Email-based access to secure information
An information management system may store information related to tasks to be performed by workers in an organization. Workers in the organization may communicate with the information management system using email messages. The information management system may not require a login or authentication procedure, and workers may interact with the information management system without the need to log in to the information management system. The information management system may receive an email message from a worker that indicates a request for a report. The information management system may determine whether to transmit the report to the worker based on whether the worker is appropriately registered with the information management system, and/or whether the worker has administrative privileges. The information management system, in response to a positive determination, may transmit the report to the email address from which the requesting email message was sent.
1. A method comprising:
transmitting, using a messaging service, a first message to an information management system from a user, the first message comprising an action type parameter indicating a requested action;
authenticating, by the messaging service, the first message by querying a database using the action type parameter and an address of a sender of the first message to generate a comparison result, the querying comprising querying a database that stores a plurality of individuals associated with respective addresses and one or more tasks associated with each of the plurality of individuals; and
performing, by the messaging service, the requested action and transmitting, using an email protocol, a result message to the user.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action type parameter is included in a subject field of the first message, and wherein the requested action is selected from the group consisting of: adding a new user to the database, adding a new task to the database, and reassigning one or more tasks from one user to another user.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the requested action is generating a report, and further comprising determining a default report configuration specific to the user based on the address of the sender, generating the report according to the default report configuration, and including the generated report in the result message.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the requested action is updating task information in the database.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the requested action is to reassign tasks, the method further comprises: parsing the first message to identify an identifier indicating reassignment of tasks, retrieving, based on the identifier, tasks currently associated with a first user identified in the first message; and updating the database to reassign retrieved tasks to a second user identified in the first message.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: detecting an email signature in a body of the first message; removing the detected email signature from the body of the first message; and storing the body of the first message, excluding the removed email signature, as a comment associated with a task in the database.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: monitoring, by the information management system, a completion status and a due date for each task in the database; identifying a task that is incomplete and past its due date; retrieving an identifier of a worker to whom the identified task should be escalated; generating an escalation email message addressed to the retrieved identifier; and transmitting the escalation email message using the email protocol.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing computer program instructions capable of being executed by a computer processor, the computer program instructions defining steps of:
transmitting, using a messaging service, a first message to an information management system from a user, the first message comprising an action type parameter indicating a requested action;
authenticating, by the messaging service, the first message by querying a database using the action type parameter and an address of a sender of the first message to generate a comparison result, the querying comprising querying a database that stores a plurality of individuals associated with respective addresses and one or more tasks associated with each of the plurality of individuals; and
performing, by the messaging service, the requested action and transmitting, using an email protocol, a result message to the user.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the action type parameter is included in a subject field of the first message, and wherein the requested action is selected from the group consisting of: adding a new user to the database, adding a new task to the database, and reassigning one or more tasks from one user to another user.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the requested action is generating a report, the steps further comprising determining a default report configuration specific to the user based on the address of the sender, generating the report according to the default report configuration, and including the generated report in the result message.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the requested action is updating task information in the database.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein when the requested action is to reassign tasks, the steps further comprising: parsing the first message to identify an identifier indicating reassignment of tasks, retrieving, based on the identifier, tasks currently associated with a first user identified in the first message; and updating the database to reassign retrieved tasks to a second user identified in the first message.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the steps further comprising: detecting an email signature in a body of the first message; removing the detected email signature from the body of the first message; and storing the body of the first message, excluding the removed email signature, as a comment associated with a task in the database.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the steps further comprising: monitoring, by the information management system, a completion status and a due date for each task in the database; identifying a task that is incomplete and past its due date; retrieving an identifier of a worker to whom the identified task should be escalated; generating an escalation email message addressed to the retrieved identifier; and transmitting the escalation email message using the email protocol.
15. A device comprising:
a processor; and
a storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising steps for:
transmitting a first message to an information management system from a user, the first message comprising an action type parameter indicating a requested action;
authenticating the first message by querying a database using the action type parameter and an address of a sender of the first message to generate a comparison result, querying comprising querying a the database that stores a plurality of individuals associated with respective addresses and one or more tasks associated with each of the plurality of individuals; and
performing the requested action and transmitting, using an email protocol, a result message to the user.
16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the action type parameter is included in a subject field of the first message, and wherein the requested action is selected from the group consisting of: adding a new user to the database, adding a new task to the database, and reassigning one or more tasks from one user to another user.
17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the requested action is generating a report, and the steps further comprise determining a default report configuration specific to the user based on the address of the sender, generating the report according to the default report configuration, and including the generated report in the result message.
18. The device of claim 15 , wherein when the requested action is to reassign tasks, and the steps further comprise parsing the first message to identify an identifier indicating reassignment of tasks, retrieving, based on the identifier, tasks currently associated with a first user identified in the first message; and updating the database to reassign retrieved tasks to a second user identified in the first message.
19. The device of claim 15 , the steps further comprising detecting an email signature in a body of the first message; removing the detected email signature from the body of the first message; and storing the body of the first message, excluding the removed email signature, as a comment associated with a task in the database.