System and Method for Email Management Through Detection and Analysis of Dynamically Variable Behavior and Activity Patterns

摘要

Techniques for aiding an email recipient in the management of inbound email by detecting, and configurably responding to, dynamically variable patterns of activity and behavior are described. Characteristics are extracted from new email messages originated by senders and intended for a recipient. One or more patterns of sender activity, recipient message management behavior, and/or message response behavior, relating to treatment of messages from individual senders and/or plural senders in the aggregate, are identified. The patterns are identified by analyzing statistics collected by the extraction of characteristics from email messages previously received by the recipient. Before the recipient reads a new email, a determination is made as to whether any deviation from an identified pattern exists; and, if so, a pre-existing rule for treatment of the new message is enforced and/or a new rule specifying treatment of at least some messages from the sender of the email is proposed.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
extracting email characteristics from a new message received, at a messaging server, from a first sender and intended for a recipient; identifying, from statistics derived from previously received messages, at least one of
a pattern of recipient message management or message response behavior relating to treatment of messages from each of a plurality of senders, ora pattern of sender activity; detecting, prior to reading of the new message by the recipient, whether any deviation from a pattern identified during the identifying exists; and if a deviation is detected, at least one of performing an action on the received message or proposing, to the recipient, a rule for treatment of email messages from the first sender.