E-mail list archiving and management

Abstract

Systems and methods consistent with the present invention provide an automated manager for an electronic mail archive repository. A method of archiving electronic messages consistent with the present invention creates a repository that holds all electronic messages consistent with a set of rules for archive storage. An interface allows clients to retrieve electronic messages from the repository based upon rules limiting access to the repository. Methods and systems, as broadly described herein, comprise a message archive containing a plurality of messages, each having a client identifier and an archive token, and permit a requester access to select messages in the message archive based on an identifier for the requester and consistent with rules for archive retrieval. Additionally, methods and systems, as broadly described herein, comprise the steps of receiving a message, storing the message in a message archive when an indication exists to archive the message and consistent with rules for archive storage, and permitting a requester access to select messages in the message archive based on an identifier for the requester and consistent with rules for archive retrieval.

what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for accessing stored messages, comprising: 
 providing a message archive containing a plurality of messages, each reflecting a determination that the message should be archived and having a recipient identifier; and    permitting a requester access to certain messages in the message archive based on an identifier for the requester.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing a message archive includes 
 receiving a message; and  
 storing the received message in the message archive when the message contains an archive token.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing a message archive includes 
 receiving a message; and  
 storing the received message in the message archive based on conditions associated with the message archive.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein storing the message includes 
 analyzing stored information corresponding to the message; and  
 including an archive token in the message based on rules for archive storage.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein permitting a requester access to select messages in the message archive includes 
 receiving a request including the requester's identifier;  
 locating any messages in the message archive with a recipient identifier that corresponds to the requester's identifier; and  
 providing a results set including the located messages.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein providing a results set including the located messages includes 
 displaying a view of the results set.  
 
     
     
         7 . A message management method, comprising: 
 receiving a message;    determining whether the message contains an archive token;    storing the message in a message archive when the message contains an archive token; and    permitting a requester access to select messages in the message archive based on an identifier for the requester.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein storing the message in a message archive includes 
 analyzing stored information corresponding to the message; and  
 including an archive token in the message based on rules for archive storage.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein permitting a requester access to select messages in the message archive includes 
 receiving a request including the requester's identifier;  
 locating messages in the message archive corresponding to the requester's identifier; and  
 including the located messages in a results set.  
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein including the located messages in a results set includes 
 displaying a view of the results set.  
 
     
     
         11 . A method for managing client access to multiple messages in an electronic mail archive repository, the method comprising: 
 receiving a message;    analyzing stored information corresponding to a field of the message;    including an archive token in the message based on rules for archive storage; storing the message in a message archive when the message contains an archive token; and    permitting access to the stored messages including the steps: 
 receiving a request including an identifier to access stored messages reflecting an archive selection,  
 locating any of the archive's selected messages in the electronic mail archive repository reflecting the identifier, and  
 providing the selected message in a results set to the requester.  
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein locating any of the archive's selected messages includes 
 comparing the identifier associated with the access request with an identifier contained within the destination field of electronic mail header.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the comparison of the identifier associated with the access request with an identifier contained within the destination field of the electronic mail header includes: 
 determining whether the identifier associated with the access request is also associated with a distribution list; and    determining whether an identifier contained within the destination field of the electronic mail header refers to the distribution list.    
     
     
         14 . A message archive system, comprising: 
 a memory with program instructions for accessing stored messages; and    a processor responsive to the program instructions and configured to provide a message archive containing a plurality of messages, each reflecting a determination that the message should be archived and having a recipient identifier, and permit a requester access to certain messages in the message archive based on an identifier for the requester.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the processor is further configured to receive a message, and store the received message in the message archive when the message contains an archive token.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the processor is further configured to receive a message, and store the received message in the message archive based on conditions associated with the message archive.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the processor is further configured to analyze stored information corresponding to the message, and include an archive token in the message based on rules for archive storage.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request including the requester's identifier, locate any messages in the message archive with a recipient identifier that corresponds to the requester's identifier, and provide a results set including the located messages.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the processor is further configured to display a view of the results set.  
     
