Method and system for managing electronic messages in a closed network

Abstract

There is provided a method and system for managing electronic messages in a closed network. Both the method and system include determining a quantity of credits to be expended for a transmission of each electronic message from a device in the closed network; and deducting the quantity of credits from a sender's account at a central credit repository. Preferably, the quantity of credits to be expended is dependent on an identity of a recipient of the electronic message. The identity of the recipient of the electronic message may preferably be associated with the recipient's position in an organizational hierarchy.

1 . A method implemented by an electronic messaging system for managing electronic messages of one or more devices in a closed network, the electronic message being sent from a sender to a recipient, the method comprising:
 providing a user with a quantity of credits at a credit repository, the credit repository having an account for the sender, the credit repository being stored on a server in data communication with the closed network;   generating a user interface that enables the recipient, upon opening the electronic message, to input a relevance rating of the electronic message from an electronic device;   receiving the relevance rating of the electronic message from the recipient via the user interface; and   selectively deducting at least one credit from the sender's account at the credit repository in accordance with the relevance rating of the electronic message.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising selectively crediting at least one credit to the sender's account at the credit repository in accordance with the relevance rating of the electronic message. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 determining a quantity of credits to be expended for transmission in the closed network of each electronic message delivered from a sender. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 deducting a quantity of credits from the sender's account upon the sender sending an electronic message in the closed network. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 when the sender's account at the credit repository is at an insufficient level, disabling the sender's electronic message account to prevent the sender from transmitting electronic messaging in the closed network. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the quantity of credits to be expended upon transmission of an electronic message is dependent on an identity of a recipient of the electronic message. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the credit repository has a plurality of accounts, and the accounts are analyzed to determine at least one of behavioral patterns and electronic messaging usage patterns of users. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the electronic message is selected from a group consisting of: electronic mails, short message service messages, instant messaging texts, multimedia message service messages, and combinations thereof, and   wherein the device is selected from a group consisting of: a desktop computer, a mobile phone, a notebook, a PDA, a media player, a gaming console, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the accounts at the credit repository are reset to a predetermined level after a fixed time period selected from a group consisting of: weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the relevance rating is in a form selected from a group consisting of: descriptive, numerical, graphical, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the recipient of the electronic message is associated with an organizational hierarchy level, and   wherein the quantity of credits to be expended is one of increases and decreases in accordance with the organizational hierarchy level.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by a system for managing electronic messages in a closed network, the system comprising:
 a closed network;   at least first and second electronic devices in data communication with the closed network, the first programmed to send and receive electronic messages; and   at least one server in data communication with the closed network, the at least one server storing an email server and a credit repository, the email server having electronic message accounts for the sender and the recipient, the credit repository having an account for the sender and storing a quantity of credits for the sender; the at least one server programmed to:
 generate a user interface that enables a recipient of an electronic message, upon opening the electronic message, to input a relevance rating of the electronic message; 
 receive the relevance rating of the electronic message from the recipient via the user interface; and 
 selectively deduct at least one credit from the sender's account at the credit repository in accordance with the relevance rating of the electronic message. 
   
     
     
         13 . A system for managing electronic messages in a closed network, the system comprising:
 a closed network;   at least first and second electronic devices in data communication with the closed network, the first programmed to send and receive electronic messages; and   at least one server in data communication with the closed network, the at least one server storing an email server and a credit repository, the email server having electronic message accounts for the sender and the recipient, the credit repository having an account for the sender and storing a quantity of credits for the sender; the at least one server programmed to:
 generate a user interface that enables a recipient of an electronic message, upon opening the electronic message, to input a relevance rating of the electronic message; 
 receive the relevance rating of the electronic message from the recipient via the user interface; and 
 selectively deduct at least one credit from the sender's account at the credit repository in accordance with the relevance rating of the electronic message. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one server is further programmed to selectively credit at least one credit to the sender's account at the credit repository in accordance with the relevance rating of the electronic message. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the electronic message is selected from a group consisting of: electronic mails, short message service messages, instant messaging texts, and multimedia message service messages; and   wherein the first and second electronic devices are selected from a group consisting of: a desktop computer, a mobile phone, a notebook, a PDA, a media player, a gaming console; and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the credit repository includes accounts for users of electronic messages in the closed network, the accounts at the credit repository being analyzed to determine at least one of behavioral patterns of users and electronic messaging usage patterns of users. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the accounts at the credit repository are reset to a predetermined level after a fixed time period selected from a group comprising: weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the server is further programmed to disable the sender's electronic message account when the sender's credit repository account is at an insufficient level. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the electronic message is selected from a group comprising: electronic messages, receiving electronic messages, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one server is programmed to manage electronic messages of one or more devices in a closed network, the electronic message being sent form a sender to a recipient, the method comprising:
 providing a user with a quantity of credits at a credit repository, the credit repository having an account for the sender, the credit repository being stored on a server in data communication with the closed network;   generating a user interface that enables the recipient, upon opening the electronic message, to input a relevance rating of the electronic message from an electronic device;   receiving the relevance rating of the electronic message from the recipient via the user interface; and   selectively deducting at least one credit from the sender's account at the credit repository in accordance with the relevance rating of the electronic message.