IP Library Granted Patent US 10,397,161
Granted Patent B2
US 10,397,161 · App. 15/154,062 · Granted Aug 27, 2019

Electronic mail (email) message lifecycle management

Inventors: Michel Albert Brisebois (Renfrew, CA); Curtis Johnstone (Ottawa, CA)
Assignee: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
H04L51/22G06Q10/107H04L51/12H04L51/14H04L51/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,397,161
App. No.
15/154,062
Filed
May 13, 2016
Granted
Aug 27, 2019
Kind
B2
Examiner
JOO, JOSHUA
Art Unit
2445
USPC
709/206
Abstract

Systems and techniques to automatically delete emails from an inbox associated with an employee in an enterprise are described. A message lifecycle engine that interfaces with a corporate email system may select an inbox of an email client application. The message lifecycle engine may delete an email in the inbox based at least in part on: (i) one or more sender rules associated with the email; (ii) one or more system rules associated with an email system used by the enterprise; (iii) one or more user rules created based on an analysis of user behavior; and (iv) one or more data loss prevention (DLP) policies.

Claims (71)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

selecting, by a message lifecycle engine, an inbox of an email client application associated with an employee in an enterprise;

displaying, by an email client, a sender lifecycle user interface to a sender of the email;

displaying, by the email client, a plurality of sender parameters, wherein the plurality of sender parameters comprise: a do not forward parameter, a security tag parameter, a classification parameter, a temporary delete parameter, a permanent delete parameter, an expiry date parameter, a read/unread parameter, and a time period parameter;

receiving, by the email client, a selection including at least one of the plurality of sender parameters;

creating, based on the selection, a particular sender rule of one or more sender rules, the particular sender rule identifying conditions that when satisfied cause the email to be deleted;

associating, by the email client, the particular sender rule with the email; and

deleting, by the message lifecycle engine, an email in the inbox based at least in part on:

the one or more sender rules associated with the email;

one or more system rules associated with an email system used by the enterprise;

one or more user rules associated with the email, the one or more user rules created based on an analysis of user behavior; and

one or more data loss prevention (DLP) policies.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying, by the message lifecycle engine, a system lifecycle user interface to a system administrator of the email system;

displaying, by the message lifecycle engine, a plurality of system parameters;

receiving, by the message lifecycle engine, a selection including at least one of the plurality of system parameters; and

creating, based on the selection, the one or more system rules identifying conditions that when satisfied cause a particular email to be deleted from the email system by the message lifecycle engine.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein deleting the email in the inbox comprises:

moving the email from the inbox to a trash folder, the trash folder enabling the email to be retrieved and viewed.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

deleting, by the message lifecycle engine, the email in the trash folder based at least in part on:

the one or more sender rules associated with the email;

the one or more system rules associated with an email system used by the enterprise;

the one or more user rules created based on an analysis of user behavior; and

the one or more DLP policies.

5. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that are executable by one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

selecting an inbox of an email client application associated with an employee in an enterprise;

deleting an email in the inbox based at least in part on:

one or more sender rules associated with the email;

one or more system rules associated with an email system used by the enterprise;

one or more user rules created based on an analysis of user behavior; and

one or more data loss prevention (DLP) policies;

performing an analysis of stored emails associated with the employee;

determining, based at least in part on the analysis, that a particular type of email is deleted after being read; and

creating a particular user rule of the one or more user rules to automatically delete the particular type of email after the particular type of email has been read.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5 , wherein deleting the email in the inbox comprises:

determining that the one or more sender rules specify an expiry date;

determining that a current date is greater than or equal to the expiry date; and

moving the email from the inbox to a trash folder of the email client application.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5 , wherein deleting the email in the inbox comprises:

determining that the one or more sender rules specify an expiry date and an unread parameter;

determining that a current date is greater than or equal to the expiry date;

determining that the email is unread; and

moving the email from the inbox to a trash folder of the email client application.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5 , wherein deleting the email in the inbox comprises:

determining that the one or more system rules specify a particular sender and a particular topic;

determining that a sender of the email comprises the particular sender;

determining that a topic of the email comprises the particular topic; and

moving the email from the inbox to a trash folder of the email client application.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein:

the particular topic comprises at least one of a status update or a change notification.

10. A server comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

selecting an inbox of an email client application associated with an employee in an enterprise;

performing, by a classifier, an analysis of stored emails associated with the employee;

determining, based at least in part on the analysis, that a particular type of email remains unread in the inbox for more than a predetermined period of time;

creating a particular user rule of the one or more user rules to automatically delete the particular type of email after the particular type of email has been received in the inbox; and

deleting an email in the inbox based at least in part on:

one or more sender rules associated with the email;

one or more system rules associated with an email system used by the enterprise;

one or more user rules created based on an analysis of user behavior; and

one or more data loss prevention (DLP) policies.

11. The server of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:

creating a particular system rule of the one or more system rules to automatically delete a particular email that is classified with a particular classification after a pre-determined time interval.

12. The server of claim 11 , wherein the particular classification comprises one of a restricted classification, a confidential classification, or a do not forward classification.

13. The server of claim 10 , wherein deleting the email in the inbox comprises:

moving the email from the inbox to a trash folder, the email retrievable from the trash folder.

14. The server of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining that the email has been in the trash folder greater than a predetermined period of time; and

automatically removing the email from the trash folder, the email unretrievable by the employee after being removed from the trash folder.

Assignments (26)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 073606/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2025
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 073613/0326 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2025
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; ERWIN, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 071527/0649 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2025
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; ERWIN, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 071527/0001 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY LLC; ONELOGIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058952/0279 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY LLC; ONELOGIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 058945/0778 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 059096/0683 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 059105/0479 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 19, 2018
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 046393/0009 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046327/0347 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046327/0486 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT R/F 040581/0850 Recorded May 22, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 046211/0735 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040587 FRAME: 0624. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 28, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 044811/0598 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 10, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040587/0624 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 9, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040581/0850 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040521/0467 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040039/0642) Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040521/0016 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040039/0642 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040030/0187 →
RELEASE OF SEC. INT. IN PATENTS (NOTES) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040026/0710 →
RELEASE OF SEC. INT. IN PATENTS (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040027/0329 →
RELEASE OF SEC. INT. IN PATENTS (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040013/0733 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Aug 10, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039719/0889 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Aug 10, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039644/0084 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Aug 10, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039643/0953 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2016
From: BRISEBOIS, MICHEL ALBERT; JOHNSTONE, CURTIS
To: DELL SOFTWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 038584/0207 →
Continuity (1)
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