Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting electronic mail messages in a local network using information of dynamic routing to provide the electronic mail with service of the required type. A message written by means of a user program 24 is sent to a queue dispatcher 25 which sends information on the address of reception and type of service for the electronic mail to unit 26 for determining a message transmission route. Unit 26 for determining a route controls routing table 27, changing it at the request of control unit 28, and transmits information on the network unit which is the point of destination to the queue dispatcher 25. A communication unit 29 transmits and receives electronic mail and data for making up the routing table.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmitting messages between networked subscriber units, which improves the network overall efficiency and allows the traffic load on the network units to be more uniformly distributed. At least one network service unit is assigned from the subscriber units to receive and intermediately store the messages. Each of the network elements generates a periodically transmitted service signal including identification and status information of the network element. On the basis of the received service signals, each of the network elements generates an accessibility ranked list 9 of all operative network elements, including a field 10 with identification of a subscriber unit, field 11 indicating the subscriber unit's function and field 12 indicating accessibility of the appropriate network element. The message is transmitted to the destination unit over a route determined on the basis of the ranked list of the network elements.