System for automatically establishing a link between an electronic mail item and a remotely stored reference through a place mark inserted into the item

• US 5,418,908 A
• Filed: 10/15/1992
• Issued: 05/23/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Keller, Robert S., Sterrett, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PERVEEN, REHANA
• Application Number:
  US07/963,309
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 395/419, 395/200, 395/725, 395/325
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

The present invention allows the inclusion of a place mark in an electronic mail item. The place mark serves to identify and link an on-line reference to the mail item. When a user sends the mail item to a recipient, the place mark but not the reference goes with the item. Upon receipt, the recipient may select the place mark during review of the mail item and the on-line reference will be automatically called and displayed. Upon completing review of the reference, the recipient may transfer control from the on-line reference to the mail item without having to back out of the reference and then initiate the electronic mail.

Claims

1. A method of electronically linking an electronic mail item in a computer system to a remotely stored reference available from a separate on-line publication service, comprising the steps of:

inserting a symbol to represent a place mark into the electronic mail item on a first terminal of the computer system, said symbol indicating a desired location in the mail item for a user to view the remotely stored reference;

entering predefined reference identification information into said place mark in order to establish an electronic link from the electronic mail item to the separate on-line publication service and the remotely stored reference thereon through said place mark;

transmitting said electronic mail item, said symbol, and said place mark but not the remotely stored reference from said first terminal of the computer system to at least a second terminal of the computer system;

selecting said symbol in the electronic mail item on said at least a second terminal of the computer system;

automatically connecting and searching the separate on-line publication service for the remotely stored reference based upon the predefined reference identification information in said place mark;

displaying the remotely stored reference on said at least a second terminal of the computer system; and

returning control to the electronic mail item by closing said remotely stored reference-upon completion of review thereof.

2. A system for electronically linking an electronic mail item in a computer system to a remotely stored reference available from a separate on-line publication service, comprising:

means for inserting a symbol to represent a place mark into the electronic mail item on a first terminal of the computer system, said symbol indicating a desired location in the mail item for a user to view the remotely stored reference;

means for entering predefined reference identification information into said place mark in order to establish an electronic link from the electronic mail item to the separate on-line publication service and the remotely stored reference thereon through said place mark;

means for transmitting said electronic mail item, said symbol, and said place mark but not the remotely stored reference from said first terminal of the computer system to at least a second terminal of the computer system;

means for selecting said symbol in the electronic mail item on said at least a second terminal of the computer system;

means for automatically connecting and searching the separate on-line publication service for the remotely stored reference based upon the predefined reference identification information in said place mark;

means for displaying the remotely stored reference on said at least a second terminal of the computer system; and

means for returning control to the electronic mail item by closing said remotely stored reference upon completion of review thereof.