Email Reply Hyperlink Mediator for Confidential Response
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current email response mechanisms require users to send new emails, which can be inconvenient, especially when the sender is in a mobile or roaming state, and existing solutions either limit flexibility or compromise confidentiality, or require specific accounts like Google accounts.
Innovation Solution
A method that adds a dedicated communication hyperlink to emails, allowing automatic responses through different communication types without revealing the original email address, using a communication server to manage the establishment of alternative communications like phone or video calls, SMS, or messaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a reply-to field is added to emails to allow flexible response addresses, then response flexibility is improved, but communication address confidentiality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication server as an intermediary between the email sender and recipient. The server stores communication identifiers and manages the establishment of alternative communications without exposing the sender's actual email address. The recipient interacts with the server through a hyperlink, and the server mediates the connection establishment, thus maintaining confidentiality while enabling flexible responses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the email communication system from the alternative communication establishment process. Instead of directly revealing the sender's email address in a reply-to field, the system segments the response mechanism into: (1) email delivery with a hyperlink containing a communication identifier, (2) server-mediated identifier verification, and (3) alternative communication establishment. This segmentation protects the sender's address while enabling flexible response channels.
2Speed
If Google Wave application is used to enable immediate response comments, then response speed is improved, but user accessibility is limited due to requiring Google accounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal response mechanism that works across different communication platforms and user accounts. Instead of requiring users to have Google accounts and use Google Wave, the system provides a generic hyperlink-based response mechanism that can initiate various types of communications (phone calls, video calls, messaging, SMS) through a communication server. This makes the immediate response capability accessible to all email users regardless of their account type or preferred communication platform.
3Reliability
If users send new emails to respond when the sender is mobile or roaming, then response capability is maintained, but response time is increased and convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares alternative communication channels in advance by embedding hyperlinks with communication identifiers directly in the original email. When the recipient receives the email, the alternative communication pathways are already established and ready for immediate activation. The recipient can instantly initiate a phone call, video call, or messaging session without needing to compose and send a new email, thus dramatically reducing response time while maintaining reliability even when the sender is mobile or roaming.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, dedicated to communication management, consists, when a first user wants to send an email to a second user with a request for a reply, i) of attaching to this email a dedicated field which contains a communication hyperlink designating a communication server (SC) and at least one communication identifier allowing to establish a communication of a given type, other than an email, with a communication device (E1) used by this first user, and ii) upon receipt of this email by a communication device (E2) of the second user, of activating, following his acceptance of replying to this email, the communication hyperlink contained in the dedicated field attached to this email, so that the communication server he designates manages the establishment of a communication, of a type defined by a communication identifier designated by this communication hyperlink,between the communication equipment (E2) of the second user and a communication equipment (E1) of the first user that is associated with this communication identifier designated by the communication hyperlink.