Electronic mail delay adaptation

• US 20090055489A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Agarwal, Sharad, Mukherjee, Rajatish, Padmanabhan, Venkata N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,862 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

A electronic communication system that can detect and adapt to delays in delivery of e-mail messages. The system may adapt to delays by using other mechanisms to convey the information intended for delivery by e-mail. The mechanism may convey the information to the recipient once the delayed electronic mail message is received by the recipient'"'"'s e-mail system. In this respect, the recipient may make arrangements to receive information in the e-mail message when the recipient expects to be away from his or her e-mail system. Additionally or alternatively, the recipient may choose to initiate out-of-band communication to the sender when the recipient receives an indication of a delayed electronic mail message.

Claims

1. A method of communicating electronically, the method comprising:

sending information in an electronic mail message via an electronic mail system from a sender to a recipient;

sending a notification to the recipient, the notification being separate from the electronic mail message and corresponding to the electronic mail message;

providing an indication of the electronic mail message to the recipient prior to the electronic mail message being received by the recipient, the indication being based at least in part on the notification and

initiating by the recipient communication using an alternative mechanism in response to the indication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating communication comprises designating that the information of the electronic mail message is to be transferred to the recipient using the alternative mechanism once the electronic mail message is received by a forwarding agent.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the mechanism comprises a voice mail system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information of the electronic mail message is converted to speech and transferred to the voice mail system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating comprises selecting the notification from a queue of notifications awaiting corresponding electronic mail messages.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating communication comprises the recipient initiating communication directed to the sender at a location at least partially identified by the notification.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the location at least partially identified by the notification comprises one of a plurality of computers that the sender is known to use.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein initiating communication comprises the recipient telephoning the sender.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions that, as a result of being executed by a computer, control the computer to perform a method of communicating electronically, the method comprising:

sending information in an electronic mail message via an electronic mail system from a sender to a recipient;

sending a notification to the recipient, the notification being separate from the electronic mail message and corresponding to the electronic mail message;

providing an indication of the electronic mail message to the recipient prior to the electronic mail message being received by the recipient, the indication being based at least in part on the notification; and

in response to input from the recipient, initiating communication using an alternative mechanism in response to the indication.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein initiating communication comprises designating that the information of the electronic mail message is to be transferred to the recipient using the alternative mechanism once the electronic mail message is received by a forwarding agent.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the alternative mechanism comprises a voice mail system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information of the electronic mail message is converted to speech and transferred to the voice mail system.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein initiating comprises selecting the notification from a queue of notifications awaiting corresponding electronic mail messages.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein initiating communication comprises sending communication directed to the sender at a location at least partially identified by the notification.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the location at least partially identified by the notification comprises one of a plurality of computers that the sender is known to use.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein initiating communication comprises the recipient telephoning the sender.

17. A method of communicating electronically, the method comprising:

sending information in an electronic mail message via an electronic mail system from a sender to a recipient;

sending a notification to the recipient, the notification being separate from the electronic mail message and corresponding to the electronic mail message;

providing an indication of the electronic mail message to the recipient prior to the electronic mail message being received by the recipient, the indication being based at least in part on the notification; and

configuring a forwarding agent to forward information of the electronic mail message to the recipient via an alternative mechanism upon receipt of the email message.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the mechanism comprises a voice mail system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the information of the electronic mail message is converted to speech and transferred to the voice mail system.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein initiating comprises selecting the notification from a queue of notifications awaiting corresponding electronic mail messages.