Chain-Scoped Dynamic Electronic Mail System and Method

• US 20090150495A1
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tang, Jian, Sun, Qian, Zhang, Jingli, Yu, Xiaoming
• Application Number:
  US11/951,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150495A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

A method, system and program product allow an originator of an electronic mail message to create and attach different topics to messages. Recipients of messages can view different topics from an electronic mail message and can take actions on specific topics and related content. Electronic mail messages can be organized based on topics. Each topic in a string of electronic mail messages is chain-scoped with its lifetime bounded by an electronic mail chain.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of dynamically structuring and organizing electronic mail messages, the method comprising:

composing an electronic mail message;

defining topics that are the subject of the electronic mail message; and

correlating said defined topics with respective contents of said electronic mail message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting said electronic mail message through a network to at least one recipient computer on the network.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving the electronic mail message at the recipient computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic message is configured for having a topic identifier displayed adjacent content related thereto.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising at least one of:

reading the entire received electronic mail message for a topic chain;

responding to at least one topic in the electronic mail message;

responding to the electronic mail message as if there were no topics associated with the content; and

responding to the electronic mail message by adding or removing topics.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each topic is chain-scoped through an electronic mail chain created by senders of electronic mail messages and by recipients.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising viewing a response tree for a particular topic in an electronic mail chain of messages.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying responses to a specific topic in a flat-tree structure.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a first computer configured for sending and receiving electronic messages through a network; and

a processor and memory in said first computer configured for allowing composing of electronic mail messages, defining topics that are the subject of electronic mail messages, and correlating said defined topics with respective contents of the electronic mail messages for display as part of each message.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising said processor and memory configured for transmitting said electronic message through a network to at least one recipient computer on the network.

11. The network of claim 10, wherein said processor and memory are further configured for receiving electronic mail messages having the contents of received electronic mail messages correlated with displayed topics corresponding thereto.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one other computer on a network connected for receiving electronic mail messages from said first computer, said at least one other computer configured for sending and receiving electronic messages through said network; and

a processor and memory in said at least one other computer configured for receiving electronic message classified by topic from said first computer, and for replying thereto.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said at least one other computer is further configured for replying by topic to electronic messages classified by topic.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first computer processor and memory are further configured for receiving electronic mail messages correlated with topics corresponding to content thereof, and for replying thereto by topic.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one other computer processor and memory are configured for allowing composing of electronic mail messages, defining topics that are the subject of electronic mail messages, and correlating said defined topics with respective content portions of the electronic mail messages for display as part of the message.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said processor and memory are further configured for at least one of reading an entire electronic mail message classified by topic;

responding to at least one topic in an electronic mail message classified by topic;

responding to an electronic mail message classified by topic as if there were no topics; and

responding to the electronic mail message by adding or removing topics.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said processor and memory are further configured for at least one of reading an entire electronic mail message classified by topic;

responding to at least one topic in an electronic mail message classified by topic;

responding to an electronic mail message classified by topic as if there were no topics; and

responding to the electronic mail message by adding or removing topics.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, further configured for arranging a string of electronic mail messages as an electronic mail chain by topic.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further configured to view a response tree on a display for a particular topic in an electronic mail chain of messages.

20. A program product, comprising:

program code configured for composing an electronic mail message, defining topics that are the subject of the electronic mail message, correlating said defined topics with respective contents of the electronic mail message, and replying to electronic mail message classified by content; and

a computer readable medium bearing the program code.