Forgotten Attachment Detection

• US 20150081824A1
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Caldwell, Nicholas Van, Claux, David, Childs, Benjamin Edward, Azzam, Saliha, Karabay, Fetiye
• Granted Patent: US 9,843,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/33 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments

Abstract

A user is writing an email or other message. The message is inspected for a predetermined word and for at least one of: a predetermined phrase or a template match. A score is generated if the predetermined phrase or the template match is detected. A suggestion is provided to a user that the message may need an attachment if the predetermined word is detected or if the score is greater than a predetermined score. The inspection may begin when the user begins creating the message, indicates that the message should be sent, or at some point in between. The user may provide feedback that the suggestion is accepted or that the suggestion is rejected.

Claims

1. In an environment wherein electronic messages may be sent with or without an attachment, a computer-implemented method for determining whether an electronic message should have an attachment, the method comprising:

inspecting the message for a predetermined word;

inspecting the message for at least one of;

a predetermined phrase or a template match;

generating a score if the predetermined phrase or the template match is detected; and

if the predetermined word is detected, or if the score is greater than a predetermined score, then providing a suggestion to a user that the message may need an attachment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the message has a body, and the body is inspected for at least one of:

one or more predetermined phrases, or one or more template matches.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the message has a body, the body including current text and text of a previous message, and the method further comprises distinguishing the current text from the previous message text, and inspecting only the current text.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein inspecting the message for a predetermined word comprises:

accessing a database of predetermined words; and

inspecting the message for at least one of the predetermined words.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein inspecting the message for a predetermined phrase comprises:

accessing a database of predetermined phrases; and

inspecting the message for at least one of the predetermined phrases.

6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

accessing a database of predetermined words or predetermined phrases; and

after inspecting the message for at least one predetermined word or at least one predetermined phrase, updating the database based upon the indication from the user whether the suggestion is accepted or is rejected.

7. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

if a predetermined word or a predetermined phrase is detected, then accessing a database of predetermined negative phrases; and

if the predetermined word or predetermined phrase is in the database of predetermined negative phrases then disregarding the detection of that predetermined word or predetermined phrase.

8. In an environment wherein electronic messages may be sent with or without an attachment, a computing device to advise a user whether an electronic message should have an attachment, the computing device comprising:

a memory device containing instructions for an operating system and at least a document processing program;

a network interface unit;

a user input and display device; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory device, to the user input and display device, and to the network interface unit, the processor executing the instructions to;

inspect the message for a predetermined word;

inspect the message for at least one of;

a predetermined phrase, or a template match;

generate a score if the predetermined phrase or the template match is detected; and

if the predetermined word is detected, or if the score is greater than a predetermined score, then to provide a suggestion to a user via the user input and display device that the message may need an attachment.

9. The computing device of claim 8 wherein the message has a subject line, and the instructions cause the processor to inspect the subject line for one or more predetermined words.

10. The computing device of claim 8 wherein the message has a body, and the instructions cause the processor to inspect the body for at least one of:

one or more predetermined phrases, or one or more template matches.

11. The computing device of claim 8 wherein the message has a body, the body including current text and text of a previous message and wherein the processor executes the instructions to distinguish the current text from the previous message text, and to inspect only the current text.

12. The computing device of claim 8 wherein the memory device further comprises a database of predetermined words, and wherein the processor executes the instructions to inspect the message for a predetermined word by executing instructions to:

access the database; and

inspect the message for at least one of the predetermined words.

13. The computing device of claim 8 wherein the memory device further comprises a database of predetermined phrases, and wherein the processor executes the instructions to inspect the message for a predetermined phrase by executing instructions to:

access the database; and

inspect the message for at least one of the predetermined phrases.

14. The computing device of claim 8 wherein the memory device further comprises a database of predetermined words or predetermined phrases, and wherein the processor executes the instructions to:

access the database; and

after the processor executes the instructions to inspect the message for at least one predetermined word or at least one predetermined phrase, the processor further executes the instructions to update the database based upon an indication from the user whether the suggestion is accepted or is rejected.

15. In a server environment wherein electronic messages may be sent with or without an attachment, a computer storage medium being one of an optical disk, a solid state storage device, or a magnetic storage device, and having computer readable instructions stored thereupon that, when executed by a server, cause the server to:

receive a message for transmission;

inspect the message for a predetermined word;

inspect the message for at least one of;

a predetermined phrase, or a template match;

generate a score if the predetermined phrase or the template match is detected; and

if the predetermined word is detected, or if the score is greater than a predetermined score, then hold the message and provide a suggestion to a user that the message may need an attachment.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 15 wherein the message has a body, and the instructions cause the server to inspect the body for at least one of:

one or more predetermined phrases, or one or more template matches.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 15 wherein the message has a body, the body including current text and text of a previous message and wherein the instructions cause the server to distinguish the current text from the previous message text, and to inspect only the current text.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 15 wherein the memory device further comprises a database of predetermined words, and wherein the instructions to cause the server to inspect the message for a predetermined word cause the server to:

access the database; and

inspect the message for at least one of the predetermined words.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 15 wherein the memory device further comprises a database of predetermined phrases, and wherein the instructions to cause the server to inspect the message for a predetermined phrase cause the server to:

access the database; and

inspect the message for at least one of the predetermined phrases.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 15 wherein the memory device further comprises a database of predetermined phrases, and wherein the server executes the instructions to:

consult a database of predetermined words and predetermined phrases; and

after the server executes the instructions to inspect the message for at least one predetermined word or at least one predetermined phrase, the server further executes the instructions to update the database based upon the indication from the user whether the suggestion is accepted or is rejected.