Email as a transport mechanism for acvity stream posting

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for utilizing email as a transport mechanism for activity stream posting. The method, program system, and computer product may include receiving an email, with content, at a target email system of a target from a source email system of a source. Content that is to be posted to an activity stream is extracted from the email content. The extracted content is posted to the activity stream. The method, program system, and computer product may further include examining the email at the target to identify whether the email includes content that is to be posted to the activity stream, or the target email system may deliver the email to a designated email address mailbox assigned to emails containing content to be sent to the activity stream. A notification of the email may be provided or the mailbox may be checked for email.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system for utilizing email as a transport mechanism for activity stream posting, the system comprising:
 a processor;   a module, operating on the processor, for utilizing email for activity stream posting, the module comprising:
 a module for receiving an email at a target email system of a target from a source email system of a source, the email including content; 
 a module for extracting from the email content that is to be posted to an activity stream; and 
 a module for posting the extracted content to the activity stream. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a module for examining the email at the target to identify whether the email includes content that is to be posted to the activity stream. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a module for receiving a notification that there is an email in the designated email address mailbox or checking the mailbox for the presence of the email, and retrieving or copying the email from the designated email address mailbox. 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product for utilizing email as a transport mechanism for activity stream posting, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:
 computer readable program code configured to receive an email at a target email system of a target from a source email system of a source, the email including content; 
 computer readable program code configured to extract from the email content that is to be posted to an activity stream; and 
 computer readable program code configured to post the extracted content to the activity stream. 
   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , further comprising computer readable program code configured to examine the email at the target to identify whether the email includes content that is to be posted to the activity stream. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , further comprising computer readable program code configured to receive a notification that there is an email in the designated email address mailbox or checking the mailbox for the presence of the email, and retrieve or copy the email from the designated email address mailbox. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein examining the email comprises parsing the email and finding one or more predetermined specific fields, keywords, format, tags, attachments, or any combination thereof to identify the content of the email that is to be sent to the activity stream. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein examining the email comprises parsing the email and performing natural language processing according to predetermined criteria to identify the content of the email that is to be sent to the activity stream. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein examining the email comprises recognizing data or metadata associated with the email that indicates that the email includes content intended to be sent to the activity stream. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a module for delivering the email from the target email system to a designated email address mailbox assigned to emails containing content to be sent to the activity stream. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising module for receiving a notification that there is an email in the designated email address mailbox or checking the mailbox for the presence of the email, and retrieving or copying the email from the designated email address mailbox. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the email is an initial email and includes a message ID, and further comprising a module for deleting or not saving a subsequent email having the same message ID indicating information redundant with the initial email. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a module for generating the email by a source service and for submitting the email to the source email system. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the email generated by the source service includes an event ID, and the event ID is used for identifying content that is to be posted to the activity stream. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the email is an initial email, and further comprising a module for deleting or not saving a subsequent email having the same event ID indicating information redundant with the initial email. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a module for deleting or modifying the email after identification of content to be sent to the activity stream. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the activity stream is a social networking feed, a collaborative work project, or a news feed. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the source and target cannot communicate, except by email, without action being taken to remove, mitigate, or avoid a system disconnect. 
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , further comprising computer readable program code configured to deliver the email from the target email system to a designated email address mailbox assigned to emails containing content to be sent to the activity stream. 
     
     
         34 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the email is an initial email and includes a message ID, and further comprising computer readable program code configured to delete or not save a subsequent email having the same message ID indicating information redundant with the initial email.