Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to composing electronic messages using predefined templates, and more particularly to composing and sending electronic messages using predefined templates including personalization symbols. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It may take a considerable amount of time before a user may send a meaningful response to an electronic message such as, for example, an email. If the electronic message is not quickly replied to, there is also a high likelihood that the user may forget to respond altogether. Thus, there may be a need to send brief responses to electronic messages from multiple people to make quick acknowledgements of receipt. There also may be a need to send out electronic messages to multiple recipients with similar contents. However, in sending out a brief response or sending out similar electronic messages to multiple people, there may be a further need to quickly personalize each electronic message without losing much efficiency. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method for sending a personalized electronic message using predefined templates including personalization symbols is provided. The method includes receiving a selection of an electronic message template from a user, wherein the electronic message template is stored in a data structure and wherein the electronic message template comprises a predefined personalization symbol for personalizing the electronic message template. The method also includes obtaining the electronic message template from the data structure, and generating content for inclusion in a personalized electronic message body based on the electronic message template, the step of generating comprising replacing the personalization symbol, based on a predefined rule, with a default value associated with the personalization symbol. The method further includes providing a draft electronic message comprising the personalized electronic message body. 
     According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for sending a personalized email using predefined templates including personalization symbols is provided. The system includes a memory storing an email template comprising a predefined personalization symbol and a placeholder symbol for personalizing the email template, and storing executable instructions. The system also includes a processor configured to execute the stored executable instructions to receive a selection of the email template from a user, obtain the email template from the memory, and generate content for inclusion in a personalized email body based on the email template, the step of generating comprising replacing the personalization symbol, based on a predefined rule, with a default value associated with the personalization symbol. The processor is also configured to prompt the user to enter a custom message based on the placeholder symbol, receive the custom message from the user, and incorporate the custom message into the personalized email body. The processor is further configured to provide a draft email comprising the personalized email body to the user. 
     According to a further embodiment of the disclosure, a machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions for causing a processor to execute a method for sending a personalized email using predefined templates including personalization symbols is provided. The method includes receiving a selection of an email template from a user, wherein the email template is stored in a data structure and wherein the email template comprises a predefined personalization symbol and a placeholder symbol for personalizing the email template. The method also includes obtaining the email template from the data structure and generating content for inclusion in a personalized email body based on the email template, the step of generating comprising replacing the personalization symbol, based on a predefined rule, with a default value associated with the personalization symbol, and replacing the placeholder symbol with a prompt message for prompting the user to enter a custom message. The method further includes receiving the custom message, incorporating the custom message into the personalized email body, and providing an email comprising the personalized email body to a recipient. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A detailed description will be made with references to the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example system for sending email using predefined templates (“system”) according to certain aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example server and a client in the system of  FIG. 1  according to certain aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example process of the system for sending email using predefined templates according to certain aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example flow diagram of instructions a processor of the system may execute according to certain aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example email template generation user interface for generating the email template according to certain aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system with which the server and the client of the system may be implemented according to certain aspects of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a full understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one ordinarily skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the disclosure. 
     According to the various aspects of the subject technology, systems and methods for sending electronic messages using predefined templates are provided. A user of an electronic message such as, for example, email, may wish to quickly send out a message in response to a received message, or may wish to quickly send out multiple messages to multiple recipients. For example, the user may wish to send out a quick reply on the go, or confirm receipt of numerous applications for a graduate school program. Standard-language emails may be used for such instances. Such emails typically contain identical, generic contents which apply to all recipients and usually address the recipients with generic greetings such as, for example, “To whom it may concern,” or “Dear Sir/Madam.” The standard language emails provide an efficient means of acknowledging receipt of emails or sending out emails to multiple recipients. However, there may be a need to add some personalization to the emails without sacrificing the efficiency of having standard languages. For example, users may wish to use a standard language, but address the recipient by his or her first name, or may wish to add a personalized signature. While the descriptions below will generally refer to emails, other types of electronic messages such as, for example, text messages, instant messaging service messages, blog posts, and social networking service posts may also be used. 
