Automatic restriction of reply emails

• US 7,720,919 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jain, Mukul, Khouri, Joseph F., Philonenko, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer; Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALGIBHAH, HAMZA N
• Application Number:
  US11/712,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20080208988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes detecting, by an automated program, an attempt by a recipient of an email addressed to a plurality of addressees that includes the recipient to send a reply-all email. The automated program rejecting the reply-all email based on a pre-set policy rule that limits a number of reply-all email in a thread. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by an automated program, an attempt by a recipient of an email addressed to a plurality of addressees that includes the recipient to send a reply-all email, the reply-all email being addressed to all of the addressees excluding the recipient; and

rejecting, by the automated program, the reply-all email based on a pre-set policy rule that limits a number of reply-all email in a thread, the pre-set policy rule comprising a reply-all limit count implemented in a directory service.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the email comprises a previous reply-all email of the thread.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the automated program comprises executable code running on an email server.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying, by the automated program, the recipient that the reply-all email has been rejected.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising incrementing the reply-all limit count after detecting the attempt to send the reply-all email.

6. A processor-implemented method, comprising:

detecting, by an automated program, an attempt by a recipient of an email addressed to a plurality of addressees that includes the recipient to send a reply-all email of an email thread, the reply-all email being addressed to all of the addressees, excluding the recipient;

incrementing a reply-all count after detecting the attempt to send the reply-all email, the reply-all count being specific to the recipient;

comparing the reply-all count to a pre-set reply-all limit; and

rejecting, by the automated program, the reply-all email in the event that the reply-all count exceeds the pre-set reply-all limit;

otherwise, sending the reply-all email.

7. The processor-implemented method of claim 6 wherein the email comprises a previous reply-all email of the email thread.

8. The processor-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising setting, by either a sender of an original email of the email thread or an administrator, the pre-set reply-all limit.

9. The processor-implemented method of claim 8 further comprising sending of the original email, and wherein the setting of the pre-set reply-all limit occurs prior to the sending of the original email.

10. The processor-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising notifying, by the automated program, the recipient that the reply-all email has been rejected in the event that the reply-all count exceeds the pre-set reply-all limit.

11. The processor-implemented method of claim 8 wherein the setting of the pre-set reply-all limit pre-set policy rule comprises accessing a directory.