System, method and computer program product for performing an action based on an aspect of an electronic mail message thread

• US 8,621,008 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAfee, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Inventors: Chebiyyam, Gopi Krishna
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, CHAU D
• Application Number:
  US11/740,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20130246534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,441 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are provided for performing an action based on an aspect of a thread associated with electronic mail messages. In use, an aspect of a thread associated with a plurality of electronic mail messages is identified. Further, an action is performed based on the aspect of the thread.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying one or more aspects of a thread associated with a plurality of electronic mail messages, wherein the one or more aspects include a size of the thread and a weighted number of participants in the thread and identifying the one or more aspects comprises determining the weighted number of participants in the thread, the weighted number of participants is determined from weightings assigned to each unique address in the thread, and the weighting for a participant is to be assigned based at least in part on;

whether the respective participant is addressed directly in the thread or addressed by carbon copy (CC) in the thread, wherein carbon copy participants are to receive a lower weighting compared to participants addressed directly in the thread, and

whether respective participant has actively responded to at least some of the mail messages of the thread;

comparing each of the one or more aspects to a respective predetermined threshold for the aspect;

identifying that at least the particular one of the one or more aspects exceeds the threshold corresponding to the particular aspect; and

performing an action, in conjunction with a processor, based at least in part on identifying that at least the particular aspect of the thread exceeds the corresponding threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes determining whether an excessive amount of participants are associated with the thread.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the aspect of the thread includes a number of the electronic mail messages associated with the thread.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes sending an electronic mail message notification.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic mail message notification is sent to a predetermined electronic mail address.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic mail message notification is sent to at least one participant associated with the thread.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes logging the aspect.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes removing at least a portion of the thread.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the portion of the thread includes at least one of the electronic mail messages.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the portion of the thread is temporarily stored.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes preventing communication of an additional electronic mail message in association with the thread.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the action is tailored based on the weighted number of participants associated with the thread.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the action is performed for improving a work environment.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the size of the thread includes a physical size of the thread in kilobytes.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the size of the thread is based on sizes of the associated electronic mail messages.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the weighted number of participants is based on a number of participants of a latest electronic mail message associated with the thread.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the weighted number of participants is based on a number of participants added to the thread.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the weighted number of participants is based on a number of participants removed from the thread.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the thread includes a first electronic mail message and a second electronic message communicated in response to the first electronic mail message.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the action results in saving storage space.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the action results in saving time spent by participants of the thread searching for information therein.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more aspects further include a number of words in the electronic mail messages associated with the thread, wherein the action is prevented if any one of the participants matches a predetermined participant.

23. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for performing operations, comprising:

identifying one or more aspects of a thread associated with a plurality of electronic mail messages, wherein the one or more aspects include a size of the thread and a weighted number of participants in the thread and identifying the one or more aspects comprises determining the weighted number of participants in the thread, the weighted number of participants is determined from weightings assigned to each unique address in the thread, and the weighting for a participant is to be assigned based at least in part on;

whether the respective participant is addressed directly in the thread or addressed by carbon copy (CC) in the thread, wherein carbon copy participants are to receive a lower weighting compared to participants addressed directly in the thread, and

whether respective participant has actively responded to at least some of the mail messages of the thread;

comparing each of the one or more aspects to a respective predetermined threshold for the aspect;

identifying that at least the particular one of the one or more aspects exceeds the threshold corresponding to the particular aspect; and

performing an action, in conjunction with a processor, based at least in part on identifying that at least the particular aspect of the thread exceeds the corresponding threshold.

24. A system, comprising:

a processor, wherein the system is configured for;

identifying one or more aspects of a thread associated with a plurality of electronic mail messages, wherein the one or more aspects include a size of the thread and a weighted number of participants in the thread and identifying the one or more aspects comprises determining the weighted number of participants in the thread, the weighted number of participants is determined from weightings assigned to each unique address in the thread, and the weighting for a participant is to be assigned based at least in part on;

whether the respective participant is addressed directly in the thread or addressed by carbon copy (CC) in the thread, wherein carbon copy participants are to receive a lower weighting compared to participants addressed directly in the thread, and

whether respective participant has actively responded to at least some of the mail messages of the thread;

comparing each of the one or more aspects to a respective predetermined threshold for the aspect;

identifying that at least the particular one of the one or more aspects exceeds the threshold corresponding to the particular aspect; and

performing an action, in conjunction with the processor, based at least in part on identifying that at least the particular aspect of the thread exceeds the corresponding threshold.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising memory coupled to the processor via a bus.