Abstract:
A method and system for automatically collecting information in messaging system. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: setting a flag indicating an information collection and an initiation flag for a message for requesting information collection by an information requestor; generating a unique identifier for identifying a task for the information collection, and sending the message; when replying to the message for requesting information collection, setting a reply flag for a replied message and sending the replied message, wherein information required to be collected is included in the replied message; and extracting the information required to be collected by the task for the information collection identified by the unique identifier from the replied message in accordance with the flag indicating an information collection and the reply flag, consolidating the information into a single summary document, and providing the summary document to the information requester.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the collecting of information using a messaging system, and in particular, relates to a method and system for automatically collecting information in a messaging system. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Information collection is an important aspect of messaging systems. Available messaging systems, however, do not provide an intelligent function to help an information requestor to collect information from a specific information provider. For example, if a user of a messaging system wants to create a report that requires input from ten other people, the user may perform the following operations: 1) send a request with a report template to the ten people; 2) wait for each person&#39;s reply; and 3) collect and summarize each person&#39;s input into one file. This process, especially the last step, requires a tremendous amount of effort. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a mechanism and system for automatically collecting information in a messaging system. 
     By using an automatic information collection mechanism, a user only needs to send a message to receivers when the user wants to collect information from others. The automatic information collection mechanism will collect information from replied messages automatically, and sends the result to the user after the collection task has been completed. 
     An aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for automatically collecting information in a messaging system, comprising: setting a flag indicating an information collection and an initiation flag for a message for requesting information collection by an information requestor; generating an unique identifier for identifying a task for the information collection, and sending the message; when replying to the message for requesting information collection, setting a reply flag for a replied message and sending the replied message, wherein information required to be collected is included in the replied message; and extracting the information required to be collected by the task for the information collection identified by the unique identifier from the replied message in accordance with the flag indicating an information collection and the reply flag, consolidating the information into a single summary document, and providing the single summary document to the information requestor. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a system for automatically collecting information in a messaging system, comprising: a message type mark module for: setting a flag indicating an information collection and an initiation flag for a message for requesting information collection by an information requestor; generating a unique identifier for identifying a task for the information collection; and setting a reply flag for a replied message when the message for requesting information collection is replied to, wherein the information required to be collected is included in the replied message; a message collector for collecting messages to identify a message replying to the message for requesting information collection in accordance with the flag indicating an information collection and the reply flag; and an information consolidator for: extracting the information required to be collected by the task for the information collection identified by the unique identifier from the replied messages from the message collector; consolidating the information into a single summary document; and providing the summary document to the information requestor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a system for automatically collecting information according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a workflow of a system for automatically collecting information according to an embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a workflow, on a mail server side, of a system for automatically collecting information according to an embodiment of the present invention illustrated as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  to  FIG. 5  illustrate an example show how a system for automatically collecting information according to the present invention works, wherein  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4F  illustrate a scenario in an initiator part, and  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C  illustrate a scenario in a replier part. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a configuration of a system for automatically collecting information according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a workflow of a system for automatically collecting information according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrated as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a workflow, on a server side, of a system for automatically collecting information according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrated as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a tool for automatically collecting information in a messaging system. Generally speaking, the present invention: sends the information to be collected in a message; obtains replies from all receivers; and automatically generates a summary document consolidating all replied information. 
     A configuration of a system for automatically collecting information according to an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the application of the present invention in an email system. 
     The system for automatically collecting information includes: a mail type mark module  301  and a summary document generation module  302  on an email client side; and a mail collector  1  and an information consolidator  2  on an email server side, wherein the mail collector  1  is used for collecting mail and identifying them in a category. The mail collector  1  further includes a mail type identification module  101 , a mail collection agent module  102 , and a collection status monitoring module  103 . The information consolidator  2  is used for performing information consolidation, and further includes an information extracting module  201  and an information merging module  202 . Functions of each module will be described below. 
