# US 10,122,675 B2 · Retrospective changing of previously sent messages

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- Number: US 10,122,675 B2
- Document ID: US10122675B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/332,591
- Filed: 2016-10-24
- Published: 2017-02-09
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2009-08-24
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Colm Farrell; Liam Harpur; Patrick Joseph O'Sullivan; Fred Raguillat; Hema Srikanth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122675B2

## CPC

- H04L 51/234: for tracking messages
- G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management
- G06Q 10/107: Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
- H04L 51/04: Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
- H04L 51/063: Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
- H04L 51/42: Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Functionality can be implemented in email applications to allow sent messages to be updated, even if the sent messages have been read. When a request to update a sent message is received, a message update unit can update information in the message according to the notification. The message update unit can notify a recipient that the message was updated, and can indicate changed information in the sent message. The message update unit can also determine if the sent message has been forwarded, and forward the update notification to other recipients.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer program product for changing previously sent messages, the computer program product comprising:
a tangible machine-readable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising:
program code to receive a request to update a previously sent message including original text;
program code to determine changes to the previously sent message based on the request;
program code to update the previously sent message to include markings indicating the changes and the original text;
program code to notify a recipient that the previously sent message has been updated;
program code to determine that the previously sent message has been forwarded to a second recipient; and
program code to forward the request to the second recipient.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer usable program code further includes program code to determine the previously sent message based on an identifier in the request responsive to receiving the request to update the previously sent message.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the program code to determine that the previously sent message can be updated is based, at least in part, on policies.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the policies govern changes allowed to the sent message.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the policies comprise restrictions to changes to message text of the sent message.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the policies comprise restrictions to changes to a subject of the sent message.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the policies comprise restrictions on adding recipients.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the policies comprise removing recipients.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the program code to notify the recipient that the previously sent message has been updated comprises:
program code to determine that the previously sent message was opened; and
program code to move the previously sent message to an inbox position based, at least in part, on a timestamp of the request instead of a timestamp of the previously sent message.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer usable program code further comprises:
program code to receive a second request to update a second previously sent message;
program code to determine that the second previously sent message cannot be updated; and
program code to display the second request as a new message in an inbox of the recipient.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer usable program code further includes:
program code to determine that changes were made to a second previously sent message;
program code to determine recipients of the second previously sent message; and
program code to send, to the recipients, a second request to update the previously sent message based on the changes made to the second previously sent message.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer usable program code to determine that changes were made to the second previously sent message comprises program code to compare the second previously sent message with an original copy of the second previously sent message.