Method and system for message pacing
View Patent ↗A system for managing message volume and timing, which permits messages from multiple sources to be spaced apart over time, with the pacing controlled in part by the type or priority of the message. The system permits the volume of messages to be reduced by aggregating messages according to a set of rules and by discarding or delaying messages that are sufficiently similar and sent too close together. In addition, the system allows message sources to be notified when a recipient has not received a message within a designated time period. The system can be implemented as a centralized pacing system or through use of a data storage system accessible by the message sources.
1. A method for managing messages comprising the steps of:
receiving at a pacing system at least two different messages intended for a recipient from one or more message sources connected to the pacing system via a network; and
spacing delivery of the at least two different messages over a same channel to the recipient according to a pacing algorithm,
wherein each of the at least two different messages includes a priority,
wherein the pacing algorithm considers priorities of the at least two different messages,
wherein the step of spacing delivery includes spacing delivery of the at least two different messages over the same channel to the recipient according to the priorities of the messages considered by the pacing algorithm, and
wherein spacing delivery is performed by the pacing system after receiving the at least two different messages.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first message of the at least two different messages includes an expiration date and wherein the method further comprises:
determining that the first message should be delivered before the expiration date of the first message; and
spacing delivery comprises delivering the first message sooner than what would be provided for by the pacing algorithm, but the first message is not delivered immediately.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of combining two or more of the at least two different messages intended for a recipient into a single message.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of combining messages further includes the step of applying a template to determine how to format the combined messages.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of discarding a first message of the at least two different messages for one of the intended recipients based on the delivery properties of a message previously sent to the intended recipient, wherein the first of the messages and the message previously sent are different messages as received by the pacing system.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of notifying one or more of the sources if a message has not been sent to a recipient for more than a specified time period.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two different messages comprise a recipient's address when the at least two different messages are received by the pacing system.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein spacing delivery comprises delivering immediately a first message within the at least two different messages.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two different messages are e-mail messages.
10. A system for managing messages comprising:
one or more email servers;
a pacing system coupled to the one or more email servers, the pacing system operable to:
receive at least two different emails intended for a recipient from one or more email servers; and
space delivery of the at least two different emails to the recipient according to a pacing algorithm, wherein each of the at least two different emails includes a priority,
wherein the pacing algorithm considers priorities of the at least two different emails,
wherein the pacing system is operable to space delivery of the at least two different emails according to the priorities of the emails considered by the pacing algorithm, and
wherein spacing delivery is performed after receiving the at least two different emails.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein a first email of the at least two different emails includes an expiration date and wherein the pacing system is further operable to:
determine that the first email should be delivered before the expiration date of the first email; and
deliver the first email sooner than what would be provided for by the pacing algorithm, but not immediately.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the pacing system is further operable to combine two or more of the at least two different emails intended for a recipient into a single message.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the pacing system is further operable to apply a template to determine how to format the combined emails.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the pacing system is further operable to discard a first email of the at least two different emails for one of the intended recipients based on the delivery properties of an email previously sent to the intended recipient, wherein the first of the emails and the email previously sent are different messages as received by the pacing system.
15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising the step of notifying one or more of the sources if a message has not been sent to a recipient for more than a specified time period.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least two different emails comprise a recipient's address when the at least two different emails are received by the pacing system.