Mechanism for generating a composite email

• US 8,874,659 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2007
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tamiras Per Pte Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Misaki Acquisitions LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Madnani, Rajkumar R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NANO, SARGON N
• Application Number:
  US11/820,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20080208992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,688 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/207
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A mechanism is disclosed for generating a composite email for an email conversation. The composite email includes content automatically extracted from a plurality of the emails in the email conversation, and may be generated in response to a user accessing just one of the emails in the email conversation. A mechanism is also disclosed for discovering and recovering lost emails in an email conversation. A mechanism is further disclosed for automatically moving emails from one container to another after an email has been read. These and other advantageous email generating, manipulation, and organization mechanisms are disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining whether a received electronic message carries a unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier comprises a machine-generated identifier that is different than user content of the received electronic message;

in response to determining that the received electronic message carries the unique identifier, accessing an electronic message conversation data structure that is associated with the unique identifier, the electronic message conversation data structure corresponding to an electronic message conversation comprising the received electronic message and a separately created electronic message, the electronic message conversation data structure comprising information pertaining to each of the electronic messages, to generate a composite electronic message that includes the user content from the received electronic message and user content from the separately created electronic message; and

causing the generated composite electronic message to be displayed on a display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to a prior electronic message that is known to have been sent in the electronic message conversation prior to the received electronic message; and

in response to determining that the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message, sending a request electronic message to a human participant of the electronic message conversation to request that the prior electronic message be sent again.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information in the electronic message conversation data structure pertaining to each of the electronic messages in the electronic message conversation comprises:

(1) an indication of which participant in the electronic message conversation sent that electronic message; and

(2) a sequence indicator indicating an order in which that electronic message was sent by that participant relative to other electronic messages sent by that participant in the electronic message conversation.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the received electronic message, wherein the set of information pertaining to the received electronic message comprises;

(1) an indication that the received electronic message was sent by a particular participant in the electronic message conversation; and

(2) a particular sequence indicator indicating an order in which the received electronic message was sent by the particular participant relative to other electronic messages sent by the particular participant in the electronic message conversation; and

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the received electronic message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to a prior electronic message comprises:

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an electronic message that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure; and

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises:

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an electronic message that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that immediately precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message, wherein the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises;

(1) an indication that the prior electronic message was sent by the particular participant; and

(2) a previous sequence indicator that immediately precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure;

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an earlier electronic message that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that immediately precedes the previous sequence indicator of the prior electronic message; and

in response to a determination that the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an earlier electronic message that was sent by the particular participant having the sequence indicator that immediately precedes the previous sequence indicator of the prior electronic message, sending another request electronic message to one or more participants of the electronic message conversation to request that the earlier electronic message be sent again.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the information in the electronic message conversation data structure pertaining to each of the electronic message in the electronic message conversation comprises:

(1) an indication of an electronic message type for that electronic message;

(2) an indication of which participant in the electronic message conversation sent that electronic message; and

(3) a sequence indicator indicating an order in which that electronic message was sent by that participant relative to other electronic messages of the same electronic message type sent by that participant in the electronic message conversation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of information pertaining to the received electronic message comprises:

(1) an indication of a particular electronic message type for the received electronic message;

(2) an indication that the received electronic message was sent by a particular participant in the electronic message conversation; and

(3) a particular sequence indicator indicating an order in which the received electronic message was sent by the particular participant relative to other electronic messages of the particular electronic message type sent by the particular participant in the electronic message conversation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises:

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an electronic message of the particular electronic message type that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure; and

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises:

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an electronic message of the particular electronic message type that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that immediately precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message, wherein the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises;

(1) an indication that the prior electronic message is of the particular electronic message type;

(2) an indication that the prior electronic message was sent by the particular participant; and

(3) a previous sequence indicator that immediately precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure;

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an earlier electronic message of the particular electronic message type that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that immediately precedes the previous sequence indicator of the prior electronic message; and

in response to a determination that the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an earlier electronic message of the particular electronic message type that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that immediately precedes the previous sequence indicator of the prior electronic message, sending another request electronic message to one or more participants of the electronic message conversation to request that the earlier electronic message be sent again.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein sending the request electronic message comprises:

determining to which certain participant in the electronic message conversation the request electronic message is to be sent.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining to which certain participant the request electronic message is to be sent comprises:

accessing a recipient list electronic message that is part of the electronic message conversation, the recipient list electronic message containing information indicating which one or more participants in the electronic message conversation should receive requests to resend electronic messages; and

determining, based upon the information contained in the recipient list electronic message, that the certain participant is the participant to whom the request electronic message is to be sent.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the certain participant is an administrator of the electronic message conversation, wherein the administrator is the participant who started the electronic message conversation.

18. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure; and

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message.

19. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to indicate that a request electronic message has been sent to request resending of the prior electronic message.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure; and

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message, and to indicate that the response to the request electronic message has been received.

