System and method for motivating delayed responses to messages

• US 7,536,441 B1
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stern, Edith H., Willner, Barry E., O'Sullivan, Patrick J., Harpur, Liam
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMPAGOOMIAN, DAVID S
• Application Number:
  US12/170,286
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709206-207, 709/232
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding

Abstract

A method is disclosed to provide delayed responses to messages. The method includes receiving in a computer, an email message containing a control character, from a network. The control character specifying a reply prohibiting period during which a reply to the email message over the network will be prohibited. The method then includes receiving in the computer, a user request at a requesting instant to reply to the email message. The method then includes determining whether the requesting instant occurs during the reply prohibiting period specified by the control character. The method then includes prohibiting a reply to the email message over the network if the requesting instant occurs during the reply prohibiting period. And finally, the method then includes allowing a reply to the email message over the network if the requesting instant does not occur during the reply prohibiting period.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving in a computer, an email message containing a control character, from a network;

said control character specifying a reply prohibiting period during which a reply to said email message over said network will be prohibited;

receiving in said computer, a user request at a requesting instant to reply to said email message;

determining whether said requesting instant occurs during said reply prohibiting period specified by said control character;

prohibiting a reply to said email message over said network if said requesting instant occurs during said reply prohibiting period; and

allowing a reply to said email message over said network if said requesting instant does not occur during said reply prohibiting period.