System and method for distributing electronic messages in accordance with rules

• US 6,363,415 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cranberry Properties, LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cranberry Properties, LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Snider, Michael L., Wright, Randall S., Paynter, James W., Bard, Robin R., Finney, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/636,444
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/238, 709/313
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding

Abstract

A system for managing electronic messages is disclosed. Recipients of electronic messages may define a set of rules for accepting incoming messages. These rules are applied by a message distributor at substantially the initial point of distribution so that delays in routing messages are reduced. Additionally, network traffic may be reduced because message routing is more direct.

Claims

1. An electronic messaging system comprising:

a first device capable of sending an electronic message;

a second device capable of receiving said electronic message;

a wide area network capable of accepting an electronic message directly or indirectly from said first device and capable of delivering said electronic message to said second device or a computer network linked to said second device;

a rule for defining which electronic messages should be sent to said second device;

a memory unit for storing said at least one rule;

a wide area network distributor capable of applying said rule to said electronic message from said first device during transmission of said electronic message from an initial point of entry into said wide area network to said second device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one rule applied to said electronic message causes one or more new messages to be sent to one or more different devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said rule applied to said electronic message causes a message to be forwarded to a different device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said wide area network distributor is part of an information service wide area network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said rule is based on who originated said electronic message.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said rule is based on the subject of said electronic message.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said rule is based on the priority of said electronic message.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said rule is based on the electronic message type.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a recipient of messages at said second device defines said rule.

10. A method for managing electronic messages, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a first device capable of sending an electronic message;

providing a second device capable of receiving said electronic message;

providing a wide area computer network capable of accepting an electronic message directly or indirectly from said first device and capable of sending said electronic message to said second device or a computer network linked to said second device;

providing a distributor in said wide area computer network;

defining a set of rules for accepting electronic messages at said second device;

applying said set of rules with said distributor to said electronic message during transmission of said electronic message from an initial point of entry into said wide area computer network to said second device; and

transmitting via said wide area computer network said electronic message in accordance with said set of rules.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a recipient of electronic messages at said second device defines said set of rules.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said distributor is part of an information service network.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of generating at least one new electronic message to be sent to one or more different devices in accordance with a rule from said set of rules applied to said electronic message.

14. An electronic messaging system comprising:

a first device for sending electronic messages to a second device;

a wide area computer network for accepting said electronic messages directly or indirectly from said first device and for delivering said electronic messages to said second device or a computer network linked to said second device;

a set of rules defining which of said electronic messages should be sent to said second device;

a memory unit for storing said rules;

a wide area computer network distributor for retrieving said rules from said memory unit, interpreting and applying said rules to said electronic messages from said first device upon the initial point of entry of said electronic messages in said wide area computer network, and for transmitting said electronic messages in conformance with said rules.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein a recipient of electronic messages at said second device defines said set of rules.

16. A method for delivering electronic messages received at a wide area computer network, said method comprising the steps of:

defining a set of rules to be applied to electronic messages addressed to an electronic message recipient, said set of rules defined by said electronic message recipient;

receiving an electronic message at said wide area computer network, said electronic messages addressed to said electronic message recipient; and

distributing via a wide area computer network distributor a plurality of electronic messages in accordance with said set of rules defined by said electronic message recipient and said electronic message received at said wide area network computer.

17. The method of 16 wherein the step of distributing said electronic message comprises the steps of:

retrieving said set of rules from a memory unit at said computer network and;

interpreting and applying said set of rules to said electronic messages.