Delivery control for email communicated among multiple end user communication devices

Abstract

An exemplary method is implemented by end-user communication devices for transmitting and receiving emails in which acknowledgement of receipt by an addressee of an email is requested by an originator of the email. The email includes a digital packet having a header segment and a user data segment, the user data segment containing a user message and a command portion. An acknowledgement request command is stored in the command portion of an email. Upon receipt of the email by the addressee device and authorization to send an acknowledgement by the user, a reply email with an acknowledgement request is transmitted to the originator. Viewing of the content of the received email by the addressee is prohibited until the authorization is given. Accounting for acknowledgement receipts from multiple addressees is managed by the originator's device. A technique using a self-addressed email prevents an email recipient, who uses one device to initially read an email with an acknowledgement request from one email account, from having to again authorize an acknowledgement request when the same email is later read from the same email account using a different device.