# US 10,454,872 B2 · Group email management

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- Number: US 10,454,872 B2
- Document ID: US10454872B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/745,725
- Filed: 2015-06-22
- Published: 2016-12-22
- Granted: 2019-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-22
- Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
- Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
- Inventors: Raj Kamal
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10454872B2

## CPC

- H04L 51/42: Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
- G06Q 10/107: Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
- H04L 51/212: using filtering or selective blocking
- H04L 61/4555: {Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging}
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Systems and methods for providing an enhanced managed email service are provided. According to the disclosed subject matter, the enhanced managed email service maintains a group folder for each defined email group. Rather than delivering a received email to the email folder of each member of an email group, upon receiving an email for distribution to a defined email group, the enhanced managed email service stores the email in a group folder corresponding to the email group for the entire email group. Email specifically identifying one or more recipients (in addition to group membership) is delivered to the specifically identified recipient(s). The enhanced managed email service maintains user access status with regard to the email in the group folder for each of the members of the email group. Email group members may access the email via the group folder.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer implemented method for managing email directed to a defined email group by an enhanced managed email service, the method comprising:
receiving an email for distribution to recipients managed by the enhanced managed email service;
determining whether the email is directed to an email group managed by the enhanced managed email service; and
upon determining that the email is directed to an email group managed by the enhanced managed email service:
storing the email in a group folder common to the members of the email group such that the members of the email group that are referentially-identified have access to the received email via the group folder;
identifying a first specifically-identified user of the received email, wherein the first specifically-identified user of the received email is also a member of the email group;
storing the email in a folder associated with the first specifically-identified user other than the group folder;
linking the received email in the specifically-identified user's folder with the received email in the group folder such that an access of the received email in the group folder by the first specifically-identified user causes a corresponding update to the received email in the specifically-identified user's email folder; and
providing an indication to the members of the email group of the received email.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising setting an initial user access status for the received email for each of the members of the email group.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The computer implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:
identifying one or more specifically identified users of the received email including the first specifically-identified user; and
for each of the one or more specifically identified users:
storing the email in an email folder associated with each of the one or more specifically identified users, such that each of the one or more specifically identified users have access to the received email via a user's email folder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The computer implemented method of claim 3, wherein the one or more specifically identified users comprise one or more users identified in a “To” distribution list associated with the received email.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein the one or more specifically identified users further comprise one or more users identified in a “CC” distribution list associated with the received email.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the one or more specifically identified users comprise one or more users identified in a “BCC” distribution list associated with the received email.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the one or more specifically identified users comprise one or more users identified in any one or more of a “To” distribution list, a “CC” distribution list, and a “BCC” distribution list associated with the received email.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The computer implemented method of claim 3 further comprising:
for each of the one or more specifically identified users of the received email:
linking the received email in a user's email folder with the received email in the group folder such that access of the received email in the user's email folder or the group folder causes an update to the user's user access status in both the user's email folder and the group folder.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The computer implemented method of claim 3 further comprising:
receiving an indication of an access of the received email in the group folder by a first member of the email group; and
updating the user access status in the group folder corresponding to the first member of the email group to reflect the first member's access of the received email in the group folder;
wherein updating the user access status in the group folder corresponding to the first member of the email group does not modify the user access status in the group folder corresponding to a second member of the email group.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The computer implemented method of claim 3 further comprising:
receiving an instruction to add a new member to the email group;
adding the new member to the email group;
providing access to the new member of the email group to the group folder; and
setting an initial access for the new member of the email group for each email in the group folder.

### Claim 11

A computer readable medium bearing computer executable instructions which, when executed on a computing system comprising at least a processor, carry out a method for managing email directed to a defined email group, the method comprising:
receiving an email for distribution to recipients managed by the enhanced managed email service;
determining whether the email is directed to an email group managed by the enhanced managed email service; and
upon determining that the email is directed to an email group managed by the enhanced managed email service:
storing the email in a group folder common to the members of the email group such that the members of the email group that are referentially-identified have access to the received email via the group folder;
setting an initial user access status for the received email in the group folder for each of the members of the email group;
identifying a first specifically-identified user of the received email, wherein the first specifically-identified user of the received email is also a member of the email group;
storing the email in a folder associated with the first specifically-identified user other than the group folder;
linking the received email in the specifically-identified user's folder with the received email in the group folder such that an access of the received email in the group folder by the first specifically-identified user causes a corresponding update to the received email in the specifically-identified user's email folder; and
sending a notification to the members of the email group informing them of the received email.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:
identifying one or more specifically identified users of the received email; and
for each of the one or more specifically identified users:
storing the email in an email folder associated with each of the one or more specifically identified users, such that each of the one or more specifically identified users have access to the received email via a user's email folder.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the one or more specifically-identified users comprise one or more users identified in any one or more of a “To” distribution list, a “CC” distribution list, and a “BCC” distribution list associated with the received email.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:
for each of the one or more specifically identified users of the received email, including the first specifically-identified user:
linking the received email in a user's email folder with the received email in the group folder such that access of the received email in the user's email folder or the group folder causes an update to the user's user access status in both the user's email folder and the group folder.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving an indication of an access of the received email in the group folder by a first member of the email group; and
updating the user access status in the group folder corresponding to the first member of the email group to reflect the first member's access of the received email in the group folder;
wherein updating the user access status in the group folder corresponding to the first member of the email group does not modify the user access status in the group folder corresponding to a second member of the email group.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving an instruction to add a new member to the email group;
adding the new member to the email group;
providing access to the new member of the email group to the group folder; and
setting an initial access for the new member of the email group for each email in the group folder including the received email.

### Claim 17

A computer system implementing an enhanced managed email service, the system comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor executes instructions stored in the memory as part of or in conjunction with additional components provide functionality of the enhanced managed email service, the additional components comprising:
an email service component; and
a group email data store;
wherein the email service component is configured to, upon receiving an email to recipients managed by the enhanced managed email service:
determine whether the received email is directed to an email group managed by the enhanced managed email service;
upon determining that the email is directed to an email group managed by the enhanced managed email service:
store the email in a group folder common to the members of the email group in the group email data store such that the members of the email group that are referentially-identified by the received email have access to the received email via the group folder; and
set an initial user access status for the received email in the group folder for each of the members of the email group;
identify a first specifically-identified user of the received email, wherein the first specifically-identified user of the received email is also a member of the email group;
store the email in a folder associated with the first specifically-identified user other than the group folder;
link the received email in the specifically-identified user's folder with the received email in the group folder such that an access of the received email in the group folder by the first specifically-identified user causes a corresponding update to the received email in the specifically-identified user's email folder; and
send a notification to the members of the email group informing them of the received email.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The computer system of claim 17, wherein the email service component is further configured to, upon determining that the email is directed to an email group managed by the enhanced managed email service:
identify one or more specifically identified users of the received email; and
for each of the one or more specifically identified users:
store the email in an email folder associated with each of the one or more specifically identified users, such that each of the one or more specifically identified users have access to the received email via a user's email folder.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The computer system of claim 18, wherein the email service component is further configured to, upon receiving an indication of an access of the received email in the group folder by a first member of the email group:
update the user access status in the group folder corresponding to the first member of the email group to reflect the first member's access of the received email in the group folder;
wherein updating the user access status in the group folder corresponding to the first member of the email group does not modify the user access status in the group folder corresponding to a second member of the email group.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The computer system of claim 19, wherein the email service component is further configured to, upon receiving an instruction to add a new member to the email group:
add the new member to the email group;
provide access to the new member of the email group to the group folder; and
set an initial access for the new member of the email group for each email in the group folder including the received email.