Method and apparatus for distributing of e-mail to multiple recipients

• US 20020013817A1
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Inventors: Collins, Thomas M., Willcocks, Neil A., Chimel, Mark J., Izzo, Henry V., Tuttrup, Robert W., Rabinovitch, Kevin L.
• Application Number:
  US09/855,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013817A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for transmitting electronic mail from a sender to a plurality of recipients is provided by use of a software application that allows a sender to designate a recipient as one of several categories. A first category is a primary recipient of the electronic mail and is to receive both a text message and an attached file. A second category is a secondary recipient of the electronic mail and is to receive both a text message and the attached file. A third category is a tertiary recipient of the electronic mail and is to receive a text message without the attached file.

Claims

1. A software application for transmitting electronic mail from a sender to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

code for enabling the sender to input a message;

code for enabling the sender to append an attachment to the message;

code for enabling the sender to designate at least one recipient of the plurality of recipients to receive the message and the attachment; and

code for enabling the sender to designate at least one recipient of the plurality of recipients to receive the message without the attachment.

2. A software application according to claim 1, wherein the sender and the recipients are computers connected to a network.

3. A software application according to claim 2, wherein the network is the Internet.

4. A software application according to claim 2, wherein the network is a local area network (LAN).

5. A software application according to claim 2, wherein the network is a wide area network (WAN).

6. A software application according to claim 1, further comprising:

code for enabling the recipient to create and edit a recipient profile, the profile including the recipient'"'"'s preferences with regard to receipt of attachments.

7. A software application for transmitting electronic mail from a sender to a plurality of recipients, said software application allowing a sender to designate a recipient as one of the following categories:

a first category indicating that the recipient is a primary recipient of the electronic mail and is to receive both a text message and an attached file;

a second category indicating that the recipient is a secondary recipient of the electronic mail and is to receive both a text message and the attached file; and

a third category indicating that the recipient is a tertiary recipient of the electronic mail and is to receive a text message without the attached file.

8. A software application according to claim 7, wherein the sender and the recipients are computers connected to a network.

9. A software application according to claim 8, wherein the network is the Internet.

10. A software application according to claim 8, wherein the network is a local area network (LAN).

11. A software application according to claim 8, wherein the network is wide area network (WAN).

12. An apparatus for transmitting electronic mail from a sender to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

means for enabling the sender to input a message;

means for enabling the sender to append an attachment;

means for enabling the sender to designate at least one recipient to receive the message and the attachment; and

means for enabling the sender to designate at least one recipient to receive the message without the attachment.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the sender and the recipients are computers connected to a network.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the network is the Internet.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the network is a local area network (LAN).

16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the network is wide area network (WAN).

17. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for enabling the recipient to create and edit a recipient profile, the profile including the recipient'"'"'s preferences with regard to receipt of attachments.

18. A method for transmitting electronic mail from a sender to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

inputting a message;

appending an attachment to the message;

designating at least one recipient of the plurality of recipients to receive the message and the attachment; and

designating at least one recipient of the plurality of recipients to receive the message without the attachment.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the sender and the recipients are computers connected to a network.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the network is the Internet.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the network is a local area network (LAN).

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein the network is wide area network (WAN).

23. A method according to claim 18, further comprising enabling the recipient to create and edit a recipient profile, the profile including the recipient'"'"'s preferences with regard to receipt of attachments.

24. A program-controlled apparatus operable to communicate via e-mail with one or more recipient computers, the apparatus being operable to allow a user of the apparatus to:

input a message;

append a attachment to the message;

designate at least one recipient of the plurality of recipients to receive the message and the attachment; and

designate at least one recipient of the plurality of recipients to receive the message without the attachment.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the apparatus and the recipients are computers connected to a network.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the network is the Internet.

27. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the network is a local area network (LAN).

28. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the network is wide area network (WAN).

29. An apparatus according to claim 24, the apparatus further being operable to enable the recipient to create and edit a recipient profile, the profile including the recipient'"'"'s preferences with regard to receipt of attachments.