MANAGING AND STORING ELECTRONIC MESSAGES DURING RECIPIENT UNAVAILABILITY

• US 20140244961A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Burckart, Erik J., Ivory, Andrew J., Shook, Aaron K., Stecher, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,282,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/36 Memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

A method for managing storage space for electronic messages. A computer receiving a selected time period in which a user of a messaging program will not be able to access electronic messages through the messaging program. The computer estimating, by one or more computer processors, an amount of storage space required to store electronic messages received during the selected time period. The computer determining, by one or more computer processors, that an unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the estimated storage space required. The computer notifying the user that the unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the estimated storage space required.

Claims

1. A method for managing storage space for electronic messages, the method comprising:

receiving a selected time period in which a user of a messaging program will not be able to access electronic messages through the messaging program;

estimating, by one or more computer processors, an amount of storage space required to store electronic messages received during the selected time period;

determining, by one or more computer processors, that an unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the estimated storage space required; and

notifying the user that the unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the estimated storage space required.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying the user that the unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the estimated storage space required comprises:

determining, by one or more computer processors, an amount of additional storage space required to meet the estimated storage space required; and

notifying the user of the amount of additional storage space required.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein notifying the user of the amount of allocated storage space requested, comprises suggesting the user delete one or more previously stored electronic messages.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating, by one or more computer processors, the amount of storage space required to store electronic messages received during the selected time period comprises:

determining, by one or more computer processors, an amount of storage space previously required to store electronic messages received during another time period related to a duration of the selected time period.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the other time period is one of:

a related duration directly preceding the selected time period, a related duration of a random time period, or a related duration of the selected time period during the previous year.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating, by one or more computer processors, the amount of storage space required to store electronic messages received during the selected time period, comprises averaging a plurality of time periods, each time period equivalent in duration to the selected time period.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an electronic message has been sent during the selected time period;

determining that the amount of unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the storage space required to store the electronic message;

allocating temporary storage space to the user to store the electronic message;

determining the user has access to electronic messages through the messaging program; and

requiring the user to delete one or more of the electronic messages related in storage space to the temporarily allocated storage space.

8. A computer program product for managing storage space for electronic messages, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive a selected time period in which a user of a messaging program will not be able to access electronic messages through the messaging program;

program instructions to estimate, by one or more computer processors, an amount of storage space required to store electronic messages received during the selected time period;

program instructions to determine, by one or more computer processors, that an unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the estimated storage space required; and

program instructions to notify the user that the unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the estimated storage space required.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein notifying the user that the unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the estimated storage space required comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, to:

determine, by one or more computer processors, an amount of additional storage space required to meet the estimated storage space required; and

notify the user of the amount of additional storage space required.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein notifying the user of the amount of allocated storage space requested, comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, to suggest the user delete one or more previously stored electronic messages.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein estimating, by one or more computer processors, the amount of storage space required to store electronic messages received during the selected time period comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, to:

determine, by one or more computer processors, an amount of storage space previously required to store electronic messages received during another time period, each time period related to a duration of the selected time period.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the other time period is one of:

a related duration directly preceding the selected time period, a related duration of a random time period, or a related duration of the selected time period during the previous year.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein estimating, by one or more computer processors, the amount of storage space required to store electronic messages received during the selected time period, comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, to average a plurality of time periods equivalent in duration to the selected time period.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, to:

determine an electronic message has been sent during the selected time period;

determine that the amount of unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the storage space required to store the electronic message;

allocate temporary storage space to the user to store the electronic message;

determine the user has access to electronic messages through the messaging program; and

require the user to delete one or more of the electronic messages related in storage space to the temporarily allocated storage space.

15. A computer system for managing storage space for electronic messages, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer-readable storage media;

program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive a selected time period in which a user of a messaging program will not be able to access electronic messages through the messaging program;

program instructions to estimate, by one or more computer processors, an amount of storage space required to store electronic messages received during the selected time period;

program instructions to determine, by one or more computer processors, that an unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the estimated storage space required; and

program instructions to notify the user that the unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the estimated storage space required.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein notifying the user that the unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the estimated storage space required comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, to:

determine, by one or more computer processors, an amount of additional storage space required to meet the estimated storage space required; and

notify the user of the amount of additional storage space required.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein notifying the user of the amount of allocated storage space requested, comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, to suggest the user delete one or more previously stored electronic messages.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein estimating, by one or more computer processors, the amount of storage space required to store electronic messages received during the selected time period comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, to:

determine, by one or more computer processors, an amount of storage space previously required to store electronic messages received during another time period, each time period related to a duration of the selected time period.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein estimating, by one or more computer processors, the amount of storage space required to store electronic messages received during the selected time period, comprises program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, to average a plurality of time periods equivalent in duration to the selected time period.

20. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, to:

determine an electronic message has been sent during the selected time period;

determine that the amount of unused portion of storage space allocated to the user is less than the storage space required to store the electronic message;

allocate temporary storage space to the user to store the electronic message;

determine the user has access to electronic messages through the messaging program; and

require the user to delete one or more of the electronic messages related in storage space to the temporarily allocated storage space.