"Blocking a ""reply to all"" option in an electronic mail system"

A "Reply to All" command may be selectively blocked by a sender in an electronic mail system. The "Reply to All" command may be disabled in response to selection and enablement of a "Block Reply to All" option when the message is composed by the sender. After the sender transmits the message, the message is displayed in a window on a computer operated by a receiver. If the "Block Reply to All" option has been enabled, then the "Reply to All" command is disabled at the computer operated by the receiver. The disabling of the "Reply to All" command may be visually represented by a change in the display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates in general to a method, apparatus and article of 
manufacture for controlling an electronic mail system, and more 
particularly, to a method, apparatus and article of manufacture for 
blocking a "Reply To All" command for received messages in an electronic 
mail system. 
2. Description of Related Art 
We are truly in an information age. Now more than ever, moving enormous 
amounts of information rapidly across great distances is one of our most 
pressing requirements. From the largest of corporations to small 
one-person or family-owned entrepreneurial efforts, more professional 
people are discovering that the only way to be successful in the nineties 
is to realize that technology is continuously advancing and that they must 
somehow keep up. 
Likewise, researchers from all corners of the earth are finding that their 
work thrives in a networked environment. Immediate access to the work of 
colleagues and a "virtual" library of millions of volumes and thousands of 
papers affords them the ability to incorporate a body of knowledge 
heretofore unthinkable. Work groups can now conduct interactive 
conferences with each other, paying no heed to physical location. The 
possibilities are endless. 
Currently we have at our fingertips the ability to talk in "real-time" with 
someone in Japan, send a sizable contract to a group of people who will 
critique it, see if a computer sitting in a lab in some remote location is 
turned on, and find out if someone happens to be sitting in front of their 
computer in Europe, all inside of thirty minutes. No airline could ever 
match that travel itinerary. 
The desire to communicate is the essence of networking. People have always 
wanted to correspond with each other in the fastest way possible, short of 
normal conversation. In computer networking, electronic mail is the most 
prevalent application of this. Electronic mail allows people to write back 
and forth, and send documents without having to spend much time worrying 
about how the message actually gets delivered. 
People that share common interests are inclined to discuss their hobby or 
interest at every available opportunity. One modern way to aid in this 
exchange of information is by using a mailing list. Since electronic mail 
is hinged around the concept of an address, a mailing list identifier 
representing and comprised of electronic mail addresses is a natural 
evolution of electronic mail usage. Any information routed to the mailing 
list identifier is redistributed and sent to out to the electronic mail 
addresses associated with the mailing list identifier. The actual 
electronic mail addresses associated with the identifier may be added to 
or deleted from as needs arise. Thus, any mail sent to the mailing list 
identifier will "explode" out to each person named in the file maintained 
on a computer. Each person on the mailing list may then reply to the 
electronic mail message. 
A recipient of an electronic mail message often may reply to the message by 
selecting among options display on a menu. A new message window may be 
displayed and the reply is automatically addressed to the sender. Thus, 
the recipient of a message may select to send a reply only to the sender 
of the message. However, it is often possible for the recipient to also 
send a reply to all members addressed by the original message. If the 
recipient chooses to send the reply to the sender and the other 
addressees, the reply may be automatically routed to the sender of the 
original message and to everyone who received it. This "Reply To All" 
command or option is therefore useful for carrying on group discussions 
electronically. If the sender does not want the recipient to send a reply 
to the sender and the other recipients, the sender must place specific 
instructions in the body of the message. 
Some electronic mail programs allows the "Reply To All" option to be set as 
the default. This often results in an barrage of inadvertent mailings and 
can become a nuisance. Thus, caution must be used when replying to a 
message sent to a group mailing list. 
It can be seen then that there is a need for a method, apparatus and 
article of manufacture that blocks a "Reply To All" option with an 
electronic mail system. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to 
overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and 
understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses a 
block to a "Reply To All" command or option in an electronic mail system. 
A system in accordance with the principles of the present invention 
includes an electronic mail system for routing information between a 
sender and at least one recipient. The sender may select a "Block Reply to 
All" option in a mail option window to prevent a recipient from sending a 
reply to a message received from a sender to an address other than the 
sender's. A received message window is displayed on a monitor immediate to 
a recipient. The received message window comprises a command menu 
including a "Reply to Sender" command and a "Reply to All" command. The 
"Reply to All" command is disabled in response to selection of the "Block 
Reply to All" option. 
One aspect of the present invention is that a return reply option may be 
provided for notifying the sender that the electronic mail message was 
received. Another aspect of the present invention is that a save option 
may be provided for saving a copy of the electronic mail message in a 
outgoing mail archive. Another aspect of the present invention is that 
help functions and priority selections may be provided in the reply option 
window. Yet another aspect of the present invention is that the received 
mail window is displayed at a monitor immediate to a recipient, and the 
"Reply to All" command may be disabled in response to selection of the 
"Block Reply to All" option. Still another aspect of the present invention 
is that the disabling of the "Reply to All" command may be visually 
represented by a change in the display for the "Reply to All" command. 
