Method and apparatus for automatic e-mail response interruption based on user activity

• US 7,603,420 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Orozco, Liliana, Doan, Christopher Hoang
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, PELING ANDY
• Application Number:
  US10/815,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20050223062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,022 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/204, 726/4, 726/21, 726/28, 726/29
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for automatic e-mail response interruption based on user activity. An e-mail message having an “interrupt” type designation is sent from an originator, and directed to one or more recipients. The receiving e-mail client filters incoming messages and determines whether an e-mail contains an interrupt designation. If an interrupt designation is found, the e-mail client automatically displays content of the interrupt e-mail and any pending actions required of the recipient in a forefront position in the user interface, such as through a popup window. This content display may be valid until the recipient has responded to or completes the pending action specified in the e-mail. The present invention also analyzes the sender-recipient relationship to determine if the sender has the authority to issue an interrupt e-mail to the particular recipient. This authority may be predicated on user settings or an external list, such as a corporate directory.

Claims

1. A method for filtering electronic mail messages on a client computer in distributed computer network, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

determining whether an interrupt is associated with an electronic mail message, wherein the interrupt is a specific interrupt designation of the electronic mail message, and wherein the electronic mail message comprises an interrupt indicator attached to one of a header and a footer of the electronic mail message;

determining whether a sender of the electronic mail message is authorized to send the electronic mail message with the interrupt indicator, wherein the authorization to send the electronic mail message with the interrupt indicator is based upon a corporate directory that includes an organizational hierarchy structure;

responsive to determining that the interrupt is associated with the electronic mail message and the sender is authorized to send the electronic mail message with the interrupt indicator, determining whether a desktop of the client computer is active;

responsive to determining that the desktop of the client computer is active, automatically displaying a content of the electronic mail message in a popup window, wherein the popup window comprises a reply button and an action completed button, and wherein the popup window is displayed in a forefront position on the desktop of the client computer, and wherein the popup window remains in the forefront position until a recipient of the electronic mail message responds to the content of the electronic mail message by selecting one of the reply button and the action completed button;

responsive to the recipient of the electronic mail message selecting one of the reply button and the action completed button, closing the popup window;

responsive to determining that the sender is not authorized to send the electronic mail message with the interrupt indicator, delivering the electronic mail message to the recipient inbox; and

responsive to determining that the desktop of the client computer is inactive, delaying the display of the electronic mail message until the desktop becomes active.