Patent ID: 8296376

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of increasing email correspondence responsiveness, the method comprising: detecting, at a computer processor, a first set of email messages transmitted by a first correspondent to a second correspondent; creating a tracking record based on the responsiveness of the second correspondent to each email message of the first set of email messages; performing a first statistical analysis of the tracking record; generating a set of responsiveness metrics based on the first statistical analysis; detecting new outgoing email messages addressed to the second correspondent; and providing a user-configurable email message format for each detected outgoing message, the user-configurable email message format being configured to increase effective email response time from the second correspondent, and the user-configurable email message format being based on the set of responsiveness metrics; wherein the user-configurable email message format includes a set of selectable alert options to the first correspondent using a set of user interface controls, and wherein the set of selectable alert options includes a first option and a second option, the first option being for a first alert to be provided if the expected time at which the second correspondent will send a reply message to the new outgoing email message has passed, and the second option for a second alert to be provided upon the first correspondent composing a follow-up email message to the new outgoing email message to the second correspondent in the message composition window if the expected time at which the second correspondent will send a reply message to the new outgoing email message has not passed.