     The mail type mark module  301  provides a flag for information collection which is necessary for a sender to create an information collection mail and for a replier to reply to the information collection mail. The flag includes a flag indicating an information collection mail and an initiation/reply flag, and generates an unique transaction ID (identifier) for identifying a task for the information collection when the sender (i.e., an information requestor or known as an initiator) creates the information collection mail. 
     The summary document generation module  302  generates a summary document of replied information when the sender sends the information collection mail. The content of the document will be continuously updated as the information collection progresses. 
     The primary function of the mail type identification module  101  is to identify whether or not the sender&#39;s or the replier&#39;s mail is the mail for information collection. When it is confirmed that the sender&#39;s or the replier&#39;s mail is the mail for collecting information, the mail type identification module  101  transmits the mail and the unique transaction ID thereof to the mail collection agent module  102 . 
     The mail collection agent module  102  receives the mail and the unique transaction ID thereof from the mail type identification module  101 . The mail collection agent module  102  identifies different information collection tasks according to the unique transaction ID generated by the mail type mark module  301  for the information collection mail, and sends the information to the extracting module  201  for extracting information. Meanwhile, the mail collection agent module  102  assigns for it a mail classification display attribute for displaying in a category in the mail system, enabling it to be displayed in a special view on the user&#39;s mail client. 
     The collection status monitoring module  103  provides a real-time progress report for the initiator by monitoring the progress of replying the mail with reference to each transaction ID, so that the initiator knows the progress status of the information collection. When the status of the information collection reaches completion, it notifies the initiator that the information collection has been completed. 
     The mail is delivered to the information extracting module  201  via the mail collection agent module  102  after the replier has provided the content necessary for the information collection and has sent back the replied mail. The information extracting module  201  extracts the replied information to be collected from the mail, and then forwards it to the information merging module  202  for processing. The information merging module  202  merges together the information to be collected which is extracted by the information extracting module  201 , and updates the information summary document as the repliers reply the mail, until the information collection ends. 
     A workflow of a system for automatically collecting information according to an embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1  is described below with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     When an initiator (i.e., an information requestor) creates an information collection mail on the mail client, at operation S 21 , the mail type mark module  301  sets a flag indicating an information collection mail and an initiation flag for the information collection mail, and generates an unique transaction ID. Then at operation S 22 , the summary document generation module  302  generates a replied information summary document (to be described in detail below) and stores it on the mail server. 
     On the replier&#39;s mail client, when the replier replies the mail, at operation S 23 , the mail type mark module  301  determines whether the mail is a reply to the information collection. If the mail is not the reply to the information collection, it is sent to the mail server as a normal replied mail. If the mail is the reply to the information collection, the workflow goes to operation S 24 , where a reply flag is set by the mail type mark module  301 , and a reply mail with the information to be collected (the required data) inputted by the replier is sent to the mail server. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a workflow, on a mail server side, of a system for automatically collecting information according to an embodiment of the present invention illustrated as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The mail server receives the mail from the mail client. At operation S 31 , the mail type identification module  101  determines whether a flag indicating an information collection mail is set for the received mail. If the flag indicating an information collection mail is no set, which represents that the mail is not an information collection mail, the mail is delivered as a normal mail to the mail forwarding and storing module in the mail server so as to be delivered to the destination mailbox. If the flag indicating an information collection mail is set, the workflow goes to operation S 32 , at which the mail collection agent module  102  further determines whether the received mail is a replied mail by checking the initiation/reply flag. If it is not a replied mail, it is directly delivered to the mail forwarding and storing module. If it is a replied mail, the workflow goes to operation S 33 , where the mail collection agent module  102  processes the mail, that is, identifies different information collection tasks according to the unique transaction ID so as to be sent to the information extracting module  201  for extracting information. At operation S 34 , the mail collection agent module  102  also assigns for the mail a mail classification display attribute for use in the mail system, enabling the mail to be displayed in a special view on the user&#39;s mail client so as to be viewed by the initiator. After operation S 34 , the mail collection agent module  102  delivers the replied mail assigned the mail classification display attribute to the mail forwarding and storing module. At operation S 35 , the information extracting module  201  extracts from the mails delivered via the mail collection agent module  102  the replied information (data) to be collected, and then forwards it to the information merging module  202  for processing. At operation S 36 , the information merging module  202  merges together the information to be collected which is extracted by the information extracting module  201 , and consolidates the information into a single summary document. Moreover, the collection status monitoring module  103  monitors the progress of replying to the mail according to the transaction ID, and provides the initiator with a real-time progress report which can be contained in the summary document. 