     The system may provide one or more predefined email templates which a user may select to use as a basis for an email. Each template may be a standard language email message containing personalization symbols which are automatically replaced with default values based on predetermined rules. The personalization symbols may represent a variety of aspects of an email which the user may wish to have personalized. For example, a symbol “$f_receiver$” may represent the first name of the recipient. Thus when a user selects a template including the symbol “$f_receiver$”, the system may replace the symbol with the first name of the recipient. 
     The actual values represented by the symbols may be obtained in a variety of ways, depending on what type of values the symbols represent. In the foregoing example, the first name of the recipient may be determined by looking up the user&#39;s contact list based on the email address entered in the “To:” field. Other symbols may include, for example, a symbol representing today&#39;s date, the recipient&#39;s address, and the sender&#39;s full name. The actual values represented by these types of symbols may be obtained, for example, from the system calendar (date), contact list (recipient&#39;s address), or system settings (sender&#39;s full name). 
     After the system has replaced the symbols with their corresponding default values according to the predetermined rules, the user may review the default values and may either keep the default values or override them. For example, after the system replaces the symbol “$f_receiver$” with the first name of the recipient, the user may decide that it would be more appropriate to address the recipient by his or her last name, and manually type in the last name in place of the first name. 
     Another type of symbol may be provided to serve as placeholders to prompt the user to type in a custom message to the recipient. For example, in a template for sending a quick response to a graduate school application, the symbol may serve as a placeholder and prompt the sender to type in a message which makes specific references to parts of the recipient&#39;s application. Unique placeholder symbols are associated with different prompt messages to which the symbols may be converted upon application of the template. The personalization symbols may be predefined in the system, or the symbols and their associated prompt messages may be received from the user. For example, the system may include a predetermined symbol “$prompt_personalized_signature$” which is associated with the prompt message “PLEASE TYPE IN YOUR PERSONALIZED SIGNATURE HERE.” As another example, the system may receive from the user a placeholder symbol “$prompt_personalized_greetings”. This placeholder symbol is not predefined in the system, and the user also provides the system with the prompt message “PLEASE TYPE IN YOUR PERSONALIZED GREETING HERE,” to which the placeholder symbol will be converted to upon application of the template. In the following descriptions, the symbols which are replaced with default values based on predetermined rules are referred to as “personalization symbols,” and the symbols serving as placeholders to prompt the user to type in a message are referred to as “placeholder symbols.” 
     A list of the symbols contained in the current template may be separately shown to the user. Using the list, the user may conveniently identify, review, and determine whether to override the symbols. 
     The system provides a user interface (“UI”) for accessing the templates. The user is presented with a drop-down menu, listing the templates available to the user. The user may access the drop-down menu and select an appropriate menu item to access the desired template. Instead of a drop-down menu, other types of UI for accessing the symbols may also be provided. 
     The system also provides the user with a template generation UI for generating an email template. The personalization and placeholder symbols are represented as buttons on a template generation UI. The template generation UI includes two types of symbol buttons: (i) personalization symbol buttons and (ii) placeholder symbol buttons. (i) The personalization symbol buttons are provided for inserting symbols, such as a symbol representing the first name of the recipient. Buttons for inserting personalization symbols representing other types of information, such as, for example, last name and current date may also be included in the UI. The user may click on the buttons to insert the corresponding symbol. For example, if the user clicks on the button representing the first name, then the symbol $f_receiver$ is inserted in the email template. The system will automatically replace these personalization symbols with their default values based on predetermined rules if the user selects and uses the template. (ii) The placeholder symbol buttons—these buttons are provided for inserting placeholder symbols in the email template. If the user clicks this button, the system will prompt the user to enter the name of a predefined placeholder symbol. After the user enters in the name of the predefined placeholder symbol, the symbol is placed in the email template. For example, the personalization symbol $prompt_personalized_signature$ may be predefined to be associated with the prompt message “PLEASE TYPE IN YOUR PERSONALIZED SIGNATURE HERE.” Therefore, if the user enters “$prompt_personalized_signature$”, the symbol is placed in the email template, and this symbol the system will replace this symbol with the prompt message “PLEASE TYPE IN YOUR PERSONALIZED SIGNATURE HERE,” if the email template is applied. The prompt message may also be highlighted. The user may also provide a user-defined placeholder symbol and its associated message prompt. 
     Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates an example system  100  for sending email using predefined templates. The system  100  includes servers  110  and clients  120  connected over a network  130 . Each of the clients  120  may interact with users, and communicate with the servers  110  to compose and send emails using templates. The servers  110  may be any device having an appropriate processor, memory, and communications capability for communicating with the clients  120  and sending emails. The clients  120  may be, for example, desktop computers, laptop computers, mobile devices (e.g., a smart phone, tablet computer, or PDA), set top boxes (e.g., for a television), televisions, video game consoles, home appliances (e.g. a refrigerator, microwave oven, washer, or dryer) or any other devices having appropriate processor, memory, and communications capabilities. The network  130  may include, for example, any one or more of a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a campus area network (CAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a broadband network (BBN), the Internet, and the like. Further, the network  150  can include, but is not limited to, any one or more of the following network topologies, including a bus network, a star network, a ring network, a mesh network, a star-bus network, tree or hierarchical network, and the like. The system  100  may comprise only servers  110 , or may comprise only clients  120 , in communication with the network  130 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram  200  illustrating an example server  110  and a client  120  in the system  100  of  FIG. 1  according to certain aspects of the disclosure. The server  110  and the client  120  are connected over the network  130  via respective communications modules  214  and  224 . The communications modules  214  and  224  are configured to interface with the network  130  to send and receive information, such as data, requests, responses, and commands to the other devices or systems on the network. The communications modules  214  and  224  may be, for example, modems, Ethernet cards or mobile broadband adaptors. 
     The server  110  includes a processor  212 , the communications module  214  and a memory  216  that includes one or more email templates  232 , one or more emails  234 , an email template generation module  236 , and an email generation module  238 . The memory  216  may also include a contact list  240  and one or more personalized email bodies  242 . The email template generation module  236  stores instructions for displaying the email template generation UI and generating an email template  232  based on user input. The email generation module  238  stores instructions for generating an email based on an email template  232  and user input. The contact list  240  stores the contact information of the user&#39;s contact entities. The contact information stores information such as, for example, the contact entities&#39; email addresses, names, and home/work addresses. The personalized email body  242  is generated based on the email template  232  by replacing the symbols of the email template with their default values or prompt messages, depending on the type of the symbols. The email  234  is generated based on the personalized email body  242  and user inputs. 
     The client  120  includes a processor  222 , the communications module  224 , and a memory  226  that includes a client application  244 . The client application  244  may provide the user an interface to provide input for generating the email  234  using the templates  232 . The client application  244  may be, for example, an email client, a web browser, or an application of a mobile device. The client  120  also includes an input device  202 , such as a keyboard, touch screen, or mouse, to receive user inputs. The client  120  further includes an output device  204 , such as a monitor, printer, or projector. Instructions for causing the processors  212  and  222  to generate and send an email using predefined templates are also stored in the memory  216  and memory  226 . The instructions may be spread across the memories  216  and  226 , or may be stored entirely in either memory  216  or  226 . The instructions may be physically coded to the processors  212  and  222 . The instructions may be spread across the processors  212  and  222 , or may be entirely encoded in either processor  212  or  222 . 
     While  FIG. 2  illustrates both the server  110  and the client  120  communicating with each other over the network  130 , the system  100  may comprise only the server  110  incorporating all the features of the client  120 . The system  100  also may include only the client  120  incorporating all the features of the server  110 . 
       FIG. 3  is a conceptual diagram  300  illustrating an example process of a system for sending email using predefined templates (e.g., system  100 ). An example email template  310  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The email template  310  may be, for example, an email template  232 . The example email template  310  includes an email body  312  including a standard language to become part of an email, a personalization symbol  314 , and a placeholder symbol  316 . While the example email template  310  includes both the personalization symbol  314  and the placeholder symbol  316 , an email template  232  may include either only personalization symbol  314  or only placeholder symbol  316 . 
     The personalization symbol  314  represents a default value determined based on a predetermined rule. The predetermined rule may be, for example, identifying the name of the symbol and fetching a value based on the identified name. More specifically, the rule may instruct the system that if the name of the personalization symbol  314  is “$f_receiver$”, identify the email address of the recipient from the “To:” field, determine the first name of the recipient based on the contact list  240 , and replace the personalization symbol with the first name of the recipient. As another example, if the personalization symbol  314  is “$f_todays_date$”, identify today&#39;s date from a system calendar and replace the symbol with today&#39;s date. Other types of personalization symbols and predetermined rules may also be available. If the user selects the email template  310 , the system converts the personalization symbol  314  to a default value according to the predetermined rule. 