21. The method of claim 2, wherein the set of information pertaining to the received electronic message comprises a sequence indicator that indicates an order in which the received electronic message was sent in the electronic message conversation relative to other electronic messages in the electronic message conversation, and wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises:

deriving, based at least partially upon the sequence indicator, a target sequence indicator that precedes the sequence indicator; and

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing a set of information, pertaining to the prior electronic message, that includes the target sequence indicator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the sequence indicator comprises a first sequence number, and wherein the target sequence indicator comprises a second sequence number that precedes the first sequence number.

23. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

obtaining information pertaining to the particular electronic message including a sequence indicator that indicates an order in which the particular electronic message was sent in the electronic message conversation relative to other electronic messages in the electronic message conversation, and

wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises;

deriving, based at least partially upon the sequence indicator, a target sequence indicator that precedes the sequence indicator; and

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information, pertaining to the prior electronic message, that includes the target sequence indicator.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the sequence indicator comprises a first sequence number, and wherein the target sequence indicator comprises a second sequence number that precedes the first sequence number.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing, from one of the electronic messages that are part of the electronic message conversation, authorization information indicating what the user can and/or cannot do with respect to the electronic message conversation; and

enforcing any restrictions indicated by the authorization information to ensure that the user is not allowed to perform any operation with respect to the electronic message conversation for which the user has not been authorized.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the information in the electronic message conversation data structure pertaining to each of the electronic message in the electronic message conversation comprises:

(1) an indication of which participant in the electronic message conversation sent that electronic message; and

(2) a sequence indicator indicating an order in which that electronic message was sent by that participant relative to other electronic messages sent by that participant in the electronic message conversation.

27. A memory device having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

determining whether a received electronic message carries a unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier comprises a machine-generated identifier that is different than user content of the received electronic message;

in response to determining that the received electronic message carries the unique identifier, accessing an electronic message conversation data structure that is associated with the unique identifier, the electronic message conversation data structure corresponding to an electronic message conversation comprising the received electronic message and a separately created electronic message, the electronic message conversation data structure comprising information pertaining to each of the electronic messages, to generate a composite electronic message that includes the user content from the received electronic message and user content from the separately created electronic message; and

causing the generated composite electronic message to be displayed on a display.

28. The memory device of claim 27, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to a prior electronic message that is known to have been sent in the electronic message conversation prior to the received electronic message; and

in response to determining that the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message, sending a request electronic message to a human participant of the electronic message conversation to request that the prior electronic message be sent again.

29. The memory device of claim 28, wherein the information in the electronic message conversation data structure pertaining to each of the electronic messages in the electronic message conversation comprises:

(1) an indication of which participant in the electronic message conversation sent that electronic message; and

(2) a sequence indicator indicating an order in which that electronic message was sent by that participant relative to other electronic messages sent by that participant in the electronic message conversation.

30. The memory device of claim 29, wherein the operations further comprise:

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the received electronic message, wherein the set of information pertaining to the received electronic message comprises;

(1) an indication that the received electronic message was sent by a particular participant in the electronic message conversation; and

(2) a particular sequence indicator indicating an order in which the received electronic message was sent by the particular participant relative to other electronic messages sent by the particular participant in the electronic message conversation; and

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the received electronic message.

31. The memory device of claim 30, wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises:

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an electronic message that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message.

32. The memory device of claim 31, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure; and

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message.

33. The memory device of claim 30, wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises:

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an electronic message that was sent by the particular participant having the sequence indicator that immediately precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message.

34. The memory device of claim 33, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message, wherein the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises;

(1) an indication that the prior electronic message was sent by the particular participant; and

(2) a previous sequence indicator that immediately precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure;

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an earlier electronic message that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that immediately precedes the previous sequence indicator of the prior electronic message; and

in response to a determination that the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an earlier electronic message that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that immediately precedes the previous sequence indicator of the prior electronic message, sending another request electronic message to one or more participants of the electronic message conversation to request that the earlier electronic message be sent again.

35. The memory device of claim 28, wherein the information in the electronic message conversation data structure pertaining to each of the electronic messages in the electronic message conversation comprises:

(1) an indication of an electronic message type for that electronic message;

(2) an indication of which participant in the electronic message conversation sent that electronic message; and

(3) a sequence indicator indicating an order in which that electronic message was sent by that participant relative to other electronic messages of the same electronic message type sent by that participant in the electronic message conversation.

36. The memory device of claim 35, wherein the set of information pertaining to the received electronic message comprises:

(1) an indication of a particular electronic message type for the received electronic message;

(2) an indication that the received electronic message was sent by a particular participant in the electronic message conversation; and

(3) a particular sequence indicator indicating an order in which the received electronic message was sent by the particular participant relative to other electronic messages of the particular electronic message type sent by the particular participant in the electronic message conversation.

37. The memory device of claim 36, wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises:

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an electronic message of the particular electronic message type that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message.

38. The memory device of claim 37, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure; and

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message.

39. The memory device of claim 36, wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises:

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an electronic message of the particular electronic message type that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that immediately precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message.

