Patent ID: 7512659
Filing Date: 2009-03-31
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for use in a data processing system for managing e-mail and real-time messaging activity between a first client and a second client, said method comprising: automatically detecting an n.sup.th e-mail thread response to an original e-mail message delivered between said first client and said second client, wherein n is greater than or equal to one, wherein said n.sup.th e-mail thread response is a sequence of one or more e-mail reply responses exchanged between a first e-mail client within said first client or a second e-mail client within said second client; associating header information of one or more e-mail messages to identify the n.sup.th e-mail thread response, wherein the n.sup.th e-mail thread response is one or more of a sent and a received e-mail message; detecting n e-mail thread responses to the original e-mail message over a specified period; monitoring a timestamp of the n.sup.th e-mail thread response, wherein the timestamp of the n.sup.th e-mail thread response determines a period between the previous e-mail message and the current e-mail reply; enabling a counter when the original e-mail message is transmitted, said counter tracking the number of n.sup th e-mail thread responses until the counter reaches a predefined number; incrementing the counter when a new n.sup.th e-mail thread response is received; determining a predefined threshold period of time between transmission of a previous e-mail message and receipt of a current e-mail reply; determining a rate of response of one or more n.sup.th e-mail thread responses; responsive to said automatically detecting the n.sup.th e-mail thread response within a response time less than the predefined threshold period of time and when a value of the counter reaches the predefined number of n.sup.th e-mail thread responses, automatically invoking a real-time electronic messaging session between said first client and said second client; and responsive to the rate of response attaining one or more of a predefined threshold rate of response of the n.sup.th e-mail thread responses, automatically invoking a real-time messaging client application on at least one of said first client and said second client.