Using Vacation Automatic Replies to Enhance Bulk Marketing Campaigns

Abstract

Methods and systems may provide for identifying a first set of recipients associated with an away status. Additionally, the first set of recipients may be removed from a second set of recipients associated with a bulk communications campaign to obtain a third set of recipients, wherein a first message may be sent to the third set of recipients. In one example, it may be determined that the away status has ceased for one or more of the first set of recipients, wherein a second message may be sent to the one or more of the first set of recipients for which the away status has ceased. The second message may reference the away status. Methods and systems may also provide for a brokering system to enable the transfer of away status information between different collectors of away status information and senders of messages.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 identifying a first set of recipients associated with an away status;   removing the first set of recipients from a second set of recipients associated with a bulk communications campaign to obtain a third set of recipients; and   sending a first message to the third set of recipients.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further including:
 determining that the away status has ceased for one or more of the first set of recipients; and   sending a second message to the one or more of the first set of recipients for which the away status has ceased.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second message references the away status. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further including accessing a brokering system to identify the first set of recipients. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further including:
 applying a cryptographic hash function to contact information corresponding to the second set of recipients to obtain first cryptographic information;   submitting the first cryptographic information to the brokering system; and   receiving a response from the brokering system, wherein the response includes away status information, and wherein the first set of recipients are identified based on the away status information.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the contact information includes one or more of email addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, social media names and login names. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further including:
 receiving a database from the brokering system; and   obtaining the first set of recipients from the database.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , further including processing one or more user communications to identify the first set of recipients. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further including:
 applying a cryptographic hash function to contact information corresponding to the first set of recipients to obtain third cryptographic information; and   sending the third cryptographic information and corresponding away status information to a brokering system.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the away status is one or more of an out-of-office status and an on-vacation status. 
     
     
         16 - 23 . (canceled)