Retrospective changing of previously sent messages
Functionality can be implemented in email applications to allow sent messages to be updated, even if the sent messages have been read. When a request to update a sent message is received, a message update unit can update information in the message according to the notification. The message update unit can notify a recipient that the message was updated, and can indicate changed information in the sent message. The message update unit can also determine if the sent message has been forwarded, and forward the update notification to other recipients.
1. A computer program product for retrospectively changing previously sent messages, the computer program product comprising:
a tangible machine-readable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising:
computer usable program code configured to:
receive a request to update a previously sent message including original text;
determine changes to the previously sent message based on the request; and
update the previously sent message to include markings indicating the changes and the original text.
2. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the computer usable program code is further configured to determine the previously sent message based on an identifier in the request responsive to receiving the request to update the previously sent message.
3. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the computer usable program code being configured to determine that the previously sent message can be updated is based, at least in part, on policies.
4. The computer program product of claim 3 , wherein the policies govern changes allowed to the sent message.
5. The computer program product of claim 3 , wherein the policies comprise restrictions to changes to message text of the sent message.
6. The computer program product of claim 3 , wherein the policies comprise restrictions to changes to a subject of the sent message.
7. The computer program product of claim 3 , wherein the policies comprise restrictions on adding recipients.
8. The computer program product of claim 3 , wherein the policies comprise removing recipients.
9. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the computer usable program code being configured to notify the recipient that the previously sent message has been updated comprises the computer usable program code being configured to:
determine that the previously sent message was opened; and
move the previously sent message to an inbox position based, at least in part, on a timestamp of the request instead of a timestamp of the previously sent message.
10. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the computer usable program code is further configured to:
receive a second request to update a second previously sent message;
determine that the second previously sent message cannot be updated; and
display the second request as a new message in an inbox of the recipient.
11. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the computer usable program code is further configured to:
determine that changes were made to a second previously sent message;
determine recipients of the second previously sent message; and
send, to the recipients, a second request to update the previously sent message based on the changes made to the second previously sent message.
12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the computer usable program code being configured determine that changes were made to the second previously sent message comprises the computer useable program code being configured to compare the second previously sent message with an original copy of the second previously sent message.
13. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the computer usable program code is further configured to notify a recipient that the previously sent message has been updated.
14. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the computer usable program code is further configured to:
determine that the previously sent message has been forwarded to a second recipient; and
forward the request to the second recipient.
15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein determining that the previously sent message has been forwarded to a second recipient comprises receiving an indication from a mail server.
16. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the original text comprises a snippet of the previously sent message.
17. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the computer usable program code is further configured to simultaneously display the markings indicating the changes and the original text.
18. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein receiving the request to update the previously sent message including original text comprises:
displaying the previously sent email in an edit message window of an email application;
receiving at least one change to the previously sent message from a user; and
receiving an update message command from the user.
19. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving a request to update a previously sent message including original text;
determining changes to the previously sent message based on the request; and
updating the previously sent message to include markings indicating the changes and the original text.
20. An apparatus comprising:
a processing unit;
a network interface; and
a message update unit operable to:
receive a request to update a previously sent message including original text;
determine changes to the previously sent message based on the request; and
update the previously sent message to include markings indicating the changes and the original text.