REPLY EMAIL CLARIFICATION
A method and system for clarifying reply communications is provided. The method includes receiving an email comprising first data and generating a reply email including reply data associated with the email. Email reply check functionality is enabled and a first group of sentences comprising every sentence from the first data within the recent history section of the reply email is identified. A second group of sentences comprising every sentence from the reply data of the reply email is identified and the first group of sentences is validated with respect to the second group of sentences. Discrepancies between the first group of sentences with respect to the second group of sentences are determined and presented user via an alert based interface and a resulting modified reply email is generated.
This application is a continuation application claiming priority to Ser. No. 14/225,735 filed Mar. 26, 2014 which is a divisional application claiming priority to Ser. No. 12/868,078 filed Aug. 25, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,775,530 issued Jul. 8, 2014.
FIELDThe present invention relates to a method and associated system for managing communications for individuals.
BACKGROUNDManaging multiple communications between parties typically comprises an inefficient process with little flexibility. Parties are typically allowed to communicate without any regard to additional factors. Parties communicating without regard to additional factors may result in communication issues.
SUMMARYA first aspect of the invention provides a method comprising: receiving, by a computer processor of a computing device for a user, an email comprising first data; generating, by the computer processor in response to a command and reply data from the user, a reply email associated with the email, the reply email comprising the reply data and the first data; enabling, by the computer processor, email reply check functionality; identifying from a body and a subject section of a recent history section of the reply email, by the computer processor in response to the enabling, a first group of sentences comprising every sentence from the first data within the recent history section of the reply email; identifying from a body and a subject section of the reply email, by the computer processor in response to the enabling, a second group of sentences comprising every sentence from the reply data of the reply email; validating, by the computer processor, the first group of sentences with respect to the second group of sentences via a phrase percentage matching method; determining, by the computer processor based on results of the validating, discrepancies between the first group of sentences with respect to the second group of sentences, wherein the discrepancies comprise subject item text from the email that have not been addressed in the reply email generating, by the computer processor, an alert based interface, presenting the discrepancies; presenting, by the computer processor to the user via the alert based interface, an editing option associated with addressing the discrepancies; receiving, by the computer processor from the user, a replacement sentence associated with the first group of sentences; and generating, by the computer processor, a modified reply email, wherein the generating the modified replay email comprises replacing one of the first group of sentences with the replacement sentence.
A first aspect of the invention provides a computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, the computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of a computing device implements a method, the method comprising: receiving, by the computer processor for a user, an email comprising first data; generating, by the computer processor in response to a command and reply data from the user, a reply email associated with the email, the reply email comprising the reply data and the first data; enabling, by the computer processor, email reply check functionality; identifying from a body and a subject section of a recent history section of the reply email, by the computer processor in response to the enabling, a first group of sentences comprising every sentence from the first data within the recent history section of the reply email; identifying from a body and a subject section of the reply email, by the computer processor in response to the enabling, a second group of sentences comprising every sentence from the reply data of the reply email; validating, by the computer processor, the first group of sentences with respect to the second group of sentences via a phrase percentage matching method; determining, by the computer processor based on results of the validating, discrepancies between the first group of sentences with respect to the second group of sentences, wherein the discrepancies comprise subject item text from the email that have not been addressed in the reply email generating, by the computer processor, an alert based interface, presenting the discrepancies; presenting, by the computer processor to the user via the alert based interface, an editing option associated with addressing the discrepancies; receiving, by the computer processor from the user, a replacement sentence associated with the first group of sentences; and generating, by the computer processor, a modified reply email, wherein the generating the modified replay email comprises replacing one of the first group of sentences with the replacement sentence.
A first aspect of the invention provides a method comprising: a computing device comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the computer processor implements a method comprising: receiving, by said computer processor for a user, an email comprising first data; generating, by the computer processor in response to a command and reply data from the user, a reply email associated with the email, the reply email comprising the reply data and the first data; enabling, by the computer processor, email reply check functionality; identifying from a body and a subject section of a recent history section of the reply email, by the computer processor in response to the enabling, a first group of sentences comprising every sentence from the first data within the recent history section of the reply email; identifying from a body and a subject section of the reply email, by the computer processor in response to the enabling, a second group of sentences comprising every sentence from the reply data of the reply email; validating, by the computer processor, the first group of sentences with respect to the second group of sentences via a phrase percentage matching method; determining, by the computer processor based on results of the validating, discrepancies between the first group of sentences with respect to the second group of sentences, wherein the discrepancies comprise subject item text from the email that have not been addressed in the reply email generating, by the computer processor, an alert based interface, presenting the discrepancies; presenting, by the computer processor to the user via the alert based interface, an editing option associated with addressing the discrepancies; receiving, by the computer processor from the user, a replacement sentence associated with the first group of sentences; and generating, by the computer processor, a modified reply email, wherein the generating the modified replay email comprises replacing one of the first group of sentences with the replacement sentence.
