Apparatus and method for multi-layer rule application within an integrated messaging platform

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is described comprising: specifying an execution order for a plurality of rules, each of the rules including a set of criteria for triggering the rule and actions for routing, filtering and/or storing messages and/or documents; specifying whether the criteria associated with each rule is to be applied to an original version of the message and/or document, as it existed prior to the application of any previous rules, or the most recent version of the message and/or document, inclusive of the changes resulting from previous rules; and executing each of the plurality of rules in the specified execution order, wherein, as specified, the criteria for each rule is applied to either the original version of the message and/or document or the most recent version of the message and/or document.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising: 
 specifying an execution order for a plurality of rules, each of the rules including a set of criteria for triggering the rule and actions for routing, filtering and/or storing messages and/or documents;    specifying whether the criteria associated with each rule is to be applied to an original version of the message and/or document, as it existed prior to the application of any previous rules, or the most recent version of the message and/or document, inclusive of the changes resulting from previous rules; and    executing each of the plurality of rules in the specified execution order, wherein, as specified, the criteria for each rule is applied to either the original version of the message and/or document or the most recent version of the message and/or document.    
   
   
       2 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 specifying whether the actions associated with each rule are to be applied to an original version of the message and/or document or the most recent version of the message and/or document; and    applying the actions in the specified order, wherein the actions are applied to either the original version of the message and/or document or the most recent version of the message and/or document.    
   
   
       3 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 specifying a priority of actions associated with each of the rules; and    applying the actions in an order based on the specified priority.    
   
   
       4 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the messages include both electronic message types and telephony message types.  
   
   
       5 . The method as in  claim 4  wherein the electronic message types include email messages, text messages, and instant messages.  
   
   
       6 . The method as in  claim 4  wherein the telephony message types include voice messages, video messages, and faxes.  
   
   
       7 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 specifying that subsequent rules are not to be applied if a previous rule performed a particular action to the message and/or document.    
   
   
       8 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 specifying that a current rule should not be applied if a markup action associated with the current rule conflicts with previous markup actions.    
   
   
       9 . The method as in  claim 8  wherein the markup action comprises marking a message with a particular priority, follow up activity, sensitivity, status, and/or category.  
   
   
       10 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the rules include system rules, user-specified rules and default settings rules.  
   
   
       11 . A system comprising: 
 multimedia message/document processing logic for specifying an execution order for a plurality of rules, each of the rules including a set of criteria for triggering the rule and actions for routing, filtering and/or storing messages and/or documents;    the multimedia message/document processing logic further specifying whether the criteria associated with each rule is to be applied to an original version of the message and/or document, as it existed prior to the application of any previous rules, or the most recent version of the message and/or document, inclusive of the changes resulting from previous rules; and    executing each of the plurality of rules in the specified execution order, wherein, as specified, the criteria for each rule is applied to either the original version of the message and/or document or the most recent version of the message and/or document.    
   
   
       12 . The system as in  claim 11  wherein the multimedia message/document processing logic further specifies whether the actions associated with each rule are to be applied to an original version of the message and/or document or the most recent version of the message and/or document; and 
 applies the actions in the specified order, wherein the actions are applied to either the original version of the message and/or document or the most recent version of the message and/or document.    
   
   
       13 . The system as in  claim 11  wherein the multimedia message/document processing logic further specifies a priority of actions associated with each of the rules; and applies the actions in an order based on the specified priority.  
   
   
       14 . The system as in  claim 11  wherein the messages include both electronic message types and telephony message types.  
   
   
       15 . The system as in  claim 14  wherein the electronic message types include email messages, text messages, and instant messages.  
   
   
       16 . The system as in  claim 14  wherein the telephony message types include voice messages, video messages, and faxes.  
   
   
       17 . The system as in  claim 11  wherein the multimedia message/document processing logic further specifies that subsequent rules are not to be applied if a previous rule performed a particular action to the message and/or document.  
   
   
       18 . The system as in  claim 11  wherein the multimedia message/document processing logic further specifies that a current rule should not be applied if a markup action associated with the current rule conflicts with previous markup actions.  
   
   
       19 . The system as in  claim 18  wherein the markup action comprises marking a message with a particular priority, follow up activity, sensitivity, status, or category.  
   
   
       20 . A machine-readable medium having stored thereon program code which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform the operations of: 
 specifying an execution order for a plurality of rules, each of the rules including a set of criteria for triggering the rule and actions for routing, filtering and/or storing messages and/or documents;    specifying whether the criteria associated with each rule is to be applied to an original version of the message and/or document, as it existed prior to the application of any previous rules, or the most recent version of the message and/or document, inclusive of the changes resulting from previous rules; and    executing each of the plurality of rules in the specified execution order, wherein, as specified, the criteria for each rule is applied to either the original version of the message and/or document or the most recent version of the message and/or document.    
   
   
       21 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 specifying whether the actions associated with each rule are to be applied to an original version of the message and/or document or the most recent version of the message and/or document; and    applying the actions in the specified order, wherein the actions are applied to either the original version of the message and/or document or the most recent version of the message and/or document.    
   
   
       22 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 21  having additional program code to cause machine to perform the operations of: 
 specifying a priority of actions associated with each of the rules; and    applying the actions in an order based on the specified priority.    
   
   
       23 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 21  wherein the messages include both electronic message types and telephony message types.  
   
   
       24 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 23  wherein the electronic message types include email messages, text messages, and instant messages.  
   
   
       25 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 23  wherein the telephony message types include voice messages, video messages, and faxes.  
   
   
       26 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 21  having additional program code to cause machine to perform the operations of: 
 specifying that subsequent rules are not to be applied if a previous rule performed a particular action to the message and/or document.    
   
   
       27 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 21  having additional program code to cause machine to perform the operations of: 
 specifying that a current rule should not be applied if a markup action associated with the current rule conflicts with previous markup actions.    
   
   
       28 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 27  wherein the markup action comprises marking a message with a particular priority, follow up activity, sensitivity, status, or category.  
   
   
       29 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 21  wherein the rules include system rules, user-specified rules and default settings rules.