Abstract:
A system and method for reducing conflict between parties that must communicate with each other are disclosed. In its most basic form, the invention is embodied in a system comprising the steps of: pairing users with system-specific unique address (e.g. e-mail address or text message destination number); receiving each electronic message and edit it as necessary in order to eliminate inflammatory or inappropriate language; and sending the edited electronic message to the intended recipient user, optionally with a copy of the edited electronic message also sent to the sending user.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to co-pending United States provisional patent application entitled “System for Reducing Conflict Between Parties That Must Communicate With Each Other,” having Ser. No. 61/745,059, filed on Dec. 21, 2012, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a system and method for reducing conflict between parties that must communicate with each other. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELEVANT ART 
       [0003]    All communication has the potential to include hostile or otherwise inappropriate elements. Most of the time, hostile or otherwise inappropriate communication is self-correcting. For example, one of the parties to the hostile communication simply stops the unwanted communication (i.e., “hangs up”). 
         [0004]    There are circumstances, however, where communication must continue even if it has been historically hostile. Divorcing or divorced parents are one example of such a circumstance. Almost all divorcing or divorced parents must continue to communicate on a regular basis. Unfortunately, constructive communication between divorced or divorcing parents is too often overwhelmed by intense emotions, making it practically impossible for the parties to effectively and properly communicate with each another. 
         [0005]    Hostile communication environments typically become even more volatile with e-mail. The presently known system of e-mail does not lend itself well to moderating an e-mail prior to it reaching its destination. As shown in  FIG. 1 , current e-mail systems primarily comprise four elements: (1) a sender&#39;s message transfer agent (or “MTA”), (2) a receiver&#39;s MTA, (3) a storage database, and (4) a mail user agent (or “MUA”). As those in the art know, the term “MTA” or “message transfer agent” refers to software that handles either sending or receiving an e-mail message from another MTA. “MUA” refers to software for e-mail users to access stored messages (e.g., POP3, IMAP, HTTP). The MTA works in the background, while the e-mail user usually interacts directly with the MUA. Depending on the MUA, e-mail messages may be downloaded to a local computer or simply displayed on a local computer but stored on a database remote to the user. 
         [0006]    In operation, presently known e-mail typically follows these basic steps: (1) a receiver&#39;s MTA  20  receives mail from a sender&#39;s MTA  10 , wherein the transmission details are specified by the simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP); (2) the receiver&#39;s MTA  20  takes the inbound message and saves to a stored database  30  (typically, a mail server); and (3) the receiver&#39;s MUA logs into the database and retrieves the message for display on the receiver&#39;s computer  40 . 
         [0007]    In practice, it is quick and easy to create a nasty, hurtful e-mail and press the send button. And as anyone who has used e-mail or other types of messaging knows, e-mail cannot currently be retrieved or intercepted once sent. As such, currently known e-mail systems cannot allow e-mail interception/editing prior to the e-mail reaching its destination after the e-mail has been sent. Thus, current hostile environment e-mail communication includes not only the necessary information but also the unnecessary, hostile, or otherwise inappropriate information. 
         [0008]    In this light, what is needed is a communication system that can strip out the inflammatory parts of an e-mail prior to viewing by the receiver. That way, only the factual information gets conveyed (i.e., “can you pick up Johnny from practice on Friday night”), thereby eliminating sparks that would otherwise ignite future conflict. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The structure, overall operation and technical characteristics of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of a preferred embodiment and the illustration of the related drawings as follows. For ease of discussion, the term “e-mail” and “electronic message” will be used in this specification, but those terms should be understood broadly to include the various forms of electronic messaging, such as e-mail, text-messaging, tweeting, and other types of electronic communication. 
         [0010]    The present invention is incorporated in a system and method for reducing conflict between parties that must communicate with each other. In its most basic form, the invention is embodied in a system comprising the following steps: 
         [0011]    1. A system host provides paired users (e.g., divorced parents) with system-specific unique e-mail addresses; 
         [0012]    2. The paired users send e-mail to each other using only the system-specific addresses; 
         [0013]    3. The system host will receive each e-mail and edit it as necessary in order to eliminate inflammatory or inappropriate language; 
         [0014]    4. After the system host has completed its review and stripped the e-mail of the offending content, the system host sends the e-mail to the intended recipient user, with a copy of the edited message also sent to the sending user. 
         [0015]    One object of this invention is to reduce conflict between parties that must communicate with each other by an on-line, supervised interception/intervention process (which may include e-mail, text or IM messages, or web communications) providing positive, helpful structure and screening to its users in order to help them reduce conflict by teaching them to effectively communicate in situations which otherwise can lead to negative, counter-productive or confrontational communications. 
         [0016]    Another object of this invention is to help users communicate in situations that may give rise to conflict and confrontation without the counter-productive emotions and provocative language often expressed in communications, while ensuring the writer is able to effectively communicate necessary information. 
         [0017]    Another object of this invention is to provide individuals with a “teaching” experience through feedback demonstrating how to effectively and properly communicate. 
