System and method for managing a messaging campaign within an enterprise

• US 9,338,121 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exacttarget Incorporated (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ciancio-Bunch, James Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US13/701,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20130139069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A method and system for managing a messaging campaign within an enterprise are disclosed. Such a method includes generating with a server a user interface, the interface being configured to allow a user to select a recipient list based upon one or more contextual attributes stored in a database, wherein the contextual attributes are based upon the interaction of one or more recipients with external systems. The method also includes selecting a recipient list using the user interface based upon a set of contextual attributes, generating electronic messages within a message campaign, and sending the electronic messages to recipients on the recipient list.

Claims

1. A method for sending an electronic communication within a message campaign to a plurality of recipients, the method comprising:

generating with a server, a user interface, the user interface being configured, based upon a predetermined context assigned to a first user, to allow the first user to select a recipient list based upon one or more attributes of potential recipients within the predetermined context, wherein the predetermined context is selected from a plurality of contexts stored in a database, wherein each context stored in the database comprises a set of attributes made available to one or more users, wherein an attribute of the one or more attributes comprises an online social influence rating, and wherein the first user is restricted from viewing attributes of potential recipients outside the predetermined context;

creating a recipient list using the user interface by selecting among the one or more attributes, wherein selecting among the one or more attributes comprises randomly sampling from the potential recipients within the predetermined context that have the online social influence rating;

generating electronic messages within a message campaign;

sending the electronic messages to recipients on the recipient list;

in response to sending the electronic messages to the recipients on the recipient list, generating a new context comprising a new set of attributes, the new set of attributes comprising the attributes of the predetermined context other than the selected one or more attributes; and

automatically assigning the new context to the first user,

wherein the new context restricts the first user from accessing attributes of potential recipients other than the new set of attributes,

wherein the new set of attributes comprises at least one attribute linked to a particular potential recipient, and

wherein substantially all attributes of the new set of attributes that are linked to the particular potential recipient maintain the privacy of the particular potential recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic messages comprise email.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic messages comprise short message service (sms) messages.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the recipient list.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more attributes comprise an attribute of a social media communication.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the social media communication comprises a post on a website.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising autoconfiguring access to the one or more attributes within the context.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of attributes are made available to one or more users based on at least one selected from the group consisting of user permissions, enterprise structure, delivery channel, policy, campaign, and the preferences of a recipient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined context is assigned to the user based on the user'"'"'s permissions.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the predetermined context comprises attributes that are selected based on rules comprising an attribute filter.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein the predetermined context comprises attributes that are selected based on rules comprising an attribute filter;

and

wherein the attribute filter is configured to filter based on criteria comprising a preference of a recipient, an enterprise structure, and a permission of the first user.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein the predetermined context comprises attributes that are selected based on rules comprising an attribute filter;

wherein the attribute filter is configured to filter based on criteria comprising a preference of a recipient, an enterprise structure, and a permission of the first user; and

wherein an attribute of the one or more attributes is based on an interaction of a recipient with an external system.

13. A method for sending an electronic communication within a message campaign to a plurality of recipients, the method comprising:

receiving, at a server, a recipient list based upon one or more selected attributes of potential recipients within a predetermined context assigned to a first user, wherein an attribute of the one or more selected attributes comprises an online social influence rating, wherein the predetermined context is selected from a plurality of contexts stored in a database, wherein each context stored in the database comprises a set of attributes of potential recipients made available to one or more users, wherein the recipient list is selected based upon a random sample from the potential recipients within the predetermined context that have the online social influence rating, and wherein the first user is restricted from viewing attributes of potential recipients outside the predetermined context;

generating electronic messages within a message campaign;

sending the electronic messages to recipients on the recipient list;

in response to sending the electronic messages to the recipients on the recipient list, generating a new context comprising a new set of attributes, the new set of attributes comprising the attributes of the predetermined context other than the selected one or more attributes; and

automatically assigning the new context to the first user,

wherein the new context restricts the first user from accessing attributes of potential recipients other than the new set of attributes,

wherein the new set of attributes comprises at least one attribute linked to a particular potential recipient, and

wherein substantially all attributes of the new set of attributes that are linked to the particular potential recipient maintain the privacy of the particular potential recipient.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electronic messages comprise e-mail.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the electronic messages comprise short message service (sms) messages.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more attributes comprise an attribute of a social media communication.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the social media communication comprises a post on a website.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising autoconfiguring access to the one or more attributes within the context.

19. A system for sending an electronic communication within a message campaign to a plurality of recipients, the system comprising:

an electronic message provider configured to generate and send one or more electronic messages, the electronic message provider comprising a server for generating a user interface, the user interface being configured to;

allow, based upon a predetermined context assigned to a first user, the first user to select a recipient list based upon a selection by the first user of one or more attributes of potential recipients within the predetermined context,

wherein the predetermined context is selected from a plurality of contexts stored in a database,

wherein each context stored in the database comprises a set of attributes made available to one or more users,

wherein an attribute of the one or more attributes comprises an online social influence rating,

wherein the selection by the first user of the recipient list comprises a random sample from the potential recipients within the predetermined context that have the online social influence rating, and

wherein the first user is restricted from viewing attributes of potential recipients outside the predetermined context,

generate electronic messages within a message campaign, send the electronic messages to recipients on the recipient list, in response to sending the electronic messages to the recipients on the recipient list, generate a new context comprising a new set of attributes, the new set of attributes comprising the attributes of the predetermined context other than the one or more attributes selected by the first user, and automatically assign the new context to the first user,

wherein the new context restricts the first user from accessing attributes of potential recipients other than the new set of attributes,

wherein the new set of attributes comprises at least one attribute linked to a particular potential recipient, and

wherein substantially all attributes of the new set of attributes that are linked to the particular potential recipient maintain the privacy of the particular potential recipient; and

at least one enterprise system connected to the server through a network, wherein the at least one enterprise system is configured to display the user interface.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic messages comprise e-mail.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic messages comprise short message service (sms) messages.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more attributes comprise an attribute of a social media communication.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the social media communication comprises a post on a website.