Method and system for message pacing

A system for managing electronic message delivery comprising:

• an electronic message source comprising an e-mail server;
• a data storage system for storing message management information, the message management information comprising last contact information for a recipient indicating when the recipient was last contacted and a message gap;
• and
• a pacing system coupled to the electronic message source;
• the electronic message source configured to:
• send a request to the pacing system for the last contact information and message gap;
• receive the last contact information and message gap from the pacing system;
• determine whether a new e-mail should be sent to the recipient based on the last contact information for the recipient and the message gap;
• if the new e-mail can be sent to the recipient based on the checking, send the new e-mail to the recipient and inform the pacing system that the new e-mail has been sent;
• if the new e-mail is not sent based on the checking, implement a pacing routine to determine when to try again;
• the pacing system configured to:
• receive the request from the electronic message source;
• return the last contact information and message gap to the electronic message source;
• and
• update the last contact information for the recipient in response to an indication from the electronic message source that the new e-mail was sent.

A system for managing electronic message delivery comprising:

• a data storage system for storing message management information, the message management information comprising message timing information;
• and
• a pacing system coupled to the data storage system and coupled to one or more message sources over one or more electronic communication paths, the pacing system comprising a processor and a tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium accessible by the processor storing computer executable instructions, the pacing system configured to:
• receive electronic messages from the one or more message sources, each electronic message including a corresponding recipient address and content to be delivered;
• and
• store message timing information and messages to be sent to recipients;
• when a new electronic message arrives for a recipient:
• determine if the new electronic message should be delivered immediately and, if so, send the new electronic message as an e-mail to an email address for the recipient;
• otherwise add the new electronic message to a set of electronic messages to be sent to that recipient;
• and
• send electronic messages to the recipient from the set of electronic messages as e-mails based on the message management information such that a second electronic message sent to the recipient is spaced from a first electronic message sent to the recipient.