Method and device for managing communication activties

Abstract

A method is disclosed for managing communication processes (N 1 -N 4 ) between internal participants (A, B, C) of an internal communication network on the one hand and external participants (E) on the other hand. First a list is set up in an internal communication network that contains incoming and outgoing communication activities between the internal participants and at least one external participant as a virtual mailbox. This virtual mailbox is assigned to the at least one external participant and is set up to be invisible or inaccessible to the at least one external participant. Communications activity between an internal participant and the external participant are recognized as being associated with the external participant based upon identification that has been assigned to the external participant and can be obtained from the communication activity. Each communication activity that has been recognized as being associated with the external participant is deposited in the virtual mailbox.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented method of managing communications, the method comprising:
 generating a virtual mailbox of communication activities between one or more internal participants and an external participant;   recognizing a communication activity between the one or more internal participants and the external participant based on an external participant identification in the communication activity;   depositing the communication activity in the virtual mailbox; and   releasing the virtual mailbox to at least one of the one or more internal participants.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein generating the virtual mailbox comprises generating the virtual mailbox such that the virtual mailbox is inaccessible to the external participant. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 generating a list of communication activities of the one or more internal participants.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , further comprising
 determining that the communication activity between the one or more internal participants and the external participant is not in the list; and   adding the communication activity to the list of communication activities.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining a communication preparation from the one or more internal participants; and   adding the communication preparation to the list of communication activities.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 restricting access to added communication activities.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 identifying a private communication activity; and   preventing the private communication activity from being deposited into the virtual mailbox.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause:
 generating a virtual mailbox of communication activities between one or more internal participants and an external participant;   recognizing a communication activity between the one or more internal participants and the external participant based on an external participant identification in the communication activity;   depositing the communication activity in the virtual mailbox; and   releasing the virtual mailbox to at least one of the one or more internal participants.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein generating the virtual mailbox comprises generating the virtual mailbox such that the virtual mailbox is inaccessible to the external participant. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 20 , storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 generating a list of communication activities of the one or more internal participants.   
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 22 , storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 determining that the communication activity between the one or more internal participants and the external participant is not in the list; and   adding the communication activity to the list of communication activities.   
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 22 , storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 determining a communication preparation from the one or more internal participants; and   adding the communication preparation to the list of communication activities.   
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 20 , storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 restricting access to added communication activities.   
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 20 , storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 identifying a private communication activity; and   preventing the private communication activity from being deposited into the virtual mailbox.   
     
     
         27 . A communication system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory operatively connected to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 generating a virtual mailbox of communication activities between one or more internal participants and an external participant; 
 recognizing a communication activity between the one or more internal participants and the external participant based on an external participant identification in the communication activity; 
 depositing the communication activity in the virtual mailbox; and 
 releasing the virtual mailbox to at least one of the one or more internal participants. 
   
     
     
         28 . The communication system of  claim 27 , wherein generating the virtual mailbox comprises generating the virtual mailbox such that the virtual mailbox is inaccessible to the external participant. 
     
     
         29 . The communication system of  claim 27 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 generating a list of communication activities of the one or more internal participants.   
     
     
         30 . The communication system of  claim 29 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 determining that the communication activity between the one or more internal participants and the external participant is not in the list; and   adding the communication activity to the list of communication activities.   
     
     
         31 . The communication system of  claim 29 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 determining a communication preparation from the one or more internal participants; and   adding the communication preparation to the list of communication activities.   
     
     
         32 . The communication system of  claim 27 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 identifying a private communication activity; and   preventing the private communication activity from being deposited into the virtual mailbox.