Method and system for processing email during an unplanned outage

Abstract

The method and system of the present invention provides an improved technique for processing email during an unplanned outage. Email messages are redirected from the primary server to a secondary server during an unplanned outage such as, for example, a natural disaster. A notification message is sent to users alerting them that their email messages are available on the secondary server by, for example, Internet access. After the termination of the unplanned outage, email messages received during the unplanned outage are synchronized into the users standard email application.

1 . A method for providing backup electronic messaging services during unplanned outages, comprising the steps of:
 redirecting email messages from a primary server to a secondary server when said primary server is unavailable;   notifying intended recipients of said email messages that the redirection of said email messages has been implemented;   providing said intended recipients with access to said email messages on a secondary server while said primary server is unavailable;   notifying said intended recipients when said primary server is again available, and incorporating said email messages received while said primary server was unavailable into said intended recipient's primary email file so as to create a continuous email history.   
     
     
         2 . A method for providing backup electronic messaging services during unplanned outages, comprising the steps of:
 retrieving an organization's email directory prior to an unplanned outage;   managing said email directory across multiple platforms;   restoring emails to said organization's production email system;   managing said restoration across multiple platforms;   notifying said organization's employees of the occurrence of said unplanned outage; and   populating an alternative back-up messaging system.   
     
     
         3 . A method for providing backup electronic messaging services during unplanned outages, comprising the steps of:
 managing an organization's email directory across multiple platforms prior to an unplanned outage;   upon the occurrence of said unplanned outage, restoring emails to said organization's production email system wherein said restoration occurs across multiple platforms;   notifying said organization's employees of the occurrence of said unplanned outage; and   populating an alternative back-up messaging system.   
     
     
         4 . A method for processing email during an unplanned outage comprising the steps of:
 managing users' email activity through a software application residing on a primary server;   determining the email addresses that reside on said primary server;   creating on a secondary server email addresses redundant to said email addresses that reside on said primary server;   determining if said email addresses that reside on said primary server are detectable to inbound email messages;   redirecting said inbound email messages addressed to said email addresses that reside on said primary server from said primary server to said email addresses that reside on said secondary server at such time as said email addresses that reside on said primary server are not detectable to said inbound mail messages, thereby providing continuous access for said users to said inbound email messages and a means for generating outbound email messages from said users' existing email address;   notifying said users that said email messages are available on said secondary server;   assessing the time at which said email addresses that reside on said primary server are again detectable to said inbound email messages;   redirecting said inbound email messages sent to said email addresses that reside on said secondary server from said secondary server to said email addresses that reside on said primary server after said time at which said email addresses that reside on said primary server are again detectable to inbound email messages;   notifying said users that said inbound email messages are again available on said primary server; and   synchronizing said inbound email messages received on said secondary server from said time as said email addresses that reside on said primary server are not detectable to said inbound email messages until the time said email addresses that reside on said primary server are again detectable to inbound email messages with the existing messages in said software application, thereby completing the email message history within said software application.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said primary server is located remotely from said secondary server and is interconnected to said secondary server through the Internet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said method of determining the email addresses that reside on said primary server utilizes functionality inherent within said software application. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said step of creating a secondary server of said email addresses redundant to said email addresses that reside on said primary server is repeated periodically so as to maintain a current registry of redundant email addresses on said secondary server. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said step of detecting if said email addresses that reside on said primary server are detectable to inbound email messages is performed manually by assessing whether an error message has been received indicating an inability to deliver said inbound email message. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein all of said inbound email addresses on said primary server are automatically redirected to said secondary server at any time said email addresses on said primary server are undetectable to said inbound email messages. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein all of said inbound email addresses of said users on said primary server are redirected to said secondary server after some, but less than all, of said inbound email messages are undetectable. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said step of notifying said users that said inbound email messages are available on said secondary server further includes the automated delivery of a preexisting notification email message to an alternate email address for said users. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said users' access to said inbound email messages on said secondary server is over the Internet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said users' access to said inbound email messages on said secondary server is over a wide area network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said step of assessing the time at which said email addresses that reside on said primary server are again detectable to said inbound email messages further includes periodically pinging said email addresses and evaluating whether a response is received from said email addresses. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said step of notifying said users that said inbound email messages are again available on said primary server consists of the automated delivery of a preexisting notification email message to an alternate email address for said users. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the ability to redirect said inbound email messages from said primary server to said secondary server is password protected. 
     
