MODERATING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20110196931A1
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Thomas, Shawn, Godbout, Daniel, Malik, Durlabh, Chan, Philip Y., Wang, Jiaming, Clagg, Steve, Manning, Sara, Dyksen, Elroy John, Wang, Yamin
• Granted Patent: US 9,191,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24564 Applying rules; Deductive queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A method for moderating an electronic message includes intercepting the electronic message at a server computing device, and evaluating content of the electronic message at the server computing device to determine if the electronic message is required to enter a moderation workflow prior to delivering the electronic message to at least one recipient. The method also includes sending an approval request message from the server computing device to at least one moderator device, receiving a first moderation decision message at the server computing device from the at least one moderator, sending an update message from the server computing device to the at least one moderator to update the approval request message to include one or more properties of the first moderation decision, and removing the approval request message from the moderation workflow.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a processing unit;

a system memory connected to the processing unit, the system memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to;

create an arbitration module configured to control a moderation workflow relating to an electronic message sent to at least one recipient, wherein the arbitration module delivers an approval request message to at least one moderator requesting a moderation decision designating delivery of the electronic message to the at least one recipient as approved or declined, and upon receipt of the moderation decision, the arbitration module updates the approval request message sent to the at least one moderator and removes the approval request message from the moderation workflow of the at least one moderator; and

create an intercept module configured to intercept the electronic message when the electronic message is sent to the at least one recipient, wherein the intercept module evaluates content of the electronic message to determine whether the electronic message requires moderation and transfers the electronic message to the arbitration module upon determining the electronic message requires moderation.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the content of the electronic message is selected from a group comprising:

text;

graphics;

attachments;

a unique message identification;

a sender SMTP address;

a recipient SMTP address; and

a message sent-time.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the intercept module is configured to evaluate the content of the electronic message against one or more user configurable message transport rules to determine whether the electronic message requires moderation.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one recipient comprises one or more of an individual recipient and a distribution group comprising a plurality of individual recipients, and wherein the intercept module is further configured to evaluate the content of the electronic message against a user configurable definition specifying the at least one recipient as a moderated recipient to determine whether the electronic message requires moderation.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the intercept module is further configured to evaluate the content of the electronic message against a user configurable definition specifying a sender of the electronic message as a sender approved to freely send electronic messages without requiring an approval by a moderator to determine whether the electronic message requires moderation.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the arbitration module is further configured to evaluate the electronic message upon transfer of the electronic message from the intercept module to determine if the electronic message is a duplicate of a previously received message.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the arbitration module is further configured to prevent delivery of the approval request message to the at least one moderator upon determination the electronic message is a duplicate.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the arbitration module is configured to process a first moderation decision comprising a decision message received from the at least one moderator device and update the approval request message by at least one of adding one or more properties of the decision message to the approval request message and moving the approval request message from an inbox to a deleted items folder of the at least one moderator.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the arbitration module is configured to evaluate the electronic message as expired after a configurable time period elapses after receiving the electronic message from the intercept module and update the approval request message by at least one of adding one or more properties to the approval request message indicating expiration of the approval request message and moving the approval request message from an inbox to a deleted items folder of the at least one moderator.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the arbitration module is further configured to process a non-deliverable response and an out-of-office response received in response to delivering the approval request message to the at least one moderator indicating the at least one moderator unavailable to provide the moderation decision, and send a notification to a sender of the electronic message indicating that the electronic message may be at least one of not approved and delayed.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the arbitration module is further configured to provide a status report to a sender of the electronic message upon request indicating a current status of the electronic message in the moderation workflow.

12. A method for moderating an electronic message, the method comprising:

intercepting the electronic message at a server computing device;

evaluating content of the electronic message at the server computing device to determine if the electronic message is required to enter a moderation workflow prior to delivering the electronic message to at least one recipient;

storing the electronic message at the server computing device upon determining the electronic message is required to enter the moderation workflow;

sending an approval request message from the server computing device to at least one moderator device, the approval request message requesting a moderation decision designating delivery of the electronic message to the at least one recipient as approved or declined;

receiving a first moderation decision message at the server computing device from the at least one moderator;

sending an update message from the server computing device to the at least one moderator to update the approval request message to include one or more properties of the first moderation decision; and

removing the approval request message from the moderation workflow.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

evaluating the content of the electronic message at the server computing device to determine if a duplicate of the electronic message is stored at the server computing device; and

preventing the electronic message from entering the moderation workflow upon determining that a duplicate of the electronic message is stored at the server computing device.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising evaluating the content of the electronic message at the server computing device against one or more user configurable transport rules to determine if the electronic message is required to enter the moderation workflow.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving one or more of a non-deliverable response and an out-of-office response at the server computing device from the at least one moderator; and

sending a notification from the server computing device to the sender indicating that the electronic message may not be approved or may be delayed.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining if a pre-defined time period has elapsed since the approval request message was sent to the at least one moderator indicating the approval request message has expired; and

if the pre-defined period has elapsed, sending a notification to the sender indicating that the electronic message will not be approved.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

sending the approval request message from the server computing device to an inbox of the at least one moderator; and

releasing the electronic message to the at least one recipient upon the first moderation decision message including an indication that delivery of the electronic message to the at least one recipient is approved.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising removing the approval request message from the moderation workflow by moving the approval request message from the inbox to a deleted items folder of the at least one moderator.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving at the server computing device a status report request from the sender requesting a report indicating a current status of the electronic message in the moderation workflow

20. A computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform steps comprising:

intercepting the electronic message at a computing device;

evaluating content of the electronic message at the computing device to determine if the electronic message is required to enter a moderation workflow prior to delivering the electronic message to at least one recipient;

storing the electronic message at the computing device upon determining the electronic message is required to enter the moderation workflow;

sending an approval request message from the computing device to an inbox of at least one moderator, the approval request message requesting a moderation decision designating delivery of the electronic message to the at least one recipient as approved or declined;

receiving a first moderation decision message at the computing device from the at least one moderator;

if a first moderation decision message is received from the at least one moderator, sending an update message from the computing device to the at least one moderator to update the approval request message to include one or more properties of the first moderation decision;

if a pre-defined time period has elapsed since the approval request message was sent to the at least one moderator, sending a notification to the sender indicating that the electronic message will not be approved;

removing the approval request message from the moderation workflow by moving the approval request message from the inbox to a deleted items folder of the at least one moderator.