ELECTRONIC MESSAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A machine-implemented method for managing electronic messages comprising:
- receiving a first message, wherein the first message is an electronic message having data in a first message first field and wherein the first message is associated with a first directory;
associating the first message with a second directory in response to a user input;
presenting a first command icon on a user interface in response to the user input, wherein the first command icon corresponds to a command for the creation of a first rule for automatically associating other messages with the second directory if the other messages have data in at least one of a plurality of other messages'"'"' fields that is the same as at least a portion of the data in the first message first field;
receiving a selection by the user of the first command icon;
creating the first rule in response to the selection by the user of the first command icon; and
automatically associating a second message with the second directory in response to an execution of the first rule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to the creation of electronic message handling rules and to the creation of groups of electronic message recipient addresses. An automatic creation of electronic message rules or filters is dynamically based upon routine user actions or inputs that can have purposes other than only for the creation of rules. According to an embodiment, upon the movement of an email from one directory to any one of a plurality of other directories, a user is provided with one or more options for creating rules that will automatically move other emails to that same directory if they meet the selected criteria. With respect to the creation of groups, embodiments include the creation of groups that can occur as an electronic message is being composed.
57 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A machine-implemented method for managing electronic messages comprising:
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receiving a first message, wherein the first message is an electronic message having data in a first message first field and wherein the first message is associated with a first directory; associating the first message with a second directory in response to a user input; presenting a first command icon on a user interface in response to the user input, wherein the first command icon corresponds to a command for the creation of a first rule for automatically associating other messages with the second directory if the other messages have data in at least one of a plurality of other messages'"'"' fields that is the same as at least a portion of the data in the first message first field; receiving a selection by the user of the first command icon; creating the first rule in response to the selection by the user of the first command icon; and automatically associating a second message with the second directory in response to an execution of the first rule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A machine for use by a user, the machine comprising:
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a memory; a processor coupled to the memory; and an application stored in the memory and operable with the processor to manage electronic messages by performing steps comprising; receiving a first message in a first directory, wherein the first message is an electronic message having data in a first message first field; associating the first message with a second directory in response to a user input; presenting a first command icon on a user interface in response to the user input, wherein the first command icon corresponds to a command for the creation of a first rule for automatically associating other messages with the second directory if the other messages have data in at least one of a plurality of other messages'"'"' fields that is the same as at least a portion of the data in the first message first field; creating the first rule in response to a selection by the user of the first command icon; and automatically associating a second message with the second directory in response to an execution of the first rule. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium for use by a user, wherein the storage medium contains instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
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receiving a first message in a first directory, wherein the first message is an electronic message having data in a first message first field; associating the first message with a second directory in response to a user input; presenting a first command icon on a user interface in response to the user input, wherein the first command icon corresponds to a command for the creation of a first rule for automatically associating other messages with the second directory if the other messages have data in at least one of a plurality of other messages'"'"' fields that is the same as at least a portion of the data in the first message first field; creating the first rule in response to a selection by the user of the first command icon; and automatically associating a second message with the second directory in response to an execution of the first rule. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A machine-implemented method for using electronic messages comprising:
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providing a user with access to a recipient field of an electronic message; receiving an input by the user of a plurality of addresses in the recipient field; receiving a selection by the user of a group command after the inputting of the plurality of addresses, wherein the group command corresponds to a command to create an addressee group comprised of the plurality of addresses; creating the addressee group in response to the selection by the user of the group command; and storing the addressee group in a memory. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A machine-implemented method for using electronic messages comprising:
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providing a user with access to a first recipient field of a first electronic message; receiving an input by the user of a plurality of addresses in the first recipient field; receiving a selection by the user of a group command after the inputting of the plurality of addresses, wherein the group command corresponds to a command to create an addressee group comprised of the plurality of addresses; receiving a first input by the user of a group name for the addressee group; creating the addressee group in response to the selection by the user of the group command; and storing the addressee group in a memory. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A machine for use by a user, the machine comprising:
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a memory; a processor coupled to the memory; and an application stored in the memory and operable with the processor to process electronic messages by performing steps comprising; providing a user with access to a first recipient field of a first electronic message; receiving a plurality of addresses as inputted by the user in the first recipient field; creating an addressee group comprised of the plurality of addresses in response to a selection by the user of a group command; receiving a group name as entered by the user for the addressee group; and storing the addressee group in a memory. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium for use by a user, wherein the storage medium contains instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
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providing a user with access to a first recipient field of a first electronic message; receiving a plurality of addresses as inputted by the user in the first recipient field; creating an addressee group comprised of the plurality of addresses in response to a selection by the user of a group command; receiving a group name as entered by the user for the addressee group; and storing the addressee group in a memory. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification