Method and system for message pacing

• US 8,805,945 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Open TEXT SA (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Reistad, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN, FRANTZ B
• Application Number:
  US13/745,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20130132494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/207, 709/223, 379/88.22, 379/266.08, 455/412.1, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A system for managing message volume and timing, which permits first and second messages to be spaced apart over time, with the pacing controlled in part by a characteristic of the second message. The system sends the first message to an intended recipient. The system determines a separation based on a pacing algorithm and sends the second message to the recipient according to the separation.

Claims

1. A method for managing messages comprising the steps of:

receiving over a network, at a pacing system comprising a processor and a data storage system having a set of computer instructions executable by the processor, an indication of a first message intended for a recipient;

sending the first message to the recipient via e-mail to an e-mail address;

receiving over the network, by the pacing system, an indication of a second message intended for the recipient, wherein the indication of the second message is received after the first message is sent to the recipient;

determining according to a pacing algorithm, by the pacing system, a separation between sending the first message and sending the second message to the recipient, the pacing algorithm considering a characteristic of the second message; and

sending the second message to the recipient via email to the e-mail address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

determining that the second message should be sent before an expiration date of the second message; and

sending the second message to the recipient via e-mail sooner than what would be provided for by the pacing algorithm, but the second message is not sent to the recipient immediately.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the pacing of sending the first message and the second message to the recipient; and

notifying a message source if the first message or the second message is not sent within a specified time period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pacing system sorts two or more e-mail messages to determine the second message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the first message comprises receiving a first e-mail intended for the recipient and receiving the indication of the second message comprises receiving a second e-mail intended for the recipient.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising immediately sending the first message to the recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a combined e-mail message by combining two or more messages intended for the recipient into a single e-mail message.

8. A system for managing e-mail messages comprising:

one or more e-mail servers;

a pacing system coupled to the one or more e-mail servers, the pacing system comprising a processor and a data storage system having a set of computer instructions executable by the processor to;

receive from the one or more e-mail servers an indication of a first message intended for a recipient;

communicate with the one or more e-mail servers to send the first message to the recipient via e-mail to an e-mail address;

receive from the one or more e-mail servers an indication of a second message intended for the recipient, wherein the indication of the second message is received after the first message is sent to the recipient;

determine according to a pacing algorithm, by the pacing system, a separation between sending the first message to the recipient and sending the second message to the recipient, the pacing algorithm considering a characteristic of the second message; and

communicate with the one or more e-mail servers to send the second message the recipient via e-mail to the e-mail address.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second message includes an expiration date and wherein the pacing system is further operable to:

determine that the second message should be sent before the expiration date of the second message; and

send the second message to the recipient sooner than what would be provided for by the pacing algorithm, but not immediately.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the pacing system is further operable to create a combined e-mail message by combining two or more different messages intended for the recipient into a single e-mail message.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein receiving the indication of the first message comprises receiving the first message as a first e-mail message from the one or more e-mail servers.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein receiving the indication of the second message comprises receiving the second message as a second e-mail message from the one or more e-mail servers.

13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions executable by a processor to:

receive an indication of a first message intended for a recipient;

send the first message to the recipient via e-mail to an e-mail address based on information stored in a data storage system;

receive an indication of a second message intended for the recipient, wherein the second message is received after the first message is sent;

determine according to a pacing algorithm a separation between the first message and the second message, the pacing algorithm considering a characteristic of the second message; and

send the second message to the recipient via e-mail to the e-mail address.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the second message includes an expiration date and wherein the computer executable instructions are further executable to:

determine that the second message should be sent before the expiration date of the second message; and

send the second message sooner than what would be provided for by the pacing algorithm, but not immediately.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer executable instructions are further executable to create a combined e-mail message by combining two or more e-mail messages intended for the recipient into a single e-mail message.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer executable instructions are further executable to apply a template to determine how to format the combined e-mail.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein receiving the indication of the first message comprises receiving the first message as a first e-mail message.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein receiving the indication of the second message comprises receiving the second message as a second e-mail message.