| 摘要 |
Apparatus and methods of delivering electronic messages, such as e-mail, which provide e-mail users with additional control over the delivery process. A sending delay timer is incorporated into e-mail products, such as e-mail client and server software. Instead of trying to catch a message after it has been sent, the present invention controls the time an outgoing message is to leave the sending e-mail client and/or server, thereby allowing the message to be retrieved for modification or deletion without relying on ineffective recall features of conventional products. A single timer may be implemented, in which case all messages would be subjected to the same delay. Alternatively, multiple timers can also be implemented, wherein the timers can be individually set to delay messages meeting certain criteria, such as the intended recipient. During the effective delayed transmission time interval, since the message is still under the control of the e-mail software client, all local operations on the message can still be performed: i.e. the message can be viewed, edited, or deleted altogether. At the expiration of the time delay interval, the last rendition of the message (if one still exists in the sender's outbound e-mailbox) would be finally sent to the target recipient's e-mail address indicated. This feature does not interfere with any other pre-existing "recall" mechanisms, which can still be exercised as desired.
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