     The summary document and the progress report are stored in the mail forwarding and storing module after operation S 36 . The mail forwarding and storing module in the mail server forwards the replied mail to the destination mailbox on the mail client side, and provides the initiator with the stored summary document and progress report. 
     An example is given with reference to  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 5C  to describe how the system for automatically collecting information according to the present invention works. 
     It is assumed in this example that a secretary (the initiator) is to collect the clothes size and favorite clothes color of the team members, and she needs to send a mail to all of the team members. Then, the system for automatically collecting information will assist her in consolidating all the replies. 
     The example is shown as two parts below: an initiator part ( FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4F ) and an replier part ( FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C ). 
     In the Initiator Part 
     The secretary (the initiator) will start working from her inbox. With reference to  FIG. 4A , it is the inbox view of the initiator, but the system for automatically collecting information adds some new features to the inbox: 
     Collection Summary View: the initiator can view all of her collection summary in this view. 
     New Collection Button: the initiator can click this button to create a new collection request mail. 
     Collection Request Category: all of the collection request mails are listed in this category, the collection request mails here are used for collecting information from the owner of the inbox, that is, the secretary is also requested to provide information necessary to be collected by another initiator. 
     Collection Response Category: all of the collection response from the repliers will be listed in this category, the category aggregates all of the replied mails to all of the information collection request initiated by the secretary. 
       FIG. 4B  shows a mail view presented after the initiator clicks the new collection button in the example. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4B , the initiator needs to input in fields of the recipients (To) and the subject after she clicked the new collection button. The following additional functions are provided in the example to assist the initiator in composing the collection: Table, Radio Button, Yes or No, and Rich Text. In this example, the initiator chooses the table and fills in the table with the information she wants to collect: name, size and color, and then clicks the Send button or the Send and File button. The collection will be sent out as a mail with a flag, the flag indicating that it is an information collection mail. 
       FIG. 4C  shows the view of the summary document when the initiator just sent out the new collection mail and there is no reply in the example. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4C , when the initiator sends out a collection request, the system for automatically collecting information will generate a summary document for gathering information from the replied mails, namely the information to be collected. The mail server will extract specific content area from the replier&#39;s mail with the flag indicating an information collection mail when it receives the replied mail, and add the extracted content to the summary document. The initiator can view all the information from the repliers who have replied in this summary document at any time. 
       FIG. 4D  shows the initiator&#39;s inbox view after the initiator receives the collection response mail in the example. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4D , all these responses will be displayed in the collection response category in the initiator&#39;s inbox when a replier makes a response to the collection just sent out by the initiator. These response mails will not be mixed into normal mails. 
       FIG. 4E  shows the collection summary view in the example. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4E , the initiator can turn to the collection summary view to view the summary of all of her collection requests. In this view, it can be seen that the initiator has sent out a collection request with a subject of “please input with your clothes size” at previous steps, and there is also listed another collection request. The initiator can perform multiple information collection tasks, all of the summary documents will be listed in this view. By clicking the summary subject, the initiator can view the details of the collection. 
       FIG. 4F  shows the view of the summary document after the initiator receives responses in this example.  FIG. 4F  shows the summary document in which 3 responses have been received from 10 requested people. All of the responses have been automatically consolidated by the system for automatically collecting information and are displayed in the response area. 
