Electronic mail control system
First Claim
1. A method for operating an electronic messaging system comprising:
- routing an electronic message intended for a first user to a first folder not associated with the first user, instead of to the first user;
presenting the electronic message to a first approver to approve or reject the message;
if delivery of the electronic message to the first user is approved, routing the electronic message to a second folder not associated with the first user and to the first user; and
if delivery of the electronic message to the first user is rejected, routing the electronic message to a third folder not associated with the first user and not to the first user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic mail system provides one or more approvers with approval authority over electronic mail of a user. The approvers have the opportunity to approve an incoming electronic mail message before the message is delivered to the user, and have the opportunity to approve an outgoing electronic mail message by the user before the message is sent to its intended recipient. Messages can be approved or rejected automatically, using filters, or through actions by an approver. Rejected incoming messages are not delivered to the user. Rejected outgoing messages are not sent to the intended recipient. Mail to be approved can be synchronized for consistency among multiple approvers. The user whose mail is to be approved can access the mail from multiple locations, with the mail at each location synchronized to appear in the same folders.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for operating an electronic messaging system comprising:
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routing an electronic message intended for a first user to a first folder not associated with the first user, instead of to the first user;
presenting the electronic message to a first approver to approve or reject the message;
if delivery of the electronic message to the first user is approved, routing the electronic message to a second folder not associated with the first user and to the first user; and
if delivery of the electronic message to the first user is rejected, routing the electronic message to a third folder not associated with the first user and not to the first user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating an electronic messaging system comprising:
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directing an outgoing electronic message having an intended recipient sent by a first user to a first folder not associated with the first user, instead of to the intended recipient;
presenting the electronic message to a first approver to approve or reject the message;
if delivery of the electronic message to the intended recipient is approved, routing the electronic message to a second folder not associated with the first user and to the intended recipient; and
if delivery of the electronic message to the intended recipient is rejecting, routing the electronic message to a third folder not associated with the first user and not to the intended recipient. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A computer program product, residing on a computer-readable medium, for use in operating an electronic messaging system, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
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route an incoming electronic message intended for a first user to a first folder not associated with the first user, instead of to the first user;
if delivery of the incoming electronic message is approved, route the incoming electronic message to a second folder not associated with the first user and to the first user;
if delivery of the incoming electronic message is rejected, route the incoming electronic message to a third folder not associated with the first user and not to the first user;
direct an outgoing electronic message having an intended recipient sent by the first user to a fourth folder not associated with the first user, instead of to the intended recipient;
if delivery of the electronic message to the intended recipient is approved, route the electronic message to a fifth folder not associated with the first user and to the intended recipient; and
if delivery of the electronic message to the intended recipient is rejecting, route the electronic message to a sixth folder not associated with the first user and not to the intended recipient. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification