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.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to computer systems, and more specifically to management of e-mail. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electronic mail or “e-mail” is well known today. Most computers and portable computing devices can send e-mail through a public Internet or a private intranet. Most operating systems such as Windows™ operating system, Linux™ operating system, Unix™ operating system, and Apple™ Mac operating system support an e-mail function through built in e-mail client programs or third party e-mail applications. Lotus Notes™ e-mail systems and Microsoft Outlook/Exchange™ e-mail systems are examples. 
     Typically, there is an e-mail client program that executes on each client workstation and an e-mail server program that executes on the e-mail server. Typically, a person creates an e-mail by invoking the e-mail client program to display an e-mail form or template, entering one or more recipient e-mail addresses in a “to” field, and entering a message into a text field. Generally, a recipient listed in the “to:” field is expected to take careful notice of the e-mail and respond, if a response is warranted. The person creating the e-mail may also enter one or more e-mail addresses in a “carbon copy” or “cc” field and one or more e-mail addresses in a “blind carbon copy” or “bcc” field. The addressees in the “cc” field will receive a copy of the note, generally for information or status update purposes, but they are not typically expected to respond to the note. The addressees in the “bcc” field will receive a copy of the note, generally for information or status update purposes, but they are not typically expected to respond to the note. The addressees listed in the “bcc:” field receive the e-mail discretely without the knowledge of the addressees in the “to:” and “cc:” fields. 
     The addressees in the “to” field and “cc” field will see the addresses in the “to” field and “cc” field, but not the addresses in the “bcc” field. The addressees in the “bcc” field will see the addresses in the “to” field, “cc” field and “bcc” field. 
     After entering the addressees in one or more fields, the person enters the text of the e-mail in the text field. The person can also attach files (i.e. text, video, audio, etc.) to the e-mail to be sent with the e-mail to the addressees. Finally, the person selects a “send” command to send the e-mail (and attachments, if any) to all the addressees in all of the “to”, “cc” and “bcc” fields. In response, the e-mail client program sends the e-mail to an e-mail server. In response, the e-mail server queries a domain name server to determine the IP addresses of e-mail server(s) or ISP(s) of all of the addressees. After determining the IP addresses of the e-mail server(s) or ISP(s) of all the addressees, the e-mail server of the originator of the e-mail sends the e-mail to the e-mail server(s) or ISP(s) of the addressees. Subsequently, the addressees log-on to their e-mail server(s) or ISP(s) and request, open and read the original e-mail. Each addressee/recipient of the original e-mail can also respond to the e-mail by forwarding it to others specified by the recipient, replying to the sender or replying to “all” addressees listed in the “to” and “cc” address fields of the original e-mail. 
     To forward the original e-mail received from another person, the recipient selects a “forward” command, and after an e-mail response form is displayed, enters one or more e-mail addresses in address fields of the response form, and optionally add an e-mail to the original e-mail which is forwarded. When forwarding an e-mail, with or without adding an e-mail to the e-mail which is forwarded, the person forwarding the e-mail must specify the addressees for the “to” field, and optionally the “cc” and “bcc” fields. A person can reply to the sender of an e-mail by selecting a “reply” command. When the “reply” (to sender) command is selected, the e-mail system automatically enters the e-mail address of the sender of the original e-mail into the “to” field of the reply e-mail. Consequently, when the recipient of the original e-mail sends his or her reply e-mail, the reply e-mail will be sent back to the person who sent the original e-mail. A person can also select a “reply to all” command for an original e-mail. By selecting “reply to all” command, the e-mail client program will automatically enter (1) the e-mail address of the sender of the original e-mail into the “to” field of the reply e-mail, and (2) the e-mail addresses, if any, in the “cc” field of the original e-mail (and the e-mail address in the “to” field of the original e-mail, if this addressee is not the replier) into the “cc” field of the reply e-mail. After the recipient of the original e-mail selects the “send” option, the e-mail client program will notify the e-mail server program to send the e-mail to all addressees listed in the reply e-mail. In response, the e-mail server program will send the reply to all addressees in the original e-mail, i.e. the addressees in the “to” field, “cc” field and “bcc” field. 
