Automatic grouping of electronic mail
First Claim
1. A computer-readable storage device having a set of instructions which when executed by a computer performs a method for grouping electronic mail, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:
- displaying electronic mail items in groups based on a default arrangement type, each group being collapsible and expandable upon user selection, the default arrangement type comprising;
grouping, into a first group, a first subset of electronic mail items;
representing the first group with a first header;
grouping, into a second group, a second subset of electronic mail items; and
representing the second group with a second header;
receiving a selection to sort the electronic mail items within each of the groups based on a selected arrangement type;
preparing an electronic mail view for display utilizing the selected arrangement type to sort the first and second subsets of electronic mail items within the first group and the second group; and
displaying the electronic mail view with the electronic mail items sorted within each group based on the selected arrangement type.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Automatic sorting and grouping of electronic mail items in an electronic mail system is provided. An automatic mail grouping property may be selected for electronic mail received, sent or stored in a variety of storage folders. For a given mail location (e.g., received mail, sent mail, or a given mail storage folder), a selected automatic grouping property causes mail to be displayed to a user in one or more categories that make location of specific mail items easier and more efficient. Visible dividers with optional headings may be provided between mail categories to quickly draw a user'"'"'s attention to a given mail category and to separate large numbers of mail into logical groupings that make location of specific mail items more manageable.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-readable storage device having a set of instructions which when executed by a computer performs a method for grouping electronic mail, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:
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displaying electronic mail items in groups based on a default arrangement type, each group being collapsible and expandable upon user selection, the default arrangement type comprising; grouping, into a first group, a first subset of electronic mail items; representing the first group with a first header; grouping, into a second group, a second subset of electronic mail items; and representing the second group with a second header; receiving a selection to sort the electronic mail items within each of the groups based on a selected arrangement type; preparing an electronic mail view for display utilizing the selected arrangement type to sort the first and second subsets of electronic mail items within the first group and the second group; and displaying the electronic mail view with the electronic mail items sorted within each group based on the selected arrangement type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for grouping electronic mail, the system comprising:
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a memory storage; and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, the processing unit being configured to; display electronic mail items in groups based on a default arrangement type wherein the electronic mail items are grouped based on date of receipt, each group being collapsible and expandable upon user selection, wherein the default arrangement type comprises; group, into a first group, a first subset of electronic mail items that were received at a current date; represent the first group with a first header indicating the current date; group, into a second group, a second subset of electronic mail items that were received another day other than the current date; and represent the second group with a second header indicating the other day other than the current date; receive a selection to sort the electronic mail items within each group based on a selected arrangement type; determine whether automatic grouping functionality is activated; if automatic grouping functionality is activated, utilize the selected arrangement type to prepare an electronic mail view for display and sort the electronic mail items within each group based on the selected arrangement type; and display the electronic mail view with the electronic mail items sorted within each group based on the selected arrangement type. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for grouping electronic mail, the method comprising:
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displaying electronic mail items in groups based on a default arrangement type wherein the electronic mail items are grouped based on date of receipt, each group being collapsible and expandable upon user selection, wherein the default arrangement type comprises; grouping, into a first group, a first subset of electronic mail items that were received at a current date; representing the first group with a first header indicating the current date; grouping, into a second group, a second subset of electronic mail items that were received another day other than the current date; and representing the second group with a second header indicating the other day other than the current date; receiving a selection to sort the electronic mail items within each group based on a selected arrangement type; determining whether automatic grouping functionality is activated; if automatic grouping functionality is activated, utilizing the selected arrangement type to prepare an electronic mail view for display and sorting the electronic mail items within each group based on the selected arrangement type; and displaying the electronic mail view with the electronic mail items sorted within each group based on the selected arrangement type. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification