Message tracking system

• US 6,163,802 A
• Filed: 04/04/1997
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lees, Michael S., Hegfield, Gordon E., Ernst, Bruce G., Lin, Ken K
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Application Number:
  US08/832,855
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.3, 395/200.47, 709/200, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/217
• 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 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

An electronic messaging tracking system and method is provided that tracks messages in a single or multiprotocol messaging environment. Tracking entries are collected, stored and updated. Queries may be made regarding the status, travel path, and other criteria of any message. Queries need not include a unique identifier of the message. Users may access the message tracking system from an internal or external network.

Claims

1. A method for tracking electronic messages, comprising the steps of:

enabling a collector to collect a plurality of tracking entries, wherein said tracking entries comprise messaging data, and said messaging data further comprise at least one of;

data from a native message log and data from a native application program interface;

enabling said collector to insert said tracking entries into a message tracker store;

storing said tracking entries in said message tracker store;

updating said message tracker store at a predetermined interval, wherein said step of updating comprises enabling said collector to collect additional tracking entries, and enabling said collector to insert said additional tracking entries into said message tracker store; and

enabling a subagent to receive a tracking entry query said tracking entry query comprising;

a tracking entry query conceptual row,

a tracking store object call,

a fill row object that fills said tracking entry query conceptual row with response objects, and

an assembler to assemble a formatted response.

2. A method for tracking electronic messages according to claim 1, wherein said tracking entries comprise messaging data from a plurality of messaging systems.

3. A method for tracking electronic messages according to claim 1, wherein said messaging data are retrieved via Simple Network Management Protocol.

4. A method for tracking electronic messages, comprising the steps of:

reading native message log files;

extracting a plurality of native message tracking entries from said native message log files, said native message tracking entries being in native format;

converting said native message tracking entries into message track store entries, said message track store entries being in a message store format;

filtering said message track store entries to produce filtered message track store entries;

storing said filtered message track store entries in a message tracker store; and

updating said message tracker store, wherein said step of updating comprises;

checking said native message log files for new entries, said new entries being entries that have been added to said native message log files subsequent to execution of said reading step;

filtering said new entries to produce filtered new entries;

querying said message tracker store to determine if each of said filtered new entries is present in said message tracker store;

inserting each said filtered new entry into said message tracker store for each said new entry that is not present in said message tracker store; and

updating corresponding entries in said message tracker store for each said new entry that is present in said message tracker store; and

retrieving messaging data from said message tracker store wherein said step of retrieving messaging data comprises;

enabling a subagent to receive a tracking request, said tracking request comprising;

a tracking request conceptual row,

a tracking store object call,

a fill row object that fills said tracking request conceptual row with response objects, and

an assembler to assemble a formatted response.

5. A method for tracking electronic messages according to claim 4, wherein said checking step is conducted at a predetermined interval.

6. A method for tracking electronic messages according to claim 4, wherein said tracking request is inputted by a user via a user interface.

7. A method for tracking electronic messages according to claim 4, wherein said tracking request comprises general query information.

8. A method for tracking electronic messages according to claim 6, further comprising means for providing said tracking responses to said user.

9. A message tracking system, comprising:

a message tracker store having a plurality of tracking entries, wherein said tracking entries comprise messaging data, and said messaging data further comprise at least one of;

data from a native message log and data from a native application program interface;

a collector, wherein said collector reads said messaging data and inserts tracking entries into said message tracker store; and

a subagent, wherein said subagent enables a tracking request, said tracking request comprising;

a tracking request conceptual row,

a tracking store object call,

a fill row object that fills said tracking request conceptual row with response objects, and

an assembler to assemble a formatted response.

10. A message tracking system according to claim 9, further comprising a user interface, said user interface being linked to said subagent to allow a user to retrieve said tracking entries.

11. A message tracking system according to claim 10, wherein said user interface is a World Wide Web browser.

12. An electronic message tracking system comprising:

message tracker store means for storing a plurality of entry tracking means;

collector means for inserting said entry tracking means into said message tracker store means; and

subagent means wherein said subagent means enables a tracking request, said tracking request comprising;

tracking request conceptual row means,

tracking store object call means,

fill row object means that fills said tracking request conceptual row means with response objects, and

assembler means to assemble a formatted response.

13. The electronic message tracking system of claim 12, further comprising:

user interface means for linking to said subagent means to allow a user to retrieve said entry tracking means.

14. An electronic storage medium having code embodied thereon for causing a processor to track electronic messages, the medium comprising:

message tracker store code that enables a message tracker store that stores at least one tracking entry;

collector code that inserts the at least one tracking entry into the message tracker store; and

subagent code that enables a tracking request, said tracking request comprising;

a tracking request conceptual row,

a tracking store object call,

a fill row object that fills said tracking request conceptual row with response objects, and

an assembler to assemble a formatted response.

15. The electronic storage medium of claim 14, further comprising:

user interface code that enables a user interface that links to the subagent to allow a user to retrieve the at least one tracking entry.