Method and apparatus for managing subscriptions to distribution lists
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer controlled method for distributing, by a listserver to a recipient, electronic mail (e-mail) list messages sent to a distribution list;
- said computer controlled method comprising steps of;
(a) selecting said distribution list serviced by said listserver;
(b) specifying a duration for which distribution of said e-mail list messages is to be suspended; and
(c) causing said listserver to suspend distribution of said e-mail list messages to said recipient for said duration whereby said e-mail list messages sent to said distribution list during said duration are not distributed to said recipient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed to simplify a computer user'"'"'s handling of distribution lists for electronic mail messages. The invention provides the computer user with a mechanism for managing e-mail distribution lists. The mechanism includes facilities for suspending e-mail messages from a distribution list for a specified duration.
250 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A computer controlled method for distributing, by a listserver to a recipient, electronic mail (e-mail) list messages sent to a distribution list;
- said computer controlled method comprising steps of;
(a) selecting said distribution list serviced by said listserver; (b) specifying a duration for which distribution of said e-mail list messages is to be suspended; and (c) causing said listserver to suspend distribution of said e-mail list messages to said recipient for said duration whereby said e-mail list messages sent to said distribution list during said duration are not distributed to said recipient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- said computer controlled method comprising steps of;
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9. A listserver apparatus configured to distribute, to a recipient, electronic mail (e-mail) list messages sent to a distribution list;
- said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism;
said apparatus comprising;a suspend mechanism configured to stop distribution of said list messages to said recipient;
said suspend mechanism responsive to a suspend command message;a storage mechanism configured to store resumption information derived from said suspend command message;
said resumption information comprising a duration for which distribution of said e-mail list messages is to be suspended; anda resumption mechanism configured to automatically resume distribution of said list messages to said recipient after said duration. - View Dependent Claims (10)
- said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism;
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11. A list management apparatus configured to manage a distribution list controlled by a listserver by sending electronic mail (e-mail) command messages to said listserver;
- said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism;
said listserver distributing e-mail list messages to a recipient;
said apparatus comprising;a database mechanism configured to store, using said filestorage mechanism, list information relating to said distribution list and said listserver;
said list information comprising resumption information; anda list suspension mechanism configured to cause said listserver to suspend distribution of said list messages for a duration. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
- said apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism;
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15. A list management apparatus configured to manage a distribution list controlled by a listserver by sending electronic mail (e-mail) command messages to said listserver;
- said apparatus responsive to user commands and having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism;
said listserver distributing e-mail list messages;
said apparatus comprising;
a list subscription mechanism configured to cause said listserver to add a recipient to said distribution list;
said subscription mechanism sending a subscribe command message to said listserver;
said subscription mechanism responsive to an add command; and
a database mechanism, responsive to said add command, configured to store list information relating to said distribution list and said listserver. - View Dependent Claims (16)
- said apparatus responsive to user commands and having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a filestorage mechanism;
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17. A computer program product comprising:
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(a) a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to distribute, to a recipient, of electronic mail (e-mail) list messages sent to a distribution list;
said computer program product comprising;(b) computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a suspend mechanism configured to stop distribution of said list messages to said recipient;
said suspend mechanism responsive to a suspend command message;computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a storage mechanism configured to store resumption information derived from said suspend command message;
said resumption information comprising a duration for which distribution of said e-mail list messages is to be suspended; andcomputer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a resumption mechanism configured to automatically resume distribution of said list messages to said recipient after said duration. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A computer program product comprising:
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(a) a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to manage a distribution list controlled by a listserver;
said listserver distributing e-mail list messages to a recipient;
said computer program product comprising;(b) computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a database mechanism configured to store, using said filestorage mechanism, list information relating to said distribution list and said listserver; and computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a list suspension mechanism configured to cause said listserver to suspend distribution of said list messages for a duration;
said list suspension mechanism configured to send electronic mail (e-mail) command messages to said listserver. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product comprising:
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(a) a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to manage a distribution list controlled by a listserver by sending electronic mail (e-mail) command messages to said listserver;
said computer program product comprising;(b) computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a user command recognition mechanism configured to recognize user commands; computer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a list subscription mechanism configured to cause said listserver to add a recipient to said distribution list;
said subscription mechanism sending a subscribe command message to said listserver;
said subscription mechanism responsive to an add command; andcomputer readable code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a database mechanism, responsive to said add command, configured to store list information relating to said distribution list and said listserver. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A list management system having a listserver application, and a distribution list management application;
- said list management system comprising;
a list management database configured to store distribution list information; a database manipulation mechanism configured to manipulate said list management database; and a listserver command mechanism responsive to said database manipulation mechanism;
said database manipulation mechanism configured to send a electronic mail (e-mail) command message to said listserver application;
said e-mail command message causing said listserver application to affect an operation. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- said list management system comprising;
Specification