System and method to deflect email threads to a blogging system

• US 7,509,382 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jania, Frank L., Shortley, Timothy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Zarni
• Application Number:
  US12/110,588
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/207, 709/217, 709/218, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A method for deflecting threaded email discussions to message forums includes providing a first user operating an email client application to send a first email message addressed to one or more recipient users with a first option to designate the first email message for posting to a message forum hosted by a messaging forum server; accessing the messaging forum server to post a content of the first email message to the message forum if the first user has sent the first email message with the first option selected; formatting the first email message to append a hyperlink to the message forum and a hyperlink to a comment feed syndicated for the message forum; routing the first email message for delivery to the one or more recipient users including a second user operating the email client application; providing the second user with a second option to designate a second email message composed in reply to the first email message for posting to the message forum if the first user has sent the first email message with the first option selected; and accessing the messaging forum server to post a content of the second email message to the message forum as a comment if the second user has sent the second email message with the second option selected.

Claims

1. A method for deflecting threaded email discussions to electronic message forums, the method comprising:

providing a first user, the first user operating an email client application to send a first email message addressed to one or more recipient users, with a first option to designate the first email message for posting to an electronic message forum hosted by a messaging forum server, the first option being provided through a user interface implemented within the email client application, the one or more recipient users including a second user operating the email client application;

accessing the messaging forum server to post a content of the first email message to the electronic message forum if the first user has sent the first email message with the first option selected;

formatting the first email message to append a hyperlink to the electronic message forum and a hyperlink to a comment feed syndicated for the message forum;

routing the first email message for delivery to the one or more recipient users;

providing the second user with a second option to designate a second email message composed in reply to the first email message for posting to the electronic message forum if the first user has sent the first email message with the first option selected, the second option being provided through a user interface implemented within the email client application upon receipt of the first email message by the second user; and

accessing the messaging forum server to post a content of the second email message to the electronic message forum as a comment if the second user has sent the second email message with the second option selected.