MANAGING ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC MESSAGES

摘要

An electronic messaging system enables delivery of a stored message to a substitute recipient if the original intended recipient fails to access the message. When a message is being stored, the message originator is asked whether the originator will authorize making the stored message available to a substitute recipient if the original intended recipient fails to access the stored message within a predetermined period of time following storage. If the message originator provides such authorization, a substitute recipient is identified. The identity of the substitute recipient and the conditions under which the message will be made available to the substitute recipient are stored in association with the message. The message originator may be authenticated before the message is stored. The substitute recipient may be authenticated before the message is retrieved from storage for delivery to the substitute recipient.