     If the original e-mail includes an e-mail address in the “bcc” field, and the “bcc” addressee selects “reply to all”, then the e-mail client program will automatically enter (1) the e-mail address of the sender of the original e-mail into the “to” field of the reply e-mail, and (2) the e-mail addresses, if any, in the “cc” field of the original e-mail (and the e-mail address in the “to” field of the original e-mail, if this addressee is not the replier) into the “cc” field of the reply e-mail. 
     If the original e-mail includes an e-mail address in the “bcc” field, and a “to” or “cc” addressee selects “reply to all”, then the e-mail client program will automatically enter (1) the e-mail address of the sender of the original e-mail into the “to” field of the reply e-mail, and (2) the e-mail addresses, if any, in the “cc” field of the original e-mail (and the e-mail address in the “to” field of the original e-mail, if this addressee is not the replier) into the “cc” field of the reply e-mail. Note that this “reply to all” e-mail will not be sent to the e-mail address in the “bcc” field of the original e-mail. 
     As illustrated above, the “reply to all” command leads to proliferation of e-mail when the original e-mail identifies multiple addressees. In such a case, the reply will be sent to multiple addressees and this may not be needed. Proliferation of e-mail burdens the network and e-mail servers, often times unnecessarily. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,230 discloses that a user specifies/manages override of automatic reply addressing, and manages auto copy list address (“cc” and/or “blind cc”). The user may specify individual explicit addresses, nicknames later resolved to addresses, or distribution lists. Distribution lists may include, for example, all managers at a particular level in a business organization or members of a particular task force to which the message pertains. Then, the user is provided with the opportunity to specify some automatic copy addresses. The originator is provided with the opportunity to select a previously prepared list of recipients in the third party addressing mode, which will depend on actions of the recipient of the message. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,872,925 discloses an option which enables blocking of a “reply to all” option in an e-mail system. 
     US Published Patent application 2004/0078488 discloses a system which permits a recipient of a multiparty e-mail message to select recipients of a reply message by parsing the received e-mail message for e-mail addresses and forming a list from which the user can select reply recipients. 
     US Published Patent Application 2003/0233410 discloses a system and method for providing control by an author over the dissemination of information contained in a blind carbon copy electronic message. The author may specify whether or not a BCC recipient may reply to the author, reply to any of the other message recipients, forward the message, copy, save or print the message. 
     An object of the present invention is to better control selection of recipients of a reply to an e-mail. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention resides in a computer system, method and program product for managing an e-mail. An originating workstation provides an e-mail form with a primary address field, a secondary address field, a tertiary address field and a text field. A user at the originating workstation enters a first e-mail address into the primary address field, a second e-mail address into the secondary address field, a third e-mail address into the tertiary address field and text into the text field to form an original e-mail, and requests to send the original e-mail 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 first recipient is presented with an e-mail form to reply to the original e-mail. The reply e-mail form includes a primary address field, a secondary address field, a tertiary address field and a text field. A fourth e-mail address of the user is automatically entered into the primary address field of the reply e-mail form. The first and second e-mail addresses are automatically entered into the secondary address field of the reply e-mail form. The third e-mail address is not automatically entered into any address field of the reply e-mail form. The first recipient enters text into the reply e-mail form to form a reply e-mail and selects to send the reply e-mail. In response, the reply e-mail is sent to the fourth e-mail address, the first e-mail address and the second e-mail address but not the third e-mail address. