Apparatus and method for interactive email

#This invention relates generally to electronic communications. More particularly, this invention relates to interactive email.

#Email communications is ubiquitous. The volume of email that an individual receives tends to desensitize one to the information received. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide interactive email techniques that encourage enhanced interactivity, targeting and engagement.

#A non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to deliver to a community of users an email with a widget including a graphical user interface that solicits input. Solicited input is collected from the community of users via the widget. The email is revised to dynamically display at least a portion of the solicited input.

#The invention is more fully appreciated in connection with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2 illustrates processing operations associated with an embodiment of the invention.

#Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The system 100 includes a set of clients 102—1 through 102_N and one or more servers 104_1 through 104_N connected via a communication link 106, which may be any wired or wireless communication link. Each client 102 includes standard components, such as a central processing unit 110 and input/output devices 112 linked by a bus 114. The input/output devices 112 may include a keyboard, mouse, display and the like. A network interface circuit 116 is also connected to the bus to support networked communications. A memory 120 is also connected to the bus 114. The memory 120 includes at least a browser 122. The memory 120 may also store an email handler 122 or may access an email handler via the browser 122. The client 102 may be a computer, smart phone, tablet, netbook, personal digital assistant or the like.

#The system 100 also includes a server with standard components, such as a central processing unit 160, input/output devices 164 and a network interface card 166 connected via a bus 162. A memory 170 is also connected to the bus 162. The memory 170 includes executable instructions to implement operations of the invention. In one embodiment, the memory 170 stores widget resources 172. A widget is an element of a graphical user interface that displays an information arrangement that is changeable by the user, such as a window, a text box, a radio button and the like. Widgets are basic visual building blocks which, combined in an application, hold the data processed by the application and the available interactions on this data.