Apparatus, system and method of performing mail message thread searches
First Claim
1. A method of performing a search for a thread of related messages in a mailbox comprising the steps of:
- indicating a message for which a search for related messages is to be performed, the message having a message identification number in a header; and
performing, using the message identifier, the search by identifying each message in the mailbox related to the indicated message.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, apparatus and method that allow a user to perform a search for a thread (i.e., related messages) in a mailbox are provided. To do so, the message for which a search for related messages is to be performed is identified. Since each message has a header that includes a unique message identification number and since each message that is a reply to a previous message has a reference of the previous message in its header, a search may be performed by identifying each message in the mailbox that has a reference to the message identification number of the identified message. In many instances, the search may be performed recursively to obtain all messages that are upstream and downstream of the identified message. Upstream messages are messages that are chronologically before the identified message while downstream messages are chronologically after the identified message.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of performing a search for a thread of related messages in a mailbox comprising the steps of:
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indicating a message for which a search for related messages is to be performed, the message having a message identification number in a header; and
performing, using the message identifier, the search by identifying each message in the mailbox related to the indicated message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer program product on a computer readable medium for performing a search for a thread of related messages in a mailbox comprising:
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code means for indicating a message for which a search for related messages is to be performed, the message having a message identification number in a header; and
code means for performing, using the message identifier, the search by identifying each message in the mailbox related to the indicated message. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for performing a search for a thread of related messages in a mailbox comprising:
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means for indicating a message for which a search for related messages is to be performed, the message having a message identification number in a header; and
means for performing, using the message identifier, the search by identifying each message in the mailbox related to the indicated message. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer system for performing a search for a thread of related messages in a mailbox comprising:
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at least one storage system for storing code data; and
at least one processor processing the code data to indicate a message for which a search for related messages is to be performed, the message having a message identification number in a header, and to perform, using the message identifier, the search by identifying each message in the mailbox related to the indicated message. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification