Method for creating and modifying lists for electronic distribution

• US 7,836,068 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: O'Connell, Brian Marshall, Hamilton, Rick Allen, Williams, Susan Marie, Walker, Keith Raymond, Li, Jenny S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jalil; Neveen Abel
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADTKE, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US11/867,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 707/767
• US Class Current: 707/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

An initial distribution list is dynamically modified using criteria determined from the current entries in the list. After an originator generates a distribution list and prior to submission of the message to entries on the generated list, the method of the present invention examines the entries in the created distribution list. From this list, the invention identifies features of the entries. From these features, the method generates criteria that can be used to generate additional entries that may be included in the list. In one approach, the generated criteria are presented to the user for review and approval. If the originator approves the criteria, the generated list is modified to add additional entries to the distribution based on the generated criteria. If the originator rejects the criteria, the initially generated list is submitted and the message is sent to the entries on the initial list.

Claims

1. A method for generating a modified distribution list of entries for receipt of an electronic transmission of information, the contents of the generated modified distribution list being based on the contents of entries contained in an initial distribution list, the method comprising the steps of:

a processor of a computing device detecting a message submitted for electronic distribution to each entry in the initial distribution list, said initial distribution list consisting of a plurality of entries, said message comprising said information;

said processor intercepting the detected message before the message has reached an email server;

after said intercepting, said processor examining the initial distribution list to identify a common characteristic possessed by each entry of the plurality of entries in the initial distribution list, said common characteristic possessed by each entry comprising said each entry being within a phase and/or group of a project;

after said examining, said processor generating search criteria from the common characteristic;

said processor determining that the generated search criteria has been approved by an originator of the initial distribution list;

said processor generating the modified distribution list through use of the approved search criteria to select entries from groups of entries stored in a memory of the computing device, said modified distribution list consisting of multiple entries that comprise at least one entry not in the initial distribution list, each entry of the multiple entries possessing the common characteristic; and

after said generating the modified distribution list, said processor transmitting the message to each entry of the multiple entries in the modified distribution list.

2. A method for generating modified distribution lists of entries for receipt of an electronic transmission of information, the contents of the generated modified distribution list being based on the contents of entries contained in an initial distribution list, the method comprising the steps of:

a processor of a computing device detecting a message submitted for electronic distribution to each entry in the initial distribution list, said initial distribution list consisting of a plurality of entries, said message comprising said information;

said processor intercepting the detected message before the message has reached an email server;

after said intercepting, said processor examining the initial distribution list to identify a common characteristic possessed by each entry of the plurality of entries in the initial distribution list, said common characteristic possessed by each entry comprising said each entry being within a phase and/or group of a project;

after said examining, said processor generating a plurality of search criteria from the common characteristic;

said processor receiving a selected search criteria that was selected from the plurality of search criteria;

said processor generating a modified distribution list through use of the selected search criteria to select entries from groups of entries stored in a memory of the computing device, said modified distribution list consisting of multiple entries that comprise at least one entry not in the initial distribution list, each entry of the multiple entries possessing the common characteristic; and

after said generating the modified distribution list, said processor transmitting the message to each entry of the multiple entries in the modified distribution list.

3. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable program code stored therein, said program code configured to be executed by a processor of a computer device to implement a method for generating modified distribution lists of entries for receipt of an electronic transmission of information, the contents of the generated modified distribution list being based on the contents of entries contained in an initial distribution list, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a message submitted for electronic distribution to each entry in the initial distribution list, said initial distribution list consisting of a plurality of entries, said message comprising said information;

intercepting the detected message before the message has reached an email server;

after said intercepting, examining the initial distribution list to identify a common characteristic possessed by each entry of the plurality of entries in the initial distribution list, said common characteristic possessed by each entry comprising said each entry being within a phase and/or group of a project;

after said examining, generating a plurality of search criteria from the common characteristic;

receiving a selected search criteria that was selected from the plurality of search criteria;

generating a modified distribution list through use of the selected search criteria to select entries from groups of entries stored in a memory of the computing device, said modified distribution list consisting of multiple entries that comprise at least one entry not in the initial distribution list, each entry of the multiple entries possessing the common characteristic; and

after said generating the modified distribution list, transmitting the message to each entry of the multiple entries in the modified distribution list.