         [0018]    Another object of this invention is to teach the user, by example, how to communicate appropriately, without needing to use this invention in the future. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS OR PICTURES 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is flow chart illustrating the typical prior art flow for e-mail. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is flow chart illustrating the preferred embodiment of the system. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    For ease of discussion, the term “pair” will be used in this specification to mean two real people communicating using the conflict reduction system  100 , but the invention disclosed herein applies equally to more than two similarly situated people. Likewise the term “auditor” means an employee of the system host tasked with editing inbound messages prior to their delivery to the final receiver, but it should also be construed to include automated software capable of performing the same function. 
         [0022]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the preferred conflict reduction system  100  (sometimes, system  100 ) generally comprises a system host MTA  110 , a conflict reduction database  120 , an auditor interface  130  and at least one auditor  140 . Prior to using the system  100 , the system host provides new users with system-specific unique e-mail addresses. In addition, the system host links paired users to each other in the conflict reduction database  120 . 
         [0023]    In operation, a first user sends an e-mail to a second user using the system-specific e-mail address. The system host MTA  110  stores the e-mail in the conflict reduction database  120  for access and optional modification by an auditor  140  via the auditor interface  130  prior to sending the e-mail to the receiver&#39;s MTA  20 . The auditor interface  130  may be displayed on any type of electronic displays, such as a computer screen or a touch screen of a mobile device. The system (either via the system host MTA  110  or the auditor interface  130 ) may notify the auditor that a new e-email is waiting for auditing in the database. 
         [0024]    One way to implement this system is to employ four basic modules: a signup module, an e-mail intake module, an audit module and e-mail delivery module. In the preferred signup module, the system host links a first user and a second user to create a pair and stores that information in the conflict reduction database  120 . In the preferred e-mail intake module, the system host MTA  110  receives user e-mail and stores in in the system host database  120 . In the preferred audit module, an auditor  140  can log into and access the system host database  120  via a web application  130  to review and edit user e-mail, and the web application  130  may automatically adjust its layout for properly displaying the e-mail to be edited on any type of electronic displays. Either the preferred e-mail intake module or the preferred audit module may notify the auditor  140  of the incoming e-mail that has been stored in the system host database  120 , waiting to be audited. And finally, in the preferred e-mail delivery module, the system host can send audited user e-mail to a receiver&#39;s MTA  20 . In this way, a first user can send an e-mail to a second user&#39;s e-mail address and have it reviewed and modified by an auditor before the e-mail is received by the second user. 
       Example Embodiment 
     Signup Via Web Application 
       [0025]    For the purpose of discussion, a user pair comprises a first user and a second user. The first user signs up via a web application, supplying her e-mail address and a unique identifier to create the pair, such as a case number. In this example, the first user has an e-mail address of jane@yahoo.com. The system host would then create a system-specific e-mail address, preferably with some random characters, such as jane-07abd@systemhost.com. 
         [0026]    The first user (Jane) is provided with the virtual e-mail address at signup so she can give it to the paired second user (e.g., Mark). When the second user signs up to the web application, the unique identifier is used to determine if the person is the other member of the pair (i.e., Mark). If so, the new signup is immediately provided with the first user&#39;s (i.e., Jane&#39;s) system-specific e-mail address. 
         [0027]    The system host also notifies Jane of the other party (Mark) signing up, providing her with his newly-created system specific e-mail address. In this example, the second user (Mark) would have an address of mark-6651a@systemhost.com. 
         [0028]    At no point do Jane and Mark need to see each other&#39;s true e-mail addresses in the system. 
       Example Embodiment 
     Delivery and Audit 
       [0029]    Again turning to  FIG. 2 , the sender&#39;s MTA  10  connects to system host MTA  110 . The system host MTA  110  uses the sender&#39;s originating e-mail address and the receiver&#39;s virtual e-mail address to determine which pair is communicating. If the receiver is a system host employee, custom processing halts here and the message is delivered normally. Otherwise, the inbound message is stored in a system host queue  120  for transaction processing. 
         [0030]    Next, a logged-in auditor  140  is notified and may edit the message via a web application  130 . 
         [0031]    After edits are complete, system host&#39;s web application  130  delivers the message to the receiver&#39;s MTA  20 . Optionally, the host web application  130  can also deliver a copy of the edited e-mail back to the sender&#39;s MTA  10 , preferably with some tips selected by the auditor  140 . 
         [0032]    Alternate Delivery Methods 
         [0033]    Instead of e-mail, the system  100  can be adapted to allow message receipt via a text SMS message. In that case, the message is delivered to a single system host number, such as 602-444-5000. The sender&#39;s phone number is used to identify the pair and thus the final recipient phone number for when the audit process is done. 
         [0034]    Likewise, other messaging protocols such as GTalk and ICQ can be implemented by creating virtual contacts within the system on the existing virtual e-mail addresses. Each party then adds the virtual contact to his/her IM friends list to communicate through the system. 
         [0035]    While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those ordinarily skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.