E-mail route trace functionality

• US 20050010643A1
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gusler, Carl Phillip, Schatz, Harry, Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Fellenstein, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,562,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

An example of a solution provided here comprises: in response to a request from an original sender, transmitting tracing notifications to the original sender, and providing limits for the tracing notifications. The tracing notifications operate when an e-mail message is forwarded to at least one non-original recipient.

Claims

1. A method for providing electronic mail (e-mail) services, said method comprising:

receiving from an original sender a request for tracing notifications, for an e-mail message;

in response to said request, creating at least one tag for said e-mail message, indicating that said original sender is to receive said tracing notifications;

receiving said tracing notifications; and

providing limits for said tracing notifications;

wherein said tracing notifications operate when said e-mail message is forwarded to at least one non-original recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing limits further comprises one or more limiting actions selected from the group consisting of:

limiting the time during which said tracing notifications operate,

limiting the number of retransmissions for which said tracing notifications operate,

limiting said tracing notifications'"'"' operation, based on a domain policy,

limiting the content of said tracing notifications,

and discontinuing said tracing notifications, in response to a signal from said original sender.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing to a user

a representation of said e-mail message,

together with information as to who has been provided with the content of said e-mail message.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing and updating said information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting said tracing notifications to said original sender, from said at least one non-original recipient.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said transmitting tracing notifications further comprises transmitting one or more tracing notifications selected from the group consisting of:

notifications reporting that said message has been sent somewhere in some manner,

notifications reporting that the content of said message was provided to said at least one non-original recipient,

and notifications reporting deletion of said message.

7. A method for providing e-mail services, said method comprising:

in response to a request from an original sender, transmitting tracing notifications to said original sender; and

providing limits for said tracing notifications;

wherein said tracing notifications operate when an e-mail message is forwarded to at least one non-original recipient.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said providing limits further comprises:

limiting the time during which said tracing notifications operate.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said providing limits further comprises:

limiting the number of retransmissions for which said tracing notifications operate.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said providing limits further comprises:

responsive to a signal from said original sender, discontinuing said tracing notifications.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said providing limits further comprises:

limiting said transmitting, based on a domain policy.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said transmitting tracing notifications further comprises:

signaling that the content of said e-mail message has been provided to said at least one non-original recipient.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein said transmitting tracing notifications further comprises:

signaling that said e-mail message has been forwarded to said at least one non-original recipient.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing to a user

a representation of said e-mail message,

together with information as to who has been provided with the content of said e-mail message.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

storing and updating said information.

16. A system for providing e-mail services, said system comprising:

means for receiving from an original sender a request for tracing notifications, for an e-mail message;

means responsive to said request, for creating at least one tag for said e-mail message, indicating that said original sender is to receive said tracing notifications;

means responsive to said tag, for transmitting said tracing notifications to said original sender; and

means for providing limits for said tracing notifications;

wherein said tracing notifications operate when said e-mail message is forwarded to at least one non-original recipient.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for providing limits further comprises:

means for limiting the time during which said tracing notifications operate.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for providing limits further comprises:

means for limiting the number of retransmissions for which said tracing notifications operate.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for providing limits further comprises:

means responsive to a signal from said original sender, for discontinuing said tracing notifications.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for providing limits further comprises:

means for limiting said transmitting, based on a domain policy.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for transmitting tracing notifications further comprises:

means for signaling that the content of said e-mail message has been provided to at least one non-original recipient.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for transmitting tracing notifications further comprises:

means for signaling that said e-mail message has been forwarded to said at least one non-original recipient.

23. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for providing to a user

a representation of said e-mail message,

together with information as to who has been provided with the content of said e-mail message.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

means for storing and updating said information.

25. A computer-usable medium having computer-executable instructions for providing e-mail services, said computer-usable medium comprising:

means for receiving from an original sender a request for tracing notifications, for an e-mail message;

means responsive to said request, for creating at least one tag for said e-mail message, indicating that said original sender is to receive said tracing notifications;

means responsive to said tag, for transmitting said tracing notifications to said original sender; and

means for providing limits for said tracing notifications;

wherein said tracing notifications operate when said e-mail message is forwarded to at least one non-original recipient.

26. The computer-usable medium of claim 25, wherein said means for providing limits further comprises:

means for limiting the time during which said tracing notifications operate.

27. The computer-usable medium of claim 25, wherein said means for providing limits further comprises:

means for limiting the number of retransmissions for which said tracing notifications operate.

28. The computer-usable medium of claim 25, wherein said means for providing limits further comprises:

means responsive to a signal from said original sender, for discontinuing said tracing notifications.

29. The computer-usable medium of claim 25, wherein said means for providing limits further comprises:

means for limiting said transmitting, based on a domain policy.

30. The computer-usable medium of claim 25, wherein said means for transmitting tracing notifications further comprises:

means for signaling that the content of said e-mail message has been provided to at least one non-original recipient.

31. The computer-usable medium of claim 25, wherein said means for transmitting tracing notifications further comprises:

means for signaling that said e-mail message has been forwarded to said at least one non-original recipient.

32. The computer-usable medium of claim 25, further comprising:

means for providing to a user

a representation of said e-mail message,

together with information as to who has been provided with the content of said e-mail message.

33. The computer-usable medium of claim 32, further comprising:

means for storing and updating said information.