Apparatus and method for interpreting and intelligently managing electronic messages

• US 6,499,021 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Entrust Corp.
• Original Assignee: Suhayya Abu-Hakima
• Inventors: Abu-Hakima, Suhayya
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holmes, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US09/318,643
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 709/332, 704/9, 707/2, 707/5, 434/362, 700/49, 706/10, 706/45, 706/46
• US Class Current: 706/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A computer-readable system and method for interpreting and selectively forwarding an interpreted message derived from a user'"'"'s received electronic message, such as an e-mail, fax, converted voice and pager messages, to a mobile communications device of the user. A structured knowledge base comprises knowledge objects of user-related information and the knowledge objects are interlinked by semantic links to permit dynamic navigation thereof. Navigating means dynamically navigates through the structured knowledge base using the content of the received message and determines key term(s) relating to the content as a result of the navigating. An interpreted message is determined from those key term(s). Prioritizing means determines the priority of the message, selects the second communications device based on the current context of the user and the content of the message in relation to the user-related information and assigns priority indicia to the interpreted message according thereto. Forwarding means forwards the interpreted message to the second communications device when the priority indicia assigned to the interpreted message represents that the interpreted message is to be so forwarded.

Claims

1. A computer-readable message interpretation system for interpreting content of an electronic message received by a communications device in a network with said computer, said system comprising:

(a) a structured knowledge base comprising knowledge objects of user-related information, said knowledge objects being interlinked by semantic links; and

,

(b) a plurality of agents configured for;

(i) dynamically navigating through said structured knowledge base using said content of said received message; and

,

(ii) determining key term(s) relating to said content as a result of said navigating, wherein said agents determine an interpreted message from said key term(s) for communication to said user.

2. A computer-readable message management system for managing electronic messages received by a first communications device and redirecting selected ones of said messages to a second communications device selected by said system, said system comprising:

(a) a message polling agent configured for monitoring said first communications device for a received message;

(b) a computer-readable message interpretation system according to claim 1 for interpreting the content of said received message;

(c) an urgency agent configured for prioritizing said interpreted message wherein said agent determines and assigns priority indicia to said interpreted message and selects said second communications device based on a current context of said user and said content of said message in relation to said user-related information; and

,

(d) a personal agent configured for directing said interpreted message for communication to said second communications device when said priority indicia assigned to said interpreted message represents that said interpreted message is to be forwarded to said second communication device.

3. A system according to claim 2 and further comprising an explanation agent configured for tracing the steps of said dynamic navigating and for creating an explanation as to a particular action taken by said system, or failure of said system to take a particular action, in response to a request for such explanation by said user.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said explanation agent determines the steps of said dynamic navigating which would be taken under one or more user-specified conditions and creates an explanation as to the particular action which would be taken by said system under said conditions in response to a request for such explanation by said user.

5. A system according to claim 4 and further comprising a messageback agent configured for processing a message received back from said second communications device following a forwarding of said interpreted message, wherein said processing comprises preparing and forwarding a reply message replying to said received message and engaging said explanation agent if said message received back includes a request for an explanation of action taken by said system.

6. A system according to claim 5 and further comprising a learning agent configured for tracing the actions taken by said user in the handling of said received messages, identifying new user-related information from said tracing means and incorporating said new user-related information into said knowledge objects.

7. A system according to claim 6 and further comprising a negotiation agent configured for negotiating information between said system and another like system networked therewith.

8. A system according to claim 6 further comprising a device agent configured for formatting said interpreted message appropriate to the display of said second communications device.

9. A system according to claim 6 further comprising a background knowledge repository of pre-populated data, wherein said navigation agent is configured for navigating said background knowledge repository.

10. A system according to claim 9 further comprising a background knowledge agent configured for periodically searching a remote information source for datum and updating said background knowledge repository with said datum.

11. A method for interpreting the content of an electronic message received by a user'"'"'s communications device, said method comprising the steps:

(a) providing a structured knowledge base comprising knowledge objects of user-related information, said knowledge objects being interlinked by semantic links;

(b) dynamically navigating through said structured knowledge base using the content of said received message and determining key term(s) relating to said content as a result of said navigating; and

,

(c) determining an interpreted message from said key term(s).

12. A method for managing electronic messages received by a user'"'"'s first communications device and redirecting selected ones of said messages to a selected second communications device, said method comprising the steps:

(a) monitoring said first communications device for a received message;

(b) interpreting the content of said received message according to the method of claim 11;

(c) prioritizing said interpreted message including determining the priority of said message and selecting said second communications device based on the current context of the user and the content of the message, in relation to user preferences determined from said knowledge objects, and assigning priority indicia to said interpreted message; and

,

(d) forwarding said interpreted message to said second communications device when said priority indicia assigned to said interpreted message represents that said interpreted message is to be so forwarded.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising tracing the steps of said dynamic navigating and creating an explanation as to a particular action taken, or failure to take a particular action, in response to a request for such explanation by said user.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising determining the steps which would be taken by said dynamic navigating under one or more user-specified conditions and creating an explanation as to the particular action which would be taken under said conditions in response to a request for such explanation by said user.

15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising learning new user-related information, said learning step including tracing the actions taken by said user in the handling of said received messages, identifying said new information from said tracing means and incorporating said new information into said knowledge objects.