Distribution list for a reply message

• US 20070143424A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Muller, Michael, Schirmer, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/314,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20070143424A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to electronic messaging and provide a method, system and computer program product for distribution list management for a reply electronic message. In one embodiment of the invention, a distribution list management method for a reply message in a message thread can include identifying a set of addressees from among multiple messages in a message thread and adding the set of addresses to a distribution list for a reply message to one of the multiple messages in the message thread. Individual ones of the addressees in the distribution list can be selected to receive the reply message. Subsequently, the reply message can be sent to the selected individual ones of the addressees.

Claims

1. A distribution list management method for a reply message in a message thread, the method comprising:

identifying a set of addressees from among multiple messages in a message thread;

adding the set of addresses to a distribution list for a reply message to one of the multiple messages in the message thread;

selecting individual ones of the addressees in the distribution list to receive the reply message; and

,

sending the reply message to the selected individual ones of the addressees.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a set of addressees from among multiple messages in a message thread, comprises identifying all addressees for all messages in a message thread.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting individual ones of the addressees in the distribution list to receive the reply message, comprises:

rendering a graphical user interface (GUI) displaying the distribution list; and

,

assigning at least one message recipient role to at least one of the addressees in the distribution list in the GUI.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising further assigning an attachment for transmission to at least one of the addressees in the distribution list in the GUI.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising adding at least one additional addressee to the distribution list not originally displayed in the GUI.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising removing at least one addressee from the distribution as displayed in the GUI.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising assigning a priority for the reply message to at least one of the addressees in the distribution list in the GUI.

8. A data processing system for distribution list management for a reply message, the system comprising:

a messaging client configured to process a message thread of multiple related messages, each of the messages comprising at least one addressee;

an addressee master list configured to store a distribution list of addressees for all of the multiple related messages in the message thread; and

,

message reply logic comprising program code enabled to render a distribution list management user interface through which individual addressees in the addressee master list are selected to receive a reply message to a message in the message thread.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the multiple related messages are electronic mail messages.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the program code for the message reply logic is further enabled to assign a message recipient role to selected ones of the addressees in the addressee master list.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the program code for the message reply logic is further enabled to assign at least one attachment for the reply message to selected ones of the addressees in the addressee master list.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the program code for the message reply logic is further enabled to assign a priority for the reply message to selected ones of the addressees in the addressee master list.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the message reply logic is further enabled to assign a default message recipient role to selected ones of the addressees in the addressee master list.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer usable program code for identifying a set of addressees from among multiple messages in a message thread, comprises computer usable program code for identifying all addressees for all messages in a message thread.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer usable program code for selecting individual ones of the addressees in the distribution list to receive the reply message, comprises:

computer usable program code for rendering a graphical user interface (GUI) displaying the distribution list; and

,

computer usable program code for assigning at least one message recipient role to at least one of the addressees in the distribution list in the GUI.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising computer usable program code for further assigning an attachment for transmission to at least one of the addressees in the distribution list in the GUI.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising computer usable program code for adding at least one additional addressee to the distribution list not originally displayed in the GUI.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising computer usable program code for removing at least one addressee from the distribution as displayed in the GUI.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising computer usable program code for assigning a priority for the reply message to at least one of the addressees in the distribution list in the GUI.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for distribution list management method for a reply message in a message thread, said computer program product including:

computer usable program code for identifying a set of addressees from among multiple messages in a message thread;

computer usable program code for adding the set of addresses to a distribution list for a reply message to one of the multiple messages in the message thread;

computer usable program code for selecting individual ones of the addressees in the distribution list to receive the reply message; and

,

computer usable program code for sending the reply message to the selected individual ones of the addressees.