Method and apparatus for regenerating message data

• US 7,065,554 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Kiyohara, Keith Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US09/691,791
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 709206-207, 709/217, 709/203, 709/219, 709/226, 705/26, 707/204, 707/10, 707/3, 707/102, 707/7, 379/265.02
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention comprises a system for regenerating electronic mail when a certain event transpires. If, for instance, a server program has previously sent the user an electronic mail message, that electronic mail message may be regenerated by an embodiment of the invention and retransmitted to the user or provided to support personnel upon request. Thus, the invention provides a mechanism for regenerating previously generated messages.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code for regenerating electronic mail embodied therein, said computer readable program code configured to;

obtain a request from a user for an electronic mail message previously transmitted to a customer;

obtain a stored reference to a template comprising template data associated with said electronic mail message;

obtain said template using said stored reference;

obtain customer information about said customer;

obtain previously calculated information associated with said electronic mail message; and

recreate a new version of said electronic mail message by combining said customer information, said previously calculated information, and said template data.

2. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein said template varies depending upon what type of trigger event initiated said request.

3. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein said templates comprises information related to a customer transaction.

4. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein said electronic mail message comprises a message personalized for said user.

5. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein said new version of said electronic mail message is sent to said user for display.

6. The computer program product of claim 5 wherein said user comprises a customer service representative.

7. The computer program product of claim 5 wherein said user comprises said customer.

8. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein said customer information is obtained from a historical data file.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein said historical data file comprises information providing a reason for transmitting said electronic mail message.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein said template data is separable from said historical data file.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein said historical data file comprises transaction information.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein said transaction information comprises data associated with said customer.

13. A method for regenerating message data comprising:

obtaining a request from a user for an electronic mail message previously transmitted to a customer;

obtaining a stored reference to a template comprising template data associated with said electronic mail message;

obtaining said template using said reference;

obtaining customer information about said customer;

obtaining previously calculated information associated with said electronic mail message; and

recreating a new version of said electronic mail message by combining said customer information, said previously calculated information, and said template data.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said template varies depending upon what type of trigger event initiated said request.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said templates comprises information related to a transaction with said customer.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said electronic mail message comprises a message personalized for said user.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said new version of said electronic mail message is sent to said user for display.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said user comprises a customer service representative.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said user comprises said customer.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein said customer information is obtained from a historical data file.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said historical data file comprises information providing a reason for transmitting said electronic mail message.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said template data is separable from said historical data file.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said historical data file comprises transaction information.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said transaction information comprises data associated with said customer.

25. An apparatus for regenerating message data comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to said processor;

said memory comprising a regeneration module configured to;

obtain a request from a user for an electronic mail message previously transmitted to a customer;

obtain a stored reference to a template comprising template data associated with said electronic mail message;

obtain said template using said reference;

obtain customer information about said customer;

obtain previously calculated information associated with said electronic mail message; and

recreate a new version of said electronic mail message by combining said customer information, said previously calculated information, and said template data.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said template comprises information related to a transaction with said customer.

28. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said electronic mail message comprises a message personalized for said user.

29. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said new version of said electronic mail message is sent to said user for display.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said user comprises a customer service representative.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said user comprises said customer.

32. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said customer information is obtained from a historical data file.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said historical data file comprises information providing a reason for transmitting said electronic mail message.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said template data is separable from said historical data file.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said historical data file comprises transaction information.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said transaction information comprises data associated with said customer.

26. The apparatus of 25 wherein said template varies depending upon what type of trigger event initiated said request.