Blocking a "reply to all" option in an electronic mail system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for operating an electronic mail system, comprising the steps of:
- receiving an electronic mail message at a computer operated by a receiver;
displaying the received electronic mail message on a monitor attached to the computer operated by the receiver; and
blocking a "Reply to All" command from being executed by the computer operated by the receiver in response to the displayed electronic mail message when an associated blocking option has been selected at a computer operated by a sender of the displayed electronic mail message.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A "Reply to All" command may be selectively blocked by a sender in an electronic mail system. The "Reply to All" command may be disabled in response to selection and enablement of a "Block Reply to All" option when the message is composed by the sender. After the sender transmits the message, the message is displayed in a window on a computer operated by a receiver. If the "Block Reply to All" option has been enabled, then the "Reply to All" command is disabled at the computer operated by the receiver. The disabling of the "Reply to All" command may be visually represented by a change in the display.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for operating an electronic mail system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an electronic mail message at a computer operated by a receiver; displaying the received electronic mail message on a monitor attached to the computer operated by the receiver; and blocking a "Reply to All" command from being executed by the computer operated by the receiver in response to the displayed electronic mail message when an associated blocking option has been selected at a computer operated by a sender of the displayed electronic mail message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An electronic mail system, comprising:
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a computer with a monitor attached thereto, wherein the computer is operated by a receiver; means, performed by the computer operated by the receiver, for receiving an electronic mail message; means, performed by the computer operated by the receiver, for displaying the electronic mail message on the monitor attached operated by the receiver; and means, performed by the computer operated by the receiver, for blocking a "Reply to All" command from being executed by the computer operated by the receiver in response to the displayed electronic mail message when an associated blocking option has been selected at a computer operated by a sender of the electronic mail message. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A program storage medium readable by a computer having a memory, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for operating an electronic mail system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an electronic mail message at a computer operated by a receiver; displaying the received electronic mail message on a monitor attached to the computer operated by the receiver; and blocking a "Reply to All" command from being executed by the computer operated by the receiver in response to the displayed electronic mail message when an associated blocking option has been selected at a computer operated by a sender of the displayed electronic mail message. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for operating an electronic mail system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving one or more commands to create the electronic mail message at a computer operated by a sender; receiving one or more commands to enable an associated blocking option at the computer operated by the sender; and transmitting the electronic mail message from the computer operated by the sender to a computer operated by a receiver, wherein the electronic mail message includes an indication that the associated blocking option has been enabled at the computer operated by the sender. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An electronic mail system, comprising:
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a computer with a monitor attached thereto, wherein the computer is operated by a sender; means, performed by the computer operated by the sender, for receiving one or more commands to create an electronic mail message; means, performed by the computer operated by the sender, for receiving one or more commands to enable an associated blocking option; and means, performed by the computer operated by the sender, for transmitting the electronic mail message from the computer operated by the sender to a computer operated by a receiver, wherein the electronic mail message includes an indication that the associated blocking option has been enabled at the computer operated by the sender. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A program storage medium readable by a computer having a memory, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for operating an electronic mail system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving one or more commands to create the electronic mail message at a computer operated by a sender; receiving one or more commands to enable an associated blocking option at the computer operated by the sender; and transmitting the electronic mail message from the first computer operated by the sender to a computer operated by a receiver, wherein the electronic mail message includes an indication that the associated blocking option has been enabled at the computer operated by the sender. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification