IDENTIFYING MESSAGE THREADS OF A MESSAGE STORAGE SYSTEM HAVING RELEVANCE TO A FIRST FILE

• US 20130262593A1
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Python4fun Inc
• Original Assignee: PYTHON4FUN
• Inventors: Srikrishna, Devabhaktuni, Coram, Marc A., Hogan, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,909,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing related message threads in a message storage system are disclosed. One method includes identifying a plurality of message threads within the message storage system, wherein the plurality of message threads each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the message storage system provides a platform for storing and sharing message threads, and each message thread includes a message and associated information. The method further includes generating a list of inquiries based on the plurality of message threads, providing, by the system server, the list of inquiries to at least one sender of the first file, receiving from the at least one sender at least one response to the list of inquiries, selecting a subset of the plurality of message threads based on the at least one response, and storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of message threads.

Claims

1. A method of identifying message threads of a message storage system having relevance to a first file, comprising:

identifying a plurality of message threads within the message storage system, wherein the plurality of message threads each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the message storage system provides a platform for storing and sharing message threads, and each message thread includes a message and associated information;

generating, by a system server, a list of inquiries based on the plurality of message threads;

providing, by the system server, the list of inquiries to at least one sender of the first file;

receiving from the at least one sender at least one response to the list of inquiries;

selecting a subset of the plurality of message threads based on the at least one response; and

storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of message threads for access if the first file is selected.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the system server, a second list of inquiries based on the plurality of message threads;

providing, by the system server, the second list of inquiries to at least one second sender of the plurality of message threads;

receiving from the at least one second sender of the plurality of message threads at least one second response to the second list of inquiries;

re-selecting the subset of the plurality of message threads based on the at least one response and the at least one second response; and

storing information related to the re-selected subset of the plurality of message threads for access if the first file is selected.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, by the system server, the selected subset of the plurality of message threads to a user that selects the first file and identifying the at least one sender to the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying the at least one sender comprises providing the user with a name, qualifications, institution, affiliation, address or contact information of the at least one sender.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, by the system server, the selected subset of the plurality of message threads to a user that selects the first file and

identifying the at least one sender of the first file, and the at least one sender of the plurality of message threads to the user, wherein identifying the at least one sender comprises providing the user with a name, address, or contact information of the at least one sender.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a hyperlink between the first file and the selected subset of the plurality of message threads, wherein the hyperlink influences a ranking of search results that include at least one of the first file and the plurality of message threads.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of message threads are identified by a plurality of subject-matter searches, wherein each search identifies one of the plurality of message threads and the first file.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of subject-matter searches is refined by the at least one response.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of subject-matter searches uses a keyword search application programming interface to access message threads in the message storage system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of inquiries includes search terms used in a search that identified the first file and the plurality of message threads, thereby establishing a relationship between the first file and the plurality of message threads by text analysis or collaborative filtering.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the search terms comprise strings of words.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the search terms comprise noun phrases.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the search terms comprise sender names cited by the first file.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the search terms comprise a term within the first file.

15. The method of claim 10, the search is based on at least one of a word string, a sender, or an image.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the search terms are included within text of hyperlinks of the first file.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of message threads includes a publication date, wherein each of the publication dates is more recent than at least one of a first revision or a last revision date of the first file.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of message threads includes a publication date, wherein each of the publication dates is a specific date.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of message threads includes a publication date, wherein each of the publication dates comprises a date before a specific date.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of inquiries includes titles of at least a subset of the plurality of message threads.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of inquiries includes the at least one sender of at least a subset of the plurality of message threads.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sender includes a first sender and a second sender, and wherein the list of inquiries for the first sender is influenced by a response received from the second sender.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of inquiries includes a relationship tag between at least one of the plurality of message threads and the first file.

24. The method of claim 23, where in the relationship tag comprises at least one question of whether the relationship of the at least one the plurality of message threads to the first file is supportive, contradictory or summarizing.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the list of inquiries to the at least one sender of the first file comprises electronically communicating the list of inquires to the at least one sender using a notification.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the notification comprises at least one of an email, messaging on a social network, or instant message.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the notification comprises a web-based interface notification.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the at least one sender at least one response to the list of inquiries comprises receiving a selected subset of the plurality of message threads that the at least one sender selects as being relevant to the first file.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the at least one sender at least one response to the list of inquiries comprises receiving a ranked list of at least a subset of the plurality of message threads that identifies an order of relevance of the at least the subset of the plurality of message threads to the first file.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the at least one inquiry based on one response to at least one other sender;

receiving from the at least one other sender at least one second response to the at least one response;

re-selecting the subset of the plurality of message threads based on the at least one second response; and

storing information related to the re-selected subset of the plurality of message threads for access if the first file is selected.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of inquiries is provided to a plurality of senders, and responses received from each of the plurality of senders are compiled for selecting the subset of the plurality of message threads.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of lists of inquiries are provided to a plurality of senders, and responses received from each of the plurality of senders are compiled for selecting the subset of the plurality of message threads.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising the at least one sender having a permission to edit the first file.

34. A method for a server to identify message threads having relevance to a first file, comprising:

receiving, by the server, a plurality of message threads, wherein the plurality of message threads were generated by a subject matter search;

generating, by the server, a list of inquiries based on the plurality of message threads;

providing, by the server, the list of inquiries to a sender of the first file, wherein the first file is a one of the plurality of message threads;

receiving, by the server, from the sender at least one response to the list of inquiries;

selecting, by the server, a subset of the plurality of message threads based on the at least one response; and

storing, by the server, the selected subset of the plurality of message threads for access if the first file is selected.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising providing, by the server, the selected subset of the plurality of message threads to a user that selects the first file.

36. A system for identifying message threads having relevance to a first file, comprising:

a server configured to present on a first display a list of inquiries to an identified sender of a first file, wherein the list of inquiries is based on a plurality of message threads;

the server configured to receive from the identified sender at least one response to the list of inquiries;

the server configured to select a subset of the plurality of message threads based on the at least one response;

a server configured to present on a second display the selected subset of the plurality of message threads to a user that selects the first file.

37. A programmable storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions when executed by the machine to perform a method of identifying message threads of a message storage system having relevance to a first file, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of message threads within the message storage system, wherein the plurality of message threads each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the message storage system provides a platform for storing and sharing message threads, and each message thread includes a message and associated information;

generating, by a system server, a list of inquiries based on the plurality of message threads;

providing, by the system server, the list of inquiries to at least one sender of the first file;

receiving from the at least one sender at least one response to the list of inquiries;

selecting a subset of the plurality of message threads based on the at least one response;

storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of message threads for access if the first file is selected.

38. A method of identifying message threads of a message storage system having relevance to a first file, comprising:

identifying a plurality of message threads within the message storage system, wherein the plurality of message threads each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the message storage system provides a platform for storing and sharing message threads, and each message thread includes a message and associated information;

generating, by a system server, a first list of inquiries based on the plurality of message threads;

providing, by the system server, the first list of inquiries to at least one sender of the first file;

receiving from the at least one sender of the plurality of message threads at least one first response to the first list of inquiries;

generating, by the system server, a second is of inquiries based on the plurality of message threads;

providing, by the system server, the second list of inquiries to at least one second sender of the plurality of message threads;

receiving from the at least one second sender of the plurality of message threads at least one second response to the second list of inquiries;

selecting a subset of the plurality of message threads based on the at least one first response and the at least one second response; and

storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of message threads for access if the first file is selected.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the information related to the selected subset of the plurality of message threads comprises an opinion of the at least one sender of either the first file or the plurality of message threads.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprises providing the opinion of the at least one sender to a user that selects the first file.