Dynamically updating content in e-mail

Abstract

Methods and systems of dynamically updating content in e-mail messages are described. In some embodiments, an e-mail message is generated. The e-mail message comprises existing content viewable within an e-mail client and is configured to initiate a modification of the existing content within the e-mail message by the e-mail client subsequent to the e-mail message being downloaded by the e-mail client. The modification of the existing content is viewable within the e-mail client. The generated e-mail message is sent to an e-mall account from which a user can view the e-mail message within the e-mail client. In some embodiments, the e-mail message is further configured to cause the e-mail client to obtain new content from a remote server for use in the modification of the existing content within the e-mail message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 generating, by a machine having a memory and at least one processor, an e-mail message comprising existing content viewable within an e-mail client, the e-mail message being configured to initiate a modification of the existing content within the e-mail message by the e-mail client subsequent to the e-mail message being downloaded by the e-mail client, the modification of the existing content being viewable within the e-mail client, and the e-mail message being further configured to cause, prior to the e-mail message being opened, the e-mail client to obtain new content from a remote server for use in the modification of the existing content within the e-mail message; and   sending, by the machine, the generated e-mail message to an e-mail account from which a user can view the e-mail message within the e-mail client.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the e-mail message is further configured to perform periodic modifications to the modified existing content within the e-mail message, the e-mail message causing the e-mail client to repeatedly retrieve periodic new content at periodic intervals to use in the periodic modifications. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining a stop time at which to finish the periodic modifications to the modified existing content; and   causing the termination of the periodic modifications to the modified. existing content.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method  claim 1 , wherein the e-mail message comprises an IFrame element configured to cause the e-mail client to obtain the new content from the remote server. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising including a meta element in the new content, wherein the meta element is configured to cause the e-mail client to load a specified Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and to obtain subsequent new content from the specified URL for a subsequent modification of the modified existing content within the e-mail message. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein the meta element is further configured to cause the e-mail client to load the specified URL at a specified time. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the new content comprises information from a social networking website. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of claim I, wherein the existing content comprises a selectable graphical user interface element configured to initiate an action. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the selectable graphical user interface element is configured to cause, in response to its selection, a loading of a page from which the action can be performed. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 at least one hardware processor; and   a non-transitory machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the at least one hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 generating an e-mail message comprising existing content viewable within an e-mail client, the e-mail message being configured to initiate a modification of the existing content within the e-mail message by the e-mail client subsequent to the e-mail message being downloaded by the e-mail client, the modification of the existing content being viewable within the e-mail client, and the e-mail message being further configured to cause, prior to the e-mail message being opened, the e-mail client to obtain new content from a remote server for use in the modification of the existing content within the e-mail message; and 
 sending the generated e-mail message to an e-mail account from which a user can view the e-mail message within the e-mail client. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 ; wherein the e-mail message is further configured to perform periodic modifications to the modified existing content within the e-mail message, the e-mail message causing the e-mail client to repeatedly retrieve periodic new content at periodic intervals to use in the periodic modifications. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining a stop time at which to finish the periodic modifications to the modified existing content; and   causing the termination of the periodic modifications to the modified existing content.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the e-mail message comprises an IFrame element configured to cause the e-mail client to obtain the new content from the remote server. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise including a meta element in the new content, wherein the meta element is configured to cause the e-mail client to load a specified Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and to obtain subsequent new content from the specified URL for a subsequent modification of the modified existing content within the e-mail message. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the meta element is further configured to cause the e-mail client to load the specified URL at a specified time. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the new content comprises information from a social networking website. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the existing content comprises a selectable graphical user interface element configured to initiate an action. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the selectable graphical user interface element is configured to cause, in response to its selection, a loading of a page from which the action can be performed. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause at least one hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 generating an e-mail message comprising existing content viewable within an e-mail client, the e-mail message being configured to initiate a modification of the existing content within the e-mail message by the e-mail client subsequent to the e-mail message being downloaded by the e-mail client, the modification of the existing content being viewable within the e-mail client, and the e-mail message being further configured to cause, prior to the e-mail message being opened, the e-mail client to obtain new content from a remote server for use in the modification of the existing content within the e-mail message; and   sending the generated e-mail message to an e-mail account from which a user can view the e-mail message within the e-mail client.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the e-mail message is further configured to perform periodic modifications to the modified existing content within the e-mail message, the e-mail message causing the e-mail client to repeatedly retrieve periodic new content at periodic intervals to use in the periodic modifications.