Electronic mail delivery negotiation and rejection using sender specified acceptance criteria values

An electronic mail server, comprising:

• a hardware processor programmed to initiate the following executable operations:
• receiving, by the electronic mail server, an electronic mail from a sender client system;
• identifying, by the electronic mail server and from a recipient field in the electronic mail, a recipient of the electronic mail;
• electronically sending, responsive to receiving the electronic mail and to the sender client system, a query configured to cause a graphical user interface of the sender client system to display via the graphical user interface one or more user interface elements that are configured to receive, from the user, an entry of acceptance criteria values;
• storing within the electronic mail server and not delivering the electronic mail to the recipient until the acceptance criteria values are electronically received;
• electronically receiving, from the graphical user interface of the sender client system and in response to the query, the acceptance criteria values;
• performing a determination, by the electronic mail server and based upon the acceptance criteria values, whether to:
• send the electronic mail to the recipient or
• reject the electronic mail;
• holding within the electronic mail server and not delivering the electronic mail to the recipient based upon the determination;
• and
• sending, based upon the determination and to the sender client system, an electronic message indicating non-delivery of the electronic mail to the recipient, wherein
• the determination is based upon the acceptance criteria values being non-compliant with acceptance criteria previously electronically provided by the recipient, and
• the graphical user interface of the sender client includes a returned-mail section, and the returned-mail section is configured, in response to receiving the electronic message indicating non-deliver of the electronic mail to the recipient, to display:
• an identification of the recipient,
• an identification the electronic mail, and
• an indication as to why the electronic mail was not delivered.

A computer program product, comprising

• a computer readable storage medium having program code stored thereon,
• the program code executable, which when executed by an electronic mail server, causes the electronic mail server to perform:
• receiving, by the electronic mail server, an electronic mail from a sender client system;
• identifying, by the electronic mail server and from a recipient field in the electronic mail, a recipient of the electronic mail;
• electronically sending, responsive to receiving the electronic mail and to the sender client system, a query configured to cause a graphical user interface of the sender client system to display via the graphical user interface one or more user interface elements that are configured to receive, from the user, an entry of acceptance criteria values;
• storing within the electronic mail server and not delivering the electronic mail to the recipient until the acceptance criteria values are electronically received;
• electronically receiving, from the graphical user interface of the sender client system and in response to the query, the acceptance criteria values;
• performing a determination, by the electronic mail server and based upon the acceptance criteria values, whether to:
• send the electronic mail to the recipient or
• reject the electronic mail;
• holding within the electronic mail server and not delivering the electronic mail to the recipient based upon the determination;
• and
• sending, based upon the determination and to the sender client system, an electronic message indicating non-delivery of the electronic mail to the recipient, wherein
• the determination is based upon the acceptance criteria values being non-compliant with acceptance criteria previously electronically provided by the recipient, and
• the graphical user interface of the sender client includes a returned-mail section, and the returned-mail section is configured, in response to receiving the electronic message indicating non-deliver of the electronic mail to the recipient, to display:
• an identification of the recipient,
• an identification the electronic mail, and
• an indication as to why the electronic mail was not delivered.