System and method for creating conversationally-styled summaries from digesting email messages

• US 6,816,884 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2000
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MEC Management, LLC (Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota)
• Original Assignee: Tight Circle Corporation
• Inventors: Summers, Colin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US09/492,943
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200-207, 709/227-228, 709/237-238, 709/244-245, 358/402-403
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

A computer system and method is provided for selective filtering of incoming email messages, divesting the messages of unnecessary information and digesting the messages to provide a desired message format, such as a conversational text. The method and system enables an email user to specify a desired format and frequency for receiving email message digests from a discussion group. The email messages are digested to have a feeling of a group conversation that takes place in email. The group members can collect, read, and reply to the messages at their convenience and using their preferred format.

Claims

1. A method for delivering digested electronic mail (email) messages to members of a community group, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing in a database information about the members of the community group;

(b) receiving an email addressed to the community group;

(c) sorting through the email to find a destination community address;

(d) matching the destination community address with the stored information in the database to find the community;

(e) storing the email;

(f) creating a digest of the email for each group member; and

(g) delivering the digested email to the group members.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of blocking an email that is not from a group member.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of archiving the email in its original form.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein, the step of archiving comprises the step of marking the email to show the author of each email.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of searching the email archive.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of formatting the digested email.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein, the step of formatting comprises the step of formatting the digested email based on user preferences stored in a database.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein, the user preferences are specified over the Internet.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein, the user preferences are specified by email.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of assigning a homepage to the community group for sharing information between the group members.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein, the step of delivering comprises the step of delivering the digested email to each group member based on a predetermined frequency.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, the predetermined frequency is selectable by each group member.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of creating the community group by accessing a web site and entering the information for the community group and its members.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of assigning the community group an email address.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of creating the community group by sending an email and including the information for the community group and its members.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of creating the community group by placing a phone call and disclosing the information for the community group and its members.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating the digest of the email for each group member includes the steps of determining an author'"'"'s name based on a sender'"'"'s email address retrieved from the email and replacing the sender'"'"'s email address with the author'"'"'s name in the digest.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating the digest of the email for each group member includes the step of filtering the email to retrieve message body information.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating the digest of the email for each group member includes the step of deleting all quoted material.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating the digest of the email for each group member includes the step of deleting all signature blocks.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating the digest of the email for each group member includes the step of deleting all header text.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating the digest of the email for each group member includes the step of deleting all materials for the respective group member in the digest.

23. A computer system coupled to a computer network for delivering digested electronic mail (email) messages to members of a community group comprising:

(a) a database for storing information about the members of the community group;

(b) means for receiving an email addressed to the community group;

(c) means for sorting through the email to find a destination community address;

(d) means for matching the destination community address with the stored information in the database to find the community;

(e) a storage medium for storing the email;

(f) means for creating a digest of the email for each group member; and

(g) means for delivering the digested email to the group members.

24. The computer system of claim 23 further comprising means for blocking an email that is not from a group member.

25. The computer system of claim 23 further comprising means for archiving the email in its original form.

26. The computer system of claim 25 further comprising means for searching the email archive.

27. The computer system of claim 23 further comprising means for formatting the digested email.

28. The computer system of claim 27 wherein, means for formatting comprises means for formatting the digested email based on user preferences stored in a database.

29. The computer system of claim 28 wherein, the user preferences are specified over Internet.

30. The computer system of claim 28 wherein, the user preferences are specified by email.

31. The computer system of claim 23 further comprising means for assigning a homepage to the community group to share information between the group members.

32. The computer system of claim 23 wherein, means for delivering comprises means for delivering the digested email to each group member based on a predetermined frequency.

33. The computer system of claim 32 wherein, the predetermined frequency is selectable by each group member.

34. The computer system of claim 23 further comprising means for creating the community group through a web site and entering the related information for the community group and its members.

35. The computer system of claim 23 further comprising means for creating the community group by an email and including the related information for the community group and its members.

36. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions including instructions for delivering digested electronic mail (email) messages to members of a community group, the instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of:

(a) storing in a database information about the members of the community group;

(b) receiving an email addressed to the community group;

(c) sorting through the email to find a destination community address;

(d) matching the destination community address with the stored information in the database to find the community;

(e) storing the email;

(f) creating a digest of the email for each group member; and

(g) delivering the digested email to the group members.