Email Reply Segmentation via Tertiary Address Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
The proliferation of emails caused by the 'reply to all' command can burden networks and email servers unnecessarily, as it often sends responses to multiple recipients, including those who do not need to receive them.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a 'copy once' functionality that allows users to specify a tertiary address field for emails, where recipients in this field will not automatically receive replies, even if they are included in a 'reply to all' command, thereby preventing unnecessary email proliferation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the 'reply to all' command is used, then all recipients can respond to the original email, but unnecessary email proliferation occurs burdening networks and servers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the recipient groups into different categories (primary recipients, secondary recipients, and tertiary recipients) with different reply permissions. This segmentation allows the system to control which segments receive replies, preventing unnecessary email proliferation while maintaining ease of operation for legitimate replies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality attributes to different recipient segments. Primary and secondary recipients have full reply permissions, while tertiary recipients have restricted reply permissions. This local differentiation of permissions allows selective reply distribution, reducing unnecessary emails while preserving operational ease for authorized recipients.
2Loss of information
If replies are sent to all recipients including tertiary addressees, then complete information distribution is achieved, but network and server burdens increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments recipients into three distinct groups with different information access and reply permissions. Tertiary recipients receive the original email for information purposes but are excluded from reply distribution. This segmentation maintains information distribution to all necessary parties while preventing energy-wasting reply proliferation to those who don't need to respond.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different information distribution qualities to different recipient segments. Primary recipients receive full interaction rights, secondary recipients receive information with limited reply rights, and tertiary recipients receive information only without reply rights. This local quality differentiation optimizes both information distribution and energy efficiency by preventing unnecessary reply traffic.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a tertiary address field is added to the email form, then email management control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a tertiary address field that segments recipients into a new category with distinct permissions. This segmentation improves email management control by allowing precise control over reply distribution. The complexity increase is minimal and justified by the significant gain in adaptability and control over email workflows.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(A)~2(C)
Figure 3(A)
AI summary
Management of e-mail. A user at the originating workstation enters a first e-mail address into a primary address field, a second e-mail address into a secondaryaddress field, a third e-mail address into a tertiary address field and text into the text field of an e-mail form to form an original e-mail, and requests to send the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses to the first, second, and third e-mail addresses. A first recipient having the first e-mail address receives the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses and the text, selects a command option to reply to all addressees in the primaryaddress field and the secondary address field. In response, the reply e-mail is sent to a fourth e-mail address corresponding to said user and the second e-mail address but not the third e-mail address.