Message tracking with thread-recurrent data
First Claim
1. A method of processing messages, comprising:
- operating an information or message processing element to generate, in whole or in part, a first message for a first user, the first message including a thread-recurrent field, the thread-recurrent field including a first field component identifying at least one of a plurality of communications categories and a second field component identifying a messaging thread involving the first user;
electronically tracking a communication of the first message from the first user to a second user;
electronically tracking a communication of a second message from the second user to the first user, the second message having a thread-recurrent field corresponding to the thread-recurrent field of the first message, the thread-recurrent field of the second message including a first field component identifying the at least one of the plurality of communications categories and a second field component identifying the messaging thread involving the first userelectronically evaluating one or more rules related to message tracking functionality, the evaluation of the one or more rules based at least in part on the at least one of the plurality of communication categories identified by the first field component of the second message and the messaging thread identified by the second field component of the second message; and
electronically processing or otherwise operating on the second message in accordance with the evaluation of the one or more rules related to message tracking functionality, wherein the evaluation of the one or more rules related to message tracking functionality is based at least in part on an identity, type, or role of one or more of the first user and the second user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, computer program product, and related business methods are described in the context of a web-based business information system having an internal email facility, wherein e-mail communications between a native e-mail system of an end user of the web-based business information system and an external contact are facilitated and automatically tracked by the web-based business information system, the native e-mail system lying outside the web-based business information system but often being preferred by the end user over the internal e-mail facility of the web-based business information system. The described preferred embodiments provide for easy-to-use, reasonably transparent, “no-click” integration of the web-based business information system with the end user'"'"'s native e-mail system in a manner that is independent of the particular type and choice of native e-mail system.
58 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method of processing messages, comprising:
-
operating an information or message processing element to generate, in whole or in part, a first message for a first user, the first message including a thread-recurrent field, the thread-recurrent field including a first field component identifying at least one of a plurality of communications categories and a second field component identifying a messaging thread involving the first user; electronically tracking a communication of the first message from the first user to a second user; electronically tracking a communication of a second message from the second user to the first user, the second message having a thread-recurrent field corresponding to the thread-recurrent field of the first message, the thread-recurrent field of the second message including a first field component identifying the at least one of the plurality of communications categories and a second field component identifying the messaging thread involving the first user electronically evaluating one or more rules related to message tracking functionality, the evaluation of the one or more rules based at least in part on the at least one of the plurality of communication categories identified by the first field component of the second message and the messaging thread identified by the second field component of the second message; and electronically processing or otherwise operating on the second message in accordance with the evaluation of the one or more rules related to message tracking functionality, wherein the evaluation of the one or more rules related to message tracking functionality is based at least in part on an identity, type, or role of one or more of the first user and the second user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An apparatus for processing messages, comprising:
-
an electronic processor programmed to execute a set of instructions; a data storage element in which the set of instructions are stored, wherein when executed by the electronic processor the set of instructions cause the apparatus to operate to generate, in whole or in part, a first message for a first user, the first message including a thread-recurrent field, the thread-recurrent field including a first field component identifying at least one of a plurality of communications categories and a second field component identifying a messaging thread involving the first user; track a communication of the first message from the first user to a second user; track a communication of a second message from the second user to the first user, the second message having a thread-recurrent field corresponding to the thread-recurrent field of the first message, the thread-recurrent field of the second message including a first field component identifying the at least one of the plurality of communications categories and a second field component identifying the messaging thread involving the first user evaluate one or more rules related to message tracking functionality, the evaluation of the one or more rules based at least in part on the at least one of the plurality of communication categories identified by the first field component of the second message and the messaging thread identified by the second field component of the second message; and process or otherwise operate on the second message in accordance with the evaluation of the one or more rules related to message tracking functionality, wherein the evaluation of the one or more rules related to message tracking functionality is based at least in part on an identity, type, or role of one or more of the first user and the second user. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A system for processing a message, comprising:
-
an electronic data processing element operable to receive a message from a first user to a second user and operate to identify a thread-recurrent field including a first field component identifying at least one of a plurality of communications categories and a second field component identifying a messaging thread involving the first user and the second user that are part of or included with the message; evaluate one or more rules related to message tracking functionality, the evaluation of the one or more rules based at least in part on the at least one of the plurality of communication categories identified by the first field component of the message and the messaging thread identified by the second field component of the message; and process or otherwise operate on the second message in accordance with the evaluation of the one or more rules related to message tracking functionality, wherein the evaluation of the one or more rules related to message tracking functionality is based at least in part on an identity, type, or role of one or more of the first user and the second user. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification