Locating previously communicated electronic messages

• US 9,514,443 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2012
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: DeLuca, Lisa Seacat, Jang, Soobaek
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THU N
• Application Number:
  US13/400,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20130218922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• 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

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for locating previously communicated electronic messages (e.g., emails, etc.). Specifically, the system will receive a request to locate/retrieve a previously communicated electronic message (“message”). The request can be issued by a sender or a recipient of the message. In any event, the request will include a set (one or more) of characteristics pertaining to the message such as a set of recipients thereof. One or more electronic messaging databases will then be searched based on the set of recipients and the message located. Once located, an alert will be sent to the requester and/or other message parties. The alert will indicate the message that was located. If the alert is validated (e.g., the message was the correct message), the message will be displayed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for locating previously communicated electronic messages, comprising:

providing, in a window of a particular electronic message, a locator feature presenting a plurality of identifiers each corresponding to one of a plurality of parties to the one particular electronic message;

receiving a request, from a first party of the plurality of parties, to locate at least one previously communicated electronic message to select of at least one identifier of the plurality of identifiers;

in response to receiving the selection, performing a search of at least one electronic database for another electronic message comprising the at least previously communicated electronic message having as a party thereto at least one party, of the plurality of parties, to which the at least one selected identifier corresponds;

when the at least one previously communicated electronic message is located, based on the search, from the electronic database,

sending an alert based on the locating to the first party and second party;

when an acceptance notification is received from at least one of the first party and the second party in response to the alert, presenting one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message to the first party and the second party in response to the acceptance notification; and

when an acceptance notification is not received in response to the alert,

resending the alert a predetermined number of times, and

when the acceptance notification is not received in response to the resending, sending an error notification;

when the at least one previously communicated electronic message is not located from the electronic database, based on the search, sending the error notification;

wherein the sending an alert based on the locating to the first party and the second party comprises displaying a list of the located of the at least one previously communicated electronic message;

wherein the receiving an acceptance notification from at least one of the first party and the second party in response to the alert comprises receiving a selection of one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message from the list by at least one of the first party and the second party from at least one of the first party and the second party in response to the alert; and

wherein the presenting one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message to the first party and the second party in response to the acceptance notification comprises presenting the selected one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the first party comprising a sender or a receiver of the at least one previously communicated electronic message.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the particular electronic message and the previously communicated electronic message each comprising an email message.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the presenting comprising displaying the at least one previously communicated electronic message to the second party at a top of an electronic message inbox.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, the at least one previously communicated electronic message being displayed highlighted in a separate window within the electronic message inbox.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the providing occurs responsive to a selection of a button in the particular electronic message by the first party.

6. A system for locating previously communicated electronic messages, comprising:

a memory medium comprising instructions;

a bus coupled to the memory medium; and

a processor coupled to the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to;

receive;

a drag of a particular electronic message from a messaging application, and a drop of the particular electronic message to an instant messaging conversation;

open an email in response to the receiving;

perform a search of at least one electronic database for a previously communicated electronic message having a party matching at least one of a plurality of parties to the electronic message;

perform a search of at least one electronic database for the previously communicated electronic message;

receiving a request, from a first party of the plurality of parties, to locate at least one previously communicated electronic message;

when the at least one previously communicated electronic message is located, based on the search, from the electronic database,

send an alert based on the locating to the first party and second party;

when an acceptance notification is received from at least one of the first party and the second party in response to the alert, present one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message to the first party and the second party in response to the acceptance notification; and

when an acceptance notification is not received in response to the alert,

resend the alert a predetermined number of times, and

when the acceptance notification is not received in response to the resending, send an error notification;

when the at least one previously communicated electronic message is not located from the electronic database, based on the search, send the error notification;

wherein the sending an alert based on the locating to the first party and the second party comprises displaying a list of the located of the at least one previously communicated electronic message;

wherein the receiving an acceptance notification from at least one of the first party and the second party in response to the alert comprises receiving a selection of one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message from the list by at least one of the first party and the second party; and

wherein the presenting one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message to the first party and the second party in response to the acceptance notification comprises presenting the selected one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message.

7. The system of claim 6, the first party comprising a sender or a receiver of the at least one previously communicated electronic message.

8. The system of claim 6, the particular electronic message and the previously communicated electronic message each comprising an email message.

9. The system of claim 6, the memory medium further comprising instructions for causing the system to display the at least one previously communicated electronic message to the second party at a top of an electronic message inbox.

10. The system of claim 9, the at least one previously communicated electronic message being displayed highlighted in a separate window within the electronic message inbox.

18. The system of claim 6, wherein the providing occurs responsive to a selection of a button in the particular electronic message by the first party.

11. A computer program product for locating previously communicated electronic messages, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage device, wherein the computer readable storage device is not a transitory signal per se, and wherein program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage device, to:

provide, in a window of a particular electronic message, a locator feature presenting a plurality of identifiers each corresponding to one of a plurality of parties to the one particular electronic message;

receiving a request, from a first party of the plurality of parties, to locate at least one previously communicated electronic message to select of at least one identifier of the plurality of identifiers;

in response to receiving the selection, performing a search of at least one electronic database for another electronic message comprising the at least previously communicated electronic message having as a party thereto at least one party, of the plurality of parties, to which the at least one selected identifier corresponds;

when the at least one previously communicated electronic message is located, based on the search, from the electronic database,

send an alert based on the locating to the first party and second party;

when an acceptance notification is received from at least one of the first party and the second party in response to the alert, present one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message to the first party and the second party in response to the acceptance notification; and

when an acceptance notification is not received in response to the alert,

resend the alert a predetermined number of times, and

when the acceptance notification is not received in response to the resending, send an error notification;

when the at least one previously communicated electronic message is not located from the electronic database, based on the search, send the error notification;

wherein the sending an alert based on the locating to the first party and the second party comprises displaying a list of the located of the at least one previously communicated electronic message;

wherein the receiving an acceptance notification from at least one of the first party and the second party in response to the alert comprises receiving a selection of one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message from the list by at least one of the first party and the second party from at least one of the first party and the second party in response to the alert; and

wherein the presenting one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message to the first party and the second party in response to the acceptance notification comprises presenting the selected one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, the first party comprising a sender or a receiver of the at least one previously communicated electronic message.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, the particular electronic message and the previously communicated electronic message each comprising an email message.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, the computer readable storage device further comprising instructions for causing the system to display the at least one previously communicated electronic message to the second party at a top of an electronic message inbox.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, the at least one previously communicated electronic message being displayed highlighted in a separate window within the electronic message inbox.

19. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the providing occurs responsive to a selection of a button in the particular electronic message by the first party.

16. A method for deploying a system for locating previously communicated electronic messages, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

receive;

a drag of a particular electronic message from a messaging application, and a drop of the particular electronic message to an instant messaging conversation;

open an email in response to the receiving;

perform a search of at least one electronic database for a previously communicated electronic message having a party matching at least one of a plurality of parties to the electronic message;

perform a search of at least one electronic database for the previously communicated electronic message;

receive a request, from a first party of the plurality of parties, to locate at least one previously communicated electronic message;

when the at least one previously communicated electronic message is located, based on the search, from the electronic database,

send an alert based on the locating to the first party and second party;

when an acceptance notification is received from at least one of the first party and the second party in response to the alert, present one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message to the first party and the second party in response to the acceptance notification; and

when an acceptance notification is not received in

response to the alert,

resend the alert a predetermined number of times, and

when the acceptance notification is not received in response to the resending, send an error notification;

when the at least one previously communicated electronic message is not located from the electronic database, based on the search, send the error notification;

wherein the sending an alert based on the locating to the first party and the second party comprises displaying a list of the located of the at least one previously communicated electronic message;

wherein the receiving an acceptance notification from at least one of the first party and the second party in response to the alert comprises receiving a selection of one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message from the list by at least one of the first party and the second party; and

wherein the presenting one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message to the first party and the second party in response to the acceptance notification comprises presenting the selected one of the at least one previously communicated electronic message.