US5424724A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for enhanced electronic mail distribution
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1991-03-27
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Granted: 1995-06-13
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Expires: 2011-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for enhanced electronic mail distribution which permits expeditious distribution of electronic mail documents to multiple host systems and/or external networks via a single host agent. A distributed data processing system having multiple host systems and/or external networks permits electronic mail documents to be distributed from local networks to nodes within various host systems or networks by establishing a host agent reference table at selected host agents within the local network. Each host agent reference table includes an identification of selected destination nodes associated with an identified host agent for those nodes. A referral to the host agent reference table may then be utilized to determine the appropriate host agent for an electronic document destined for a selected node. Thereafter, existing interprocess local network communications may be utilized to communicate the electronic document to the appropriate host agent. In the depicted embodiment of the present invention a default host agent may also be listed within the host agent reference table for all destination nodes not explicitly listed within the table. Additionally, an ordered list of likely host agents may be established and utilized sequentially in a selected order for unlisted destination nodes, in response to a failure of a document to achieve a confirmation of delivery within a specified period of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin L. Williams
- 👤 Roselyn H.-C. Yun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 02:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/06; H04L51/066; H04L51/21; H04L51/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for enhanced electronic mail document distribution to selected nodes within a distributed data processing system having a plurality of host systems and at least one network comprising a plurality of users, each of said plurality of users having a selected host agent coupling a user to a predetermined one of said plurality of host systems, said method comprising the steps of: establishing a host agent reference table in association with a host agent, said host agent reference table identifying alternate host agents serving particular node destinations within alternate ones of said plurality of host systems within said distributed data processing system; determining a node destination address for a selected electronic mail document coupled from a user to a particular host agent; in the event said node destination address is unknown to said particular host agent, determining a selected one of said alternate host agents serving said node destination address in response to a reference to said host agent reference table; automatically coupling said selected electronic mail document to said selected one of said alternate host agents; and thereafter utilizing said selected one of said alternate host agents to deliver said selected electronic mail document to said node destination address.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for enhanced electronic mail document distribution to selected nodes within a distributed data processing system having a plurality of host systems and at least one network comprising a plurality of users, each of said plurality of users having a selected host agent coupling a user to a predetermined one of said plurality of host systems, said method comprising the steps of: establishing a host agent reference table in association with a host agent, said host agent reference table identifying alternate host agents serving particular node destinations within alternate ones of said plurality of host systems within said distributed data processing system; determining a node destination address for a selected electronic mail document coupled from a user to a particular host agent; in the event said node destination address is unknown to said particular host agent, determining a selected one of said alternate host agents serving said node destination address in response to a reference to said host agent reference table; automatically coupling said selected electronic mail document to said selected one of said alternate host agents; and thereafter utilizing said selected one of said alternate host agents to deliver said selected electronic mail document to said node destination address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method for enhanced electronic mail document distribution to selected nodes within a distributed data processing system according to claim 1, wherein said step of establishing at least one host agent reference table identifying alternate host agents serving particular node destinations alternate ones of said plurality of host systems within said distributed data processing system further comprises the step of identifying a selected one of said alternate host agents for utilization with any node destination not listed within said host agent reference table.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method for enhanced electronic mail document distribution to selected nodes within a distributed data processing system according to claim 2, wherein said step of identifying a selected one of said alternate host agents for utilization with any node destination not listed within said host agent reference table further comprises the step of identifying an ordered list of host agents among said alternate host agents to be utilized in a selected order with any node destination not listed within said host agent reference table.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method for enhanced electronic mail document distribution to selected nodes within a distributed data processing system according to claim 3, wherein said step of identifying an ordered list of alternate host agents to be utilized in a selected order with any node destination not listed within said host agent reference table further comprises the step of utilizing each successive host agent within said ordered list of alternate host agents in a selected order in response to a failure of said selected electronic mail document to achieve a confirmation of delivery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
198 words
A distributed data processing network for the efficient distribution of electronic mail documents to selected nodes within said distributed data processing network, said distributed data processing network comprising: a plurality of host systems; at least one network comprising a plurality of users, each of said plurality of users having a selected host agent coupling a user to a particular host system; a host agent reference table identifying alternate host agents serving particular node destinations within alternate ones of said plurality of host systems within said data processing network; distribution means for determining a node destination address for a selected electronic mail document coupled from a user to a particular host agent; control means for determining a selected one of said alternate host agents serving said node destination address in response to a reference to said host agent reference table in the event said node destination address is unknown to said particular host agent; communication means for automatically coupling said selected electronic mail document to said selected one of said alternate host agent; and communication means for thereafter utilizing said selected one of said alternate host agents to deliver said selected electronic mail document to said node destination address.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
198 words
A distributed data processing network for the efficient distribution of electronic mail documents to selected nodes within said distributed data processing network, said distributed data processing network comprising: a plurality of host systems; at least one network comprising a plurality of users, each of said plurality of users having a selected host agent coupling a user to a particular host system; a host agent reference table identifying alternate host agents serving particular node destinations within alternate ones of said plurality of host systems within said data processing network; distribution means for determining a node destination address for a selected electronic mail document coupled from a user to a particular host agent; control means for determining a selected one of said alternate host agents serving said node destination address in response to a reference to said host agent reference table in the event said node destination address is unknown to said particular host agent; communication means for automatically coupling said selected electronic mail document to said selected one of said alternate host agent; and communication means for thereafter utilizing said selected one of said alternate host agents to deliver said selected electronic mail document to said node destination address.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The distributed data processing network for the efficient distribution of electronic mail documents to selected nodes within said distributed data processing network according to claim 5, wherein said host agent reference table also includes an identification of a selected one of said alternate host agents to be utilized with any node not listed within said host agent reference table.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The distributed data processing network for the efficient distribution of electronic mail documents to selected nodes within said distributed data processing network according to claim 5, wherein said host agent reference table also includes an identification of an ordered list of alternate host agents to be utilized in a selected order with any node not listed within said host agent reference table.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-06-12 | 1998-12-12 | 1999-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-12 | 2002-12-12 | 2003-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-12 | 2006-12-12 | 2007-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |