Mail Processing Method for IM Group Identifier Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current email and instant messaging software lack effective integration, limiting collaborative office functions and efficiency in information interaction.

Innovation Solution

A mail processing method and apparatus that identifies instant messaging group identifiers in emails and converts them into group mail addresses, enabling seamless sending of emails to corresponding group mailboxes, thereby enhancing functional integration between email and instant messaging systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If email and instant messaging software are kept as separate systems, then each system can maintain its own simple structure and operation, but functional integration is limited and collaborative office functions are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional integrationVSAvoidsystem integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges email and instant messaging functions into a unified system. The mail server is configured to recognize instant messaging group identifiers in email recipient fields and automatically convert them to group mail addresses, enabling both email and IM functionalities to coexist and interact within a single integrated platform, thereby enhancing adaptability while managing complexity through unified architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mail server is designed with multi-functional capability to handle both traditional email addresses and instant messaging group identifiers. The system can identify different types of recipient identifiers, convert IM group identifiers to mail addresses, and route messages appropriately, making the email system universal enough to support instant messaging group communication alongside conventional email functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If manual conversion of instant messaging group identifiers to group mail addresses is required, then system complexity remains low, but operational efficiency decreases and user convenience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemail sending efficiencyVSAvoidautomatic identifier conversion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The mail server performs automatic self-service by autonomously identifying instant messaging group identifiers in email recipient fields and converting them to corresponding group mail addresses without requiring user intervention. The system automatically queries the instant messaging system for group member information and completes the address conversion process, thereby improving productivity while implementing necessary automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback mechanism where the mail server queries the instant messaging system to verify group identifiers and obtain group member information. This feedback loop ensures accurate conversion of IM group identifiers to mail addresses, enabling automatic processing while maintaining reliability through real-time verification from the IM system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12063187B2Mail processing method and apparatus, device and medium
Publication Date: 2024.08.13 BYTEDANCE INC
  • US12063187B2 patent drawing
  • US12063187B2 patent drawing
  • US12063187B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A mail processing method and apparatus, a device, a medium, a computer program product, and a computer program provided in the present disclosure, where the method includes: receiving a to-be-sent mail; obtaining, if it is identified that the to-be-sent mail includes an instant messaging group identifier, a group mail address corresponding to the instant messaging group identifier; and taking the group mail address as a recipient address and performing a sending operation on the to-be-sent mail.