     
         20 . A message management system, comprising: 
 a memory having program instructions; and    a processor responsive to the program instructions and configured to receive a message, determine whether the message contains an archive token, and store the message in a message archive when the message contains an archive token, and permit a requester access to select messages in the message archive based on an identifier for the requester.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the processor is further configured to analyze stored information corresponding to the message, and include an archive token in the message based on rules for archive storage.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request including the requester's identifier, locate messages in the message archive corresponding to the requester's identifier, and include the located messages in a results set.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the processor is further configured to display a view of the results set.  
     
     
         24 . A system for managing client access to multiple messages in an electronic mail archive repository, comprising: 
 a memory having program instructions; and    a processor responsive to the program instructions and configured to receive a message, analyze stored information corresponding to a field of the message, include an archive token in the message based on rules for archive storage, store the message in a message archive when the message contains an archive token, and permit access to the stored messages by (i) receiving a request including an identifier to access stored messages reflecting an archive selection, (ii) locating any of the archive's selected messages in the electronic mail archive repository reflecting the identifier, and (iii) providing the selected message in a results set to the requester.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the processor is further configured to compare the identifier associated with the access request with an identifier contained within the destination field of electronic mail header.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , the processor is further configured to determine whether the identifier associated with the access request is also associated with a distribution list, and determine whether an identifier contained within the destination field of the electronic mail header refers to the distribution list.  
     
     
         27 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions for accessing stored messages, by: 
 providing a message archive containing a plurality of messages, each reflecting a determination that the message should be archived and having a recipient identifier; and    permitting a requester access to certain messages in the message archive based on an identifier for the requester.    
     
     
         28 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27  wherein providing a message archive includes 
 receiving a message; and  
 storing the received message in the message archive when the message contains an archive token.  
 
     
     
         29 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27  wherein providing a message archive includes 
 receiving a message; and  
 storing the received message in the message archive based on conditions associated with the message archive.  
 
     
     
         30 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28  wherein storing the message includes 
 analyzing stored information corresponding to the message; and  
 including an archive token in the message based on rules for archive storage.  
 
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27  wherein permitting a requester access to select messages in the message archive includes 
 receiving a request including the requester's identifier; locating any messages in the message archive with a recipient identifier that corresponds to the requester's identifier; and  
 providing a results set including the located messages.  
 
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 31  wherein providing a results set including the located messages includes 
 displaying a view of the results set.  
 
     
     
         33 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions for managing stored messages, by: 
 receiving a message;    determining whether the message contains an archive token;    storing the message in a message archive when the message contains an archive token; and    permitting a requester access to select messages in the message archive based on an identifier for the requester.    
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 33  wherein storing the message in a message archive includes 
 analyzing stored information corresponding to the message; and  
 including an archive token in the message based on rules for archive storage.  
 
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 33  wherein permitting a requester access to select messages in the message archive includes 
 receiving a request including the requester's identifier;  
 locating messages in the message archive corresponding to the requester's identifier; and  
 including the located messages in a results set.  
 
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35  wherein including the located messages in a results set includes 
 displaying a view of the results set.  
 
     
     
         37 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions for managing client access to multiple messages in an electronic mail archive repository, by: 
 receiving a message;    analyzing stored information corresponding to a field of the message;    including an archive token in the message based on rules for archive storage; storing the message in a message archive when the message contains an archive token; and    permitting access to the stored messages including the steps: 
 receiving a request including an identifier to access stored messages reflecting an archive selection,  
 locating any of the archive's selected messages in the electronic mail archive repository reflecting the identifier, and  
 providing the selected message in a results set to the requester.  
   
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein locating any of the archive's selected messages includes 
 comparing the identifier associated with the access request with an identifier contained within the destination field of electronic mail header.    
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the comparison of the identifier associated with the access request with an identifier contained within the destination field of the electronic mail header includes: 
 determining whether the identifier associated with the access request is also associated with a distribution list; and    determining whether an identifier contained within the destination field of the electronic mail header refers to the distribution list.    
     
     
         40 . A message management system, comprising: 
 means for receiving a message;    means for determining whether the message contains an archive token;    means for storing the message in a message archive when the message contains an archive token; and    means for permitting a requester access to select messages in the message archive based on an identifier for the requester.