Methods and apparatus for defining, observing and evaluating message delivery outcome on a per-message basis

The present invention relates to distributed and concurrent software systems that use asynchronous messaging and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for defining and handling message delivery outcomes, e.g., successes and/or failures, on a per-message basis. A computer-based method for use in an asynchronous messaging system comprises the steps of: (i) defining at least one message delivery outcome condition for at least one message to be sent in the system and associating the message delivery outcome condition with the message to be sent in the system; (ii) sending the message with the associated message delivery outcome condition in the system; and (iii) monitoring the delivery of the sent message and evaluating the delivery outcome of the message with respect to the associated message delivery outcome condition such that a sender of the message may be notified as to the outcome of the delivery of the message to final recipients.