Patent ID: 8122089
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method implemented in a computing system of transporting an electronic message, comprising: receiving at a primary messaging server an indication, from a first messaging server, an electronic message is to be communicated to the primary messaging server, in response to receiving said indication an electronic message is to be communicated to the primary messaging server, the primary messaging server advertising that the primary messaging server is operable to work with a shadow messaging server to provide redundant communications; in response to the primary messaging server advertising that the primary messaging server is operable to work with a shadow messaging server, the primary messaging server receiving a communication from a the first messaging server opting-in as a shadow messaging server for the electronic message, wherein the communication from the first messaging server opting-in as a shadow messaging server for the electronic message communicates to the primary messaging server that the first messaging server will maintain a shadow copy of the electronic message after sending the electronic message to the primary messaging server; receiving, from the first messaging server, the electronic message at the primary messaging server; storing the electronic message in the first queue of the primary messaging server; storing the shadow copy of the electronic message in the second queue of the first messaging server; monitoring at the first messaging server for delivery of the electronic message by the primary messaging server to a third messaging server, the third messaging server being in the electronic message's path towards its intended destination; upon identifying, at the first messaging server that the primary messaging server has delivered the electronic message to the third messaging server, deleting the shadow copy of the electronic message from the second queue of the first messaging server; and upon determining at the first messaging server that the primary messaging server has not delivered the electronic message to the third messaging server, copying the shadow copy of the electronic message from the second queue of the first messaging server to the first queue of the first messaging server and communicating the shadow copy of the electronic message stored in the first queue of the first messaging server to the third messaging server, wherein said identifying comprises monitoring at the first messaging server for an indication from the primary messaging server that indicates that the primary messaging server has delivered the electronic message to the third messaging server, wherein said determining comprises identifying that the primary messaging server is not responding to requests from the first messaging server and has failed, and wherein the first messaging server, the primary messaging server and the third messaging server are SMTP email servers.