Method and apparatus for monitoring message status in an asynchronous mediated communication system
A system and method for mediating the routing of asynchronous messages includes routing the asynchronous message to a first recipient, determining whether the first recipient opened the asynchronous message, and re-routing the asynchronous message to a second recipient who is qualified to receive and respond to the message if the first recipient fails to open the message (i.e., read, listen, display, act upon the message). In an embodiment, the message is re-routed to the second recipient if the first recipient fails to open the message within a deadline automatically imposed by the system when the message is of a certain type. In an embodiment, a mediator monitors if any recipient accepts responsibility for the asynchronous message and informs the other recipients that the asynchronous message may be deleted from their message queues.
1. A method for monitoring asynchronous messages, comprising:
receiving an asynchronous message intended for at least one first recipient from a sender's communication device;
assigning a message identifier to the received asynchronous message in a monitored message table;
appending the message identifier to a header of the asynchronous message header, wherein the asynchronous message header comprises a data field with information identifying a role performed by the at least one first recipient;
storing information for all recipients of the message in the monitored message table corresponding to the assigned message identifier;
routing the asynchronous message to the at least one first recipient's communication device; and
re-routing the asynchronous message to at least one second recipient's communication device if an indication of acceptance of responsibility is not received from the at least one first recipient's communication device within a pre-determined deadline, wherein the re-routing is performed according to a routing template and a dynamic availability table,
wherein:
the routing template comprises entries that each have a potential recipient of the asynchronous message, an associated role performed by the potential recipient, and a priority rank within the associated role for the potential recipient; and
re-routing the asynchronous message is based on availability of potential recipients having an associated role that is equal to the role performed by the at least one first recipient.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the asynchronous message was addressed to more than one first recipient's communication device;
determining whether an indication of acceptance of responsibility is received from a responsive first recipient's communication device; and
transmitting a delete instruction message to a non-responsive first recipient's communication devices if it is determined that the asynchronous message was addressed to more than one first recipient's communication device and that an indication of acceptance of responsibility is received from a responsive first recipient's communication device.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining if the asynchronous message was addressed to more than one first recipient's communication device comprises:
retrieving the message identifier for the asynchronous message; and
recalling information stored in the monitored message table.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the delete instruction message is an executable instruction that automatically deletes the asynchronous message from all recipients' message queues upon receipt.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the delete instruction message is a recipient readable instruction message informing the recipient that the asynchronous message may be deleted from the recipient's message queue.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of acceptance of responsibility comprises a message open confirmation.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of acceptance of responsibility comprises an affirmative acceptance of responsibility message.
8. A mediator device for mediating asynchronous message routing, comprising:
means for receiving an asynchronous message intended for at least one first recipient from a sender's communication device;
means for assigning a message identifier to the received asynchronous message in a monitored message table;
means for appending the message identifier to a header of the asynchronous message, wherein the asynchronous message header comprises a data field with information identifying a role performed by the at least one first recipient;
means for storing information for all recipients of the message in the monitored message table corresponding to the assigned message identifier;
means for routing the asynchronous message to the at least one first recipient's communication device; and
means for re-routing the asynchronous message to at least one second recipient's communication device if an indication of acceptance of responsibility is not received from the at least one first recipient's communication device within a pre-determined deadline, wherein the re-routing is performed according to a routing template and a dynamic availability table
wherein:
the routing template comprises entries that each have a potential recipient of the asynchronous message, an associated role performed by the potential recipient, and a priority rank within the associated role for the potential recipient; and
means for re-routing the asynchronous message comprises means for re-routing the asynchronous message based on availability of potential recipients having an associated role that is equal to the role performed by the at least one first recipient.
9. The mediator device of claim 8 , further comprising:
means for determining whether the asynchronous message was addressed to more than one first recipient's communication device;
means for determining whether an indication of acceptance of responsibility is received from a responsive first recipient's communication device; and
means for transmitting a delete instruction message to a non-responsive first recipient's communication devices if it is determined that the asynchronous message was addressed to more than one first recipient's communication device and that an indication of acceptance of responsibility is received from a responsive first recipient's communication device.
10. The mediator device of claim 9 , wherein means for determining if the asynchronous message was addressed to more than one first recipient's communication device comprises:
means for retrieving the message identifier for the asynchronous message; and
means for recalling information stored in the monitored message table.
11. The mediator device for mediating asynchronous message routing of claim 9 , wherein the delete instruction message is an executable instruction that automatically deletes the asynchronous message from all recipients' message queues upon receipt.
12. The mediator device for mediating asynchronous message routing of claim 9 , wherein the delete instruction message is a recipient readable instruction message informing the recipient that the asynchronous message may be deleted from the recipient's message queue.
13. The mediator device for mediating asynchronous message routing of claim 9 , wherein the indication of acceptance of responsibility comprises a message open confirmation.
14. The mediator device for mediating asynchronous message routing of claim 9 , wherein the indication of acceptance of responsibility comprises an affirmative acceptance of responsibility message.
15. A mediator server for mediating asynchronous message routing, comprising:
a memory unit; and
a processor coupled to the memory unit, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising:
receiving an asynchronous message intended for at least one first recipient from a communication device;
assigning a message identifier to the received asynchronous message in a monitored message table;
appending the message identifier to a header of the asynchronous message, wherein the asynchronous message header comprises a data field with information identifying a role performed by the at least one first recipient;
storing information for all recipients of the message in the monitored message table corresponding to the assigned message identifier;
routing the asynchronous message to the at least one first recipient's communication device; and
re-routing the asynchronous message to at least one second recipient's communication device if an indication of acceptance of responsibility is not received from the at least one first recipient's communication device within a pre-determined deadline, wherein the re-routing is performed according to a routing template and a dynamic availability table, wherein:
the routing template comprises entries that each have a potential recipient of the asynchronous message, an associated role performed by the potential recipient, and a priority rank within the associated role for the potential recipient; and
re-routing the asynchronous message is based on availability of potential recipients having an associated role that is equal to the role performed by the at least one first recipient.
