Management of carbon copy and reply to all functions of an email

• US 8,055,718 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Slaybers, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hwang; Joon H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, IV; Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/673,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 709205-207
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

Management of e-mail. A user at the originating workstation enters a first e-mail address into a primary address field, a second e-mail address into a secondary address field, a third e-mail address into a tertiary address field and text into the text field of an e-mail form to form an original e-mail, and requests to send the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses to the first, second, and third e-mail addresses. A first recipient having the first e-mail address receives the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses and the text, selects a command option to reply to all addressees in the primary address field and the secondary address field. In response, the reply e-mail is sent to a fourth e-mail address corresponding to said user and the second e-mail address but not the third e-mail address.

Claims

1. A method for managing an e-mail, the method comprising the steps of:

a computer for a first recipient having a first e-mail address receiving and presenting on a display to the first recipient an original e-mail including the first e-mail address visible in a primary address field, a second e-mail address visible in a secondary address field, a third e-mail address visible in a tertiary address field and text in a text field, the computer receiving from the first recipient a selection of a single command option to reply to all addressees in the primary address field and the secondary address field, and in response, the computer presenting on the display an e-mail form to reply to the original e-mail, the reply e-mail form including a primary address field, a secondary address field, a tertiary address field and a text field;

the computer automatically entering a fourth e-mail address of a user who originated the original e-mail into the primary address field of the reply e-mail form and automatically entering the first and second e-mail addresses into the secondary address field of the reply e-mail form, not automatically entering the third e-mail address into any address field of the reply e-mail form; and

the computer receiving entry by the first recipient of text into the reply e-mail form to form a reply e-mail and the computer receiving a selection by the recipient to send the reply e-mail, and in response, the computer sending the reply e-mail to the fourth e-mail address, the first e-mail address and the second e-mail address but not the third e-mail address, wherein the primary address field of the original e-mail and the primary address field of the reply e-mail are “

to”

address fields, and the secondary address field of the original e-mail and the secondary address field of the reply e-mail are “

cc”

address fields, wherein the tertiary address field of the original e-mail is such that the original e-mail will be sent to e-mail addresses listed in the primary address field, the secondary address field and the tertiary address field, but selection of a single “

reply to all”

command option to the e-mail will not automatically address a reply e-mail to the e-mail address listed in the tertiary address field.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

another computer of a second recipient having the second e-mail address receiving and displaying the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses and the text, the other computer receiving from the second recipient selection of a single command option to reply to all addressees in the primary address field and the secondary address field, and in response, the other computer presenting the second recipient with a second e-mail form to reply to the original e-mail, the second reply e-mail form including a primary address field, a secondary address field, a tertiary address field and a text field; and

the other computer automatically entering a fourth e-mail address of the user into the primary address field of the second reply e-mail form and automatically entering the first e-mail address into the secondary address field of the second reply e-mail form, the other computer not automatically entering the third e-mail address into any address field of the second reply e-mail form, the other computer receiving from the second recipient entry of text for the second reply e-mail form to form a second reply e-mail and a selection to send the second reply e-mail, and in response, the other computer sending the second reply e-mail to the fourth e-mail address and the first e-mail address but not the third e-mail address.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

another computer of a third recipient having the third e-mail address receiving and displaying the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses and the text, the other computer receiving from the third recipient selection of a single command option to reply to all addressees in the primary address field and the secondary address field, and in response, the other computer presenting the third recipient with a second e-mail form to reply to the original e-mail, the second reply e-mail form including a primary address field, a secondary address field, a tertiary address field and a text field;

the other computer automatically entering a fourth e-mail address of the user into the primary address field of the second reply e-mail form and automatically entering the first and second e-mail addresses into the secondary address field of the second reply e-mail form, the other computer not automatically entering the third e-mail address into the primary, secondary or tertiary address fields of the second reply e-mail form, the other computer receiving from the third recipient entry of text for the second reply e-mail form to form a second reply e-mail and a selection to send the second reply e-mail, and in response, the other computer sending the second reply e-mail to the fourth e-mail address, the first e-mail address and the second e-mail address but not the third e-mail address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the original e-mail presented on the display further comprises a blind-copy-copy (bcc:

) field with no email address contained therein.

