Hierarchical org-chart based email mailing list maintenance

Abstract

The present invention is a system, method, and computer program product that provides the capability by which changes in an organization can be automatically reflected in the organization's mailing lists and access lists. The email messaging system comprises a mailing list generator operable to receive information relating to an organizational hierarchy and generate from the received information a plurality of mailing lists, at least some of the mailing lists relating to a member of the organizational hierarchy to whom at one other member of the organizational hierarchy reports and an archiver/forwarder operable to receive an email message including an address identifying at least one of the plurality of mailing lists, access the mailing list to obtain email addresses for members of the mailing list, and send the email message to the obtained email addresses.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.