Another aspect of the present invention is that the "Reply to All" command 
in the received mail window may be shaded differently from the remaining 
commands in the menu command line. 
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which 
characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the 
claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof. However, for a better 
understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained 
by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further 
part hereof, and to accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is 
illustrated and described specific examples of the method, apparatus and 
article of manufacture in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In the following description of the exemplary embodiment, reference is made 
to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is 
shown by way of illustration the specific embodiment in which the 
invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments 
may be utilized as structural changes may be made without departing from 
the scope of the present invention. 
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware environment of 
the present invention. The invention is typically implemented using a 
personal computer system 100. To facilitate the transmission of electronic 
messages between senders and recipients, the computer may be connected to 
other computer systems or terminals via a network 110 such as a local area 
network (LAN), a dial-up network, or the Internet. The computer 100 may 
include, inter alia, a monitor or display device 112, keyboard 114, mouse 
or other pointing device 116, fixed 118 and/or removable program storage 
devices 119, and printer 120. Those skilled in the art will recognize that 
any number of components, peripherals, and other devices may be used with 
the computer system 100. 
An electronic mail system computer program 122 executing under the control 
of an operating system 124, such as "IBM OS/2.TM.", "MICROSOFT 
WINDOWS.TM.", "UNIX.TM.", "DOS.TM.", etc., is used to implement the 
present invention on the computer 100. Generally, the electronic mail 
system computer program 122 is tangibly embodied in a computer-readable 
medium, e.g., one or more of the fixed 118 and/or removable program 
storage devices 119. The electronic mail system computer program 122 
comprises instructions which, when read and executed by the computer 100, 
causes the computer 100 to perform the steps necessary to implement the 
present invention. Under control of the operating system 124, the 
electronic mail system computer program 122 may be loaded from the program 
storage device (118 or 119) into the memory of the computer 100 for use 
during actual operations. 
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the exemplary environment 
illustrated in FIG. 1 is not intended to limit the present invention. 
Indeed, those skilled in the art will recognize that other alternative 
hardware environments may be used without departing from the scope of the 
invention. 
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a message window displayed by an 
exemplary electronic mail (e-mail) system. The message window displays a 
received message 200 from the electronic mail system. For illustration 
purposes only, the message window is a MICROSOFT MAIL.RTM. message window. 
However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the examples are not 
meant to limit the invention to a particular electronic mail system, but 
that the invention is applicable to any electronic mail system which 
includes the "Reply to All" functionality. 
To reply to a current message 210, a recipient typically selects Reply 212 
from a Message menu 214. A new message window is displayed (not shown). 
The original sender's address 216 is automatically placed in a "To:" field 
218 of the header, as illustrated in the current message 210, along with 
the recipient's address. Secondary recipients names or electronic mail 
addresses 220 are included in a "Cc" field 220, as illustrated in the 
current message 210. The original sender's text 222 may also automatically 
be included in the message body of the reply message. This text may be 
edited as needed before the reply is sent. Further, additional text can be 
added to the reply just as to any outgoing message, and the reply can then 
be sent or saved for further changes. 
Several variations for the Reply command exist in prior art electronic mail 
systems. The recipient of a message may elect to send a reply only the 
sender of the message 216, or the recipient may elect to send a reply to 
all members 240 on the mailing list. When the recipient chooses to reply 
only to the sender 216, the recipient prepares the reply, selects a Reply 
function, and the reply message is sent only to the sender 216. However, 
if the recipient selects a "Reply To All" command 240, then the reply is 
routed to the sender 216 of the original message 10 and to everyone who 
received it 218, 220. The "Reply to All" command is useful for carrying on 
group discussions electronically. However, in the prior art, if the sender 
does not want the recipient to send a reply to the sender and the other 
recipients, the sender must place specific instructions 250 in the body 
222 of the message 210. 
Some electronic mail systems allow the "Reply to All" option 240 to be set 
as the default. As mentioned above, this often results in an barrage of 
inadvertent mailings and can become a nuisance. Thus, caution must be used 
when replying to a message sent to a group mailing list. If a recipient on 
a mailing list wishes to respond to the author only, then proper care must 
be exercised to make sure that the only address replied to is that person, 
and not the entire list. Usually the content of mail dictates the options 
the recipient performs, but the burden is on the sender to remind the user 
not to choose "Reply to All" command and each member must exercise their 
responsibility in not choosing the "Reply to All" option 240. 
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an option window 300 displayed by 
the exemplary electronic mail system. The option window 300 is displayed 
when the sender instructs the electronic mail system to send a message. 
The sender may choose to be notified that the recipient received the mail 
302. Further, the sender may choose to save 304 the outgoing messages in 
his out box. Still further, the sender may set the priority 306 for the 
message being sent. 
