# US 2018/0026930 A1 · Method and System for Automatic Content Based E-mail Recipient Determination > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0026930 A1 - Document ID: US20180026930A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/657,737 - Filed: 2017-07-24 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-25 - Assignees: Mastercard International Incorporated - Applicants: Mastercard International Incorporated - Inventors: Alex Rankin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180026930A1 ## CPC - H04L 51/48: Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases - G06F 16/9535: Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation - G06Q 10/107: Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing] - H04L 51/02: using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages - H04L 51/42: Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes - G06F 16/3344: {using natural language analysis} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - 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 A computer implemented method for automatic, content based potential e-mail recipient determination, the method comprises the steps of comparing, by a sender, application plugin, the content of an e-mail being written by a user with keywords listed in as entries in a database, wherein the keywords are correlated with at least one e-mail address; and presenting, if at least part of the content of the e-mail matches with at least one keyword in the database, the e-mail address associated with the at least one keyword for selection as e-mail recipient to the user. An according system for automatic, content based potential e-mail recipient determination is disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer implemented method for automatic, content based potential e-mail recipient determination, the method comprising: a) comparing, by a sender application plugin, the content of an e-mail being written by a user with keywords listed as entries in a database, wherein the keywords are correlated with at least one e-mail address; and b) presenting, if at least part of the content of the e-mail matches with at least one keyword in the database, the e-mail address associated with the at least one keyword for selection as a potential e-mail recipient to the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein recipients' e-mail addresses manually added by the user are added to the database and correlated with at least one keyword identified in the content of the e-mail, and/or updated with the at least one keyword identified in the content of the e-mail. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the database additionally contains terms or phrases excluded from use as keywords for e-mail recipient determination. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein erroneously selected recipients can indicate after reviewing the content of the e-mail, at a recipient's sender application plugin, that the sent e-mail was not meant for them. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the database is updated according to the indication by the erroneously selected recipient. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination of a potential recipient is based on a probability value associated to the database entries or is based on an overall probability value calculated on the basis of at least two probability values associated to at least the database entries. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the probability value related to the keyword is influenced by at least one predetermined parameter, the predetermined parameter being selected from a place of finding of the keyword in the e-mail, a frequency of occurrence of the keyword in the e-mail, a role or function of the person linked to the e-mail address, and a frequency of correct e-mail delivery to the determined e-mail address based on the respective keyword(s). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the determination of the potential recipient is based on the combination of at least two keywords, wherein the number of keywords found in the content and associated to an e-mail address increases the overall probability value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein keywords in the database are linked to a negative probability value, indicating that the e-mail should not be sent to the e-mail address associated thereto. ### Claim 10 A system for automatic, content based potential e-mail recipient determination, the system comprising: a sender application plugin executed on a terminal of a user interacting with an e-mail client; and a central database stored on a server, the central database containing entries of keywords correlated with e-mail addresses and/or a database on the terminal containing entries of keywords correlated with e-mail addresses, the sender application plugin being configured to communicate with the central database and/or the database on the terminal and compare the content of the e-mail added by the user writing the e-mail with the content of the central database and/or the database on the terminal, the sender application plugin being further configured to present, if at least part of the content of the e-mail matches with at least one keyword in the central database and/or the database on the terminal, and the e-mail address associated with the at least one keyword for selection as e-mail recipient to the user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the sender application plugin is further configured to mirror the central database in the database on the terminal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the sender application plugin determines and/or submits new entries and/or entry update requests to the server for updating the central database and/or the database on the terminal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the sender application plugin is further configured to transmit, responsive to confirmation or denial by the recipient of the e-mail, confirmation or denial information to the central database and/or the database on the terminal for updating the respective entry. ### Claim 14 (canceled) ### Claim 15 A computer readable medium storing program instructions, which, when executed by a processor of a computer, cause the computer to: compare, by a sender application plugin, the content of an e-mail being written by a user with keywords listed as entries in a database, wherein the keywords are correlated with at least one e-mail address; and present, if at least part of the content of the e-mail matches with at least one keyword in the database, the e-mail address associated with the at least one keyword for selection as a potential e-mail recipient to the user.