40. The memory device of claim 39, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message, wherein the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises;

(1) an indication that the prior electronic message is of the particular electronic message type;

(2) an indication that the prior electronic message was sent by the particular participant; and

(3) a previous sequence indicator that immediately precedes the particular sequence indicator of the received electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure;

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an earlier electronic message of the particular electronic message type that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that immediately precedes the previous sequence indicator of the prior electronic message; and

in response to a determination that the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to an earlier electronic message of the particular electronic message type that was sent by the particular participant having a sequence indicator that immediately precedes the previous sequence indicator of the prior electronic message, sending another request electronic message to one or more participants of the electronic message conversation to request that the earlier electronic message be sent again.

41. The memory device of claim 28, wherein sending the request electronic message comprises:

determining to which certain participant in the electronic message conversation the request electronic message is to be sent.

42. The memory device of claim 41, wherein determining to which certain participant the request electronic message is to be sent comprises:

accessing a recipient list electronic message that is part of the electronic message conversation, the recipient list electronic message containing information indicating which one or more participants in the electronic message conversation should receive requests to resend electronic messages; and

determining, based upon the information contained in the recipient list electronic message, that the certain participant is the participant to whom the request electronic message is to be sent.

43. The memory device of claim 42, wherein the certain participant is an administrator of the electronic message conversation, wherein the administrator is the participant who started the electronic message conversation.

44. The memory device of claim 28, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure; and

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message.

45. The memory device of claim 28, wherein the operations further comprise:

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to indicate that the request electronic message has been sent to request resending of the prior electronic message.

46. The memory device of claim 45, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request electronic message, the response including the prior electronic message that was requested in the request electronic message;

obtaining a set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message;

accessing the electronic message conversation data structure; and

updating the electronic message conversation data structure to include the set of information pertaining to the prior electronic message, and to indicate that the response to the request electronic message has been received.

47. The memory device of claim 28, wherein the set of information pertaining to the received electronic message comprises a sequence indicator that indicates an order in which the received electronic message was sent in the electronic message conversation relative to other electronic messages in the electronic message conversation, and wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises:

deriving, based at least partially upon the sequence indicator, a target sequence indicator that precedes the sequence indicator; and

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing a set of information, pertaining to the prior electronic message, that includes the target sequence indicator.

48. The memory device of claim 47, wherein the sequence indicator comprises a first sequence number, and wherein the target sequence indicator comprises a second sequence number that precedes the first sequence number.

49. The memory device of claim 28, wherein the operations further comprise:

obtaining information pertaining to the particular electronic message including a sequence indicator that indicates an order in which the particular electronic message was sent in the electronic message conversation relative to other electronic messages in the electronic message conversation, and

wherein determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message comprises;

deriving, based at least partially upon the sequence indicator, a target sequence indicator that precedes the sequence indicator; and

determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information, pertaining to the prior electronic message, that includes the target sequence indicator.

50. The memory device of claim 49, wherein the sequence indicator comprises a first sequence number, and wherein the target sequence indicator comprises a second sequence number that precedes the first sequence number.

51. The memory device of claim 27, wherein the operations further comprise:

accessing, from one of the electronic messages that are part of the electronic message conversation, authorization information indicating what the user can and/or cannot do with respect to the electronic message conversation; and

enforcing any restrictions indicated by the authorization information to ensure that the user is not allowed to perform any operation with respect to the electronic message conversation for which the user has not been authorized.

52. The memory device of claim 27, wherein the information in the electronic message conversation data structure pertaining to each of the electronic messages in the electronic message conversation comprises:

(1) an indication of which participant in the electronic message conversation sent that electronic message; and

(2) a sequence indicator indicating an order in which that electronic message was sent by that participant relative to other electronic messages sent by that participant in the electronic message conversation.

53. An apparatus, comprising:

means for determining whether a received electronic message carries a unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier comprises a machine-generated identifier that is different than user content of the received electronic message;

means for accessing an electronic message conversation data structure that is associated with the unique identifier responsive to determining that the received electronic message carries the unique identifier, the electronic message conversation data structure corresponding to an electronic message conversation comprising the received electronic message and a separately created electronic message, the electronic message conversation data structure comprising information pertaining to each of the electronic messages, to generate a composite electronic message that includes the user content from the received electronic message and user content from the separately created electronic message; and

means for generating a composite electronic message that includes user content from the received electronic message the separately created electronic message responsive to accessing the electronic message conversation data structure that is associated with the unique identifier.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising:

means for determining whether the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to a prior electronic message that is known to have been sent in the electronic message conversation prior to the received electronic message; and

means for sending a request electronic message to a human participant of the electronic message conversation to request that the prior electronic message be sent again in response to determining that the electronic message conversation data structure is missing information pertaining to the prior electronic message.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising:

means for accessing, from one of the electronic messages that are part of the electronic message conversation, authorization information indicating what the user can and/or cannot do with respect to the electronic message conversation; and

means for enforcing any restrictions indicated by the authorization information to ensure that the user is not allowed to perform any operation with respect to the electronic message conversation for which the user has not been authorized.

56. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the information in the electronic message conversation data structure pertaining to each of the electronic messages in the electronic message conversation comprises:

(1) an indication of which participant in the electronic message conversation sent that electronic message; and

(2) a sequence indicator indicating an order in which that electronic message was sent by that participant relative to other electronic messages sent by that participant in the electronic messages conversation.