×

On demand email response

  • US 9,473,442 B2
  • Filed: 09/16/2013
  • Issued: 10/18/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for updating a plurality of requested actions, the method comprising:

  • assigning, by one or more processors, first and second priorities or deadlines to first and second respective actions to be performed by first and second participants, respectively;

    receiving, by the one or more processors, a message addressed from a sender to the first and second participants requesting the first and second participants to perform the first and second respective actions, in a list of action items, with the first and second respective priorities or deadlines, and including other information comprising basic information regarding a purpose of communication and data common to email messages comprising date and time, a name of the sender, subject of the message, and list of recipients provided by the sender, wherein a first respective action is marked by the sender with a first mark and a second respective action is marked by the sender with a second mark to mark each separate action, in the list of action items, within a single message with a respective level of urgency, and wherein the one or more processors stores the message, which includes action items and associated attributes comprising a priority, a deadline, an abstract, and a responsibility, in a message database;

    sending, by the one or more processors via a network, a copy of the single message to first and second computers of the first and second participants, respectively; and

    responsive to receipt of the copy of the single message by the first computer of the first participant, one or more processors of the first computer;

    initiating display at the first computer to the first participant the list of action items of the copy of the single message;

    retrieving the action items and associated attributes from the message database, separate from the other information provided by the sender;

    receiving from the first participant a selected response of one of (a) a complete response to the first respective action, (b) an initial assessment of the first respective action, or (c) an indication that more time will be needed to provide a complete response to the first respective action;

    updating the message database with the selected response received from the first participant for the first respective actions;

    updating the copy of the single message with the selected response of one of the complete response to the first respective action, the initial assessment of the first respective action, or the indication that more time will be needed to provide the complete response to the first respective action, as received from the first participant; and

    sending via the network the copy of the single message updated to the second computer of the second participant for display, wherein the second participant receives both the copy of the single message before the update and subsequently, the copy of the single message updated, including a status of each selected response by the first participant for the first respective actions, in the list of action items, from the first participant and enabling the second participant to view a thread comprising elements selected from a group consisting of individual action items, responses, and further action items.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×