Method and apparatus for sending private messages within a single electronic message

• US 6,247,045 B1
• Filed: 06/24/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shaw, Wade David, Torche, Edmund, Wright, Martin Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardone, Jason D.
• Application Number:
  US09/339,710
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/246, 709/240, 379/93.01, 379/93.02, 379/93.24, 379/100.08, 345/113, 345/150, 345/329, 345/330, 345/331, 707/512, 707/528, 707/6
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1886 with traffic restrictions for efficiency improvement, e.g. involving subnets or subdomains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content

Abstract

A method, system, and program for use in a data processing system for sending private messages from a single electronic message. A plurality of recipients is identified for an electronic message. A number of different sections are designated within the electronic message for separate receipt by each of a number of recipients within the plurality of recipients. Responsive to an indication to send the electronic message, an electronic message is automatically generated for each of the number of recipients, wherein the message of a given recipient within the number of recipients excludes sections within the number of sections designated for other recipients within the number of recipients.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for sending messages, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

identifying a plurality of recipients for a message;

designating a portion of the message for receipt by a designated recipient within the plurality of recipients; and

responsive to an indication to send the message, automatically generating a first electronic message for the plurality of recipients, wherein the designated portion of the message is absent from the first electronic message; and

responsive to the indication to send the message, automatically generating a second message for the designated recipient, wherein the second message includes the designated portion of the electronic message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying comprises receiving the plurality of recipients as an input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying comprises identifying the plurality of recipients previously designated for the electronic message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the message is designated by setting a color for the portion of the message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is text and wherein the text of the message is in a first font and wherein the portion of the message is designated by selecting a second font for the portion of the message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the message includes an image and wherein the image is designated by highlighting the image.

7. A method in a data processing system for sending messages, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

identifying a plurality of recipients for an electronic message;

designating a number of sections within the electronic message for receipt by a number of recipients within the plurality of recipients; and

responsive to an indication to send the electronic message, automatically generating an electronic message for each of the number of recipients, wherein the message of a recipient within the number of recipients excludes sections within the number of sections designated for other recipients within the number of recipients.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic message includes a base section that is included in the electronic message of each of the number of recipients.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the number of recipients is the plurality of recipients.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the designating step comprises:

associating each section within the number of sections with a color associated with a recipient within the number of recipients.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the designating step comprises:

associating each section within the number of sections with a font associated with a recipient within the number of recipients.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the number of recipients is a portion of the plurality of recipients.

13. A data processing system for sending messages, the data processing system comprising:

identifying means for identifying a plurality of recipients for a message;

designating means for designating a portion of the message for receipt by a designated recipient within the plurality of recipients; and

first generating means, responsive to an indication to send the message, for automatically generating a first electronic message for the plurality of recipients, wherein the designated portion of the message is absent from the first electronic message; and

second generating means, responsive to the indication to send the message, for automatically generating a second message for the designated recipient, wherein the second message includes the designated portion of the electronic message.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the identifying means comprises receiving the plurality of recipients as an input.

15. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the identifying means comprises identifying the plurality of recipients previously designated for the electronic message.

16. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the portion of the message is designated by setting a color for the portion of the message.

17. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the message is text and wherein the text of the message is in a first font and wherein the portion of the message is designated by selecting a second font for the portion of the message.

18. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the message includes an image and wherein the image is designated by highlighting the image.

19. A data processing system for sending messages, the data processing system comprising:

identifying means for identifying a plurality of recipients for an electronic message;

designating means for designating a number of sections within the electronic message for receipt by a number of recipients within the plurality of recipients;

generating means, responsive to an indication to send the electronic message, for automatically generating an electronic message for each of the number of recipients, wherein the message of a recipient within the number of recipients excludes sections within the number of sections designated for other recipients within the number of recipients.

20. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the electronic message includes a base section that is included in the electronic message of each of the number of recipients.

21. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the number of recipients is the plurality of recipients.

22. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the designating means comprises:

associating means for associating each section within the number of sections with a color associated with a recipient within the number of recipients.

23. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the designating means comprises:

associating means for associating each section within the number of sections with a font associated with a recipient within the number of recipients.

24. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the number of recipients is a portion of the plurality of recipients.

25. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for sending messages, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for identifying a plurality of recipients for a message;

second instructions for designating a portion of the message for receipt by a designated recipient within the plurality of recipients; and

third instructions, responsive to an indication to send the message, for automatically generating a first electronic message for the plurality of recipients, wherein the designated portion of the message is absent from the first electronic message; and

fourth instructions, responsive to the indication to send the message, for automatically generating a second message for the designated recipient, wherein the second message includes all of the electronic message.

26. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for sending messages, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for identifying a plurality of recipients for an electronic message;

second instructions for designating a number of sections within the electronic message for receipt by a number of recipients within the plurality of recipients;

third instructions, responsive to an indication to send the electronic message, for automatically generating an electronic message for each of the number of recipients, wherein the message of a recipient within the number of recipients excludes sections within the number of sections designated for other recipients within the number of recipients.