Patent ID: 7558833
Filing Date: 2009-07-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for selectively forwarding electronic mail, the method comprising: receiving a first electronic mail message at a first receiving host system from an originator at a sending host system, wherein said first electronic mail message is addressed to a recipient at a first mailbox on said first receiving host system; searching a transfer list for said first mailbox and a corresponding second mailbox address in response to a determination that said first mailbox is not active on said first receiving host system, wherein said transfer list includes said first mailbox and said corresponding second mailbox address if said recipient had requested that said first mailbox and said corresponding second mailbox address be added to said transfer list via a first user interface screen from a second Internet service provider; analyzing forwarding instructions to determine if said first electronic mail message should be forwarded to said second mailbox address, wherein said analyzing is performed in response to said first mailbox and said second mailbox address being located on said transfer list, and said forwarding instructions were created by said recipient via a second user interface screen from said second Internet service provider; the analyzing forwarding instructions being responsive to the identity of the originator of the first electronic mail message, wherein if the originator is not on a forwarding list the first electronic mail message is processed as if the recipient is not found, and if the originator is on the forwarding list the first electronic mail message is determined to be forwarded to the second mailbox address; forwarding said first electronic mail message to said second mailbox address in response to said analyzing resulting in a determination that said first electronic mail message should be forwarded to said second mailbox address, said forwarded electronic mail message including a header message stating that the message was forwarded from the first mailbox and that the second mailbox address will be communicated to the originator; and transmitting a second electronic mail message to said originator at said sending host system in response to said forwarding, wherein said second electronic mail message includes said second mailbox address.