     In the Replier Part 
       FIG. 5A  shows the inbox view of the replier when the replier receives the collection request in the example. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5A , the collection request will be listed in the collection request category (refer to the description of the collection request category in  FIG. 4A  for details) of the replier&#39;s inbox view when he receives the request. The replier can click it to open. 
       FIG. 5B  shows the view when the replier opens the collection request mail from the initiator in the example. With reference to  FIG. 5B , the system for automatically collecting information adds some new features into the collection request mail view: 
     Reply Collection: if the replier decides to join in the information collection activity, he can click this button and input his information. If he doesn&#39;t want to join, he can click the Reply button or Reply to All button to reply as a normal mail. As such, his reply will be delivered to the initiator as a normal mail, but will not be consolidated by the system for automatically collecting information. 
     In this example, the replier wants to join in the collection activity, and he clicks the Reply Collection button. 
       FIG. 5C  shows a mail view presented after the replier clicks the Reply Collection button in this example. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5C , the replier can input his information and send out a reply after he clicks the Reply Collection button. In this example, the system for automatically collecting information will provide a table to the replier. The replier doesn&#39;t need to copy/paste the table to his reply mail. 
     The present invention can be applied to other messaging systems in addition to the email system. Messaging systems have similar architecture as the email system to complete storing and forwarding of a message. The system of the present invention does not participate in the storing and forwarding function per se of the message, but intercepts the message halfway, extracts and adds flags, and then performs analyzing and summarizing. To this extent, present invention can be directly applied to other messaging systems, such as instant messaging system, etc. 
       FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8  give a configuration and workflow of a system for automatically collecting information when the present invention is applied to general messaging systems, wherein  FIG. 6  illustrates a configuration of a system for automatically collecting information according to another embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 7  illustrates a workflow of a system for automatically collecting information according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrated as shown in  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 8  illustrates a workflow, on a server side, of a system for automatically collecting information according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrated as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     It can be seen from  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8  that, when the present invention is applied to a general messaging system, the system configuration and workflow are very similar to those when applied to an email system, the details are described below. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , a configuration of a system for automatically collecting information according to another embodiment of the present invention is described. 
     The system for automatically collecting information includes: a message type mark module  301 A and a summary document generation module  302 A deployed on a client side of a messaging system, and a message collector  1 A and an information consolidator  2 A deployed on a server side of the messaging system. The message collector  1 A is used for collecting messages and identifying them in category, and further includes a message type identification module  101 A, a message collection agent module  102 A, and a collection status monitoring module  103 A. The information consolidator  2 A is used for performing information consolidation, and further includes an information extracting module  201 A and an information merging module  202 A. Functions of the modules therein are similar to the corresponding modules shown in  FIG. 1 . The function of each module is described below. 
     When a message sender creates an information collection message and when a message replier replies the message information, the message type mark module  301 A provides a flag which is necessary for information collection. The flag including a flag indicating an information collection message and a initiation/reply flag, and generates a unique transaction ID (identifier) for identifying the information collection task when the sender (i.e., the information requestor, or known as initiator) creates the information collection message. 
     The summary document generation module  302 A generates a summary document of replied information when the sender sends the information collection message. The content of the document will be continuously updated as the information collection progresses. 
     The primary function of the message type identification module  101 A is to identify whether or not the sender&#39;s or the replier&#39;s message is the message for information collection. When it is confirmed that the sender&#39;s or the replier&#39;s message is the message for collecting information, the message type identification module  101 A transmits the message and the unique transaction ID thereof to the message collection agent module  102 A. 
     The message collection agent module  102 A receives the message and the unique transaction ID thereof from the message type identification module  101 A, and identifies different information collection tasks according to the unique transaction ID generated by the message type mark module  301  for the information collection message so as to send to the information extracting module  201 A for extracting information. Meanwhile the message collection agent module  102 A assigns for it a message classification display attribute to display in category in the messaging system, enabling it to be displayed in a special view on the user&#39;s client of the messaging system. 
