Providing sender-specific notifications of received e-mail messages
First Claim
1. A method for notifying a user of a first message service of the arrival of a message received via a second message service, comprising:
- activating the first message service to provide a user interface associated with the first message service;
receiving a notification that alerts the user that a sender has sent the user a message via the second message service; and
presenting the notification via the user interface provided by the first message service, wherein the notification identifies the sender of the message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Strategies are described for notifying a user who is using an instant messaging (IM) service of the receipt of an E-mail message. The user is notified of such E-mail message via a user interface presentation provided by IM message service. The notification specification involves informing the user of identity of the person who sent the E-mail message. One technique for conveying this information is to display visual indicia on the user interface presentation in proximity to the sender'"'"'s name. The IM user is thus instantly apprised of who sent the E-mail message, without requiring the user to take burdensome steps by activating the E-mail service upon every receipt of an E-mail message. The user presentation can also display information regarding how many E-mail messages each individual identified in the user interface presentation has sent the IM user. The IM user presentation can also display supplemental information which identifies the subject matter of the received E-mail messages.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for notifying a user of a first message service of the arrival of a message received via a second message service, comprising:
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activating the first message service to provide a user interface associated with the first message service;
receiving a notification that alerts the user that a sender has sent the user a message via the second message service; and
presenting the notification via the user interface provided by the first message service, wherein the notification identifies the sender of the message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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8. The method according to claim 8, wherein the user interface is a visual user interface presentation that provides the notification thereon, and wherein the user selectively inquires about the notification by moving a pointer in proximity to the notification.
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13. An apparatus for notifying a user of a first message service of the arrival of a message received via a second message service, comprising:
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logic configured to activate the first message service to provide a first message service user interface;
logic configured to receive a notification that alerts the user that a sender has sent the user a message via the second message service; and
logic configured to present the notification via the user interface provided by the first message service, wherein the notification identifies the sender of the message. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for notifying a user of a first message service of the arrival of a message received via a second message service, comprising:
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receiving, by the first message service, a notification that a sender has sent the user a message via the second message service; and
forwarding, by the first message service, the notification to the user, wherein the notification identifies the sender of the message. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. An apparatus implemented by a first message service for notifying a user who is interacting with the first message service of the arrival of a message received via a second message service, comprising:
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logic configured to receive a notification that a sender has sent the user a message via the second message service; and
logic configured to forward the notification to the user, wherein the notification identifies the sender of the message. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A system, comprising:
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first remote message service functionality for providing a first message service to a user according to a first message technique;
second remote message service functionality for providing a second message service to the user according to a second message technique;
a user device which enables the user to interact with the first remote message functionality and the second remote message service functionality; and
communication coupling which connects the user device to the first remote message service functionality and the second remote message service functionality;
wherein the first remote message service functionality includes logic configured to receive a notification from the second remote message service functionality that a sender has sent the user a message via the second message service functionality, and to forward the notification to user device for receipt by the user, wherein the notification identifies the sender of the message. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification