Email Recipient List Synchronization for Thread Continuity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional email systems fail to efficiently update the recipient list of previously delivered electronic messages, leading to situations where intended recipients are inadvertently left out of email threads, resulting in duplicate threads and missed communications.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for updating the recipient list of a previously delivered electronic message by replicating changes made to one email client across another, including adding or removing recipients, with a change log to track updates and ensuring synchronization across all connected clients, including third-party systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a new recipient is added to a reply email, then the new recipient can receive future communications, but two separate email threads are created resulting in duplicate communications and lost information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the new recipient into the existing email thread by updating the recipient list of the parent email message. Instead of creating a separate reply thread, the system modifies the original email's recipient list to include the new recipient, thereby combining what would have been two separate threads into one unified thread.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by updating the recipient list of the parent email message before any further communications occur. By proactively adding the new recipient to the original email's recipient list, the system prevents the creation of duplicate threads and ensures the new recipient receives all subsequent communications in the thread.
2Stability of the object's composition
If recipients continue to reply to the original email thread without the new recipient, then the original thread is maintained, but the new recipient misses subsequent communications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring and updating the recipient list of the parent email message. When a new recipient is added via a reply, the system detects this change and automatically updates the parent email's recipient list, ensuring that all subsequent replies to the original thread automatically include the new recipient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the parent email message serve multiple functions: it acts as both the original communication and the master recipient list for the entire thread. By updating the parent email's recipient list, the system universally ensures that all participants in the thread, including new recipients, receive all communications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple email clients are used to access the same email account, then users can access emails from different devices, but changes to recipient lists are not synchronized across clients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the email system into a central server component and multiple client components. The server maintains the authoritative recipient list for each email message, while clients access and display this information. When changes occur at any client, the server updates the recipient list and propagates changes to all connected clients, ensuring consistency across the segmented system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the email server as an intermediary between multiple email clients and the central email data. The server receives recipient list updates from any client, processes these changes, and distributes the updated information to all other clients. This intermediary role ensures that all clients maintain consistent views of the recipient lists regardless of which client initiated the change.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system and method for updating the list of recipients of a previously delivered email message are provided. An electronic message server may store an electronic message and a list of recipients associated with that electronic message. Recipient information identifying a new recipient to be added to the list of recipients may be received from an email client. The list of recipients may be updated based on the recipient information such that the new recipient is added to the list of recipients for the electronic message. The recipient information may be provided to another electronic message client that stores a copy of the electronic message as well as a copy of the list of recipients. The copy of the list of recipients may also be updated based on the recipient information such that the new recipient is added to the copy of the list of recipients.