Email Tracking via Intermediary Server and HTML Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no convenient mechanism or published API to directly access and track hotspots and hyperlinks within Lotus Notes-based emails, which complicates the tracking and reporting of email campaigns, especially due to security and transparency concerns, and the inability to easily insert tracking mechanisms without altering the email's authenticity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an anti-caching graphics interchange format process that includes an instruction set in the email, converting it to HTML, and executing it when opened to capture reader attributes, request information from an original server, and transmit tracking data to a collection device, allowing for the tracking of email campaigns even in Lotus Notes-based systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a probe or tracking mechanism is incorporated into Lotus Notes-based email, then email tracking capability is improved, but email authenticity and security are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary tracking server that acts as a mediator between the email system and the tracking mechanism. The Lotus Notes email client communicates with this intermediary server, which handles all tracking operations without modifying the original email messages. This allows tracking functionality to be added while preserving email authenticity, as the intermediary server processes tracking requests without altering the core email content or structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking system is segmented into separate functional components: the Lotus Notes email client, the intermediary tracking server, and the tracking database. This segmentation allows the tracking mechanism to be isolated from the email system, enabling tracking capabilities to be added without compromising the integrity and authenticity of the original email messages. Each component operates independently, maintaining the reliability of the email system while providing tracking functionality.
2Loss of information
If tracking mechanisms are inserted into email, then readership identification is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking system is designed to be self-service, where the intermediary tracking server automatically manages all tracking operations including capturing reading information, storing data in the database, and generating reports. The system self-configures and self-manages without requiring complex manual intervention or configuration, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining comprehensive readership identification capabilities.
3Loss of information
If HTML conversion is performed on Lotus Notes email, then tracking capability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the intermediary tracking server with all necessary tracking parameters and HTML conversion templates before email processing begins. This pre-preparation allows the actual email conversion and tracking to occur efficiently without extensive processing time during email delivery, as the framework is already in place to handle the conversion rapidly.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for tracking and reporting e-mail campaigns. An instruction set is placed in a tagged e-mail to form a modified e-mail, wherein the data type of the instruction set is set to hypertext markup language. The modified e-mail is sent to a distribution list, wherein the instruction set is executed when the modified e-mail is opened. The instruction set captures and records attributes about a reader of the modified e-mail, requests a web page at a website, passes information about the e-mail and the reader, causes a local server to request the website image from an original version of the website located on an original server in response to the non existence of the web page, causes the original server to capture relevant information about the e-mail and the reader as tracking information, and transmits the captured tracking information to a collection device.