Methodology for Object Attribute Reply Filtration

Methodology for Object Attribute Reply Filtration

       Previous methods have been described that allowed an
originator to specify the classification that a user must have in
order to respond to a distribution. This article describes a method
by which the originator can use the characteristics of the object as
a criteria for a response.

      An originator of a distribution may not want a reply if the
response document or object is not of a given characteristic. For
example, a user may only want a reply if the response is considered
HIGHLY important by the originator. Often within an electronic mail
system, a user distributes information to a plurality of users. The
originator of the distribution is not always privy to the exact
entity of the recipient, due to distribution lists, nicknames,
auto-forwarding, etc.

      An original distribution can cause a plurality of recipients to
respond to the distribution. The originator may be receiving numerous
responses from individuals who do not have the same regard for the
document as the originator. Prior art assumes that the originator
would like to receive a reply even though the originator of the reply
deems the reply as unimportant or of some characteristic not
compatible with original distributor of the document. The ability to
control replies is vital to distribution systems in which the
originator does not designate implicitly or explicitly the recipient.

      The creation of a Document Attribute Reply Object (DARO)
permits the originator to state the classification of an object which
is to be used as a reply. A service can be provided at the
originating user's node that permits the originator to define the
necessary attributes for an object or document in order for a user to
respond to the distribution. This DARO contains the at...