     The example email  310  also includes a placeholder symbol  316 . The placeholder symbol  316  is associated with a prompt message. If the user selects the email template  310 , the system converts the placeholder symbol  316  with the associated prompt message. The placeholder symbol  316  and its associated prompt message may be predefined in the system. The placeholder symbol  316  and its associated message may also be received from the user. The prompt message associated with the placeholder symbol  316  replaces the placeholder symbol when the user applies the email template  310 , and prompts the user to type in a desired message in place of the prompt. For example, the placeholder symbol  316  is replaced with bold-faced text placed among the text of the email body  312  such that the prompt message may be easily identified by the user. The user may recognize the prompt message, and type in a custom message in the place of the prompt message. 
     When the user selects the email template  310  and applies the template to an email, the system replaces any personalization symbol  314  and placeholder symbol  316  of the template  310  with appropriate values or messages as described above, and generates a personalized email body  330  (e.g., personalized email body  242 ). In the example personalized email body  330 , the personalization symbol  314  is replaced with its default value  332 . As discussed above, the system replaces the personalization symbol  314  based on a predetermined rule for the symbol. The personalization symbol  314  illustrated in  FIG. 3  is for a first name of the recipient, and its associated predetermined rule causes the system to look up the first name of the user in a contact list (e.g., contact list  240 ) based on an email address in the “To:” field. Therefore, in the example personalized email body  330 , the system replaced the symbol  314  with the first name of the recipient as a default value  332 . 
     The example email template  310  also includes a placeholder symbol  316 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a placeholder symbol  316  which has an associated prompt message  334  which reads “PLEASE TYPE IN YOUR PERSONALIZED SIGNATURE HERE.” Therefore, in the example personalized email body  330 , the system replaced the placeholder symbol  316  with the prompt message  334  in the text of the email body  312 . 
     The user may view the example personalized email body  330 , and recognize the prompt message  334 . Based on the text of the prompt message  334 , the user may replace the prompt message with a desired custom message. The prompt message  334  is made prominent to the user so that the user may easily identify the prompt message. For example, the text of the prompt message  334  may be in all capital letters, bold faced, highlighted, or encased in a box. Other means for making the prompt message  334  may also be used such as, for example, flashing the message prompt, displaying a pop-up window pointing to the prompt message, having a font different from the rest of the email body  330 , or preceding and following the prompt message with a special character such as “*”. 
     The default value  332  is also made prominent to the user, so that the user may easily identify them. The default value  332  may be made prominent in the same manner as the prompt message  334 . The default value  332  may also be made prominent in a manner different from the prompt message  334  so that the user may easily distinguish between the two. The user may identify the default value  332 , and may choose to override the default value with a desired value or message. For example, in the example personalized email body  330 , the system replaced the personalization symbol  314  with the default value  332  which reads “Joe.” However, the user may wish to replace the default value  332  with a value which reads “Mr. Smith.” 
     The system may provide a symbol list UI (not shown) which displays a list of the default values  332  and prompt messages  334  of the example personalized email body  330 . Using the symbol list UI, the user may conveniently identify the prompt messages  334  and replace the prompt messages with custom messages. The user may also use the symbol list UI to identify any default values  332  that the user may wish to override. 
       FIG. 3  also shows an example finalized email  350  (e.g., email  234 ). The email includes the personalized email body  330 . In the finalized email, the prompt messages  334  of the personalized email body  330  and any default values  332  that the user wishes to override with a new value may be replaced. The finalized email  350  illustrates that the user did not opt to change the default value  332 , but replaced the prompt message  334  with a custom message  352 , which reads “Yours truly.” The system may notify the user if the user has not replaced all prompt messages  334  with custom messages  352 . For example, a pop-up window pointing to the prompt messages  334  may be displayed to the user if the user tries to send out the finalized email  350  without replacing the prompt messages. In an aspect of the invention, the system will not allow the user to send out the finalized email  350  unless all the prompt messages  334  have been replaced. The finalized email  350  also includes features such as, for example, a “To:” field and a subject line. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example flow diagram  400  of instructions for sending email using predefined templates. The instructions may be executed, for example, by the processor  212 . As discussed above, the instructions may also be executed, for example, by the processor  222  or by both processors  212  and  222 . In step  402 , the processor executes instructions to receive a selection of an email template (e.g., email template  232 ) from the user. In step  404 , the email template is obtained, and in step  406 , the processor executes instructions to replace any personalization symbols (e.g., personalization symbols  314 ) with their associated default values (e.g., default values  332 ) according to the predetermined rules, to generate a personalized email body (e.g., personalized email body  242 ). In step  408 , placeholder symbols (e.g., placeholder symbols  316 ) are replaced with their associated prompt messages (e.g., prompt messages  334 ). 
