IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,489,690
Granted Patent B2
US 8,489,690 · App. 12/200,080 · Granted Jul 16, 2013

Providing cellular telephone subscription for e-mail threads

Inventors: Tamer E. Abuelsaad (Poughkeepsie, NY); Candice B. Gilzean (Cedar Park, TX); Munisamy Subramanian (Raleigh, NC); Kelly Aymar (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,489,690
App. No.
12/200,080
Granted
Jul 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, system and computer-usable medium for providing a subscription to an e-mail message thread via a mobile device. A user may subscribe to an e-mail message thread utilizing a mobile device, based on a unique e-mail thread ID associated with the e-mail thread within the e-mail message itself. Updated data regarding the e-mail message thread can then be provided in response to activity associated with the e-mail message thread. The updated data can be provided in the form of, for example, a text message, a text-to-speech voicemail message, and so forth. Additionally, a telephone number associated with the mobile device can be added to a database stored in an e-mail server that manages the e-mail message and the e-mail message thread in order to subscribe to the e-mail message via a mobile device. SMS data associated with the user can also be added to the database. A user is permitted to subscribe or unsubscribe to the e-mail message/thread, in response to a selection of a particular option in the e-mail message itself.

Claims (35)

1. A method for establishing a subscription to an e-mail message thread, said method comprising:

a processor of a computer system assigning Short Message Service (SMS) data to a mobile device;

said processor adding both a telephone number associated with the mobile device and the assigned SMS data to a setting in a database stored in an e-mail message server;

after said adding, said processor creating a subscription to updates related to an e-mail message thread associated with said e-mail message server, said creating comprising correlating said telephone number and said SMS data to a unique e-mail message thread identifier of said e-mail message thread, said creating being performed in response to said processor being directed by a user to perform said creating, wherein said creating comprises:

said processor receiving a click, by the user, of at least one Subscribe button graphically displayed at a graphical user interface (GUI) to subscribe; and

in response to said receiving the click, by the user, of the at least one Subscribe button, said processor subscribing the user to receive the updates related to said e-mail message thread, wherein the at least one Subscribe button is selected from the group consisting of a Text Subscribe button for the user to receive text updates related to said e-mail message thread, a Voice Subscribe button for the user to receive voice updates related to said e-mail message thread, and both the Text Subscribe button and the Voice Subscribe button;

said processor sending, to said mobile device via said e-mail message server, said updates related to said e-mail message thread, each update selected from the group consisting of a text update, a voice update, or both the text update and the voice update;

after said creating the subscription, said processor receiving a click, by the user, of an Unsubscribe button graphically displayed at a graphical user interface (GUI); and

in response to said receiving the click, by the user, of the Unsubscribe button, said processor unsubscribing the user from receiving the updates related to said e-mail message thread,

wherein the at least one Subscribe button and the Unsubscribe button are graphically displayed at a GUI within an e-mail message.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein an update of the updates is a voice update.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the setting is included in an account, of the user, with respect to the telephone number.

4. A computer system comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a computer readable storage device coupled to the processor, said storage device containing program code configured to be executed by the processor via the memory to implement a method for establishing a subscription to an e-mail message thread, said method comprising:

said processor assigning Short Message Service (SMS) data to a mobile device;

said processor adding both a telephone number associated with the mobile device and the assigned SMS data to a setting in a database stored in an e-mail message server;

after said adding, said processor creating a subscription to updates related to an e-mail message thread associated with said e-mail message server, said creating comprising correlating said telephone number and said SMS data to a unique e-mail message thread identifier of said e-mail message thread, said creating being performed in response to said processor being directed by a user to perform said creating, wherein said creating comprises:

said processor receiving a click, by the user, of at least one Subscribe button graphically displayed at a graphical user interface (GUI) to subscribe; and

in response to said receiving the click, by the user, of the at least one Subscribe button, said processor subscribing the user to receive the updates related to said e-mail message thread, wherein the at least one Subscribe button is selected from the group consisting of a Text Subscribe button for the user to receive text updates related to said e-mail message thread, a Voice Subscribe button for the user to receive voice updates related to said e-mail message thread, and both the Text Subscribe button and the Voice Subscribe button;

said processor sending, to said mobile device via said e-mail message server, said updates related to said e-mail message thread, each update selected from the group consisting of a text update, a voice update, or both the text update and the voice update;

after said creating the subscription, said processor receiving a click, by the user, of an Unsubscribe button graphically displayed at a graphical user interface (GUI); and

in response to said receiving the click, by the user, of the Unsubscribe button, said processor unsubscribing the user from receiving the updates related to said e-mail message thread,

wherein the at least one Subscribe button and the Unsubscribe button are graphically displayed at a GUI within an e-mail message.

5. The computer system of claim 4 , wherein an update of the updates is a voice update.

6. The computer system of claim 4 , wherein the setting is included in an account, of the user, with respect to the telephone number.

7. A computer readable storage device comprising program code stored therein, said program code configured to be executed by a processor of a computer system to implement a method for establishing a subscription to an e-mail message thread, said method comprising:

said processor assigning Short Message Service (SMS) data to a mobile device;

said processor adding both a telephone number associated with the mobile device and the assigned SMS data to a setting in a database stored in an e-mail message server;

after said adding, said processor creating a subscription to updates related to an e-mail message thread associated with said e-mail message server, said creating comprising correlating said telephone number and said SMS data to a unique e-mail message thread identifier of said e-mail message thread, said creating being performed in response to said processor being directed by a user to perform said creating, wherein said creating comprises:

said processor receiving a click, by the user, of at least one Subscribe button graphically displayed at a graphical user interface (GUI) to subscribe; and

in response to said receiving the click, by the user, of the at least one Subscribe button, said processor subscribing the user to receive the updates related to said e-mail message thread, wherein the at least one Subscribe button is selected from the group consisting of a Text Subscribe button for the user to receive text updates related to said e-mail message thread, a Voice Subscribe button for the user to receive voice updates related to said e-mail message thread, and both the Text Subscribe button and the Voice Subscribe button;

said processor sending, to said mobile device via said e-mail message server, said updates related to said e-mail message thread, each update selected from the group consisting of a text update, a voice update, or both the text update and the voice update;

after said creating the subscription, said processor receiving a click, by the user, of an Unsubscribe button graphically displayed at a graphical user interface (GUI); and

in response to said receiving the click, by the user, of the Unsubscribe button, said processor unsubscribing the user from receiving the updates related to said e-mail message thread,

wherein the at least one Subscribe button and the Unsubscribe button are graphically displayed at a GUI within an e-mail message.

8. The storage device of claim 7 , wherein the setting is included in an account, of the user, with respect to the telephone number.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT CORRECTING INVENTOR 3 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL/FRAME 021456/0506 Recorded Aug 29, 2008
From: ABUELSAAD, TAMER E.; GILZEAN, CANDICE B.; SUBRAMANIAN, MUNIASAMY; AYMAR, KELLY
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021586/0686 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2008
From: ABUELSAAD, TAMER E.; GILZEAN, CANDICE B.; SUBRAMANIAN, MUNISAMY; AYMAR, KELLY
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021456/0506 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100056187A1 · Mar 4, 2010