System and method for enabling the originator of an electronic mail message to preset an expiration time, date, and/or event, and to control and track processing or handling by all recipients

Granted: Apr 13, 2004 Filed: Dec 30, 1999

This patent predates the USPTO's electronic file wrapper — prosecution documents from this era exist only in the Patent Office's paper records. A certified copy of the file history can be ordered from the USPTO's paper archives.