US6249807B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for performing enterprise email management
Assignee: BIRDGE BANK NATIONAL ASSOC TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES
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Filing: 1998-11-17
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Granted: 2001-06-19
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Expires: 2018-11-17
Abstract
Abstract An enterprise email management system is disclosed. The enterprise mail system is designed to handle large volumes of email quickly and efficiently, responding through enterprise email system users or automated means. The enterprise email system processes incoming email using a set of configurable rules that examine each message for a specific attribute state condition and invoke a configurable action when the attribute satisfies the condition. A number of actions may be invoked such as routing a message to a specific mail queue. The enterprise email system assigns a mail queue timer when a message is moved into a mail queue. Each mail queue has a different mail queue timeout value that specifies the maximum amount of time that a message may sit idle within a mail queue. The enterprise email system may automatically move a message from a mail queue into a mailbox of an enterprise email system user that subscribed to the mail queue. A mailbox timer then set for the message and the mailbox timer is compared with a mailbox timeout value that specifies the amount of time that message may sit idle within a mail queue. If the mail queue timer expires, the message is returned to the mail queue from where it came. If the mail queue timer expires, then the message is routed to another mail queue or enterprise email user.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Shaw
- 👤 Ross Rosen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:27
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/93; H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/214; H04L51/226; H04L51/234; H04L51/42; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for processing incoming electronic messages in a timely manner, said method comprising: moving a message to a first queue, said first queue selected from a set of queues; assigning a queue timer to said message when said message is moved to said first queue, said queue timer having a queue timer expiration value defining a period of time said message can reside in said first queue without an action taken on said message; in response to said action taken on said message prior to an expiration of said queue timer, stopping said queue timer; moving said message to a user mailbox; assigning a mailbox timer to said message when said message is assigned to said mailbox and allowing said queue timer to continue to elapse; in response to said action taken on said message prior to an expiration of said mailbox timer, stopping said mailbox timer and stopping said queue timer; in response to an expiration of said mailbox timer, moving said message back to said first queue; and in response to said queue timer expiring, moving said message to a second queue designated by said first queue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for processing incoming electronic messages in a timely manner, said method comprising: moving a message to a first queue, said first queue selected from a set of queues; assigning a queue timer to said message when said message is moved to said first queue, said queue timer having a queue timer expiration value defining a period of time said message can reside in said first queue without an action taken on said message; in response to said action taken on said message prior to an expiration of said queue timer, stopping said queue timer; moving said message to a user mailbox; assigning a mailbox timer to said message when said message is assigned to said mailbox and allowing said queue timer to continue to elapse; in response to said action taken on said message prior to an expiration of said mailbox timer, stopping said mailbox timer and stopping said queue timer; in response to an expiration of said mailbox timer, moving said message back to said first queue; and in response to said queue timer expiring, moving said message to a second queue designated by said first queue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said queues within said set of queues may each have a different queue timer expiration value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising performing a defined action when said first queue timer expires.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said action taken comprises responding to said message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a user associated with said user mailbox releases said message back into said first queue such that said mailbox timer is stopped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a user associated with said user mailbox moves said message to a third queue such that said mailbox timer and said queue timer are stopped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
198 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, said set of instruction, which when executed, perform the steps comprising of: moving a message to a first queue, said first queue selected from a set of queues, each queue in said set of queues having a queue timeout value; assigning a queue timer to said message when said message is stored in said first queue, said queue timer identifying a period of time that said message has been in said first queue; in response to said action taken on said message prior to an expiration of said queue timer, stopping said queue timer; moving said message to a user mailbox; assigning a mailbox timer to said message when said message is assigned to said mailbox and allowing said queue timer to continue to elapse; in response to said action taken on said message prior to an expiration of said mailbox timer, stopping said mailbox timer and stopping said queue timer; in response to an expiration of said mailbox timer, moving said message back to said first queue; and in response to said queue timer expiring, moving said message to a second queue designated by said first queue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
198 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, said set of instruction, which when executed, perform the steps comprising of: moving a message to a first queue, said first queue selected from a set of queues, each queue in said set of queues having a queue timeout value; assigning a queue timer to said message when said message is stored in said first queue, said queue timer identifying a period of time that said message has been in said first queue; in response to said action taken on said message prior to an expiration of said queue timer, stopping said queue timer; moving said message to a user mailbox; assigning a mailbox timer to said message when said message is assigned to said mailbox and allowing said queue timer to continue to elapse; in response to said action taken on said message prior to an expiration of said mailbox timer, stopping said mailbox timer and stopping said queue timer; in response to an expiration of said mailbox timer, moving said message back to said first queue; and in response to said queue timer expiring, moving said message to a second queue designated by said first queue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein a timeout action is also performed upon said expiring of said queue timer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein said action taken comprises responding to said message.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for processing electronic messages, said method comprising: receiving a message in an enterprise mail system, said message from a message sender; processing said message with a rule processor, said rule processor selecting a first mail queue from a set of mail queues in said enterprise mail system for said message; moving said message into said first mail queue; assigning a first queue timer to said message when said message is stored in said first mail queue, said first queue timer having a queue timer expiration value defining a period of time said message can reside in said first mail queue without an action taken on said message; moving said message to a user mailbox; assigning a mailbox timer to said message when said message is assigned to said mailbox and allowing said first queue timer to continue to elapse; in response to said action taken on said message prior to an expiration of said mailbox timer, stopping said mailbox timer and stopping said queue timer; and in response to an expiration of said mailbox timer, moving said message back to said first queue.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for processing electronic messages, said method comprising: receiving a message in an enterprise mail system, said message from a message sender; processing said message with a rule processor, said rule processor selecting a first mail queue from a set of mail queues in said enterprise mail system for said message; moving said message into said first mail queue; assigning a first queue timer to said message when said message is stored in said first mail queue, said first queue timer having a queue timer expiration value defining a period of time said message can reside in said first mail queue without an action taken on said message; moving said message to a user mailbox; assigning a mailbox timer to said message when said message is assigned to said mailbox and allowing said first queue timer to continue to elapse; in response to said action taken on said message prior to an expiration of said mailbox timer, stopping said mailbox timer and stopping said queue timer; and in response to an expiration of said mailbox timer, moving said message back to said first queue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said action taken comprises responding to said message, in response to said action taken on said message prior to an expiration of said first queue timer, stopping said first queue timer; and in response to said first queue timer expiring, moving said message to a second queue designated by said first queue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said queues within said set of queues may each have a different queue timer expiration value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising: performing a defined action when said first queue timer expires.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said action taken comprises responding to said message.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 wherein a user associated with said user mailbox releases said message back into said first queue such that said mailbox timer is stopped.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10 wherein a user associated with said user mailbox moves said message to a third queue such that said mailbox timer and said queue timer are stopped.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-06-18 | 2004-12-18 | 2005-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-06-18 | 2008-12-18 | 2009-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-06-18 | 2012-12-18 | 2013-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |