Methods and apparatus for document creation via email

Abstract

A system and method for creating a document in a messaging environment is described. A communication including a document specification including zero or more formatting commands and content is received from a sender and processed. The system and method determine whether the document specification is in a done condition, and iterates until done. A formatted document is also created and returned to the sender and recipients.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for creating a document, the method comprising:
 receiving a first communication from a first sender, the first communication identifying zero or more recipients, the first communication including a document specification including zero or more formatting commands and content;   parsing the first communication, the parsing including determining whether the document specification is in a done condition;   applying the zero or more formatting commands to the content, wherein the applying comprises producing a document;   storing the document;   transmitting information for accessing the document to the first sender, and to the zero or more recipients; and   iterating until the document specification is in a done condition.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving the first communication is via email. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the first communication further comprising one or more address fields, the zero or more recipients identified in the one or more address fields, the one or more address fields corresponding to one or more document access privileges for the zero or more recipients. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting information for accessing the document includes transmitting the document itself. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the zero or more formatting commands comprise plain text. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising in response to receiving the zero or more formatting commands, transmitting to the first sender, instructions for creating a document specification. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions for creating a document specification include a template. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the document specification includes a template. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the iterating includes revising the document specification and transmitting the revised document specification to the first sender. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , further comprising transmitting the revised document specification to the zero or more recipients. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the revising the document specification further comprises stamping it with a version indicator. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the zero or more formatting commands is erroneous, and revising the document specification includes identifying errors corresponding to the zero or more formatting commands. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising applying one or more access permissions to the document corresponding to the first sender and the zero or more recipients. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , further comprising receiving a second communication from a second sender, wherein the access permissions prohibit the second sender from modifying the document, and rejecting the second communication. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , further comprising receiving a second communication from a second sender, the second communication including one or more updates to the document specification, wherein the access permissions permit the second sender to modify the document, and tracking and associating the one or more updates to the document specification with the second sender. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , further comprising receiving a third communication from the first sender, the third communication including one or more instructions for modifying the access permissions, and in response to the one or more instructions, modifying the access permissions. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein the access permissions prohibit zero or more recipients from modifying the document. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein applying one or more access permissions further comprises creating a password. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 one or more computers configured to perform operations including:   receiving a first communication from a first sender, the first communication identifying zero or more recipients, the first communication including a document specification including zero or more formatting commands and content;   parsing the first communication, the parsing including determining whether the document specification is in a done condition;   applying the zero or more formatting commands to the content, wherein the applying comprises producing a document;   storing the document;   transmitting information for accessing the document to the first sender, and to the zero or more recipients; and   iterating until the document specification is in a done condition.