Email server cooperative management for automatic routing of emails based on preferences

• US 8,805,936 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Yen-Fu, Morgan, Fabian F., Walker, Keith R., White Eagle, Sarah V.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, LAN DAI T
• Application Number:
  US12/104,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20090265435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,309 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding

Abstract

Methods, systems, and media are disclosed for managing the routing of an email at the server level to an email client by preferences set in a routing application located on the server. One embodiment includes querying, by a routing application located on a server and associated with an email system, the email by comparison to conditions for each preference set in the routing application, wherein a preference comprises a routing action. Further, the method includes identifying, based on the querying and by the routing application, a match between the email and at least one of the conditions. Further still, the method includes performing, based on the match and by the routing application, the preference associated with the at least one of the conditions of the email, whereby the email is transmitted to an email client.

Claims

1. A method for managing routing of an email, the method comprising:

a server computer receiving the email in an application that is in communication with an email system and that analyzes incoming and outgoing emails to ensure that routing of the incoming and outgoing emails occurs in conformity with a plurality of preferences configured in the application, the email including a first email address from multiple email addresses of an addressee of the email, wherein the email is deliverable to the addressee from the email system, and wherein each of the preferences comprises an action for routing emails to at least one of the multiple email addresses of the addressee;

the server computer comparing a part of the email to first and second preferences in the plurality of preferences, wherein the first preference comprises an email address of a sender of the email, and wherein the second preference comprises a regular expression to compare to a content of the email, wherein the content is distinct from the email address of the sender of the email;

the server computer identifying a match between the part of the email and one of the first and the second preferences;

the server computer performing the action of the one of the first and the second preferences, wherein the performing comprises the server computer sending the email to a second email address from the multiple email addresses, wherein the action of the first preference depends on the email address of the sender of the email, wherein the action of the second preference depends on the regular expression matching a portion of a content of the email, and wherein the second email address is different than the first email address; and

the server computer allowing, over a verified connection, a second email system access to the application, wherein the email system and the second email system are operable to agree to use the application to analyze a second email sent to the addressee, wherein the email system and the second email system execute on separate data processing systems, and wherein the separate data processing systems are further distinct from the server computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the server computer providing management instructions to another server computer of another email system in communication with the email system, wherein the management instructions permit invoking the method on the another server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the server computer notifying a sender of the email of a preferred email address among the multiple email addresses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the action comprises sending a set of preferences for a user, on the email system, to a sender on another email system in communication with the email system of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second email address is a preferred address of a user on the email system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one of the first and second preferences comprises a classification of the email, and wherein the action depends on the classification.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one of the first and second preferences comprises performing a search of the email, and wherein the action depends on a result of the search of the email.

8. A system for managing routing of an email, the system comprising:

a processor, a computer readable memory and a computer readable storage device;

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory, to analyze incoming and outgoing emails to ensure that routing of the incoming and outgoing emails occurs in conformity with a plurality of preferences set configured in an application in communication with an email system;

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory, to receive the email in a server computer, the email including a first email address from multiple email addresses of an addressee of the email, wherein the email is deliverable to the addressee from the email system, and wherein each of the preferences comprises an action for routing emails to at least one of the multiple email addresses of the addressee;

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory, to compare a part of the email to first and second preferences in the plurality of preferences, wherein the first preference comprises an email address of a sender of the email, and wherein the second preference comprises a regular expression to compare to a content of the email, wherein the content is distinct from the email address of the sender of the email;

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory, to identify a match between the part of the email and one of the first and the second preferences;

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory, to perform the action of the one of the first and the second preferences, wherein the program instructions to perform the action comprise program instructions to send the email to a second email address from the multiple email addresses, wherein the action of the first preference depends on the email address of the sender of the email, wherein the action of the second preference depends on the regular expression matching a portion of a content of the email, and wherein the second email address is different than the first email address; and

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory, to allow, over a verified connection, a second email system access to the application, wherein the email system and the second email system are operable to agree to use the application to analyze a second email sent to the addressee, wherein the email system and the second email system execute on separate data processing systems, and wherein the separate data processing systems are further distinct from the server computer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the application is a web service in communication with the email system and optionally another email system compatible with the email system.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory, to provide management instructions to a server computer of another email system in communication with the email system, wherein the management instructions permit invocation of instructions of the system on the server computer.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory, to notify a sender of the email of a preferred email address among the multiple email addresses.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to perform the action comprise program instructions to send a set of preferences for a user, on the email system, to a sender on another email system in communication with the email system.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the second email address is a preferred address of a user on the email system.

14. A computer program product for managing routing of an email comprising:

a computer readable storage device;

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device, to analyze incoming and outgoing emails to ensure that routing of the incoming and outgoing emails occurs in conformity with a plurality of preferences set configured in an application in communication with an email system;

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device, to receive the email in a server computer, the email including a first email address from multiple email addresses of an addressee of the email, wherein the email is deliverable to the addressee from the email system, and wherein each of the preferences comprises an action for routing emails to at least one of the multiple email addresses of the addressee;

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device, to compare a part of the email to first and second preferences in the plurality of preferences, wherein the first preference comprises an email address of a sender of the email, and wherein the second preference comprises a regular expression to compare to a content of the email, wherein the content is distinct from the email address of the sender of the email;

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device, to identify a match between the part of the email and one of the first and the second preferences;

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device, to perform the action of the one of the first and the second preferences, wherein the program instructions to perform the action comprise program instructions to send the email to a second email address from the multiple email addresses, wherein the action of the first preference depends on the email address of the sender of the email, wherein the action of the second preference depends on the regular expression matching a portion of a content of the email, and wherein the second email address is different than the first email address; and

program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage device, to allow, over a verified connection, a second email system access to the application, wherein the email system and the second email system are operable to agree to use the application to analyze a second email sent to the addressee, wherein the email system and the second email system execute on separate data processing systems, and wherein the separate data processing systems are further distinct from the server computer.