Distributed electronic mailbox system

摘要

The disclosure describes an electronic mailbox system in which a plurality of like data terminals are provided coupled to a common message carrying facility such as a telephone line wherein any terminal is capable at any selected time of being designated a controlling terminal; and further, wherein any terminal may either transmit or receive messages from any other terminal in the system. The system of the present disclosure is characterized by its ability to maintain effective communication among the terminals despite the occasional or intermittent linking of the terminals into the system. Thus, if a terminal is destined to receive a message but is not on-line or for any other reason does not receive the transmitted message, the system will continue to present the message from time to time until it is received by the destined terminal.