Patent ID: 7509382

Claim:
A method for deflecting threaded email discussions to electronic message forums, the method comprising: providing a first user, the first user operating an email client application to send a first email message addressed to one or more recipient users, with a first option to designate the first email message for posting to an electronic message forum hosted by a messaging forum server, the first option being provided through a user interface implemented within the email client application, the one or more recipient users including a second user operating the email client application; accessing the messaging forum server to post a content of the first email message to the electronic message forum if the first user has sent the first email message with the first option selected; formatting the first email message to append a hyperlink to the electronic message forum and a hyperlink to a comment feed syndicated for the message forum; routing the first email message for delivery to the one or more recipient users; providing the second user with a second option to designate a second email message composed in reply to the first email message for posting to the electronic message forum if the first user has sent the first email message with the first option selected, the second option being provided through a user interface implemented within the email client application upon receipt of the first email message by the second user; and accessing the messaging forum server to post a content of the second email message to the electronic message forum as a comment if the second user has sent the second email message with the second option selected.