     In step  410 , the processor executes instructions to determine if any input from the user for overriding the default values is received. If such input is received, in step  412 , the default value is replaced in the personalized email body based on the override input. If no such input is received or after step  412 , in step  414 , custom messages (e.g., custom messages  352 ) for replacing the prompt messages are received. In step  416 , the prompt messages are replaced with the received custom messages in the personalized email body. In step  418 , the processor executes instructions to determine whether all the prompt messages have been replaced. If so, in step  420 , an email (e.g., email  234 ) is generated which includes the personalized email body and is sent to the recipient. If not all prompt messages are replaced, then the process is repeated from step  414 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example email template generation UI  500  for generating an email template (e.g., email template  232 ) according to certain aspects of the disclosure. An email template generation module (e.g., email template generation module  236 ) may store the instructions for generating the email template generation UI  500  and generating the email template based on the UI. The UI  500  includes a template body section  502  for displaying the email template being generated, and a list of symbols to insert  504 , which lists available symbols to insert into the template. The list  504  includes the buttons  506  for inserting personalization symbols (e.g., personalization symbols  314 ), and a button  508  for inserting placeholder symbols (e.g., placeholder symbols  316 ). The user may click on one of the buttons  506  and  508  to insert a desired symbol into the email template. Each of the buttons  506  is associated with a predetermined symbol to be replaced according to predefined rules. For example,  FIG. 5  illustrates that the user has clicked on a button  506   a  associated with inserting a symbol for a first name of the recipient. By clicking the button  506   a , the user has inserted the personalization symbol into the template body  502 . This symbol will be replaced with a default value (e.g., default value  332 ) according to a predetermined rule associated with this symbol when the user later selects the email template. The personalization symbol is identified by a predefined character to distinguish the symbol from the rest of the text of the email template. For example, the symbol may begin and end with a character “$”. Other characters or identifiers may also be used, or other means may be used to distinguish the symbol from the rest of the text of the template body  502 . 
     In an aspect of the invention, the UI  500  may also include a UI element (not shown) which allows the user to define a custom personalization symbol and its associated rule for replacing with a default value. For example, if the user does not see a button  506  corresponding to a desired type of personalization symbol, the user may access a separate button for defining a custom personalization symbol to define the desired symbol and its associated rules. A separate application programming interface (“API”) may be provided for defining the symbols and rules. 
       FIG. 5  also illustrates that the user has clicked on the button  508  to insert a placeholder symbol. After the user clicks on the button  508 , the user is prompted to indicate the desired placeholder symbol. The user is prompted by being displayed a message box  510 . The message box  510  prompts the user to enter a desired placeholder symbol and its associated prompt message (e.g., prompt message  334 ). A list of predefined placeholder symbols which have predetermined associated prompt messages may be shown to the user in the message box  510 . The user may select a predefined symbol from the list, and the selected symbol is inserted into the email template. In this case the user does not have to provide a separate associated prompt message since one has been already predefined in the system. The user may also define his or her own placeholder symbol and its associated prompt message. The message box  510  shows a user entering in his or her own symbol and prompt message. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system  600  with which the server  110  and the client  120  of the system  100  may be implemented. In certain aspects, the computer system  600  may be implemented using hardware or a combination of software and hardware, either in a dedicated server, or integrated into another entity, or distributed across multiple entities. 
     Computer system  600  (e.g., server  110  and client  120 ) includes a bus  608  or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor  602  (e.g., processors  212  and  222 ) coupled with bus  608  for processing information. By way of example, the computer system  600  may be implemented with one or more processors  602 . Processor  602  may be a general-purpose microprocessor, a microcontroller, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a controller, a state machine, gated logic, discrete hardware components, or any other suitable entity that can perform calculations or other manipulations of information. 
