Method and Apparatus for Managing an Electronic Messaging System

• US 20110131280A1
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Macwan, Sanjay, Pearson, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 8,862,674 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]

Abstract

A rating is received, from a first user of an electronic messaging system, pertaining to a use by a second user of a reply-to-all function provided by the electronic messaging system. An etiquette value associated with the second user is updated based on the rating. An access by the second user to the reply-to-all function is controlled based on the updated etiquette value associated with the second user. The electronic messaging system may comprise an email messaging system, for example. Systems and apparatus are also described.

Claims

1. A method for managing an electronic messaging system, comprising:

receiving, from a first user of an electronic messaging system, a rating of a use by a second user of a reply-to-all function provided by the electronic messaging system;

updating an etiquette value associated with the second user, based on the rating; and

controlling an access by the second user to the reply-to-all function, based on the updated etiquette value associated with the second user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic messaging system comprises an email messaging system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function comprises:

restricting the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein restricting the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function comprises:

blocking access by the second user to the reply-to-all function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function comprises:

providing a warning message to the second user when the second user attempts to send a message using the reply-to-all function.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein controlling the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function further comprises:

providing to the second user an option to cancel the message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function comprises:

designating a message sent by the second user as spam.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing to the first user an option to provide a rating of a use by the second user of the reply-to-all function, when the first user accesses a message sent by the second user using the reply-to-all function.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying on a display device of the first user at least two different ratings; and

allowing the first user to select a rating of a use by the second user of the reply-to-all function, from among the at least two different ratings.

10. An apparatus for managing an electronic messaging system, comprising:

means for receiving, from a first user of an electronic messaging system, a rating of a use by a second user of a reply-to-all function provided by the electronic messaging system;

means for updating an etiquette value associated with the second user, based on the rating; and

means for controlling an access by the second user of the reply-to-all function, based on the updated etiquette value associated with the second user.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electronic messaging system comprises an email messaging system.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for controlling the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function comprises:

means for restricting the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for restricting the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function comprises:

means for blocking access by the second user to the reply-to-all function.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for controlling the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function comprises:

means for providing a warning message to the second user when the second user attempts to send a message using the reply-to-all function.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for controlling the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function further comprises:

means for providing to the second user an option to cancel the message.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for controlling the access by the second user to the reply-to-all function comprises:

means for designating a message sent by the second user as spam.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

means for providing to the first user an option to provide a rating of a use by the second user of the reply-to-all function, when the first user accesses a message sent by the second user using the reply-to-all function.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for displaying on a display device of the first user at least two different ratings; and

allowing the first user to select a rating of a use by the second user of the reply-to-all function, from among the at least two different ratings.

19. An electronic messaging system comprising:

an interface configured to;

receive, from a first user, a rating of a use by a second user of a reply-to-all function provided by the electronic messaging system;

a memory configured to;

store an etiquette value associated with the second user; and

at least one processor configured to;

update the etiquette value associated with the second user, based on the information; and

control an access by the second user of the reply-to-all function, based on the updated etiquette value associated with the second user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic messaging system comprises an email messaging system.