     
         17 . A system for processing email during an unplanned outage comprising:
 means for managing users' email activity through a software application residing on a primary server;   means for determining the email addresses that reside on said primary server;   means for creating on a secondary server email addresses redundant to said email addresses that reside on said primary server;   means for detecting if said email addresses that reside on said primary server are detectable to inbound email messages;   means for redirecting said inbound email messages addressed to said email addresses that reside on said primary server from said primary server to said email addresses that reside on said secondary server at such time as said email addresses that reside on said primary server are not detectable to said inbound email messages, thereby providing continuous access for said users to said inbound email messages and a means for generating outbound email messages from said users' existing email address;   means for notifying said users that said email messages are available on said secondary server;   means for assessing the time at which said email addresses that reside on said primary server are again detectable to said inbound email messages;   means for redirecting said inbound email messages sent to said email addresses that reside on said secondary server from said secondary server to said email addresses that reside on said primary server after said time at which said email addresses that reside on said primary server are again detectable to inbound email messages;   means for notifying said users that said inbound email messages are again available on said primary server; and   means for synchronizing said inbound email messages received on said secondary server from said time as said email addresses that reside on said primary server are not detectable to said inbound email messages until the time said email addresses that reside on said primary server are again detectable to inbound email messages with the existing messages in said software application, thereby completing the email message history within said software application.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said primary server is located remotely from said secondary server and interconnected to said secondary server through the Internet. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said means for determining the email addresses that reside on said primary server utilizes functionality inherent within said software application. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the operation of said means for creating a secondary server of said email addresses redundant to said email addresses that reside on said primary server is repeated periodically so as to maintain a current registry of redundant email addresses on said secondary server. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the operation of said means for detecting if said email addresses that reside on said primary server are detectable to inbound email messages is performed manually by assessing whether an error message has been received indicating an inability to deliver said inbound email message. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein all of said inbound email addresses of said users on said primary server are automatically redirected to said secondary server at any time said email addresses on said primary server are undetectable to said inbound email messages. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein all of said inbound email addresses on said primary server are redirected to said secondary server after some, but less than all, of said inbound email messages are undetectable. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said means for notifying said users that said inbound email messages are available on said secondary server further includes the automated delivery of a preexisting notification email message to an alternate email address for said users. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said users' access to said inbound email messages on said secondary server is over the Internet. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said users' access to said inbound email messages on said secondary server is over a wide area network. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said means for assessing the time at which said email addresses that reside on said primary server are again detectable to said inbound email messages further includes periodically pinging said email addresses and evaluating whether a response is received from said email addresses. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said means for notifying said users that said inbound email messages are again available on said primary server further includes means for the automated delivery of a preexisting notification email message to an alternate email address for said users. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said means for redirecting said inbound email messages from said primary server to said secondary server is password protected. 
     
     
         30 . A method for processing email during an unplanned outage comprising the steps of:
 using a software means for managing users' email;   redirecting inbound email messages from a primary server to a secondary server when said primary server is unavailable;   notifying said users that said step of direction inbound email messages has been implemented;   providing said users with access to said email addresses on said secondary server while said primary server is unavailable;   notifying users when said primary server is again available; and   incorporating said email messages received while said primary server was unavailable into said software means for managing users' email so as to create a complete email history.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said primary server is located remotely from said secondary server and interconnected to said secondary server through the Internet. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said email addresses on said primary server are periodically replicated on said secondary server so that the transition from said primary server to said secondary server is seamless. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further including the step of manually determining the availability of said primary server by assessing whether an error message has been received indicating an inability to deliver said inbound email message. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of redirecting said inbound email addresses of said users on said primary server to said secondary server is automatically performed at any time said primary server is unavailable. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of redirecting said inbound email addresses of said users on said primary server to said secondary server is performed after some, but less than all, of said inbound email messages are undetectable. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said step of notifying said users that said means of redirecting inbound email messages has been implemented further includes the automated delivery of a preexisting notification email message to an alternate email address for said users. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said users' access to said inbound email messages on said secondary server is over the Internet. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said users' access to said inbound email messages on said secondary server is over a wide area network. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , further including the steps of determining the availability of said primary server by periodically pinging said email addresses on said primary server and evaluating whether a response is received. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said step of notifying said users that said inbound email messages are again available on said primary server further includes the automated delivery of a preexisting notification email message to an alternate email address for said users. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of redirecting said inbound email messages from said primary server to said secondary server is password protected. 
     
