Patent ID: 6553425
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
In an email system that supports distribution lists, wherein the distribution lists have a root and members comprising one or more mailbox recipients and/or one or more other distribution lists and are related to one another in a hierarchical, parent-child relationship, and wherein the email system includes a connection manager having a directory service request queue for managing communications between the email system and a directory service, an improved method of expanding the distribution list comprising:a. a step of generating a directory service lookup request for the root of the distribution list, wherein the lookup request is assigned a lowest priority, and placing the directory service lookup request in the directory service request queue; b. a step of pulling up to a predefined number of directory service lookup requests from the directory service request queue and transmitting them to the directory service for processing, wherein the predefined number of directory service lookup requests are pulled from the directory service request queue in the order of their assigned priorities; c. a step of analyzing the results returned by the directory service in response to the predefined number of directory service lookup requests, and i. for each mailbox recipient returned by the directory service in response to the previous predefined number of directory service lookup requests, saving each such mailbox recipient; ii. for each other distribution list returned by the directory service in response to the previous predefined number of directory service lookup requests, performing circular reference detection and discarding the other distribution list if a circular reference is detected; d. a step of generating, for each other distribution list returned by the directory service in response to the predefined number of directory service lookup requests, a new directory service lookup request, wherein the new directory service lookup request is assigned a priority equal to one level higher than the priority associated with the previous lookup request in response to which the other distribution list was returned; and e. a step of repeating steps (b) through (e) until all mailbox recipients included in the root distribution list have been determined and saved.