ENHANCING COMMUNICATION

• US 20160173432A1
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mimecast Services Limited (Mimecast Limited)
• Original Assignee: Mimecast North America, Inc. (Mimecast Limited)
• Inventors: Scott-Cowley, Orlando, Borenstein, Nathaniel S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,634,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

Among other things, from content of a communication composed by a user, a strategy is inferred for selecting target information related to the content. The strategy is used to select target information from a body of target information. And information about the selected target information is reported to the user.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A computer-implemented method comprising

by one or more processors of a computer system:

receiving data representing at least a portion of at least one communication composed by a first user;

receiving target information that is related to the at least a portion of the at least one communication composed by a first user;

identifying restricted information in the selected target information, the restricted information having access restrictions that prohibit reporting the secure information to the user;

generating a first transmission intended for a second user, the second user being associated with at least some of the restricted information, the transmission representing a request for the second user to authorize access to the at least some of the restricted information;

receiving a second transmission, the second transmission indicative of authorization to access the restricted information; and

in response to the authorization, reporting, to the first user, at least some of the selected target information, the at least some target information including the at least some of the restricted information.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the restricted information is associated with access restrictions that prohibit reporting the secure information to the first user.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the access restrictions are associated with the second user.

34. The method of claim 31, comprising inferring a strategy for selecting the target information from a body of target information.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the target information comprises emails, blogs, social network communications, news articles, journal publications, and patents.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission comprises an email message, an instant message, or a real-time telephone call.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the first transmission includes an identification of the first user.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the second transmission includes an identification of the second user.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least some of the restricted information includes an email message identified sent to or received by the second user.

40. A computer-implemented method comprising

by one or more processors of a computer system:

receiving a first communication, the first communication representing a request to authorize access to information identified in a body of target information as restricted information, the information being associated with at least a portion of at least one communication composed by a first user;

receiving an authorization for the first user to access the restricted information, the authorization given by a second user in a user interface, the second user being associated with access restrictions of the restricted information; and

transmitting a second communication, the second transmission indicating that the second user has authorized the first user to access to the restricted information

41. The method of claim 40, comprising causing the user interface to display a graphical representation of the request.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the graphical representation of the request is displayed in the form of an email message.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the graphical representation identifies at least some of the restricted information.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the graphical representation identifies the first user.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the graphical representation includes one or more buttons representing options associated with authorizing access to the restricted information.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the options include authorization for the first user to access the restricted information, authorization for the first user to access any restricted information of the second user, denying the first user to access the restricted information, and denying the first user access any restricted information of the second user.

47. The method of claim 40, wherein the user interface enables the second user to access at least some of the restricted information.

48. The method of claim 40, wherein the restricted information includes information identified as authored by the second user.

49. The method of claim 40, wherein the authorization given by the second user in the user interface comprises an authorization for the first user to access the restricted information.

50. The method of claim 40, wherein the authorization given by the second user in the user interface comprises an authorization for the first user to access any restricted information of the second user.