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a distributed computer system, including client workstations with an e-mail client program and a mail server with an e-mail server program, according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2(A) ,  2 (B) and  2 (C) illustrate e-mails, including address fields, according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B)  form a flow chart illustrating function and operation of the e-mail client programs and e-mail server program of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an e-mail, including address fields, which is responsive to an e-mail of  FIGS. 2(A) ,  2 (B) or  2 (C). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the figures.  FIG. 1  illustrates a distributed computer system generally designated  10 . System  10  comprises client workstations  12   a,b,c,d,e  and an e-mail server  14  (such as provided by an Internet Service Provider) interconnected to each other via a network  20  such as the Internet. Client workstations  12   a,b,c,d,e  comprises respective known CPUs  21   a,b,c,d,e,  operating systems  22   a,b,c,d,e , RAM  24   a,b,c,d,e  and ROM  26   a,b,c,d,e  interconnected via busses  27   a,b,c,d,e  and storage  28   a,b,c,d,e  and display monitors  31   a,b,c,d,e . Server  14  comprises a known CPU  30 , operating system  32 , RAM  34  and ROM  36  interconnected via a bus  38 , and storage  38 . Client workstations  12   a,b,c,d,e  comprise respective e-mail client programs  40   a,b,c,d,e . When invoked by a user, the respective client program  40   a,b,c,d,e  at the user&#39;s workstation  12   a,b,c,d,e  generates and displays an e-mail form or e-mail template  60 . 
       FIG. 2(A)  further illustrates e-mail form  60 . According to the prior art, e-mail form  60  includes “to”, “cc” and “bcc” address fields and a text field, and e-mail client programs  40   a,b,c,d,e  include known functions to enable respective users  15   a,b,c,d,e  to create an e-mail, address an e-mail to recipients via “to”, “cc” and “bcc” address fields and send the resultant e-mail to e-mail server  14 . According to the present invention, the e-mail form  60  also includes a “copy once” or “co” address field, and e-mail client programs  40   a,b,c,d,e  include a new function to enable the respective user to enter one or more e-mail addresses in the “copy once” or “co” address field, and then process the e-mail address in the “co” field. All recipients of e-mail  61  (which comprises e-mail  60  together with its addresses and text), will see the one or more addresses in the “co” address field. This is unlike one or more addresses in a “bcc” address field of an original e-mail where the other recipients of the original e-mail will not see the one or more addresses in the “bcc” address field of the original e-mail.  FIG. 2(B)  is a diagram of a corresponding e-mail  61 ′ as seen by the “to”, “cc” and “co” addressees. The e-mail  61 ′ seen by the “to”, “cc” and “co” addressees is the same as original e-mail  61  except e-mail  61 ′ omits the “bcc” addressee which appears in e-mail  61 .  FIG. 2(C)  is a diagram of a corresponding e-mail  61 ″ as seen by the “bcc” addressee. E-mail  61 ″ is the same as original e-mail  61 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) , e-mail client programs  40   a,b,c,d,e  include known and new functions to (a) generate and initiate display of an e-mail form or template including “to”, “cc”, “bcc” and “co” address fields and a text field (step  100 ), (b) enter addressees specified by the user into the “to”, “cc”, “bcc” and “co” address fields (step  104 ), (c) enter text specified by the user into the text field (step  106 ) (and optionally attach files specified by the user to the e-mail), and (d) send the e-mail (with the text in the text field to the addressees listed in the “to”, “cc”, “bcc” and “co” fields) to e-mail server  14  upon request by the user to send the e-mail to the addressees (step  110 ). 
