Erroneous communication prevention apparatus for electronic mail

Abstract

An electronic mail client includes features for preventing addressing errors in electronic messaging such as those caused by predictive text features. A messaging client tracks addressing parameters including the length of time since each previous addressee has been messaged, the quantity of times selected addressees have been co-addressees on messages, if any, whether the addressees are designated as sensitive and whether the messages contain sensitive subject matter. If a high risk of addressing error is determined, the client delays transmission of the message to permit the user to review the message recipient addresses and correct any erroneous addressees.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for preventing addressing errors in an electronic messaging client, comprising:
 generating, using the electronic messaging client comprising a processor in communication with a messaging server, a user interface to facilitate authoring of electronic messages in response to input from an input device in electronic communication with the client;   generating, in response to input from the input device, at least two addressees for an outgoing message;   for at least one combination of the at least two email addresses, querying a database to determine a frequency with which a user of the client has sent electronic messages addressed to both of the at least two addressees;   determining whether the frequency exceeds a predetermined frequency; and   where the frequency does not exceed the predetermined frequency, delaying transmission of the outgoing message to permit correction or verification of at least one addressee.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, generating a confirmation message, in response to determining that the frequency does not exceed the predetermined frequency. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, suggesting at least one alternative addressee in response to determining that the frequency does not exceed the predetermined frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, delaying transmission of the outgoing message until input is received from the input device indicating confirmation of at least one of the addressees. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recording the time of day, day of week and/or holiday information for one or more of the electronic messages and delaying transmission of the outgoing message if the outgoing message is prepared at a time of day, day of the week or holiday that is inconsistent with past patterns for the addressees. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delaying transmission of the outgoing massage if one or more of the addressees is similar to one or more of other addressees in the database. 
     
     
         7 . A method for preventing addressing errors in an electronic messaging client, comprising:
 generating, using an electronic messaging client comprising a processor in communication with a messaging server, a user interface to facilitate authoring of electronic messages in response to input from an input device in electronic communication with the client;   searching within at least one electronic message for the presence of at least one designated term;   identifying at least one designated recipient of the electronic message;   determining whether the combination of the recipient and the term match warning criteria;   where there is a match for the warning criteria, presenting a confirmation request to the user of the electronic messaging client; and   not sending the electronic message unless confirmation is received.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one designated recipient is designated as sensitive by a user of the messaging client. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one designated recipient is in a sensitive category of recipients. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one designated term is inconsistent with a recipient category. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one designated term is designated as sensitive.