Patent ID: 7603420

Claim:
A method for filtering electronic mail messages on a client computer in distributed computer network, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of: determining whether an interrupt is associated with an electronic mail message, wherein the interrupt is a specific interrupt designation of the electronic mail message, and wherein the electronic mail message comprises an interrupt indicator attached to one of a header and a footer of the electronic mail message; determining whether a sender of the electronic mail message is authorized to send the electronic mail message with the interrupt indicator, wherein the authorization to send the electronic mail message with the interrupt indicator is based upon a corporate directory that includes an organizational hierarchy structure; responsive to determining that the interrupt is associated with the electronic mail message and the sender is authorized to send the electronic mail message with the interrupt indicator, determining whether a desktop of the client computer is active; responsive to determining that the desktop of the client computer is active, automatically displaying a content of the electronic mail message in a popup window, wherein the popup window comprises a reply button and an action completed button, and wherein the popup window is displayed in a forefront position on the desktop of the client computer, and wherein the popup window remains in the forefront position until a recipient of the electronic mail message responds to the content of the electronic mail message by selecting one of the reply button and the action completed button; responsive to the recipient of the electronic mail message selecting one of the reply button and the action completed button, closing the popup window; responsive to determining that the sender is not authorized to send the electronic mail message with the interrupt indicator, delivering the electronic mail message to the recipient inbox; and responsive to determining that the desktop of the client computer is inactive, delaying the display of the electronic mail message until the desktop becomes active.