       FIG. 2(A)  illustrates a completed e-mail  61  generated by user  15   a  (with e-mail address Andy@aol.com) from form  60  at workstation  12   a , and specifies (i) user  15   b  (with e-mail address Betty@aol.com) (for example, at workstation  12   b ) in the “to” (or primary) field, (ii) user  15   c  (with e-mail address Cathy@aol.com) (for example, at workstation  12   c ) in the “cc” (or secondary) field, (iii) user  15   d  (with e-mail address David@cs.com) (for example, at workstation  12   d ) in the “bcc” field, and (iv) user  15   e  (with e-mail address Edwin@stny.rr.com) (for example, at workstation  12   e ) in the “copy once” or “co” field. In this example, Betty@aol.com, Cathy@aol.com, David@cs.com and Edwin@stny.rr.com will all see the addressee Edwin@aol.com in the “co” address field of the original e-mail that they receive from Andy@aol.com.  FIG. 2(B)  illustrates the corresponding e-mail  61 ′ as seen by Betty@aol.com, Cathy@aol.com, and Edwin@stny.rr.com. E-mail  61 ′ omits the “bcc” addressee, David@cs.com.  FIG. 2(C)  illustrates the corresponding e-mail  61 ″ as seen by David@cs.com. E-mail  61 ″ is the same as the original e-mail  61  and includes the addressee, David@cs.com. 
     E-mail server  14  serves workstation  12   a  (and may also serve workstations  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d , and/or  12   e ) and includes an e-mail server program  50 . After the author or originator of the original e-mail  61  selects the “send” command in step  110 , the e-mail client program  40   a  sends the e-mail to e-mail server  14  (step  120 ) where e-mail server program  50  parses the addressees from each of the “to”, “cc”, “bcc” and “co” field (step  124 ). Program  50  includes a known function to query a Domain Name Server  51  to determine the IP address of each addressee listed in the “to”, “cc” and “bcc” address fields of the original e-mail  61  (step  130 ). According to the present invention, this function in program  50  also queries Domain Name Server  51  to determine the IP address of each addressee listed in the “copy once” or “co” field of original e-mail  61  (step  130 ). After receiving the identification of IP address of each addressee listed in the “to”, “cc”, “bcc” and “co” field from the Domain Name Server  51 , e-mail server program  50  sends the original e-mail  61  to the e-mail server or ISP of each of these IP addresses (step  140 ). In the illustrated example, e-mail server program  50  sends the e-mail to the e-mail servers or ISPs for users  15   d,c,d,e  because users  15   d,c,d,e  are all listed in one of the address fields of the original e-mail  61 . 
     Some time later, users  15   d,c,d,e  log-on to their respective ISPs and their ISPs&#39; e-mail servers from respective workstations  12   b,c,d,e  (although they could have logged on to their ISPs from other workstations if desired) (step  150 ), and fetch, open and read the original e-mail sent by user  15   a  (step  152 ). After the recipient opens the original e-mail, the e-mail client program records that the original e-mail has been opened (or is “old”), and so notifies the e-mail server program that the original e-mail has been opened (or is “old”) (step  153 ). Each of the users/recipients  15   d,c,d,e  then has the option to (a) file away the e-mail (i.e. not forward it or reply to it) (decision  155 , no branch and step  156 ), (b) forward the e-mail to one or more other addressees by selecting the “forward” option, entering addressees in one or more of the address fields and optionally creating another e-mail to accompany the forwarded e-mail (decision  155 , yes branch, decision  158 , yes branch and step  159 ), (c) reply to the e-mail by selecting the “reply” option and creating a reply e-mail (decision  158 , no branch, decision  160 , yes branch and step  161 ), or (d) “reply to ‘all’” (except the “co” addressee(s) by selecting the “reply to all” option and creating a reply e-mail (decision  160 , no branch, decision  164  yes branch and step  165 ). 
