Method and computer-readable medium for previewing and performing actions on attachments to electronic mail messages

• US 20060069990A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hartwell, Aaron, Savastano, Hernan, Yozell-Epstein, Rebekah
• Granted Patent: US 7,243,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/273
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method and computer-readable medium are provided for previewing and performing actions on attachments to electronic mail messages. A first window pane is displayed that includes a list of e-mail messages and information identifying any attachments to the e-mail messages. When an attachment is selected, a preview is generated for the attachment and displayed in a second window pane adjacent to the first window pane. Actions that may be performed on the attachment are also identified and made available. One provided action includes the ability to quickly generate a reply message to the e-mail that includes a changed version of the original attachment.

Claims

1. A method for providing a visual preview of a document attached to an electronic mail message, the method comprising:

displaying header information associated with the electronic mail message;

displaying an indication that the document is attached to the electronic mail message;

receiving a selection of the indication; and

in response to receiving the selection of the indication, displaying a preview of the document without requiring a context change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the header information associated with the electronic mail message is displayed in a list pane, wherein the preview of the document is displayed in a reading pane, and wherein the list pane and the reading pane are displayed adjacent to one another.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising identifying one or more actions that may be performed on the document and displaying the one or more actions in conjunction with the preview.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the one or more actions in conjunction with the preview comprises displaying one or more user interface objects corresponding to the actions adjacent to the preview.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the actions are identified based upon a file type for the document.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the file type comprises a picture and wherein the action corresponding to the file type comprises displaying a slide show including the picture.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the file type comprises a word processing document and wherein the action corresponding to the file type comprises launching a word processing application with the document, placing the word processing application in a review mode, receiving changes to the electronic document, receiving a user request to transmit the changed document, and transmitting the changed document.

8. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to:

display a first window pane identifying one or more electronic mail messages;

determine whether an electronic mail message identified in the first window pane has one or more attachments;

in response to determining that an electronic mail message has attachments, to display an indication for each of the attachments, the indication being selectable;

display a second window pane for reading the electronic mail message;

receive the selection of the indication for an attachment; and

in response to the selection of the indication, displaying a preview of the attachment in the second window pane.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the second window pane is displayed adjacent to the first window pane.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the indication for an attachment includes an icon corresponding to the type of attachment, the name of the attachment, and the size of the attachment.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the computer-executable instructions will further cause the computer to:

identify one or more actions that may be performed on the attachment; and

display the one or more actions in conjunction with the preview.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein displaying the one or more actions in conjunction with the preview comprises displaying one or more user interface objects corresponding to the actions adjacent to the preview.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the computer-executable instructions will further cause the computer to identify the actions based upon a file type for the attachment.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to:

receive an electronic mail message having a document attached thereto;

receive a request to reply to the electronic mail message with changes to the document;

in response to the request, to launch an application program for editing the document in a review mode, to open the document in the application program for editing, and to provide a user interface object for replying to the electronic mail message with a changed version of the document;

receive changes to the document via the application program;

receive a request to transmit the changed document via the user interface object; and

transmitting the changed document as a reply to the electronic mail message.

15. A method for providing a visual preview of a document attached to an electronic mail message, the method comprising:

displaying a first window pane identifying one or more electronic mail messages;

determining whether an electronic mail message identified in the first window pane has one or more attachments;

in response to determining that an electronic mail message has attachments, displaying an indication for each of the attachments in the first window pane, the indication being selectable;

displaying a second window pane adjacent to the first window pane for reading the electronic mail message when the electronic mail message is selected;

receiving the selection of the indication for an attachment; and

in response to the selection of the indication, displaying a preview of the attachment in the second window pane, the preview displayed without requiring a context switch.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a request to reply to one of the electronic mail messages with changes to an attachment to the electronic mail message;

in response to the request, to launch an application program for editing the attachment in a review mode, to open the attachment in the application program for editing, and to provide a facility for replying to the electronic mail message with a changed version of the attachment;

receive changes to the attachment via the application program;

receive a request to transmit the changed attachment via the electronic mail message envelope; and

transmitting the changed attachment as a reply to the electronic mail message.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising identifying one or more actions that may be performed on the attachment and displaying the one or more actions in conjunction with the preview.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein displaying the one or more actions in conjunction with the preview comprises displaying one or more user interface objects corresponding to the actions adjacent to the preview.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the actions are identified based upon a file type for the attachment.