16. The mediator server of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising:
determining whether the asynchronous message was addressed to more than one first recipient's communication device;
determining whether an indication of acceptance of responsibility is received from a responsive first recipient's communication device; and
transmitting a delete instruction message to a non-responsive first recipient's communication devices if it is determined that the asynchronous message was addressed to more than one first recipient's communication device and that an indication of acceptance of responsibility is received from a responsive first recipient's communication device.
17. The mediator server of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising:
retrieving the message identifier for the asynchronous message; and
recalling information stored in the monitored message table.
18. The mediator server of claim 16 , wherein the delete instruction message is an executable instruction that automatically deletes the asynchronous message from all recipients' message queues upon receipt.
19. The mediator server of claim 16 , wherein the delete instruction message is a recipient readable instruction message informing the recipient that the asynchronous message may be deleted from the recipient's message queue.
20. The mediator server of claim 15 , wherein the indication of acceptance of responsibility comprises a message open confirmation.
21. The mediator server of claim 15 , wherein the indication of acceptance of responsibility comprises an affirmative acceptance of responsibility message.
22. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:
receiving an asynchronous message intended for at least one first recipient from a sender's communication device;
assigning a message identifier to the received asynchronous message in a monitored message table;
appending the message identifier to a header of the asynchronous message header, wherein the asynchronous message header comprises a data field with information identifying a role performed by the at least one first recipient;
storing information for all recipients of the message in the monitored message table corresponding to the assigned message identifier;
routing the asynchronous message to the at least one first recipient's communication device; and
re-routing the asynchronous message to at least one second recipient's communication device if an indication of acceptance of responsibility is not received from the at least one first recipient's communication device within a pre-determined deadline, wherein the re-routing is performed according to a routing template and a dynamic availability table, wherein:
the routing template comprises entries that each have a potential recipient of the asynchronous message, an associated role performed by the potential recipient, and a priority rank within the associated role for the potential recipient; and
re-routing the asynchronous message is based on availability of potential recipients having an associated role that is equal to the role performed by the at least one first recipient.
23. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform steps further comprising:
determining whether the asynchronous message was addressed to more than one first recipient's communication device;
determining whether an indication of acceptance of responsibility is received from a responsive first recipient's communication device; and
transmitting a delete instruction message to a non-responsive first recipient's communication devices if it is determined that the asynchronous message was addressed to more than one first recipient's communication device and that an indication of acceptance of responsibility is received from a responsive first recipient's communication device.
24. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform steps further comprising:
retrieving the message identifier for the asynchronous message; and
recalling information stored in the monitored message table.
25. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein the stored the stored software instructions are configured to perform steps such that the delete instruction message is an executable instruction that automatically deletes the asynchronous message from all recipients' message queues upon receipt.
26. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein the stored the stored software instructions are configured to perform steps such that the delete instruction message is a recipient readable instruction message informing the recipient that the asynchronous message may be deleted from the recipient's message queue.
27. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the stored the stored software instructions are configured to perform steps such that the indication of acceptance of responsibility comprises a message open confirmation.
28. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the stored the stored software instructions are configured to perform steps such that the indication of acceptance of responsibility comprises an affirmative acceptance of responsibility message.
29. An asynchronous communication system, comprising:
an asynchronous communication network;
a first sender communication device linked to the asynchronous communication network, wherein the first sender communication device is configured to send asynchronous messages via the asynchronous communication network;
a first recipient communication device linked to the asynchronous communication network, wherein the first recipient communication device is configured to receive asynchronous messages via the asynchronous communication network and transmit a confirmation to the first sender communication device when a message received from the first sender communication device is opened; and
a mediator linked asynchronous communication network, wherein the mediator is configured to:
determine when an indication of acceptance of responsibility is sent from the first recipient communication device to the first sender communication device in response to the asynchronous message;
assign a message identifier to the asynchronous message in a monitored message table;
append the message identifier to a header of the asynchronous message, wherein the asynchronous message header comprises a data field with information identifying a role performed by at least one first recipient;
store information for all recipients of the asynchronous message in the monitored message table corresponding to the assigned message identifier; and
re-route the asynchronous message to a second recipient communication device when it is determined that an indication of acceptance of responsibility is not received from the first recipient communication device within a pre-determined deadline, wherein the re-routing is performed according to a routing template and a dynamic availability table, wherein:
the routing template comprises entries that each have a potential recipient of the asynchronous message, an associated role performed by the potential recipient, and a priority rank within the associated role for the potential recipient; and
the mediator is further configured to re-route the asynchronous message based on availability of potential recipients having an associated role that is equal to the role performed by the at least one first recipient.
30. The asynchronous communication system of claim 29 , wherein the mediator is further configured to transmit a delete instruction message to all recipients of the asynchronous message whenever the mediator determines that the indication of acceptance of responsibility is sent.
31. The asynchronous communication system of claim 30 , wherein the first and second recipient communication devices are capable of finding and deleting the asynchronous message from their message queues upon receipt of the delete instruction message.
32. The asynchronous communication system of claim 29 , wherein the first and second recipient communication devices are capable of automatically generating the indication of acceptance of responsibility upon opening the asynchronous message.
33. The asynchronous communication system of claim 29 , wherein the indication of acceptance of responsibility comprises a message open confirmation.
34. The asynchronous communication system of claim 29 , wherein the indication of acceptance of responsibility comprises an affirmative acceptance of responsibility message.