Method and system for persistant electronic mail reply processing

• US 5,325,310 A
• Filed: 06/26/1992
• Issued: 06/28/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ristow, Daniel P., Johnson, William J., Williams, Marvin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US07/905,055
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 364/514, 358/402
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting

Abstract

A method and system in a data processing system, having a plurality of users enrolled therein and having a number of electronic mail objects which may be transmitted and received within the distributed data processing system, are provided for ensuring a specific response to a selected electronic mail object by a recipient thereof within the data processing system. The method and system include designating an electronic mail object as requiring a specific response and then transmitting the electronic mail object to a recipient. The recipient of the electronic mail object is prompted for a specific response in response to the recipient opening an electronic mail object and is prohibited from performing a selected action until the specific response has been entered by the recipient.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system, having a plurality of users enrolled therein and having a plurality of electronic mail objects which may be transmitted and received within said data processing system, for ensuring a specific response to a selected electronic mail object by a recipient thereof within said data processing system, said method comprising:

designating an electronic mail object as requiring a specific response;

transmitting said electronic mail object to a recipient;

prompting said recipient of said electronic mail object for said specific response in response to said recipient opening said electronic mail object; and

prohibiting a selected action until said specific response has been entered by said recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said specific response includes entering data located in said electronic mail object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said specific response includes entering data attached to said electronic mail object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said specific response includes attaching a specific graphics image to said electronic mail object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said specific response includes entering a verbal message, which is digitized and attached to said electronic mail object.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting said specific response required by associating said electronic mail object with an attribute specifying said specific response required from said recipient.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said attribute also defines said selected action.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said electronic mail object is associated with a second attribute, said second attribute specifying a destination address, wherein in response to said recipient entering said specific response, said specific response is sent to said destination address.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said electronic mail object originates from a sender and further comprises returning said electronic mail object with said specific response to said sender in response to said recipient entering said specific response.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said electronic mail object includes a plurality of characters and wherein said attribute specifies that said specific response requires said recipient to type over a selected number of said plurality of characters.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said attribute specifies that said specific response requires said recipient to enter characters that are appended to said electronic mail object.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said attribute specifies that said specific response requires said recipient to enter a selected sequence of keys.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising in response to said recipient entering said specific response, indicating that said recipient has entered said specific response.

14. The method of claim 7 further comprising indicating that said recipient has received said electronic mail object.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein said selected action includes deleting said electronic mail object.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein said selected action includes filing said electronic mail object.

17. A data processing system, having a plurality of users enrolled therein and having a plurality of electronic mail objects which may be transmitted and received within said data processing system, for ensuring a specific response to a selected electronic mail object by a recipient thereof within said data processing system, said data processing system comprising:

designating means for designating an electronic mail object as requiring a specific response;

transmitting means for transmitting said electronic mail object to a recipient;

prompting means for prompting said recipient of said electronic mail object for said specific response in response to said recipient opening said electronic mail object; and

prohibiting means for prohibiting a selected action until said specific response has been entered by said recipient.

18. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein said specific response includes entering data located in said electronic mail object.

19. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein said specific response includes entering data attached to said electronic mail object.

20. The data processing system of claim 17 further comprising selecting means for selecting said specific response required, wherein said electronic mail object is associated with an attribute specifying said specific response required from said recipient.

21. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein said attribute also defines said selected action.

22. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein said electronic mail object is associated with a second attribute, said second attribute specifying a destination address, wherein in response to said recipient entering said specific response, said specific response is sent to said destination address.

23. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein said electronic mail object originates from a sender and further comprises returning means for returning said electronic mail object with said specific response to said sender in response to said recipient entering said specific response.

24. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein said electronic mail object includes a plurality of characters and wherein said attribute specifies that said specific response requires said recipient to type over a selected number of said plurality of characters.

25. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein said attribute specifies that said specific response requires said recipient to enter characters that are appended to said electronic mail object.

26. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein said attribute specifies that said specific response requires said recipient to enter a selected sequence of keys.

27. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein said attribute specifies that said specific response requires said recipient respond with a verbal message which is digitized and attached to said electronic mail object.

28. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein said attribute specifies that said specific response requires said recipient to attach a specific graphics image to said electronic mail object.

29. The data processing system of claim 20 further comprising indicating means for indicating that said recipient has received said electronic mail object.

30. The data processing system of claim 29 further comprising in response to said recipient entering said specific response, indicating means for indicating that said recipient has entered said specific response.

31. The data processing system of claim 21, wherein said selected action includes deleting said electronic mail object.

32. The data processing system of claim 21, wherein said selected action includes filing said electronic mail object.