     Computer system  600  can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or a combination of one or more of them stored in an included memory  604  (e.g., memories  216  and  226 ), such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, or any other suitable storage device, coupled to bus  608  for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor  602 . The processor  602  and the memory  604  can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry. 
     The instructions may be stored in the memory  604  and implemented in one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a computer-readable medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, the computer system  600 , and according to any method well known to those of skill in the art, including, but not limited to, computer languages such as data-oriented languages (e.g., SQL, dBase), system languages (e.g., C, Objective-C, C++, Assembly), architectural languages (e.g., Java, .NET), and application languages (e.g., PHP, Ruby, Perl, Python). Instructions may also be implemented in computer languages such as array languages, aspect-oriented languages, assembly languages, authoring languages, command line interface languages, compiled languages, concurrent languages, curly-bracket languages, dataflow languages, data-structured languages, declarative languages, esoteric languages, extension languages, fourth-generation languages, functional languages, interactive mode languages, interpreted languages, iterative languages, list-based languages, little languages, logic-based languages, machine languages, macro languages, metaprogramming languages, multiparadigm languages, numerical analysis, non-English-based languages, object-oriented class-based languages, object-oriented prototype-based languages, off-side rule languages, procedural languages, reflective languages, rule-based languages, scripting languages, stack-based languages, synchronous languages, syntax handling languages, visual languages, wirth languages, and xml-based languages. Memory  804  may also be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor  602 . 
     A computer program as discussed herein does not necessarily correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network. The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. 
     Computer system  600  further includes a data storage device  606  such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, coupled to bus  608  for storing information and instructions. Computer system  600  may be coupled via input/output module  610  to various devices. The input/output module  610  can be any input/output module. Example input/output modules  610  include data ports such as USB ports. The input/output module  610  is configured to connect to a communications module  612 . Example communications modules  612  include networking interface cards, such as Ethernet cards and modems. In certain aspects, the input/output module  610  is configured to connect to a plurality of devices, such as an input device  614  and/or an output device  616 . Example input devices  614  include a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which a user can provide input to the computer system  600 . Other kinds of input devices  614  can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well, such as a tactile input device, visual input device, audio input device, or brain-computer interface device. For example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, tactile, or brain wave input. Example output devices  816  include display devices, such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user, and printing devices, such as a laser printer, an ink jet printer or a dot matrix printer. 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the server  110  and client  120  can be implemented using a computer system  600  in response to processor  602  executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in memory  604 . Such instructions may be read into memory  604  from another machine-readable medium, such as data storage device  606 . Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in main memory  604  causes processor  602  to perform the process steps described herein. One or more processors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute the sequences of instructions contained in memory  604 . In alternative aspects, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement various aspects of the present disclosure. Thus, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. 
     Various aspects of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the subject matter described in this specification, or any combination of one or more such back end, middleware, or front end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. The communication network (e.g., network  130 ) can include, for example, any one or more of a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a campus area network (CAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a broadband network (BBN), the Internet, and the like. Further, the communication network can include, but is not limited to, for example, any one or more of the following network topologies, including a bus network, a star network, a ring network, a mesh network, a star-bus network, tree or hierarchical network, or the like. The communications modules can be, for example, modems or Ethernet cards. 
     Computing system  600  can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other. Computer system  600  can be, for example, and without limitation, a desktop computer, laptop computer, or tablet computer. Computer system  600  can also be embedded in another device, for example, and without limitation, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio player, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a video game console, and/or a television set top box. 
     The term “machine-readable storage medium” or “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any medium or media that participates in providing instructions to processor  602  for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as data storage device  606 . Volatile media include dynamic memory, such as memory  804 . Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus  608 . Common forms of machine-readable media include, for example, floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read. The machine-readable storage medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition of matter effecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combination of one or more of them. 
     While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of particular implementations of the subject matter. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
     Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the aspects described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all aspects, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products. 
     The subject matter of this specification has been described in terms of particular aspects, but other aspects can be implemented and are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Other variations are within the scope of the following claims. 
     These and other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: g