The communications unit can also be configured to receive one or more message customization indicators that are from either or both of the sender and respective ones of the target recipients. The message customization indicators are respectively related to identifying characteristics of the respective target recipients and the sender when provided by the sender and respective ones of the target recipients. The processing unit can be configured to cause respective output versions of the message to be outputted to the target recipients, each respective output version being output in a format consistent with the message customization indicators and at least one of the respective output versions being different from another of the respective output versions. Also disclosed are corresponding methods and computer program products.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a communications unit configured to receive a message and one or more message customization indicators, the message being from a sender and intended for one or more target recipients and the message customization indicators being from one or more of the sender and respective ones of the target recipients, the message customization indicators being respectively related to identifying characteristics of the respective target recipients and the sender when provided by the sender and respective ones of the target recipients; and

a processing unit configured to cause respective output versions of the message to be outputted to the target recipients, each respective output version being output in a format consistent with the message customization indicators, at least one of the respective output versions being different from another of the respective output versions.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory unit in communication with said communications unit and said processing unit, and wherein said communications unit is configured to receive the message customization indicators separately from the message, the message customization indicators being stored in said memory unit.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communications unit is configured to respectively communicate with the target recipients so as to receive respective message requests, and said processing unit is configured to cause corresponding output versions of the message to be generated subsequent to said communications unit receiving each of the respective message requests.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is configured to generate the respective output versions of the message by performing an operation on the message selected from the group consisting of:

hiding text, highlighting text, modifying text font, changing text language, adding a salutation, rearranging text, abbreviating text, condensing text, adding attachments, and removing attachments.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communications unit is configured to receive at least one of the one or more message customization indicators from a sender of the message.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said communications unit is configured to receive the at least one of the one or more message customization indicators together with receiving the message.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communications unit is configured to receive the one or more message customization indicators that are related to one or more identifying characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

individual identity of the respective target recipients, respective membership in a group by the target recipients, Internet Protocol address information associated with the respective target recipients, and electronic mail address information associated with the respective target recipients.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communications unit is configured to receive the message customization indicators so as to associate each target recipient with one or more recipient-specific message customization indicators.

9. A method comprising:

receiving a message and one or more message customization indicators, the message being from a sender and intended for one or more target recipients and the message customization indicators being from one or more of the sender and respective ones of the target recipients, the message customization indicators being respectively related to identifying characteristics of the respective target recipients and the sender when provided by the sender and respective ones of the target recipients; and

causing respective output versions of the message to be outputted to the target recipients, each respective output version being output in a format consistent with the message customization indicators, at least one of the respective output versions being different from another of the respective output versions.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein receiving the message and one or more message customization indicators comprises receiving the message customization indicators separately from the message, and wherein said method further comprises storing the message customization indicators.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising respectively communicating with the target recipients so as to receive respective message requests, and wherein said causing respective output versions of the message to be outputted includes causing corresponding output versions of the message to be generated subsequent to said respectively communicating with the target recipients so as to receive each of the respective message requests.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising generating the respective output versions of the message by performing an operation on the message selected from the group consisting of:

hiding text, highlighting text, modifying text font, changing text language, adding a salutation, adding attachments, rearranging text, abbreviating text, condensing text, and removing attachments.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein said receiving the one or more message customization indicators includes receiving at least one message customization indicator from a sender of the message.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said receiving the at least one message customization indicator from the sender of the message occurs together with receiving the message.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein said receiving the message and the one or more message customization indicators includes receiving at least one message customization indicator that is related to one or more identifying characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

individual identity of the respective target recipients, respective membership in a group by the target recipients, Internet Protocol address information associated with the respective target recipients, and electronic mail address information associated with the respective target recipients.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein said receiving the message and the one or more message customization indicators includes receiving the one or more message customization indicators so as to associate each target recipient with one or more recipient-specific message customization indicators.

17. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored therein, the computer-readable instructions comprising:

first instructions for receiving a message and one or more message customization indicators, the message being from a sender and intended for one or more target recipients and the message customization indicators being from one or more of the sender and respective ones of the target recipients, the message customization indicators being respectively related to identifying characteristics of the respective target recipients and the sender when provided by the sender and respective ones of the target recipients; and

second instructions for causing respective output versions of the message to be outputted to the target recipients, each respective output version being output in a format consistent with the message customization indicators, at least one of the respective output versions being different from another of the respective output versions.

18. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein said first instructions for receiving the message and one or more message customization indicators comprises instructions for receiving the message customization indicators separately from the message, and wherein said computer program product further comprises third instructions for storing the message customization indicators.

19. A computer program product according to claim 17, further comprising third instructions for respectively communicating with the target recipients so as to receive respective message requests, and wherein said second instructions for causing respective output versions of the message to be outputted includes instructions for causing corresponding output versions of the message to be generated subsequent to said respectively communicating with the target recipients so as to receive each of the respective message requests.

20. A computer program product according to claim 17, further comprising third instructions for generating the respective output versions of the message by performing an operation on the message selected from the group consisting of:

hiding text, highlighting text, modifying text font, changing text language, adding a salutation, rearranging text, abbreviating text, condensing text, adding attachments, and removing attachments.

21. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein said first instructions for receiving the one or more message customization indicators includes instructions for receiving at least one message customization indicator from a sender of the message.

22. A computer program product according to claim 21, wherein said first instructions for receiving the message and one or more message customization indicators includes instructions for receiving the at least one message customization indicator from the sender of the message together with receiving the message.

23. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein said first instructions for receiving the message and the one or more message customization indicators includes instructions for receiving at least one message customization indicator that is related to one or more identifying characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

individual identity of the respective target recipients, respective membership in a group by the target recipients, Internet Protocol address information associated with the respective target recipients, and electronic mail address information associated with the respective target recipients.

24. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein said first instructions for receiving the message and the one or more message customization indicators includes instructions for receiving the one or more message customization indicators so as to associate each target recipient with one or more recipient-specific message customization indicators.