ELECTRONIC MESSAGE DISTRIBUTION LISTS

• US 20140237055A1
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Burrell, Douglas James Arthur, Gondosch, Robert Michael Philip
• Granted Patent: US 9,680,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

A distribution list identifies a plurality of recipient addresses for electronic messages. Normal updates to the distribution list can be performed via update commands from an authorized address that is stored in association with the distribution list as authorized to update the distribution list. When a removal command is received from a specific recipient address, which is not authorized to update the distribution list, the specific address can be removed from the distribution list. When an addition command is received from the specific address, a new address can be added to the distribution list. Before sending an outbound electronic message, the distribution list is resolved to the current set of recipient addresses.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

at least one server connected to a network, the server configured to;

store a distribution list that identifies a plurality of recipient addresses for electronic messages;

update the distribution list when receiving update commands via the network from an authorized address that is stored in association with the distribution list as authorized to update the distribution list;

remove from the distribution list a specific address of the plurality of recipient addresses when receiving a removal command from the specific address, the specific address being unauthorized to update the distribution list;

resolve the plurality of recipient addresses from an identifier of the distribution list contained in an outbound electronic message upon receiving the outbound electronic message via the network; and

send the outbound electronic message to the resolved plurality of recipient addresses.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to:

upon receiving a request via the network from a remote electronic device, compare the distribution list to an indication of the distribution list on the remote electronic device at which an electronic message in composition is addressed to the distribution list; and

send an indication of the comparison to the remote electronic device.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the indication of the comparison comprises an indication of an added or removed recipient address.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to delete the distribution list after an expiry time.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to add to the distribution list a new address not among the plurality of recipient addresses when receiving an addition command from an address of the plurality of recipient addresses that is unauthorized to update the distribution list.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the server is configured to add the new address to the distribution list as conditional on receiving approval from the authorized address.

7. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the server is further configured to send a most recent message addressed to the distribution list to the new address after the new address is added to the plurality of recipient addresses of the distribution list.

8. An electronic device comprising:

an input interface;

a display;

a communications interface; and

a processor coupled to the input interface, the display, and the communications interface, the processor configured to;

store a user address associated with an electronic messaging account accessible at the electronic device;

generate at the display a message viewing interface configured to display electronic messages received via the communications interface, the message viewing interface including a recipient field configured to display an indication of a distribution list; and

provide to the communications interface a removal command in response to a removal input received at the indication of the distribution list, the removal command configured to be sent by the communications interface to a computer system that maintains the distribution list to remove the user address from the distribution list.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to expand the indication of a distribution list to generate at the display indications of a plurality of recipient addresses of the distribution list, the plurality of addresses including the user address and the indication of the user address being responsive to the removal input.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to generate at the display a message composition interface configured to receive via the input interface a message and an indication of a distribution list to which the message is addressed, and wherein the processor is further configured to display an indication of an update to the distribution list when receiving the update of the distribution list from the communications interface.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the indication of the update to the distribution list is adjacent to the indication of the distribution list.

12. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to provide to the communications interface an addition command in response to an addition input received at the indication of the distribution list, the addition input indicating a new address, the addition command configured to be sent by the communications interface to the computer system that maintains the distribution list to add the new address to the distribution list.

13. A method comprising:

storing a distribution list that identifies a plurality of recipient addresses for electronic messages;

updating the distribution list when receiving update commands via a network from an authorized address that is stored in association with the distribution list as authorized to update the distribution list;

removing from the distribution list a specific address of the plurality of recipient addresses when receiving a removal command from the specific address, the specific address being unauthorized to update the distribution list;

resolving the plurality of recipient addresses from an identifier of the distribution list contained in an outbound electronic message upon receiving the outbound electronic message via the network; and

sending the outbound electronic message to the resolved plurality of recipient addresses.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

upon receiving a request via the network from a remote electronic device, comparing the distribution list to an indication of the distribution list on the remote electronic device at which an electronic message in composition is addressed to the distribution list; and

sending an indication of the comparison to the remote electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication of the comparison comprises an indication of an added or removed recipient address.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising deleting the distribution list after an expiry time.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising adding to the distribution list a new address not among the plurality of recipient addresses when receiving an addition command from an address of the plurality of recipient addresses that is unauthorized to update the distribution list.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein adding the new address to the distribution list is conditional on receiving approval from the authorized address.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising sending a most recent message addressed to the distribution list to the new address after the new address is added to the plurality of recipient addresses of the distribution list.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the storing, updating, removing, resolving, and sending are performed by at least one server that receives the removal command from a remote electronic device via a network.