     These responses to original e-mail  61  are further described as follows. To simply file away the e-mail without forwarding it or replying to it in step  156 , typically the recipient opens the e-mail and then takes no further action; the respective e-mail client program with then move the e-mail from a “new mail” status or list to an “opened mail” or “old mail” status or list. To forward the e-mail to one or more other addressees specified by the recipient in step  159 , the recipient selects the “forward” option, enters the one or more e-mail addresses into the “to”, “cc”, “bcc” and/or “co” field, optionally enters text for an additional e-mail to accompany the forwarded original e-mail and then selects the “send” option. The recipient&#39;s e-mail client program then sends the forwarded e-mail and additional e-mail, if any, to the recipient&#39;s e-mail server for processing as described above, i.e. determination from a domain name server of the IP addresses of each addressee and then sending the forwarded e-mail and additional e-mail, if any, to these IP addresses. To “reply” to the e-mail in step  161 , the recipient selects the “reply” option. In response, the recipient&#39;s e-mail client program automatically generates and displays a reply e-mail form with “to”, “cc”, “bcc” and “co” address fields and a text field, and automatically enters into the “to” field the e-mail address of the author/originator of the original e-mail  61 . Next, the recipient enters text for the reply e-mail and selects the “send” command. In response, the recipient&#39;s e-mail client program sends the reply to the recipient&#39;s e-mail server for processing as described above, i.e. determination from a domain name server of the IP address of the e-mail address in the “to” field and then sending of the reply to this IP address. (The recipient can also enter other e-mail addresses, manually, into the “to”, “cc”, “bcc” and “co” address fields if desired. If so, the e-mail server will send the e-mail to these additional addressees as well.) To “reply to ‘all’” to the e-mail in step  165 , the recipient selects the new “reply to all” function. In response, the recipient&#39;s e-mail client program (a) automatically generates and displays a reply e-mail form with “to”, “cc”, “bcc” and “co” address fields and a text field, (b) automatically enters into the “to” field the e-mail address of the sender of the original e-mail  61  and (b) automatically enters into the “cc” field the e-mail address(es), if any, in the “cc” field of the original e-mail  61 . However, the recipient&#39;s e-mail client program does not enter into any of the address fields of the reply e-mail, any of the e-mail addresses listed in the “co” field of the original e-mail  61 . Thus, the reply will not be sent to any of the e-mail addresses listed in the “co” field of the original e-mail (unless such e-mail addresses were also listed in the “to” or “cc” field or the recipient manually entered such e-mail addresses in one of the address fields. Next, the recipient enters text for the reply e-mail. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates such a reply e-mail. Next, the recipient selects the “send” command for the response created in step  157 ,  159 ,  161  or  165  (step  180 ). In response, the recipient&#39;s e-mail client program sends the responsive e-mail to each recipient&#39;s e-mail server for processing as described above, i.e. determination from a domain name server of the IP addresses of the e-mail server or ISP for the e-mail address(es) in the “to” field and “cc” field, if any, (step  130 ), and then sending of the responsive e-mail (i.e. forward without additional e-mail, forward with additional e-mail or reply) to these IP addresses (step  140 ). Because the one or more addresses in the “co” field of the original e-mail are not listed in any of the address fields of the reply e-mail, selection of the new “reply to all” command does not cause the reply e-mail to be sent to the one or more addresses in the “co” field of the original e-mail  61 . Thus, unnecessary proliferation of the e-mail is avoided, as specified by the originator of the e-mail. In other words, because the originator of e-mail  61  listed an e-mail address, such as Edwin@stny.rr.com, in the “co” field, if any recipient of the e-mail selects the “reply to all” or like command (such as reply to only addressees in the “to”, “cc” and “bcc” address fields), the reply e-mail will not automatically be sent to the e-mail address in the “co” address field of the original e-mail. 
     E-mail client programs  40   a,b,c,d,e  can be loaded into respective workstations  12   a,b,c,d,e  via respective computer readable media  43   a,b,c,d,e  such as magnetic tape or disk, optical media, DVD, memory stick, semiconductor memory, etc. 
     E-mail server program  50  can be loaded into server  14  via computer readable media  49  such as magnetic tape or disk, optical media, DVD, memory stick, semiconductor memory, etc. 
     Based on the foregoing, a system, method and program product for managing replies to e-mail have been disclosed. However, numerous modifications and substitutions can be made without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention has been disclosed by way of illustration and not limitation, and reference should be made to the following claims to determine the scope of the present invention.