The present invention advantageously provides a simple method and associated system capable of managing multiple communications between parties.
- 1. An email or IM composer may be notified if he/she writes (i.e., in an email or IM) any inappropriate (i.e., with respect to a specific culture) content to a particular receiving party.
- 2. A notification (i.e., with respect to inappropriate content) may comprise highlighting the inappropriate content in the email or IM chat body.
- 3. Appropriate or suggested content (i.e., with respect to replacing the inappropriate content) may be provided to the receiving party for the associated culture.
System 5 additionally enables a communication (e.g., email, IM, etc) completeness checking process. For example, in business email communications, individuals may (mistakenly or unintentionally) fail to address all questions/clarifications/explanations raised by a sending party (e.g., resulting in a communication gap). In response, system 5 enables a process for checking a communication (e.g., email, IM, etc) to determine if all questions, clarifications, and/or explanations have been addressed.
System 5 of
Software application 18 enables the following implementation example with respect to performing a cultural communication conflict checking process associated with email or IM messages between multicultural parties:
- 1. A user begins to compose an email.
- 2. Software application 18 retrieves any email addresses used in the email (e.g., under the headings of: To, cc, bcc, etc with priority given sequentially to: To, cc, and bcc).
- 3. Software application 18 transmits all retrieved email addresses (e.g., usera@countryA.com) to a corporate database to determine a specified culture associated with users associated with the email addresses. For example, usera is associated with countryA.
- 4. Software application 18 retrieves content from the email (e.g., from the body or subject section of the email)
- 5. Software application 18 compares the content to a cultural rule database (e.g., database 12 in
FIG. 1 ) comprising cultural rules associated with countryA. - 6. Software application 18 determines (i.e., based on the comparison in step 5) that the content conflicts with a cultural rule (i.e., comprises inappropriate content with respect to users associated with countryA).
- 7. Software application 18 flags and presents the inappropriate content (e.g., by underlining in any coloration, highlighting in any coloration, line weight, font, etc).
- 8. Software application 18 either:
- A. Receives a command (e.g., from the user by right clicking over the presented inappropriate content) for presenting suggested replacement content and presents the suggested replacement content to the user. In response, the user may accept the replacement content for replacing the inappropriate content or be alerted (if the user does not accept the replacement content) that the email comprises the inappropriate content.
- B. Automatically presents suggested replacement content to the user. In response, the user may accept the replacement content for replacing the inappropriate content or be alerted (if the user does not accept the replacement content) that the email comprises the inappropriate content.
The following pseudo code examples represent different cultural rules in the cultural rule database:
EXAMPLE 1Example 1 comprises a rule for CountryA associated with a preference for indirect statements.
MESSAGE IS “This is rude way to write in CountryA cultures”
EXAMPLE 2
- Example 2 comprises a rule for CountryB associated with a preference for direct statements.
-
- MESSAGE IS “CountryB cultures demand direct communication, pls ensure your email should not give false hope to the requester”
Example 3 comprises a rule for CountryC associated with a preference for individual versus group orientation rules.
MESSAGE IS “CountryC cultures comprise people that are more interested in achievement”.
Software application 18 enables the following method with respect to performing a communication (e.g., email, IM, etc) completeness checking process:
- 1. A user begins to receives an email (e.g., comprising a request) and composes a reply to the email.
- 2. Software application 18 enables a reply email completeness checking functionality.
- 3. Software application 18 identifies every possible sentence (e.g., from a body and subject) from a recent history of the email. Software application 18 may use different symbols (e.g., “?”, “:”, “;”, etc) as a delimiter to identify the sentences.
