Distribution list creation and subscription

• US 9,374,332 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: McCune, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Gillis, Brian J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Gil H.
• Application Number:
  US13/946,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20150026270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

A method and system for the efficient creation and management of an e-mail distribution list. The method includes receiving, from a first sender, a first e-mail message directed to an e-mail address comprising a list name. An e-mail distribution list is created comprising a distribution list name, wherein the distribution list name is the list name of the e-mail address. The first sender is added as a first subscriber to the distribution list. A second e-mail communication directed to the e-mail address is received and the second sender is added as a second subscriber to the e-mail distribution list in view of the second e-mail communication.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processing device of a host computer from a first user device associated with a first sender, a first e-mail message directed to an e-mail address comprising a list name and a domain name associated with the host computer, wherein the first e-mail message represents a request to create an e-mail distribution list;

determining the list name is available by checking a database comprising a plurality of distribution list records;

creating, by the processing device, the e-mail distribution list comprising a distribution list name in response to receiving the first e-mail message, wherein the distribution list name is the list name of the e-mail address;

adding the first sender as a first subscriber to the distribution list;

receiving, from a second user device associated with a second sender, a second e-mail communication directed to the e-mail address; and

adding the second sender as a second subscriber to the e-mail distribution list in view of the second e-mail communication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a subsequent e-mail communication directed to the e-mail address; and

distributing the subsequent e-mail communication to the first and second subscribers.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a plurality of additional senders, a plurality of e-mail communications directed to the e-mail address;

adding the plurality of additional senders as a plurality of additional subscribers to the distribution list; and

distributing a subsequent e-mail communication directed to the e-mail address to the first subscriber, the second subscriber, and the plurality of additional subscribers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, to the first sender, a request for confirmation of creation of the distribution list; and

receiving, from the first sender, a confirmation of the creation of the distribution list.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, to the second sender, a request for confirmation of subscription to the distribution list; and

receiving, from the second sender, a confirmation of subscription of the second sender to the distribution list.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the database comprising the plurality of distribution list records each comprising distribution list information.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

receive, by a processing device of a host computer from a first user device associated with a first sender, a first e-mail message directed to an e-mail address comprising a list name and a domain name associated with the host computer, wherein the first e-mail message represents a request to create an e-mail distribution list;

determine the list name is available by checking a database comprising a plurality of distribution list records;

create, by the processing device, the e-mail distribution list comprising a distribution list name in response to receiving the first e-mail message, wherein the distribution list name is the list name of the e-mail address;

add the first sender as a first subscriber to the distribution list;

receive, from a second user device associated with a second sender, a second e-mail communication directed to the e-mail address; and

add the second sender as a second subscriber to the e-mail distribution list in view of the second e-mail communication.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, the processing device to:

receive a subsequent e-mail communication directed to the e-mail address; and

distribute the subsequent e-mail communication to the first and second subscribers.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, the processing device to:

receive, from a plurality of additional senders, a plurality of e-mail communications directed to the e-mail address;

add the plurality of additional senders as a plurality of additional subscribers to the distribution list; and

distribute a subsequent e-mail communication directed to the e-mail address to the first subscriber, the second subscriber, and the plurality of additional subscribers.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, the processing device to:

provide, to the first sender, a request for confirmation of creation of the distribution list; and

receive, from the first sender, a confirmation of the creation of the distribution list.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, the processing device to:

provide, to the second sender, a request for confirmation of subscription to the distribution list; and

receive, from the second sender, a confirmation of subscription of the second sender to the distribution list.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, the processing device to maintain the database comprising the plurality of distribution list records each comprising distribution list information.

13. A system comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processing device of a host computer operatively coupled to the memory, the processing device to execute the instructions to;

receive, by the processing device from a first user device associated with a first sender, a first e-mail message directed to an e-mail address comprising a list name and a domain name associated with the host computer, wherein the first e-mail message represents a request to create an e-mail distribution list;

determine the list name is available by checking a database comprising a plurality of distribution list records;

create, by the processing device, the e-mail distribution list comprising a distribution list name in response to receiving the first e-mail message, wherein the distribution list name is the list name of the e-mail address;

add the first sender as a first subscriber to the distribution list;

receive, from a second user device associated with a second sender, a second e-mail communication directed to the e-mail address; and

add the second sender as a second subscriber to the e-mail distribution list in view of the second e-mail communication.

14. The system of claim 13, the processing device to:

receive a subsequent e-mail communication directed to the e-mail address; and

distribute the subsequent e-mail communication to the first and second subscribers.

15. The system of claim 13, the processing device to:

receive, from a plurality of additional senders, a plurality of e-mail communications directed to the e-mail address;

add the plurality of additional senders as a plurality of additional subscribers to the distribution list; and

distribute a subsequent e-mail communication directed to the e-mail address to the first subscriber, the second subscriber, and the plurality of additional subscribers.

16. The system of claim 13, the processing device to:

provide, to the first sender, a request for confirmation of creation of the distribution list; and

receive, from the first sender, a confirmation of the creation of the distribution list.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

provide, to the second sender, a request for confirmation of subscription to the distribution list; and

receive, from the second sender, a confirmation of subscription of the second sender to the distribution list.

18. The system of claim 13, the processing device to store, in the database, the plurality of distribution list records each comprising distribution list information.