Correspondent-centric management email system for associating message identifiers with instances of properties already stored in database

• US 7,457,844 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Netexchange LLC
• Original Assignee: Netexchange LLC
• Inventors: Miller, Stephen S., Ross, Lewis, Shaalan, Mohammed
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, LE HIEN
• Application Number:
  US11/381,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/217, 709/218, 709/232, 709/103, 718/103, 358/402, 707/100
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

Techniques to make e-mail correspondent-centric rather than message-centric, and reduce junk e-mail. Tabulates, maintains, and updates useful information about the user'"'"'s chosen correspondents, and the history and status of each correspondence series. Filters incoming messages from an unrecognized sender, asking user whether to add sender to correspondent list, and if so prompts user for needed information. Eliminates the need to search for e-mail addresses. Facilitates viewing sequential messages to and from a correspondent. Provides an effective tool to eliminate junk-mail by making it simpler and more practical to screen messages or change one'"'"'s e-mail address. When user changes his e-mail address, automates notification of user'"'"'s chosen correspondents, and in some cases can automatically update such correspondents'"'"' e-mail address lists. Eliminates need to manually create and maintain mailboxes or folders. Allows automated organization of e-mail by correspondent. Is easier to learn and use than previous forms of e-mail.

Claims

1. A system for managing a plurality of messages which are sent and/or received by one or more correspondents, said system comprising:

one or more data structures that store data representing (i) individual instances of at least a portion of each of the a plurality of messages;

(ii) correspondent records, including information related to the one or more correspondents of the plurality of messages;

(iii) message-correspondent information that links each unique instance of the individual messages with one or more correspondents of that message;

one or more modules that are operable to analyze each of the plurality of messages in order to (i) identify the individual instances of the one or more portions of the individual messages in the plurality of messages, and (ii) generate the message-correspondent information;

wherein the one or more modules are configured to;

(i) identify one of an incoming or an outgoing message to identify at least a select portion of that message,

(ii) determine whether the at least select portion of the incoming or outgoing message matches an individual instance of at least the portion of one of the plurality of messages, and

(iii) responsive to the at least select portion of the message matching the individual instance of the at least portion of the one of the plurality of messages, performing at least one of;

(a) discarding the at least select portion of the message, or

(b) identifying a correspondent of the incoming or outgoing message and storing message correspondent information that links the identified correspondent to the matching individual instance; and

wherein the one or more modules cause the identified unique instances of the individual messages and the generated message-correspondent information to be stored in the one or more data structures.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more data structures are each relational.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more data structures include a first data structure that stores the unique instances of individual messages in the plurality of messages, a second data structure that stores the correspondent records, and a third data structure that stores the message-correspondent information.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first data structure corresponds to a first set of one or more tables, the second data structure corresponds to a second set of one or more tables, and the third data structure corresponds to a third set of one or more tables.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least portion of the incoming or outgoing message is an attachment.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules operate on only one of incoming messages or outgoing messages.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules scan one of an incoming or an outgoing message based on a pre-determined format for how a message is to be structured.

8. A system for managing a plurality of messages which are sent and/or received by one or more correspondents, said system comprising:

one or more data structures that store data representing (i) individual instances of at least a portion of each of the a plurality of messages;

(ii) correspondent records, including information related to the one or more correspondents of the plurality of messages;

(iii) category designations that identify one or more categories, from a plurality of categories, of the individual instances of at least the portion of each of at least some of the plurality of messages;

(iv) message-correspondent information that links each unique instance of the individual messages with one or more correspondents of that message;

(v) other information that links each instance of the individual message with a category designation that identifies at least one category for that instance;

one or more modules that are operable to analyze each of the plurality of messages in order to (i) identify the individual instances of the one or more portions of the individual messages in the plurality of messages, (ii) generate the message- correspondent information, and (iii) record the other information;

wherein the one or more modules are configured to sort at least a set of the plurality of messages by both (i) a correspondent of each of the messages in the set, using the message-correspondent information for individual messages in the set, and (ii) a category designation of each of the messages in the set, using other information recorded for individual messages in the set;

wherein the one or more modules cause the identified unique instances of the individual messages and the generated message-correspondent information to be stored in the one or more data structures.