Method, system, and program for warning an email message sender that the intended recipient's mailbox is unattended

• US 6,684,238 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2000
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snapchat Inc (Snap, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US09/553,808
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 709/207, 709/208, 709/245, 706/47
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail

Abstract

A system, method, and program are disclosed for warning an email message sender that the intended recipient'"'"'s mailbox is unattended. An indication of an intended recipient from within a designated form for an email message is received from a sender desiring to send the email message prior to receiving an indication to send the email message. A determination is then made, in response to the received indication, whether a mailbox for the intended recipient is designated as being currently unattended. The sender is informed, prior to receiving the indication to send the email message, if the mailbox for the intended recipient is designated as being currently unattended.

Claims

1. A method, in a data processing system, comprising:

receiving, from a sender desiring to send an email message, prior to receiving an indication to send the email message, an indication of an intended recipient from within a designated form for the email message;

determining, in response to the received indication, whether a mailbox for said intended recipient is designated as being currently unattended; and

informing the sender, prior to receiving the indication to send the email message, if the mailbox for the intended recipient is designated as being currently unattended.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving an indication of an intended recipient of the email message prior to receiving an indication to send the email message further comprises receiving the indication of the intended recipient prior to the sender creating a body of the message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of informing further comprises informing the sender of a content of an away message by the intended recipient.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of informing further comprises informing the sender of a date of return of the intended recipient.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving an indication of an intended recipient further comprises receiving the indication in response to a name entered in an addressee field of the designated email form and entered as input through an enter key.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving an indication of an intended recipient further comprises receiving the indication in response to a name entered in an addressee field of the designated email form and entered as input through a mouse click.

7. A method, in a data processing system, comprising:

filling in a name of an intended recipient in an addressee field in a designated form for sending email;

entering the name as input;

receiving information, prior to sending the email, if a mailbox of the intended recipient is currently unattended.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of receiving information prior to sending the email further comprises receiving the information prior to creating a body of the message.

9. A data processing system comprising:

means for receiving, from a sender desiring to send an email message, prior to receiving an indication to send the email message, an indication of an intended recipient from within a designated form for the email message;

means for determining, in response to the received indication, whether a mailbox for said intended recipient is designated as being currently unattended; and

means for informing the sender, prior to receiving the indication to send the email message, if the mailbox for the intended recipient is designated as being currently unattended.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for informing further comprises means for informing the sender of a content of an away message by the intended recipient.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for informing further comprises means for informing the sender of a date of return of the intended recipient.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for receiving an indication of an intended recipient further comprises means for receiving the indication in response to a name entered in an address field of the designated email form and entered as input through an enter key.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for receiving an indication of an intended recipient further comprises means for receiving the indication in response to a name entered in an addressee field of the designated email form and entered as input through a mouse click.

14. A data processing system comprising:

means for filling in a name of an intended recipient in an addressee field in a designated form for sending email;

means for entering the name as input;

means for receiving information, prior to sending the email, if a mailbox of the intended recipient is currently unattended.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the information is received prior to a body field of the form being entered.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the information comprises a content of an away message of the intended recipient.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the information comprises a date of return of the intended recipient.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for entering the name as input is through an enter key.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for entering the name as input is through a mouse click.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for entering the name as input is through a tab key.

21. A computer program, on a computer usable medium, comprising:

means enabling receipt of, from a sender desiring to send an email message, prior to receiving an indication to send the email message, an indication of an intended recipient from within a designated form for the email message;

means for enabling a determination of, in response to the received indication, whether a mailbox for said intended recipient is designated as being currently unattended; and

means for enabling the sender to be informed, prior to receiving the indication to send the email message, if the mailbox for the intended recipient is designated as being currently unattended.

22. A computer program, on a computer usable medium, comprising:

means for filling in a name of an intended recipient in an addressee field in a designated form for sending email;

means for enabling an entering of the name as input, independently of enabling a sending of the email;

means for enabling receipt of information, prior to sending the email, if a mailbox of the intended recipient is currently unattended.

23. A method, in a data processing system, comprising:

receiving, from a sender desiring to send an email message, prior to receiving an indication to send the email message, an indication of a plurality of intended recipients from within a designated form for the email message;

determining, in response to the received indication, whether a separate mailbox for each of said intended recipients is designated as being currently unattended; and

informing the sender, prior to receiving the indication to send the email message, of each mailbox that is designated as being currently unattended.

24. A data processing system comprising:

means for receiving, from a sender desiring to send an email message, prior to receiving an indication to send the email message, an indication of a plurality of intended recipients from within a designated form for the email message;

means for determining, in response to the received indication, whether a separate mailbox for each of said intended recipients is designated as being currently unattended; and

means for informing the sender, prior to receiving the indication to send the email message, of each mailbox that is designated as being currently unattended.

25. A computer program, on a computer usable medium, comprising:

means enabling receipt of, from a sender desiring to send an email message, prior to receiving an indication to send the email message, an indication of a plurality of intended recipients from within a designated form for the email message;

means for enabling a determination of, in response to the received indication, whether a separate mailbox for each of said intended recipients is designated as being currently unattended; and

means for enabling the sender to be informed, before receiving the indication to send the email message, of each mailbox that is designated as being currently unattended.