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an option window 400 displayed by 
the exemplary electronic mail system, wherein the option window allows for 
the blocking of "Reply to All" functions. The option window 400 according 
to the present invention may be similar to the option window 100 
illustrated in FIG. 3. According to the present invention, the option 
window 400 includes functionality that allows a sender to block the 
execution of "Reply to All" commands by recipients. In the present 
embodiment, the "Block Reply to All" box 402 is selected by the user to 
invoke the blocking function. However, those skilled in the art will 
recognize that the invention is not meant to be limited by this example by 
that other ways of invoking the "Block Reply to All" functionality may be 
used without departing from the teaching of the present invention. 
The option window 400 may include a box that is selected to request that 
the sender be notified upon delivery of the message 404. The option window 
may also include a box that is selected to save the outgoing message in 
the sender's outgoing mailbox for archival storage 406. Further, the 
option window may include help functions 408 and priority selections 410. 
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a message window 500 displayed by 
the exemplary electronic mail system, wherein the "Reply to All" functions 
have been blocked by the sender. Although the "Reply to All" command 
button 502 in the menu command line 504 is still present, the 
functionality for the "Reply to All" command 502 has been blocked. The 
change in the availability of the "Reply to All" command 502 is 
represented by a change in the display for the "Reply to All" command 
button 502. In the present example, the "Reply to All" command button 502 
has been shaded darker 506 than the remaining command buttons in the menu 
command line 504. Thus, the unavailability of the "Reply to All" command 
button 502 is immediately evident to the recipient. Accordingly, there is 
no need to include instructions in the body of the text 510 to encourage 
the recipients not to choose the "Reply to All" command 502. 
FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of the logic performed by the present 
invention at the sender's system in blocking the "Reply to All" option in 
the exemplary electronic mail system. Block 602 represents the start of 
the logic in composing a message in the electronic mail system. Block 604 
represents the system receiving a command from the user selecting the 
electronic mail system and opening a mail message window. Block 606 
represents the system receiving a command from the user selecting the 
recipients by entering their electronic mail address or by entering a 
macro for mailing to a group of recipients. Block 608 represents the 
system receiving a command from the user entering text into the body of 
the message. After the message has been composed and the recipients have 
been selected, block 610 represents the system receiving a command from 
the user sending the intended recipients a copy of the composed message 
610. Once the user has sent the current message, block 612 represents the 
system displaying the option window. Block 614 is a decision block that 
represents the system determining whether it received a command from the 
sender of the message selecting to block the "Reply to All" command button 
in the received recipient's copy of the current message 614. If so, block 
616 represents the system performing those functions necessary to block or 
disable the "Reply to All" command button in the recipient's copy of the 
current message. Block 618 is a decision block that represents the system 
determining whether it received a command from the sender choosing whether 
to obtain a return receipt for the message. If so, block 620 represents 
the system performing the functions necessary to enable the receipt 
notification. Block 622 is a decision block that represents the system 
determining whether it received a command from the sender saving a copy of 
the sent message. If so, block 624 represents the system saving the 
message in the outgoing mailbox of the sender. After the sender has 
verified the selections above, block 626 represents the system sending the 
message in response to receiving a command from the, i.e., by selecting 
the send button. Thereafter, the message is transmitted to all the 
recipients and includes the selected options within it. 
FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of the logic performed by the present 
invention at the recipient's system in blocking the "Reply to All" option 
in the exemplary electronic mail system. Block 702 represents the start of 
the logic in receiving a message in the electronic mail system. Block 704 
represents the system receiving an electronic mail message in the 
electronic mail system. Block 706 represents the system receiving a 
command from the user selecting the electronic mail system and opening a 
mail message window. Block 708 represents the system processing the open 
options associated with the electronic mail message. Block 710 is a 
decision block that represents the system determining whether the 
electronic mail message included a command from the sender of the message 
blocking the "Reply to All" command button in the recipient's copy of the 
message. If so, block 712 represents the system performing those functions 
necessary to block or disable the "Reply to All" command button in the 
recipient's copy of the message. Block 714 is a decision block that 
represents the system determining whether the electronic mail message 
included a command from the sender of the message a requesting return 
receipt for the message. If so, block 716 represents the system performing 
the functions necessary to enable and perform the receipt notification. 
Block 718 represents the system displaying the electronic mail message for 
the recipient. Thereafter, block 720 represents the system processing any 
further commands associated with the message or entered by the user. 
Thus, even in situations where a recipient of a message has set the default 
response to enable the "Reply to All" command, global replies may be 
prevented. This prevents a barrage of inadvertent mailings that often 
become a nuisance. Further, the burden of preventing such barrages is more 
aptly shared by the sender as well. 
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention has 
been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not 
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form 
disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the 
above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited 
not with this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended 
hereto.