System and method for controlling electronic communications

• US 9,055,023 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2014
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veeva Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Veeva Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Murphy, Timothy S., Longo, Brian C.
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US14/271,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20140330915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 705/26, 705/43, 705/35, 705/14, 705/58
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

The approved email generation system described is capable of producing email communications between user and customer by using approved email templates and content that have been aligned with customer information regarding access to such content. Once the approved email has been generated, the content may be verified again for accuracy and validity before being delivered to the customer. When the customer accesses delivered content, the approved email generation system again verifies the content and allows the customer access to only the most current version of the content available. The system provides for control of the content of electronic communications to customers.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method for generating approved electronic messages, the method comprising:

establishing a controlled content repository, the controlled content repository being securely and controllably accessed;

establishing an access protocol for the controlled content repository, whereby approved content is stored in the controlled content repository according to the access protocol and whereby the access protocol comprises at least one set of alignment rules for determining if a first item of approved content within the controlled content repository can be made available to a first customer via an electronic message;

storing the approved content within the controlled content repository, the approved content further being accessible according to the established access protocol;

aligning the approved content within the controlled content repository with information from an information management system;

providing the first item of approved content within the controlled content repository for selection by a sender after a determination that the first item of approved content within the controlled content repository is authorized to be made available to the first customer in accordance with the at least one set of alignment rules; and

providing an approved electronic message generating system which generates an electronic message according to the established access protocol for sending the provided first item of approved content within the controlled content repository to the first customer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information management system is a customer relationship management (CRM) system or a closed loop marketing (CLM) system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information from the information management system comprises information related to a customer profile, customer preferences or regulatory limitations.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a template for the electronic message, wherein the template is pre-generated with approved content and has at least one customizable area.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a hyperlink to the first item of approved content and including the hyperlink in the electronic message.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

directing the first customer to a customer portal through which the first item of approved content can be accessed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein when the first item of approved content is updated after the electronic message is generated, the first customer is automatically directed to the updated version.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a domain the electronic message is delivered through.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a warning when it is determined that the first item of approved content can'"'"'t be made available to a second customer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying content in the generated electronic message just before releasing it to a server for sending the electronic message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the access protocol is based on regulatory restrictions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the access protocol is further based on customer profile information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlled content repository is adapted to provide development and distribution of promotional materials as related to regulatory restricted products.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the regulatory restricted products are prescription drugs.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a signature interface to register a customer'"'"'s “

opt in”

input to receive the electronic message.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reporting life cycle analytics relating to review cycles of the approved content.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing audit trail information relative to the controlled content repository whereby compliance with government regulations for access of such controlled content can be audited.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection by a sender for the first item of approved content after the determination that the first item of approved content is authorized to be made available to a first customer.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is generated at least in part based on a selection by a sender for the first item of approved content.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that the first item of approved content is authorized to be made available to a first customer is based at least in part on regulatory limitations for a regulatory restricted product.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that the first item of approved content is authorized to be made available to a first customer is based at least in part on a customer profile, customer preferences, and an “

opt-in”

customer selection.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the electronic message to the first customer.

18. A system for generating approved electronic messages, comprising:

a controlled content repository for storing approved content according to an access protocol, wherein the access protocol is based on regulatory restrictions, and comprises at least one set of alignment rules for determining if a first item of approved content within the controlled content repository can be made available to a first customer via an electronic message; and

an approved electronic message generator, coupled to the controlled content repository, coupled to an application over a network, providing the first item of approved content within the controlled content repository for selection by a sender after a determination that the first item of approved content within the controlled content repository is authorized to be made available to the first customer in accordance with the at least one set of alignment rules, and generating an electronic message according to the access protocol for sending the first item of approved content within the controlled content repository to the first customer.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a regulatory compliance engine for checking that the item of approved content is in compliance with government regulations.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for generating approved emails, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

access an information management system for customer information;

receive selection of a customer and a template;

determine if a selected customer is approved to receive a selected template according to an access protocol;

provide the selected template for selection by a sender after a determination that the selected template is authorized to be made available to a selected customer;

construct an email template;

access a controlled content repository, according to the access protocol, for a first item of approved content within the controlled content repository that the selected customer is approved to access; and

generate an electronic message to the selected customer, which enables the selected customer to access the first item of approved content within the controlled content repository that the selected customer is approved to access,

wherein the access protocol is based on regulatory restrictions.