TECHNIQUES FOR FILTERING SELECTIVE USERS IN DISTRIBUTION LISTS

• US 20120042019A1
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Koul, Rohit, Ramanathaiah, Gurudutta
• Granted Patent: US 9,660,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90324 using system suggestions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

Techniques, including systems and methods for distributing electronic messages, are disclosed. In an embodiment, information relating to a message thread is maintained. The information includes information identifying one or more members of a distribution list to be excluded from receiving messages in the message thread. When it has been determined to prevent distribution of the electronic message to one or more members of the distribution list, the electronic message is distributed to members of the distribution list excluding the one or more members to whom distribution is to be prevented. The distributed electronic message may identify the distribution list as an intended recipient.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of distributing electronic messages, comprising:

under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

maintaining information relating to a message thread, the information relating to the message thread including information identifying one or more members of a distribution list to be excluded from receiving messages in the message thread;

for an electronic message of the message thread addressed to at least the distribution list, determining, based at least in part on the maintained information relating to the message thread, whether to prevent distribution of the electronic message to one or more members of the distribution list; and

when it has been determined to prevent distribution of the electronic message to one or more members of the distribution list, distributing the electronic message to members of the distribution list excluding the one or more members to whom distribution is to be prevented, the distributed electronic message identifying the distribution list as an intended recipient.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more computer systems include a server computer system having a data store, wherein the electronic message includes metadata identifying one or more additional messages of the message thread, and wherein maintaining the information relating to the message thread includes associating, in the data store, the information identifying one or more members of the distribution list to be excluded with one or more of the identified additional messages.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein information identifying the one or more members to whom distribution is to be prevented is absent from the distributed electronic message.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a reply to the electronic message, the reply being addressed to at least the distribution list; and

distributing the reply to members of the distribution list excluding the one or more members of the distribution list to whom distribution is to be prevented.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein information identifying the one or more members to whom distribution is to be prevented is included in the distributed electronic message.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein maintaining the information relating to the message thread includes encoding the information identifying the one or more members of the distribution list to be excluded in metadata of the electronic message.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

distributing at least one message of the message thread to at least one of the members of the distribution list excluding the one or more members to whom distribution is to be prevented upon receipt of an indication that said at least one of the members is no longer to be excluded from receiving messages of the message thread.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the messages in the message thread are each addressed to one or more addresses, wherein information relating to the message thread additionally identifies one or more addresses additional to the addresses of the message thread, and wherein the method further comprises distributing the electronic message to the one or more addresses additional to the addresses of the message thread.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon instructions for causing one or more computer systems to distribute electronic messages, the instructions comprising:

instructions that cause the one or more computer systems to store information relating to a message thread that includes information identifying one or more members of a distribution list to be excluded from receiving at least one message in the message thread;

instructions that cause the one or more computer systems to, for an electronic message of the message thread addressed to at least the distribution list, determine, based at least in part on the maintained information relating to the message thread, whether to prevent distribution of the electronic message to one or more members of the distribution list; and

instructions that cause the one or more computer systems to, when it has been determined to prevent distribution of the electronic message to one or more members of the distribution list, prevent distribution of the electronic message to the one or more members of the distribution list to whom distribution is to be prevented while distributing the electronic message to other members of the distribution list, the distributed electronic message identifying the distribution list as an intended recipient.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the one or more computer systems include a server computer system having a data store, wherein the electronic message includes metadata identifying one or more additional messages of the message thread, and wherein the instructions that cause the one or more computer systems to store the information relating to the message thread include instructions that cause the one or more computer systems to associate, in the data store, the information identifying one or more members of the distribution list to be excluded with one or more of the identified additional messages.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein information identifying the one or more members to whom distribution is to be prevented is absent from the distributed electronic message.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

instructions that cause the one or more computer systems to receive a reply to the electronic message, the reply being addressed to at least the distribution list; and

instructions that cause the one or more computer systems to distribute the reply to members of the distribution list excluding the one or more members of the distribution list to whom distribution is to be prevented.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein information identifying the one or more members to whom distribution is to be prevented is included in the distributed electronic message.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the information relating to the message thread includes an encoding of the information identifying the one or more members of the distribution list to be excluded in metadata of the electronic message.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the information identifying the one or more members of the distribution list to be excluded is encrypted.

16. A computer system for distributing electronic messages, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory including executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to at least;

maintain information relating to a message thread, the information relating to the message thread including information identifying one or more members of a distribution list to be excluded from receiving messages in the message thread;

for an electronic message of the message thread addressed to at least the distribution list, determine, based at least in part on the maintained information relating to the message thread, whether to prevent distribution of the electronic message to one or more members of the distribution list; and

when it has been determined to prevent distribution of the electronic message to one or more members of the distribution list, distribute the electronic message to members of the distribution list excluding the one or more members to whom distribution is to be prevented, the distributed electronic message identifying the distribution list as an intended recipient.

17. The computer system of claim 16, including a data store, and wherein the electronic message includes metadata identifying one or more additional messages of the message thread, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to associate, in the data store, the information identifying one or more members of the distribution list to be excluded with one or more of the identified additional messages.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein information identifying the one or more members to whom distribution is to be prevented is included in the distributed electronic message.

19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a reply to the electronic message, the reply being addressed to at least the distribution list; and

distribute the reply to members of the distribution list excluding the one or more members of the distribution list to whom distribution is to be prevented.

20. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to encode the information identifying the one or more members of the distribution list to be excluded in metadata of the electronic message.