Method and apparatus for linking electronic mail and an electronic calendar to provide a dynamic response to an electronic mail message
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method of providing a dynamic response to an electronic mail message on a data processing system comprising at least a sender'"'"'s computer and a recipient'"'"'s computer by dynamically linking an electronic mail system to an electronic calendar system both of which are accessible by each computer, comprising the steps of:
- sending an electronic mail message from the sender'"'"'s computer to the recipient'"'"'s computer by the electronic mail system;
receiving the message through the electronic mail system on the recipient'"'"'s computer;
in response to receipt of the electronic mail message, automatically accessing with the recipient'"'"'s computer a recipient'"'"'s calendar on the electronic calendar system on the recipient'"'"'s computer;
automatically searching said recipient'"'"'s calendar on the calendar system of the recipient'"'"'s computer for any scheduled event overlapping with a time of receipt of the message sent on the electronic mail system;
automatically sending information on said any scheduled event overlapping with the time of receipt back to said sender'"'"'s computer by the electronic mail system; and
automatically displaying on the sender'"'"'s computer said information sent through the electronic mail system about said any scheduled event, wherein a sender is automatically informed of any potential events which may delay a response from a recipient without said sender having to exit the electronic mail system to separately access the electronic calendar system to check for said any potential events.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamic response to an electronic message is provided to a sender without requiring any additional action on the part of an addressee. When a message is received, a search is conducted on the addressee'"'"'s electronic calendar. If an event is found in which a receipt time of the message falls between the start and stop time thereof, a response is provided to the sender so indicating. The response may be tailored as desired to include such information as what the event is, start/stop time of the event, and who the event concerns.
140 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method of providing a dynamic response to an electronic mail message on a data processing system comprising at least a sender'"'"'s computer and a recipient'"'"'s computer by dynamically linking an electronic mail system to an electronic calendar system both of which are accessible by each computer, comprising the steps of:
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sending an electronic mail message from the sender'"'"'s computer to the recipient'"'"'s computer by the electronic mail system; receiving the message through the electronic mail system on the recipient'"'"'s computer; in response to receipt of the electronic mail message, automatically accessing with the recipient'"'"'s computer a recipient'"'"'s calendar on the electronic calendar system on the recipient'"'"'s computer; automatically searching said recipient'"'"'s calendar on the calendar system of the recipient'"'"'s computer for any scheduled event overlapping with a time of receipt of the message sent on the electronic mail system; automatically sending information on said any scheduled event overlapping with the time of receipt back to said sender'"'"'s computer by the electronic mail system; and automatically displaying on the sender'"'"'s computer said information sent through the electronic mail system about said any scheduled event, wherein a sender is automatically informed of any potential events which may delay a response from a recipient without said sender having to exit the electronic mail system to separately access the electronic calendar system to check for said any potential events. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for providing a dynamic response to an electronic mail message on a data processor comprising at least a sender'"'"'s computer and a recipient'"'"'s computer by dynamically linking an electronic mail system to an electronic calendar system both of which are accessible by each computer, comprising:
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computer implemented means for sending an electronic mail message from the sender'"'"'s computer to the recipient'"'"'s computer by the electronic mail system; computer implemented means for receiving the message through the electronic mail system on the recipient'"'"'s computer; in response to receipt of the electronic mail message, computer implemented means on the recipient'"'"'s computer for automatically accessing a recipient'"'"'s calendar on the electronic calendar system on the recipient'"'"'s computer; computer implemented means for automatically searching said recipient'"'"'s calendar on the calendar system of the recipient'"'"'s computer for any scheduled event overlapping with a time of receipt of the message sent on the electronic mail system; computer implemented means for automatically sending information on said any scheduled event overlapping with the time of receipt back to said sender'"'"'s computer by the electronic mail system; and computer implemented means for automatically displaying on the sender'"'"'s computer said information sent through the electronic mail system about said any scheduled event, wherein a sender as automatically informed of any potential events which may delay a response from a recipient without said sender having to exit the electronic mail system to separately access the electronic calendar system to check for said any potential events. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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Specification