# US 10,484,322 B2 · Handling various scenarios where an email recipient is not available

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- Number: US 10,484,322 B2
- Document ID: US10484322B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/156,012
- Filed: 2018-10-10
- Published: 2019-02-07
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-23
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Wai Man Lee; Hon Chung Tang; Ka Chun Wong; Wing Kong Yip
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484322B2

## CPC

- H04L 51/214: using selective forwarding
- G06Q 10/107: Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
- H04L 51/42: Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
- H04L 51/48: Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
- H04L 69/329: in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
- 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

A method for sending a plurality of alternate contact information associated with an online communication system. The method may include receiving an electronic message associated with the online communication system, wherein the electronic message is addressed to a recipient from a sender. The method may also include identifying a recipient inbox using a plurality of directory information associated with the received electronic message. The method may further include determining the identified recipient inbox satisfies at least one of a plurality of alternate contact criteria. The method may also include transmitting a plurality of alternate recipient contact information within a simple message transfer protocol (SMTP) response to the sender based on the plurality of determined alternate contact criteria being satisfied.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A processor-implemented method for generating reports, the method comprising:
receiving, by a simple message transfer protocol (SMTP) server, an electronic message associated with the online communication system, wherein the electronic message is addressed to a recipient from a sender;
identifying a recipient inbox within a recipient mail server using a plurality of directory information associated with the received electronic message, wherein the plurality of directory information is stored on the SMTP server associated with the online communication system, and also includes a plurality of alternate contact information for the recipient;
prior to attempting a transmission of the electronic message to the recipient mail server from the SMTP server, determining the received electronic message is undeliverable to the recipient inbox;
generating an SMTP response, after transmission and receipt of the electronic message in the SMTP server, that includes the plurality of alternate contact information for the recipient stored within the plurality of directory information on the server rather than transmitting the received electronic message to the identified recipient inbox or an alternate recipient;
transmitting the SMTP response to the sender through a sender mail server based on a plurality of determined alternate contact criteria being satisfied; and
in response to determining the received electronic message is undeliverable to the recipient inbox, transmitting the electronic message to the recipient at an alternate electronic mail address based on the plurality of alternate recipient contact information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining the electronic message is deliverable to the recipient inbox; and
delivering the electronic message to the recipient inbox.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of alternate recipient contact information includes at least one of an electronic mail address, a telephone number, a short message service number, a social media account, and an instant messaging screen name.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
delivering the transmitted plurality of alternate recipient contact information to a server associated with the sender.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of directory information includes at least one of a plurality of electronic mail addresses, a plurality of internet protocol addresses, and a plurality of user electronic mail inbox locations.

### Claim 6

A processor-implemented computer program product for generating reports, the computer program product comprising:
one or more computer readable storage medium and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer readable storage medium, the program instructions executable by a processor capable of performing a method, the method comprising:
receiving, by a simple message transfer protocol (SMTP) server, an electronic message associated with the online communication system, wherein the electronic message is addressed to a recipient from a sender;
identifying a recipient inbox within a recipient mail server using a plurality of directory information associated with the received electronic message, wherein the plurality of directory information is stored on the SMTP server associated with the online communication system, and also includes a plurality of alternate contact information for the recipient;
prior to attempting a transmission of the electronic message to the recipient mail server from the SMTP server, determining the received electronic message is undeliverable to the recipient inbox;
generating an SMTP response, after transmission and receipt of the electronic message in the SMTP server, that includes the plurality of alternate contact information for the recipient stored within the plurality of directory information on the server rather than transmitting the received electronic message to the identified recipient inbox or an alternate recipient;
transmitting the SMTP response to the sender through a sender mail server based on a plurality of determined alternate contact criteria being satisfied; and
in response to determining the received electronic message is undeliverable to the recipient inbox, transmitting the electronic message to the recipient at an alternate electronic mail address based on the plurality of alternate recipient contact information.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising:
determining the electronic message is deliverable to the recipient inbox; and
delivering the electronic message to the recipient inbox.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the plurality of alternate recipient contact information includes at least one of an electronic mail address, a telephone number, a short message service number, a social media account, and an instant messaging screen name.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising:
delivering the transmitted plurality of alternate recipient contact information to a server associated with the sender.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the plurality of directory information includes at least one of a plurality of electronic mail addresses, a plurality of internet protocol addresses, and a plurality of user electronic mail inbox locations.