5. A computer program product for managing an e-mail, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable, tangible storage devices;

first program instructions to receive and direct presentation on a display of an original e-mail including a first e-mail address visible in a primary address field, a second e-mail address visible in a secondary address field, a third e-mail address visible in a tertiary address field and text in a text field, to enable a first recipient having the first e-mail address to select a single command option to reply to all addressees in the primary address field and the secondary address field, and in response, present the first recipient with an e-mail form to reply to the original e-mail, the reply e-mail form including a primary address field, a secondary address field, a tertiary address field and a text field;

second program instructions to automatically enter a fourth e-mail address of the user into the primary address field of the reply e-mail form and automatically enter the first and second e-mail addresses into the secondary address field of the reply e-mail form, and not automatically enter the third e-mail address into any address field of the reply e-mail form; and

third program, instructions to enable the first recipient to enter text into the reply e-mail form to form a reply e-mail and select to send the reply e-mail, and in response, send the reply e-mail to the fourth e-mail address, the first e-mail address and the second e-mail address but not the third e-mail address, wherein the primary address field of the original e-mail and the primary address field of the reply e-mail are “

to”

address fields, and the secondary address field of the original e-mail and the secondary address field of the reply e-mail are “

cc”

address fields, wherein the tertiary address field of the original e-mail is such that the original e-mail will be sent to e-mail addresses listed in the primary address field, the secondary address field and the tertiary address field, but selection of a single “

reply to all”

command option to the e-mail will not automatically address a reply e-mail to the e-mail address listed in the tertiary address field; and

wherein

the first, second and third program instructions are stored on the one or more computer readable, tangible storage devices.

6. A computer program product as set forth in claim 5 further comprising:

fourth program instructions to receive and direct presentation on a second display of another computer of a second recipient having the second e-mail address of the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses and the text, to enable the second recipient to select a single command option to reply to all addressees in the primary address field and the secondary address field, and in response, present the second recipient with a second e-mail form to reply to the original e-mail, the second reply e-mail form including a primary address field, a secondary address field, a tertiary address field and a text field; and

fifth program instructions to automatically enter a fourth e-mail address of the user into the primary address field of the second reply e-mail form and automatically enter the first e-mail address into the secondary address field of the second reply e-mail form, but not automatically enter the third e-mail address into any address field of the second reply e-mail form, enable the second recipient to enter text for the second reply e-mail form to form a second reply e-mail and select to send the second reply e-mail, and in response, send the second reply e-mail to the fourth e-mail address and the first e-mail address but not the third e-mail address; and

wherein

the fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on the computer readable, tangible storage device.

7. A computer program product as set forth in claim 5 further comprising:

fourth program instructions to receive and direct presentation on a second display of another computer of a second recipient having the second e-mail address of the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses and the text, to enable the third recipient to select a single command option to reply to all addressees in the primary address field and the secondary address field, and in response, present the third recipient with a second e-mail form to reply to the original e-mail, the second reply e-mail form including a primary address field, a secondary address field, a tertiary address field and a text field; and

fifth program instructions to automatically enter a fourth e-mail address of the user into the primary address field of the second reply e-mail form and automatically enter the first and second e-mail addresses into the secondary address field of the second reply e-mail form, but not automatically enter the third e-mail address into the primary, secondary or tertiary address fields of the second reply e-mail form, and enable the third recipient to enter text for the second reply e-mail form to form a second reply e-mail and select to send the second reply e-mail, and in response, send the second reply e-mail to the fourth e-mail address, the first e-mail address and the second e-mail address but not the third e-mail address; and

wherein

the fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on the one or more computer readable, tangible storage devices.

8. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the original e-mail further comprises a blind-copy-copy (bcc:

) field with no email address contained therein.

9. The computer program product of claim 5, further comprising:

third program instructions to provide at an originating workstation an e-mail form with the primary address field, the secondary address field, the tertiary address field and the text field;

fourth program instructions to enable a user at the originating workstation to enter the first e-mail address into the primary address field, the second e-mail address into said secondary address field, the third e-mail address into the tertiary address field and the text into the text field to form the original e-mail, and request to send the original e-mail to the first, second, and third e-mail addresses.