- 4. Software application 18 may segregate the identified sentences into different categories (e.g., questions and non-questions) based on the following logic:
-
- 1. Sentences comprising the terms: who, why, when, how, ?, etc.
- 2. Sentences starting with the terms: Did, Is, Are, etc.
- 3. Negative sentences such as: Product quality is not good, I have not received the document, etc.
- 4. User defined logic.
1. Sentences comprising the terms: Thanks in advance, Keep in touch, etc.
- 5. Software application 18 identifies every possible sentence (e.g., from a body and subject) from the reply email. Software application 18 may use different symbols (e.g., “?”, “:”, “;”, etc) as a delimiter to identify the sentences.
- 6. Software application 18 segregates the identified sentences (i.e., from the reply email) into different categories (e.g., questions and non-questions).
- 7. The user commands software application 18 to transmit the reply email.
- 8. Software application 18 validates the identified sentences (i.e., from the reply email identified in step 6) against the identified sentences (from the recent history of the email identified in step 3) to determine discrepancies (i.e., issues from original email that are not addressed in the reply email). If discrepancies are found, the user is presented with items in the reply email with respect to the original email that have not been addressed and the user is presented with the following selections:
A. Send the email despite the discrepancies.
B. Edit the email.
C. Delegate the decision to send or edit the email to another individual.
- 9. Software application 18 enables the associated functions (send, edit, or delegate) based on one of the aforementioned selections.
- 1. The product was not delivered on time.
- 2. Quality of product is not according to the requirement.
If in step 434, the computer processor receives a user request for suggested replacement content then step 442, the computer processor performs the following steps:
- 1. Presenting first suggested replacement content associated with the cultural rules and the portion of the content.
- 2. Receiving (from the user) a command associated with the first suggested replacement content. The command may include accepting or rejecting the first suggested replacement content. If the command includes accepting the first suggested replacement content then the computer processor may generate and transmit (to a recipient) a modified email (that includes the first suggested replacement content). If the command includes rejecting the first suggested replacement content then the computer processor may generate and broadcast an alert indicating the rejection of the first suggested replacement content. Additionally the computer processor may receive (from the user) user defined replacement content and compare the user defined replacement content to the cultural rules to determine if the user defined replacement content conflicts with the cultural rules.
If in step 434, the computer processor automatically presents suggested replacement content then step 438, the computer processor receives from the user in response to the presentation of the first suggested replacement content a command associated with the first suggested replacement content.
In step 448, the user receives a notification indicating results of step 442 or 438 and step 400 is repeated.
Still yet, any of the components of the present invention could be created, integrated, hosted, maintained, deployed, managed, serviced, etc. by a service provider who offers to implement a cultural communication conflict checking process or perform a communication completeness checking process. Thus the present invention discloses a process for deploying, creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and/or integrating computing infrastructure, comprising integrating computer-readable code into the computer system 90, wherein the code in combination with the computer system 90 is capable of performing a method for implementing a cultural communication conflict checking process or performing a communication completeness checking process. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method that performs the process steps of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider, such as a Solution Integrator, could offer to implement a cultural communication conflict checking process or perform a communication completeness checking process. In this case, the service provider can create, maintain, support, etc. a computer infrastructure that performs the process steps of the invention for one or more customers. In return, the service provider can receive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service provider can receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or more third parties.
While
While embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A method comprising:
- generating, by a computer processor of a computing device in response to a command and reply data from a user, a reply email associated with an email comprising first data, said reply email comprising said reply data and said first data;
- identifying from a body and a subject section of a recent history section of said reply email, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, a first group of sentences comprising every sentence from said first data within said recent history section of said reply email;
- identifying from a body and a subject section of a reply section the reply email, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, a second group of sentences comprising every sentence from said reply data of said reply email;
- validating, by said computer processor, said first group of sentences with respect to said second group of sentences via a phrase percentage matching method;
- determining, by said computer processor based on results of said validating, discrepancies between said first group of sentences with respect to said second group of sentences, wherein said discrepancies comprise subject item text from said email that have not been addressed in said reply email
- generating, by said computer processor, an alert based interface, presenting said discrepancies;
- presenting, by said computer processor to said user via said alert based interface, an editing option associated with addressing said discrepancies;
- receiving, by said computer processor from said user, a replacement sentence associated with said first group of sentences; and
- generating, by said computer processor, a modified reply email, wherein said generating said modified replay email comprises replacing one of said first group of sentences with said replacement sentence.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- second validating, by said computer processor, said replacement sentence with respect to said first group of sentences via said phrase percentage matching method;
- determining, by said computer processor based on results of said second validating, that said replacement sentence in reply to a sentence of said first group of sentences; and
- transmitting, by said computer processor to an original composer of said email, said modified reply email.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- dividing, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, said first group of sentences into first categories comprising questions and non-questions; and
- dividing, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, said second group of sentences into second categories comprising questions and non-questions.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in said computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing: said receiving, said generating, said enabling, said identifying said first plurality of character strings, said identifying said second plurality of character strings, said comparing, said determining, and said performing.
5. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, said computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of a computing device implements a method, said method comprising:
- generating, by said computer processor in response to a command and reply data from a user, a reply email associated with an email comprising first data, said reply email comprising said reply data and said first data;
- identifying from a body and a subject section of a recent history section of said reply email, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, a first group of sentences comprising every sentence from said first data within said recent history section of said reply email;
- identifying from a body and a subject section of a reply section the reply email, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, a second group of sentences comprising every sentence from said reply data of said reply email;
- validating, by said computer processor, said first group of sentences with respect to said second group of sentences via a phrase percentage matching method;
- determining, by said computer processor based on results of said validating comparing, discrepancies between said first group of sentences with respect to said second group of sentences, wherein said discrepancies comprise subject item text from said email that have not been addressed in said reply email
- generating, by said computer processor, an alert based interface, presenting said discrepancies;
- presenting, by said computer processor to said user via said alert based interface, an editing option associated with addressing said discrepancies;
- receiving, by said computer processor from said user, a replacement sentence associated with said first group of sentences; and
- generating, by said computer processor, a modified reply email, wherein said generating said modified replay email comprises replacing one of said first group of sentences with said replacement sentence.
6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein said method further comprises:
- second validating, by said computer processor, said replacement sentence with respect to said first group of sentences via said phrase percentage matching method;
- determining, by said computer processor based on results of said second validating, that said replacement sentence in reply to a sentence of said first group of sentences; and
- transmitting, by said computer processor to an original composer of said email, said modified reply email.
7. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein said method further comprises:
- dividing, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, said first group of sentences into first categories comprising questions and non-questions; and
- dividing, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, said second group of sentences into second categories comprising questions and non-questions.
8. A computing device comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the computer processor implements a method comprising:
- generating, by said computer processor in response to a command and reply data from a user, a reply email associated with an email comprising first data, said reply email comprising said reply data and said first data;
- identifying from a body and a subject section of a recent history section of said reply email, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, a first group of sentences comprising every sentence from said first data within said recent history section of said reply email;
- identifying from a body and a subject section of a reply section the reply email, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, a second group of sentences comprising every sentence from said reply data of said reply email;
- validating, by said computer processor, said first group of sentences with respect to said second group of sentences via a phrase percentage matching method;
- determining, by said computer processor based on results of said validating comparing, discrepancies between said first group of sentences with respect to said second group of sentences, wherein said discrepancies comprise subject item text from said email that have not been addressed in said reply email
- generating, by said computer processor, an alert based interface, presenting said discrepancies;
- presenting, by said computer processor to said user via said alert based interface, an editing option associated with addressing said discrepancies;
- receiving, by said computer processor from said user, a replacement sentence associated with said first group of sentences; and
- generating, by said computer processor, a modified reply email, wherein said generating said modified replay email comprises replacing one of said first group of sentences with said replacement sentence.
9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:
- second validating, by said computer processor, said replacement sentence with respect to said first group of sentences via said phrase percentage matching method;
- determining, by said computer processor based on results of said second validating, that said replacement sentence in reply to a sentence of said first group of sentences; and
- transmitting, by said computer processor to an original composer of said email, said modified reply email.
10. The computing device of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:
- dividing, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, said first group of sentences into first categories comprising questions and non-questions; and
- dividing, by said computer processor in response to said enabling, said second group of sentences into second categories comprising questions and non-questions.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 26, 2016
Publication Date: Nov 17, 2016
Inventor: Sarbajit K. Rakshit (Kolkata)
Application Number: 15/220,008