REAL-TIME NOTIFICATIONS OF CONCURRENT EMAIL THREAD REPLIES

• US 20170289072A1
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Published: 10/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gal-Tzur, Zeev, Nachum, Gili, Zapler, Itai
• Granted Patent: US 10,225,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present invention, a first message is determined. The first message is associated with two or more users. The two or more users include a sender of the first message and one or more recipients of the first message. In response to determining that a first user of the two or more users is currently generating a second message, which is a response to the first message, it is determined whether a second user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a third message, which is a response to the first message. In response to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, the first user is notified that the second user is currently generating the third message, and the second user is notified that the first user is currently generating the second message.

Claims

1. A method for providing real-time communication in electronic message threads, the method comprising:

determining, by one or more computer processors, a first message, wherein the first message is associated with two or more users, wherein the two or more users include a sender of the first message and one or more recipients of the first message;

determining, by one or more computer processors, whether a first user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a second message, wherein the second message is a response to the first message;

responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, determining, by one or more computer processors, whether a second user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a third message, wherein the third message is a response to the first message;

responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, notifying, by one or more computer processors, the first user that the second user is currently generating the third message; and

responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, notifying, by one or more computer processors, the second user that the first user is currently generating the second message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, providing, by one or more computer processors, the first user a real-time communication option with the second user; and

responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, providing, by one or more computer processors, the second user a real-time communication option with the first user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the third message is associated with a new recipient, notifying, by one or more computer processors, the first user that the second message is associated with the new recipient, wherein the new recipient is not one of the two or more users of the first message.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the second user is no longer currently generating the third message, notifying, by one or more computer processors, the first user that the second user is no longer currently generating the third message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, determining whether a second user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a third message, wherein the third message is a response to the first message comprises:

responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, generating, by one or more computer processors, a thread identifier based at least in part on one or more of the following;

a message identifier of the first message, a user identifier of each user of the two or more users of the first message, a message identifier of the second message, a user identifier of each recipient of one or more recipients of the second message;

responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, publishing, by one or more computer processors, an indication to the thread identifier that the first user is currently generating the second message; and

determining, by one or more computer processors, whether a second user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a third message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, notifying the first user that the second user is currently generating the third message comprises:

responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, publishing, by one or more computer processors, an indication to the thread identifier that the second user is currently generating the third message; and

responsive to publishing the indication to the thread identifier that the second user is currently generating the third message, notifying, by one or more computer processors, the first user that the second user is currently generating the third message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, determining, by one or more computer processors, whether a third user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a fourth message, wherein the fourth message is a response to the first message;

determining, by one or more computer processors, that the third user is currently generating the fourth message; and

receiving, by one or more computer processors, a privacy indication associated with the third user from one or more of the following;

the sender of the first message and the third user.

8. A computer program product for providing real-time communication in electronic message threads, 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 determine a first message, wherein the first message is associated with two or more users, wherein the two or more users include a sender of the first message and one or more recipients of the first message;

program instructions to determine whether a first user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a second message, wherein the second message is a response to the first message;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, determine whether a second user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a third message, wherein the third message is a response to the first message;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, notify the first user that the second user is currently generating the third message; and

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, notify the second user that the first user is currently generating the second message.

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

responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, provide the first user a real-time communication option with the second user; and

responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, provide the second user a real-time communication option with the first user.

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

responsive to determining that the third message is associated with a new recipient, notify the first user that the second message is associated with the new recipient, wherein the new recipient is not one of the two or more users of the first message.

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

responsive to determining that the second user is no longer currently generating the third message, notify the first user that the second user is no longer currently generating the third message.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to, responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, determine whether a second user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a third message, wherein the third message is a response to the first message comprise:

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, generate a thread identifier based at least in part on one or more of the following;

a message identifier of the first message, a user identifier of each user of the two or more users of the first message, a message identifier of the second message, a user identifier of each recipient of one or more recipients of the second message;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, publish an indication to the thread identifier that the first user is currently generating the second message; and

program instructions to determine whether a second user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a third message.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the program instructions to, responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, notify the first user that the second user is currently generating the third message comprise:

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, publish an indication to the thread identifier that the second user is currently generating the third message; and

program instructions to, responsive to publishing the indication to the thread identifier that the second user is currently generating the third message, notify the first user that the second user is currently generating the third message.

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

responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, determine whether a third user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a fourth message, wherein the fourth message is a response to the first message;

determine that the third user is currently generating the fourth message; and

receive a privacy indication associated with the third user from one or more of the following;

the sender of the first message and the third user.

15. A computer system for providing real-time communication in electronic message threads, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage media; and

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

program instructions to determine a first message, wherein the first message is associated with two or more users, wherein the two or more users include a sender of the first message and one or more recipients of the first message;

program instructions to determine whether a first user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a second message, wherein the second message is a response to the first message;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, determine whether a second user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a third message, wherein the third message is a response to the first message;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, notify the first user that the second user is currently generating the third message; and

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, notify the second user that the first user is currently generating the second message.

16. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, for execution by the at least one of the one or more computer processors, to:

responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, provide the first user a real-time communication option with the second user; and

responsive to determining that the second user is currently generating the third message, provide the second user a real-time communication option with the first user.

17. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, for execution by the at least one of the one or more computer processors, to:

responsive to determining that the third message is associated with a new recipient, notify the first user that the second message is associated with the new recipient, wherein the new recipient is not one of the two or more users of the first message.

18. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, for execution by the at least one of the one or more computer processors, to:

responsive to determining that the second user is no longer currently generating the third message, notify the first user that the second user is no longer currently generating the third message.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to, responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, determine whether a second user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a third message, wherein the third message is a response to the first message comprise:

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, generate a thread identifier based at least in part on one or more of the following;

a message identifier of the first message, a user identifier of each user of the two or more users of the first message, a message identifier of the second message, a user identifier of each recipient of one or more recipients of the second message;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, publish an indication to the thread identifier that the first user is currently generating the second message; and

program instructions to determine whether a second user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a third message.

20. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, for execution by the at least one of the one or more computer processors, to:

responsive to determining that the first user is currently generating the second message, determine whether a third user of the two or more users of the first message is currently generating a fourth message, wherein the fourth message is a response to the first message;

determine that the third user is currently generating the fourth message; and

receive a privacy indication associated with the third user from one or more of the following;

the sender of the first message and the third user.