10. A system for managing an e-mail, the system comprising:

a data processor coupled to a computer-readable memory and operable for executing program instructions stored in a computer-readable, tangible storage device via the memory, the program instructions comprising;

first program instructions to receive and direct presentation on a display of a computer an original e-mail to a first recipient having a first e-mail address, the displayed original e-mail including the first e-mail address visible in a primary address field, a second e-mail address visible in a secondary address field, a third e-mail address visible in a tertiary address field and text in a text field to enable the first recipient to select a single command option to reply to all addressees in the primary address field and the secondary address field, and in response, to present the first recipient with an e-mail form to reply to the original e-mail, the reply e-mail form including a primary address field, a secondary address field, a tertiary address field and a text field, and to automatically enter a fourth e-mail address of the user into the primary address field of the reply e-mail form;

second program instructions to automatically enter the first and second e-mail addresses into the secondary address field of the reply e-mail form, and not automatically enter the third e-mail address into any address field of the reply e-mail form; and

third program instructions to enable the first recipient to enter text into the reply e-mail form to form a reply e-mail and select to send the reply e-mail, and in response, send the reply e-mail to the fourth e-mail address, the first e-mail address and the second e-mail address but not the third e-mail address, wherein the primary address field of the original e-mail and the primary address field of the reply e-mail are “

to”

address fields, and the secondary address field of the original e-mail and the secondary address field of the reply e-mail are “

cc”

address fields, wherein the tertiary address field of the original e-mail is such that the original e-mail will be sent to e-mail addresses listed in the primary address field, the secondary address field and the tertiary address field, but selection of a single “

reply to all”

command option to the e-mail will not automatically address a reply e-mail to the e-mail address listed in the tertiary address field.

11. A computer system as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a second recipient workstation comprising a second data processor coupled to a second memory and operable for executing second memory instructions in the second memory, the second memory instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive and direct presentation on a second display of another computer of a second recipient having the second e-mail address of the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses and the text, to enable the second recipient to select a single command option to reply to all addressees in the primary address field and the secondary address field, and in response, present the second recipient with a second e-mail form to reply to the original e-mail, the second reply e-mail form including a primary address field, a secondary address field, a tertiary address field and a text field; and

program instructions to automatically enter a fourth e-mail address of the user into the primary address field of the second reply e-mail form and automatically enter the first e-mail address into the secondary address field of the second reply e-mail form, but not automatically enter the third e-mail address into any address field of the second reply e-mail form, and enable the second recipient to enter text for the second reply e-mail form to form a second reply e-mail and select to send the second reply e-mail, and in response, send the second reply e-mail to the fourth e-mail address and the first e-mail address but not the third e-mail address.

12. A computer system as set forth in claim 10 further comprising another recipient workstation including a third data processor coupled to a third memory and operable for executing third memory instructions in the third memory, the third memory instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive and direct presentation on a third display of another computer of a third recipient having the third e-mail address of the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses and the text, to enable the third recipient to select a single command option to reply to all addressees in the primary address field and the secondary address field, and in response, to present the third recipient with a second e-mail form to reply to the original e-mail, the second reply e-mail form including a primary address field, a secondary address field, a tertiary address field and a text field;

program instructions to automatically enter a fourth e-mail address of the user into the primary address field of the second reply e-mail form and automatically enter the first and second email addresses into the secondary address field of the second reply e-mail form, but not automatically enter the third e-mail address into the primary, secondary or tertiary address fields of the second reply e-mail form; and

program instructions to enable the third recipient to enter text for the second reply e-mail form to form a second reply e-mail and select to send the second reply e-mail, and in response, send the second reply e-mail to the fourth e-mail address, the first e-mail address and the second e-mail address but not the third e-mail address.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the original e-mail further comprises a blind-copy-copy (bcc:

) field with no email address contained therein.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising an originating workstation including a fourth data processor coupled to a fourth memory and operable for executing fourth memory instructions in the fourth memory, the fourth memory instructions comprising:

program instructions to provide an e-mail form with the primary address field, the secondary address field, the tertiary address field and the text field, and enable the user to enter the first e-mail address into the primary address field, the second e-mail address into the secondary address field, the third e-mail address into the tertiary address field and the text into the text field to form the original e-mail, and request to send the original e-mail to the first, second, and third e-mail addresses.