     The collection status monitoring module  103 A provides a real-time progress report for the initiator by monitoring the progress of replying to the message with reference to each transaction ID, so that the initiator knows the progress status of the information collection. When the status of the information collection reaches completion, the collection status monitoring module  103 A notifies the initiator that the information collection has been completed. The message is delivered to the information extracting module  201 A via the message collection agent module  102 A after the replier has provided the content necessary for the information collection and sent back the replied message. The information extracting module  201 A extracts the replied information to be collected from the message, and then forwards it to the information merging module  202 A for processing. The information merging module  202 A merges together the information to be collected which is extracted by the information extracting module  201 A, and updates the information summary document as the repliers reply the message, until the information collection ends. 
     A workflow of a system for automatically collecting information according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 6  is described below with reference to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . 
     When an initiator (i.e., an information requestor) creates an information collection message on the client of the messaging system, at Operation S 71 , the message type mark module  301 A sets a flag indicating an information collection message and an initiation flag for the information collection message and generates an unique transaction ID. Then at operation S 72 , the summary document generation module  302 A generates a replied information summary document (to be described in detail below) and stores it on the server of the messaging system. 
     On the replier&#39;s client of the messaging system, when the replier replies the message, at operation S 73 , the message type mark module  301 A determines whether the message is a reply to the information collection. If the message is not the reply to the information collection, it is sent to the server of the messaging system as a normal replied message. If the message is the reply to the information collection, the workflow goes to operation S 74 , where a reply flag is set by the message type mark module  301 A, and the replied message with the information to be collected (the required data) inputted by the replier is sent to the server of the messaging system. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a workflow, on a server side of the messaging system, of a system for automatically collecting information according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The server of the messaging system receives messages from the client of the messaging system. At operation S 81 , the message type identification module  101 A determines whether a flag indicating an information collection message is set for the received message. If the flag indicating an information collection message is not set, which represents that the message is not an information collection message, the message is delivered to the message pool in the server of the messaging system as a normal message so as to be delivered to the messaging destination. If the flag indicating an information collection message is set, the workflow goes to operation S 82 , where the message collection agent module  102 A further determines whether the received message is a replied message by checking the initiation/reply flag. If it is not a replied message, it is directly delivered to the message pool. If it is a replied message, the workflow goes to operation S 83 , where the message collection agent module  102 A processes the message, that is, identifies different information collection tasks according to the unique transaction ID so as to be sent to the information extracting module  201 A for extracting information. 
     At operation S 84 , the message collection agent module  102 A also assigns for the message a message classification display attribute for use in the messaging system, enabling the message to be displayed in a special view on the user&#39;s client of the messaging system so as to be viewed by the initiator. After operation S 84 , the message collection agent module  102 A delivers the replied message assigned the message classification display attribute to the message pool. At operation S 85 , the information extracting module  201 A extracts from the messages delivered via the message collection agent module  102 A the replied information (data) to be collected, and then forwards it to the information merging module  202 A for processing. At operation S 86 , the information merging module  202 A merges together the information to be collected which is extracted by the information extracting module  201 A, and consolidates the information into a single summary document. Moreover, the collection status monitoring module  103 A monitors the progress of replying the message according to the transaction ID, and provides the initiator with a real-time progress report which can be contained in the summary document. The summary document and the progress report are stored in the message pool after operation S 86 . The server of the messaging system forwards the replied message to the messaging destination (i.e. the initiator&#39;s messaging client) through the forwarding and storing function, and provides the initiator with the stored summary document and progress report. 
     The present invention can be further enhanced in function. For example, a predefined collection pattern template can be provided. The isomorphic data in replies make it easy to automatically consolidate information in a smaller information granularity (such as cells in a table), which can save the time of the information collection initiator, especially save the time for the information collection initiator to design the template of the information collection. 
     The present invention can further provide a function of automatically merging attachments, namely, automatically merging the information collection attachments in the information collection request messages, which can save the time for the information collection initiator to open and merge each attachment.