Automatic restriction of reply emails

• US 20080208988A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jain, Mukul, Khouri, Joseph F., Philonenko, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes detecting, by an automated program, an attempt by a recipient of an email addressed to a plurality of addressees that includes the recipient to send a reply-all email. The automated program rejecting the reply-all email based on a pre-set policy rule that limits a number of reply-all email in a thread. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by an automated program, an attempt by a recipient of an email addressed to a plurality of addressees that includes the recipient to send a reply-all email; and

rejecting, by the automated program, the reply-all email based on a pre-set policy rule that limits a number of reply-all email in a thread.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reply-all email is addressed to all of the addressees excluding the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the email comprises a previous reply-all email of the thread.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the automated program comprises executable code running on an email server.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying, by the automated program, the recipient that the reply-all email has been rejected.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-set policy rule is implemented in a directory service.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-set policy rule comprises a reply-all limit count.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising incrementing the reply-all limit count after detecting the attempt to send the reply-all email.

9. A method comprising:

detecting, by an automated program, an attempt by a recipient of an email addressed to a plurality of addressees that includes the recipient to send a reply-all email of an email thread, the reply-all email being addressed to all of the addressees, excluding the recipient;

incrementing a reply-all count after detecting the attempt to send the reply-all email;

comparing the reply-all count to a pre-set reply-all limit; and

rejecting, by the automated program, the reply-all email in the event that the reply-all count exceeds the pre-set reply-all limit;

otherwise,

sending the reply-all email.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the email comprises a previous reply-all email of the email thread.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the reply-all count is specific to the recipient.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising setting, by either a sender of an original email of the email thread or an administrator, the pre-set reply-all limit.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising sending of the original email, and wherein the setting of the pre-set reply-all limit occurs prior to the sending of the original email.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising dynamically adjusting the pre-set reply-all limit occurs after sending of the original email.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising notifying, by the automated program, the recipient that the reply-all email has been rejected in the event that the reply-all count exceeds the pre-set reply-all limit.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the setting of the pre-set reply-all limit pre-set policy rule comprises accessing a directory.

17. Logic encoded in one or more media for execution and when executed is operable to:

detect an attempt by a recipient of an email to send a reply-all email to a plurality of addressees listed in an original email;

increment a reply-all count responsive to detecting the attempt to send the reply-all email;

compare the reply-all count to a reply-all limit; and

reject the reply-all email in the event that the reply-all count exceeds the reply-all limit;

otherwise,

send the reply-all email to the addressees.

18. The logic of claim 17 wherein the email comprises the original email.

19. The logic of claim 17 wherein the email comprises a previous reply-all email of an email thread.

20. The logic of claim 17 wherein the logic, when executed, is further operable to access a directory to obtain the reply-all limit.

21. The logic of claim 17 wherein reply-all limit is specific to the recipient.

22. The logic of claim 17 wherein the logic, when executed, is further operable to dynamically adjust the reply-all limit after sending of the original email.

23. The logic of claim 17 wherein the logic, when executed, is further operable to:

assign the reply-all email to a folder in the event that the reply-all count exceeds the reply-all limit; and

send the reply-all email responsive to input received from a reviewing authority.

24. The logic of claim 23 wherein the reviewing authority comprises a coded program.

25. The logic of claim 23 wherein the logic, when executed, is further operable to notify the recipient that the reply-all email is awaiting approval.

26. The logic of claim 23 wherein the logic, when executed, is further operable to notify the reviewing authority that the reply-all email requires an approval decision.

27. A system comprising:

one or more network nodes running one or more application programs that provide electronic mail (email) functions, one of the nodes including;

one or more processors; and

a memory comprising one or more instructions executable at the processors, the one or more processors being operable, when executing the instructions, to;

detect an attempt by a recipient of an email to send a reply-all email to a plurality of addressees listed in the email;

increment a reply-all count responsive to detecting the attempt to send the reply-all email;

compare the reply-all count to a reply-all limit; and

reject the reply-all email in the event that the reply-all count exceeds the reply-all limit;

otherwise,

send the reply-all email to the addressees.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the one of the nodes comprises an email server.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the one or more network nodes further comprises a directory that contains the reply-all limit, the one or more processors of the email server being further operable to access the directory to obtain the reply-all limit.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein the one or more processors, when executing the instructions, are further operable to:

assign the reply-all email to a folder in the event that the reply-all count exceeds the reply-all limit; and

send the reply-all email responsive to input received from a reviewing authority.

31. An apparatus comprising:

a display; and

means for producing a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display, the GUI providing a user of the apparatus with an ability to set a reply-all limit applied to an addressee listed in an electronic address book, when the addressee is included in an email thread originated by the user and the reply-all limit is exceeded by an attempt of the addressee to send a reply-all email, the reply-all email is rejected.