Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-31
2004-10-26
Alam, Hosain (Department: 2155)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Miscellaneous
C358S001150, C358S400000, C379S100080, C379S100130, C379S102040, C705S026640, C709S201000, C709S205000, C709S206000, C709S219000, C709S239000, C713S152000, C713S400000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06810408
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to electronic mail systems and, more particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for distributing electronic mail.
2. Background of the Related Art
In today's electronic mail (e-mail) environment many users either reply or forward the entire contents of received e-mail messages to a variety of users. The downside of distributing e-mail in such a manner is that the original sender has no control over who receives the forwarded messages. A single e-mail message that is sent to one person may be forwarded to others and then forwarded to even more people in a cascade distribution of the electronic mail. If the original sender retracts the e-mail statement and sends the retraction to the original recipient of e-mail, there is no certainty that the retraction will be passed on to all of the recipients of the original electronic mail message.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a method, an article of manufacture and an apparatus for controlling cascade electronic mail distribution.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a method, apparatus and an article of manufacture for providing cascade distribution of electronic mail comprising creating an electronic mail message having a flag to identify the electronic mail message as a cascade-type electronic mail message; and forwarding received cascade-type electronic mail message to recipients in a recipients list. The invention also creates an electronic mail message having a flag to identify the electronic mail message as a cascade forward-type electronic mail message; and automatically forwards received cascade forward-type electronic mail message to recipients in a forwarded mail log.
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Bates Cary Lee
Day Paul Reuben
Santosuosso John Matthew
Alam Hosain
International Business Machines - Corporation
Moser Patterson & Sheridan LLP
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