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Method and apparatus for processing electronic mail in parallel

  • US 5,504,897 A
  • Filed: 02/22/1994
  • Issued: 04/02/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for processing mail objects in parallel in a computer system comprising the steps of:

  • maintaining, in said computer system, a plurality of queues each having a plurality of mail objects for processing in said computer system;

    defining, using said computer system, an initial configuration that identifies an initial number of processes to be invoked for each of said plurality of queues;

    initiating a parent process in said computer system;

    initiating by said parent process said initial number of processes in said computer system;

    processing in parallel said mail objects in each of said plurality of queues by said initial number of processes while any of said mail objects remain in said queue;

    monitoring using a monitoring process the number of mail objects in one of said plurality of queues;

    defining using said computer system a modified initial number of processes based on information provided by said monitoring process;

    examining by said parent process said modified initial number of processes;

    initiating by said parent process a plurality of additional processes when said modified initial number of processes is greater than said initial number of processes; and

    terminating by said parent process a plurality of processes when said modified initial number of processes is less than said initial number of processes.

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