Method, apparatus and computer program for identifying any discrepancies in an email distribution list

• US 8,577,970 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hogan, Natalie Sian, Menadue, Andrew John Emry, Sinclair, David Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): SERRAO, RANODHI N
• Application Number:
  US11/735,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,398 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method for identifying discrepancies in an email distribution list is provided in various embodiments of this present invention. The method includes receiving from an originating client an email addressed to a list of recipients; examining the list of recipients to identify one or more possible amendments to the list of recipients; and informing the originating client of any identified amendments. In other embodiments, examining the list of recipients further includes comparing the recipient list with one or more trusted lists or a directory to identify one or more possible amendments to the list of recipients to identify those recipients missing or sharing a common attribute. In other embodiments it is determined if other names in the directory, but no in the recipient list, also share the common attribute. Subsequently, one or more amendments may be made to the recipient list based on such absent names.

Claims

1. A method for identifying any discrepancies in an email distribution list, the method comprising:

receiving, from an originating client an email addressed to a list of recipients, in an email server; and

comparing in the email server the list of recipients against a trusted distribution list; and

identifying one or more possible amendments to the list of recipients if the list of recipients differs from the first trusted distribution list by more than a predetermined amount; and

informing the originating client of any identified amendments; and

determining in the email server whether the list of recipients should be promoted to the trusted distribution list.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of informing the originating client of any identified amendments comprises:

suggesting an addition and/or a deletion to the list of recipients.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing the list of recipients comprises:

comparing the recipient list with a directory including the recipients to identify those recipients missing a common attribute; and

identifying one or more possible amendments to the list of recipients on the basis of which recipients are missing the common attribute.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing the list of recipients comprises:

comparing the recipient list with a directory including the recipients to identify an attribute common to all the recipients;

determining if other names in the directory, yet absent from the recipient list, also share the common attribute; and

identifying one or more possible amendments to the list of recipients on the basis of such absent names.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

grouping names according to various criteria; and

using grouped names in performance of the examining step.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of grouping names according to various criteria comprises:

comparing the recipient list with grouped names to identify partial matches which indicate potential omissions from the recipient list.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of grouping names according to various criteria comprises:

comparing the recipient list with grouped names to identify partial matches which indicate potential incorrect additions to the recipient list.