Dynamic visualization of electronic mail propagation

• US 20030163530A1
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ribak, Amnon, Ur, Sigalit, Jacovi, Michal
• Granted Patent: US 7,328,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

A method is described for providing information regarding a piece of electronic mail (e-mail). The method includes processing a data set containing transmission data associated with the e-mail so as to determine one or more steps in a propagation history of the e-mail. The transmission data typically include identifiers of a sender of the e-mail and of one or more recipients of at least a portion of the e-mail. The method also includes displaying the propagation history. Preferably, processing the data set includes analyzing transmission information embedded in text of the e-mail.

Claims

1. A method for providing information regarding a piece of electronic mail (e-mail), comprising:

processing a data set containing transmission data associated with the e-mail so as to determine one or more steps in a propagation history of the e-mail, the transmission data including identifiers of a sender of the e-mail and of one or more recipients of at least a portion of the e-mail; and

displaying the propagation history.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein processing the data set comprises analyzing transmission information embedded in text of the e-mail.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein processing the data set comprises analyzing transmission information not contained in text of the e-mail.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the propagation history comprises designating a first visual symbol to represent transmission of the e-mail to a primary recipient, and designating a second visual symbol different from the first visual symbol to represent transmission of the e-mail to a secondary recipient.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the propagation history comprises designating a first visual symbol to represent the sender and designating at least one visual symbol different from the first visual symbol to represent the one or more recipients.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein displaying the propagation history comprises designating a first color for the first visual symbol and designating a second color, different from the first color, for the at least one visual symbol.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the propagation history comprises graphically displaying the propagation history.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein graphically displaying the propagation history comprises graphically displaying the steps in the history in an animation mode.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein graphically displaying the propagation history comprises:

displaying a representation of the sender and at least one of the recipients; and

displaying a graphical representation of movement of the e-mail from the sender to the at least one of the recipients.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein displaying the graphical representation of movement comprises displaying an arrow.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein processing the data set comprises determining two or more steps in the propagation history of the e-mail, the transmission data including for each step in the propagation history identifiers of a sender and one or more recipients of a respective portion of the piece of e-mail, wherein the method comprises:

receiving from a user a designation of an electronic mail correspondent;

finding at least one identifier in the transmission data corresponding to the designated correspondent; and

displaying part of the piece of e-mail responsive to finding the at least one identifier.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein displaying part of the piece of e-mail comprises displaying e-mail content sent by the correspondent.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein displaying part of the piece of e-mail comprises displaying e-mail content sent to the correspondent.

14. A method according to claim 11, and comprising:

determining a location of the correspondent in a hierarchy;

displaying the hierarchy; and

identifying for the user the location of the correspondent in the hierarchy.

15. A method according to claim 1, and comprising receiving information regarding a relationship relating members in a set, which set includes at least some of:

the sender and the one or more recipients, wherein displaying the propagation history comprises displaying the propagation history responsive to the relationship.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein receiving the information comprises receiving geographical information about the members.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein receiving the information comprises receiving hierarchical and geographical information about the members.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein receiving the information comprises receiving hierarchical information about the members.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein receiving hierarchical information comprises receiving, for each one of a plurality of the members, information indicating:

(a) who reports to that member and (b) to whom does that member report.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein displaying the propagation history comprises:

displaying a hierarchy including the members in the set; and

displaying the propagation history with respect to the hierarchy.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein displaying the propagation history with respect to the hierarchy comprises superimposing a representation of the propagation history on the hierarchy.

22. A method for providing information regarding a piece of electronic mail (e-mail), comprising:

scanning the e-mail so as to identify a sender or recipient of at least a portion of the e-mail;

displaying a hierarchy; and

indicating on the hierarchy a location of the sender or recipient in the hierarchy.

23. Apparatus for providing information regarding a piece of electronic mail (e-mail), comprising:

a processor, configured to process a data set containing transmission data associated with the e-mail so as to determine one or more steps in a propagation history of the e-mail, the transmission data including identifiers of a sender of the e-mail and of one or more recipients of at least a portion of the e-mail; and

a display, configured to display the propagation history.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to analyze transmission information embedded in text of the e-mail.

25. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to analyze transmission information not contained in text of the e-mail.

26. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to designate a first visual symbol to represent transmission of the e-mail to a primary recipient, and to designate a second visual symbol different from the first visual symbol to represent transmission of the e-mail to a secondary recipient.

27. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to designate a first visual symbol to represent the sender, and to designate at least one visual symbol different from the first visual symbol to represent the one or more recipients.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the processor is configured to designate a first color for the first visual symbol, and to designate a second color, different from the first color, for the at least one visual symbol.

29. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to drive the display to graphically display the propagation history.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the processor is configured to drive the display to graphically display the steps in the history in an animation mode.

31. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the processor is configured to drive the display to display a representation of the sender and at least one of the recipients, and to display a graphical representation of movement of the e-mail from the sender to the at least one of the recipients.

32. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to determine two or more steps in the propagation history of the e-mail, the transmission data including for each step in the propagation history identifiers of a sender and one or more recipients of a respective portion of the piece of e-mail, and wherein the processor is configured to:

receive from a user a designation of an electronic mail correspondent;

find at least one identifier in the transmission data corresponding to the designated correspondent; and

drive the display to display part of the piece of e-mail responsive to finding the at least one identifier.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine a location of the correspondent in a hierarchy;

drive the display to display the hierarchy; and

drive the display to identify for the user the location of the correspondent in the hierarchy.

34. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to receive information regarding a relationship relating members in a set, which set includes at least some of:

the sender and the one or more recipients, and wherein the processor is configured to drive the display to display the propagation history responsive to the relationship.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the processor is configured to receive information regarding a hierarchical relationship relating the members, and to drive the display to display the propagation history responsive to the hierarchical relationship.

36. Apparatus for providing information regarding a piece of electronic mail (e-mail), comprising:

a display; and

a processor, configured to scan the e-mail so as to identify a sender or recipient of at least a portion of the e-mail, configured to drive the display to display a hierarchy, and configured to drive the display to indicate on the hierarchy a location of the sender or recipient therein.

37. A computer program product for providing information regarding a piece of electronic mail (e-mail), the product comprising a computer-readable medium having program instructions embodied therein, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to:

process a data set containing transmission data associated with the e-mail so as to determine one or more steps in a propagation history of the e-mail, the transmission data including identifiers of a sender of the e-mail and of one or more recipients of at least a portion of the e-mail; and

display the propagation history.

38. A computer program product according to claim 37, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to analyze transmission information embedded in text of the e-mail.

39. A computer program product according to claim 37, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to analyze transmission information not contained in text of the e-mail.

40. A computer program product according to claim 37, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to designate a first visual symbol to represent transmission of the e-mail to a primary recipient, and to designate a second visual symbol different from the first visual symbol to represent transmission of the e-mail to a secondary recipient.

41. A computer program product according to claim 37, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to designate a first visual symbol to represent the sender and designate at least one visual symbol different from the first visual symbol to represent the one or more recipients.

42. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to designate a first color for the first visual symbol and designate a second color, different from the first color, for the at least one visual symbol.

43. A computer program product according to claim 37, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to graphically display the propagation history.

44. A computer program product according to claim 43, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to graphically display the steps in the history in an animation mode.

45. A computer program product according to claim 43, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to:

display a representation of the sender and at least one of the recipients; and

display a graphical representation of movement of the e-mail from the sender to the at least one of the recipients.

46. A computer program product according to claim 45, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to display an arrow to represent the movement.

47. A computer program product according to claim 37, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to determine two or more steps in the propagation history of the e-mail, the transmission data including for each step in the propagation history identifiers of a sender and one or more recipients of a respective portion of the piece of e-mail, and wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to:

receive from a user a designation of an electronic mail correspondent;

find at least one identifier in the transmission data corresponding to the designated correspondent; and

display part of the piece of e-mail responsive to finding the at least one identifier.

48. A computer program product according to claim 47, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to display e-mail content sent by the correspondent.

49. A computer program product according to claim 47, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to display e-mail content sent to the correspondent.

50. A computer program product according to claim 47, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to:

determine a location of the correspondent in a hierarchy;

display the hierarchy; and

identify for the user the location of the correspondent in the hierarchy.

51. A computer program product according to claim 37, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to:

(a) receive information regarding a relationship relating members in a set, which set includes at least some of;

the sender and the one or more recipients, and (b) display the propagation history responsive to the relationship.

52. A computer program product according to claim 51, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to receive geographical information about the members.

53. A computer program product according to claim 51, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to receive hierarchical and geographical information about the members.

54. A computer program product according to claim 51, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to receive hierarchical information about the members.

55. A computer program product according to claim 54, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to receive for each one of a plurality of the members, information indicating:

(a) who reports to that member and (b) to whom does that member report.

56. A computer program product according to claim 54, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to:

display a hierarchy including the members in the set; and

display the propagation history with respect to the hierarchy.

57. A computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to superimpose a representation of the propagation history on the hierarchy.

58. A computer program product for providing information regarding a piece of electronic mail (e-mail), the product comprising a computer-readable medium having program instructions embodied therein, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to:

scan the e-mail so as to identify a sender or recipient of at least a portion of the e-mail;

display a hierarchy; and

indicate on the hierarchy a location of the sender or recipient in the hierarchy.