Management and synchronization of related electronic communications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9330378-B2
Application number	US-201213438292-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2012
Priority date	Apr 3, 2012
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and program product for managing and synchronizing electronic communications having one or more common topics. A computer system detects a first electronic communication involving a first user and a first set of users. The computer system analyzes the first electronic communication to identify a topic and determines whether the identified topic matches a topic of a second electronic communication involving the first user and a second set of users. Responsive to the identified topic of the first electronic communication matching a topic of the second electronic communication, the computer system provides to the first user an option to initiate an electronic communication involving the first user and the first and second sets of users.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for managing and synchronizing electronic communications having a common topic, the method comprising:
a computer system detecting a first electronic communication on a first electronic communication medium involving a first user and a first set of one or more users;
the computer system analyzing message content of the first electronic communication to identify a first topic of the first electronic communication;
the computer system detecting a second electronic communication on a second electronic communication medium involving the first user and a second set of one or more users that has been brought into active view on a user interface of the computer system, wherein the first set of one or more users and the second set of one or more users are each a different set of one or more users;
the computer system analyzing message content of the second electronic communication to identify a second topic of the second electronic communication;
the computer system determining whether the first topic matches the second topic;
the computer system determining that at least one user of the second set of one or more users does not exist in a first contact list associated with the first electronic communication medium and that at least one user of the first set of one or more users does not exist in a second contact list associated with the second electronic communication medium;
the computer system identifying a third electronic communication medium that can be accessed by the first user, the first set of one or more users, and the second set of one or more users, based on electronic communication mediums known to be accessible to the first user, the first set of one or more users, and the second set of one or more users; and
responsive to the first topic matching the second topic, the computer system providing to the first user an option to initiate a third electronic communication in the third electronic communication medium involving the first user, the first set of one or more users, and the second set of one or more users, wherein the first electronic communication medium, the second electronic communication medium, and the third electronic communication medium are each a different type of electronic communication medium.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electronic communication medium and the second electronic communication medium are each selected from the group consisting of: an e-mail message, an instant message, an electronic chat session, a web forum, a SMS text message, and a MMS text message.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
the computer system receiving an indication to initiate the third electronic communication; and
the computer system initiating the third electronic communication, wherein the computer system initiating the third electronic communication includes the computer system transmitting a means to access the third electronic communication to the first and second sets of one or more users.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of the computer system initiating the third electronic communication further comprises:
the computer system populating the third electronic communication with a first message content from the first electronic communication, wherein the first message content is at least a portion of message content of the first electronic communication pertaining to the first topic; and
the computer system populating the third electronic communication with a second message content from the second electronic communication, wherein the second message content is at least a portion of message content of the second electronic communication pertaining to the second topic.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of the computer system providing to the first user an option to initiate the third electronic communication in the third electronic communication medium involving the first user, the first set of one or more users, and the second set of one or more users comprises:
the computer system causing a graphical notification prompt to be displayed in-line with a section of the first electronic communication containing text pertaining to the first topic, wherein the graphical notification prompt includes an option to initiate the third electronic communication in the third electronic communication medium.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of the computer system providing to the first user an option to initiate the third electronic communication in the third electronic communication medium involving the first user, the first set of one or more users, and the second set of one or more users comprises:
the computer system causing a tray notification prompt to be displayed, wherein selection of the tray notification prompt causes a pop-up prompt to be displayed, wherein the pop-up prompt includes information about the first communication, information about the second communication, and an option to initiate the third electronic communication in the third electronic communication medium.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the computer system storing communication data of the first electronic communication, including at least the first topic, to a data store, wherein the data store includes an ongoing record of electronic communications with the first user;
the computer system storing communication data of the second electronic communication, including at least the second topic, to the data store.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
the computer system determining that the communication data of the first electronic communication has been stored longer than a specified time limit; and
responsive to determining that the communication data of the first electronic communication has been stored longer than the specified time limit, the computer system removing the communication data of the first electronic communication.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the specified time limit is based on, at least, a number of occurrences of electronic communications pertaining to the first topic.

10. A computer system for managing and synchronizing electronic communications having a common topic, the computer system comprising:
one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable storage media, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer-readable memories, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to detect a first electronic communication on a first electronic communication medium involving a first user and a first set of one or more users;
program instructions to analyze message content of the first electronic communication to identify a first topic of the first electronic communication;
program instructions to detect a second electronic communication on a second electronic communication medium involving the first user and a second set of one or more users that has been brought into active view on a user interface of the computer system, wherein the first set of one or more users and the second set of one or more users are each a different set of one or more users;
program instructions to analyze message content of the second electronic communication to identify a second topic of the second electronic communication;
program instructions to determine whether the first topic matches the second topic;
program instructions to determine that at least one user of the second set of one or more users does not exist in a first contact list associated with the first electronic communication

Assignees

• Bastide Paul R
• Broomhall Matthew E
• Loredo Robert E
• IBM

Inventors

• Bastide Paul R
• Broomhall Matthew E
• Loredo Robert E

Classifications

• H04L67/22

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G06Q10/101 Primary

  Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services · CPC title

• H04L67/535

  Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34) · CPC title