     
         42 . A system for processing email during an unplanned outage comprising:
 software means for managing users' email;   means for redirecting inbound email messages from a primary server to a secondary server when said primary server is unavailable;   means for notifying users that said means of redirecting inbound email messages has been implemented;   means for providing said users with access to said email addresses on said secondary server while said primary server is unavailable;   means for notifying users when said primary server is again available;   means for incorporating said email messages received while said primary server was unavailable into said software means for managing users' email so as to create a complete email history.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said primary server is located remotely from said secondary server and is interconnected to said secondary server through the Internet. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the email addresses on said primary server are periodically replicated on said secondary server so that the transition from said primary server to said secondary server is seamless. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 42 , further including a manual means for determining the availability of said primary server by assessing whether an error message has been received indicating an inability to deliver said inbound email message. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said means for redirecting said inbound email addresses of said users on said primary server further includes means for automatically redirecting said inbound email addresses to said secondary server at any time said primary server is unavailable. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said means for redirecting said inbound email addresses of said users on said primary server to said secondary server operates after some, but less than all, of said inbound email messages are undetectable. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said means for notifying said users that said means of redirecting inbound email messages has been implemented further includes means for the automated delivery of a preexisting notification email message to an alternate email address for said users. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said means for providing users' access to said inbound email messages on said secondary server is over the Internet. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said means for providing users' access to said inbound email messages on said secondary server is over a wide area network. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 42 , further including means for determining availability of said primary server by periodically pinging said email addresses on said primary server and evaluating whether a response is received. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said means for notifying said users that said inbound email messages are again available on said primary server further includes means for automatic delivery of a preexisting notification email message to an alternate email address for said users. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said means for redirecting said inbound email messages from said primary server to said secondary server is password protected. 
     
     
         54 . A method for replicating email addresses on a secondary server comprising the steps of:
 monitoring the email addresses that reside on a primary server and using a means independent from the email application generally used to process email messages to create a registry of said email addresses;   sending a query on a periodic basis to determine which of said email addresses reside on said primary server at any point in time, said query capable of determining if a specific email address exists on said primary server, said specific email address does not exist on said primary server, or said specific email address is in the process of being added to said primary server;   based on the results of said query, updating said registry of said email addresses;   replicating said email addresses on a secondary server upon a change in said registry of said email addresses.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said primary server is located remotely from said secondary server and is interconnected to said secondary server through the Internet. 
     
     
         56 . A system for replicating email addresses on a secondary server comprising:
 means for monitoring the addresses that reside on a primary server and using a means independent from the email application generally used to process email messages to create a registry of said email addresses;   means for sending a query on a periodic basis to determine which of said email addresses reside on said primary server at any point in time, said query being capable of determining if a specific email address exists on said primary server, said specific email address does not exist on said primary server, or said specific email address is in the process of being added to said primary server;   means for updating said registry of said email addresses based on the results of said query;   means for replicating said addresses on a secondary server upon change to said registry of said email addresses.   
     
     
         57 . The system in  claim 56 , wherein said primary sever is located remotely from said secondary server and interconnected to said secondary server through the Internet. 
     
     
         58 . A method for synchronizing messages received during an unplanned outage composing the steps of:
 identifying all email messages received on a secondary server during an unplanned outage;   determining which of said email messages have not been previously received at the user's primary email address;   forwarding copies of said email messages from said secondary server to said user's primary email address such that said email messages can be incorporated into said user's primary email application.