SIMPLIFIED ELECTRONIC MESSAGING SYSTEM

• US 20080222710A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blagsvedt, Sean Olin, Goyal, Vibhore, Prasad, Archana
• Granted Patent: US 8,601,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes

Abstract

A simplified messaging system is provided. In various embodiments, the simplified messaging system receives a selection of an image representing an identification for a user that the user previously provided, receives a selection of multiple images representing a password for the user that the user previously selected, and logs the user into an electronic messaging system based on the selected images. In various embodiments, the simplified messaging system comprises a mail transport server that receives and forwards electronic messages, a mail registration server comprising an images component that stores images associated with user identifications and user passwords, and a mail client that receives a selection of an image identifying a user and multiple images associated with a password of the user, and logs the user into an electronic messaging system when the images are selected.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computer system for enabling simplified user authentication, comprising:

receiving a selection of an image representing an identification for a user, the image previously provided by the user;

receiving a selection of multiple images representing a password for the user, the multiple images previously selected by the user; and

authenticating the user based on the selected image representing an identification for the user and the selected multiple images representing the password for the user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a message containing text and providing the text in audio form by employing text-to-speech.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising verifying that the selected multiple images representing the password for the user correspond to a stored association between identification images and password images wherein the verifying includes determining whether the password images selected during logging in were selected in a same order as previously selected by the user.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising registering with an electronic messaging system wherein the registering includes providing an image representing the identification for the user.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising registering with an electronic messaging system wherein the registering includes providing an image representing the identification for the user and multiple images representing the password for the user.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving audible assistance from an assistant character.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a list of messages stored in an inbox wherein each item in the list includes an image corresponding to a sender of a message associated with the item.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a list of messages stored in an inbox wherein each item in the list includes an image corresponding to a sender of a message associated with the item and the image is retrieved from an electronic card.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising sorting a list of messages stored in an inbox wherein each item in the list includes an image corresponding to a sender of a message associated with the item and the list is sorted according to contents of each included image.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing a message to be composed without requiring the user to review or provide any text.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically displaying a message reply page upon completing rendering an incoming message without user input indicating to compose a reply to the rendered incoming message.

12. A system for enabling simplified use of electronic messaging, comprising:

a mail transport server that receives and forwards electronic messages;

a mail registration server comprising an images component that stores images associated with user identifications and user passwords; and

a mail client comprising a video input and a display output that receives a selection of an image identifying a user and multiple images associated with a password of the user, and logs the user into an electronic messaging system when the selected image identifying the user and the multiple images associated with the password of the user correspond to a previously selected combination of identifying image and password images.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the mail client further comprises a mail client software that provides incoming electronic messages to a user and receives outgoing electronic messages from the user wherein the mail client software automatically attaches an electronic card to the outgoing electronic messages, the electronic card including the image identifying the user.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the mail registration server further comprises electronic mail information wherein the electronic mail information includes a user image identifying the user and multiple password images associated with the password of the user.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the mail registration server wherein the images component stores multiple images from which a user can select images to associate with a password for the user.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the mail registration server wherein the images component stores multiple images from which a user can select images to specify a password for the user and the multiple images associated with the password of the user must be selected during login in a same order in which they were previously specified.

17. A computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method for enabling simplified use of electronic messaging, the method comprising:

receiving an image to identify a user;

receiving electronic messaging information associated with a messaging account, the messaging information including at least a first password without which electronic messages cannot be accessed from a mail service provider;

receiving a selection of multiple images to associate with a second password for the user; and

upon receiving an indication from a first set of multiple identifying images an image to identify the user and an indication from a second set of multiple password images a subset of the password images,

determining whether the selected subset of the password images matches previously stored password images associated with the selected image to identify the user; and

when the selected subset of the password images matches previously stored password images associated with the selected image to identify the user,

logging into the mail service provider using the first password to retrieve an electronic message.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the first password includes only text and the second password includes no text.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising automatically adding a contact to a list of contacts when the user responds to an incoming electronic message, the adding including associating an image with the contact wherein the image is retrieved from an electronic card attached to the incoming electronic message.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 including providing an assistant character that provides help audibly and visually.