Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing – Demand based messaging
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-28
2001-01-16
Harrell, Robert B. (Department: 2758)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
Demand based messaging
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175859
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to electronic messaging and mail systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The sender of an electronic message typically does not know whether or not the recipient has accessed the received message until the recipient takes some action—e.g., sends an acknowledgement message back to the sender—that is indicative of message receipt. If the message is urgent, the sender would like to know whether the message was accessed in time or whether follow-up using a different communications means is required. Some existing messaging systems have the capability of automatically sending an acknowledgment message from the recipient to the sender when the sender's message is received and/or when the sender's message is accessed by the recipient. While it may be inferred from a lack of the corresponding acknowledgement that the message has not been received or accessed, the lack of an acknowledgement does not provide the sender a positive indication of the message status. Moreover, it still leaves open the question of how and where the recipient can be contacted if the acknowledgement message is not received in time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to solving these and other problems and disadvantages of the prior art. Illustratively according to the invention, the sender of a message is enabled to specify—to the recipient's messaging system and/or to his or her own messaging system—a reply time at which he or she wishes to be informed of whether or not the recipient has accessed (e.g., retrieved or read) the sent message. If the recipient has not accessed the message by the reply time, the sender is preferably informed of the recipient's present schedule, thereby enabling the sender to contact the recipient by other means.
Generally according to one aspect of the invention, receipt (e.g., by a recipient's messaging system) of a message from a sender for a recipient, which includes a reply time specified by the sender, initiates monitoring for occurrence of the reply time. Upon occurrence of the reply time, it is determined whether or not the recipient has accessed the message, and a reply informing the sender accordingly is sent to the sender. Preferably, in response to a determination that the recipient has not accessed the message, the recipient's schedule is obtained and sent with the reply. The schedule preferably contains information that enables the sender to contact the recipient by other means (e.g., a telephone, pager, or facsimile number of the recipient's present location).
Generally according to another aspect of the invention, sending (e.g., by a sender's messaging system) of a message from a sender to a recipient, which includes a reply time specified by the sender, initiates monitoring for occurrence of the reply time. Upon occurrence of the reply time, it is determined whether a reply has been received from the recipient, and the sender is informed accordingly. Preferably, in response to determining that a reply has been received, a determination is made of whether it indicates that the recipient has or has not accessed the message, and if it indicates that the recipient has not accessed the message, it is further determined whether the reply includes a schedule of the recipient. The sender is then informed accordingly. Again, the schedule preferably contains information that enables the sender to contact the recipient by other means.
In either case, the invention informs the sender of the status of his or her message at a time of the sender's choosing, and preferably also informs the sender of the recipient's status—i.e., their schedule—so that the sender can reach the recipient by alternative means. Moreover, the sender's and recipient's systems need not have corresponding capabilities; rather, either one of the messaging systems is alone capable of providing the basic enhanced functionality to the sender.
The invention encompasses both methods and apparatuses that effect the functionality characterized above. The apparatus preferably includes an effector—any entity that effects the corresponding step, unlike a means—for each method step. Further, the invention encompasses a computer-readable medium containing software which, when executed in a computer, causes the computer to perform the method steps.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention considered together with the drawing.
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Lotus Development Corporation, Lotus Notes Help, Confirming that Notes delivered your message, page l.
Lotus Development Corporation, Lotus Notes Help, Confirming that recipients read your message, page 1.
Lotus Development Corporation, Lotus Notes Help, Details: Displaying delivery information about a message, page 1.
Avaya Technology Corp.
Harrell Robert B.
Volejnicek David
LandOfFree
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