System and method for creating, editing, and distributing rules for processing electronic messages

• US 5,917,489 A
• Filed: 01/31/1997
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Thurlow, Scott A., MacDonald, Brian W., Bliss, William J., Goodhand, David R., Stumberger, Douglas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/791,885
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 345/226, 345/330, 345/331, 345/332, 345/347, 345/326, 345/340, 345/352, 706/45, 706/47, 395/200.34, 395/200.35, 395/200.36, 395/200.37
• US Class Current: 715/809
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/35 Discourse or dialogue representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A desktop information manager includes a "Rules Wizard" for creating and editing rules for processing electronic messages. The Rules Wizard allows creation of rules in a step-by-step manner by selecting natural language phrases representing conditions, actions, and exceptions. As rule components are selected by the user, the current rule is displayed in a natural language format. Variables are displayed as hypertext links. When the user specifies the value of a variable, the specified value is threaded back into the displayed rule. Templates and a rules from context feature expedite the construction of rules. Once created rules are stored on the client computer and possibly uploaded to the server in order to ensure efficient message processing.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and a user interface selection device, a method for constructing a rule for processing electronic messages, comprising the steps of:

displaying on the display device the current state of the rule in a natural language format;

displaying on the display device a plurality of conditions upon which the rule will cause action to be taken;

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of one of the conditions;

in response to the selection of one of the conditions, adding the selected condition to the displayed current state of the rule;

displaying on the display device a plurality of actions that may be taken in response to the condition;

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of one of the actions;

in response to the selection of one of the actions, adding the selected action to the displayed current state of the rule;

displaying on the display device a list of exceptions to the selected condition;

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of one of the exceptions; and

in response to the selection of one of the exceptions, adding the selected exception to the displayed current state of the rule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed current state of the rule includes a variable displayed as a highlighted object, and further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of the highlighted object;

in response to the selection of the highlighted object, displaying on the display device a user interface object including a definition for the variable;

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the definition of the variable; and

in response to the definition of the variable, displaying on the display device the current state of the rule with the definition in place of the variable.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of examining properties associated with an existing message;

and

wherein the plurality of conditions and plurality of actions include a plurality of displayed variables derived from the properties associated with the existing message.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the rule may be run on a server; and

in response to the rule being able to be run on the server, uploading the rule to the server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the rule for subsequent processing of electronic messages.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the rule is stored on the computer system and on a server associated with the computer system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the rule is executed on only one of the computer system and the server.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of synchronizing rules stored on the computer system with rules stored on the server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule is used to process electronic messages stored in a folder.

10. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and a user interface selection device, a method for constructing a rule for processing electronic messages, comprising the steps of:

displaying on the display device a list of rule templates;

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of one of the rule templates;

displaying on the display device a condition associated with the selected template;

displaying on the display device an action associated with the selected template;

displaying on the display device the current state of the rule in a natural language format;

displaying on the display device a list of exceptions to the selected condition;

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating he selection of one of the exceptions;

in response to the selection of one of the exceptions, adding the selected exception to the displayed current state of the rule; and

storing the rule for subsequent processing of electronic messages.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the displayed current state of the rule includes a variable displayed as highlighted object, and further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of the highlighted object;

in response to the selection of the highlighted object, displaying on the display device a dialog including a definition for the variable;

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the definition of the variable; and

in response to the definition of the variable, displaying on the display device the current state of the rule with the definition in place of the variable.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the highlighted object comprises highlighted text.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 10.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

displaying a plurality of conditions upon which the rule will cause an action to be taken;

receiving an input signal indicating the selection of one of the conditions;

displaying a plurality of actions that may be taken in response to the condition;

receiving an input signal indicating the selection of one of the actions;

displaying the current state of the rule in a natural language format, the rule including the selected condition, the selected action, and a variable displayed as a highlighted object;

receiving an input signal indicating the selection of the highlighted object;

in response to the selection of the highlighted object, displaying a dialog including a definition for the variable;

receiving an input signal indicating the selection of the definition for the variable;

in response to the selection of the definition of the variable, displaying the current state of the rule with the definition in place of the variable;

displaying a list of exceptions to the selected condition;

receiving an input signal indicating the selection of one of the exceptions;

in response to the selection of one of the exceptions, adding the selected exception to the displayed current state of the rule; and

storing the rule for subsequent processing of electronic messages.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions further perform the step of examining properties associated with an existing message;

and

wherein the variable is derived from the properties associated with the existing message.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions further perform the steps of:

determining whether the rule may be run on a server; and

in response to the rule being able to be run on the server, uploading the rule to the server.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the highlighted object comprises highlighted text.

18. A method for distributing electronic message handling rules between a server and a client having a display device and a user interface selection device, comprising the steps of:

displaying on the display device the current state of the rule in a natural language format;

displaying on the display device a plurality of conditions upon which the rule will cause action to be taken;

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of one of the conditions;

in response to the selection of one of the conditions, adding the selected condition to the displayed current state of the rule;

displaying on the display device a plurality of actions that may be taken in response to the condition;

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of one of the actions;

in response to the selection of one of the actions, adding the selected action to the displayed current state of the rule;

displaying on the display device a list of exceptions to the selected condition;

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating he selection of one of the exceptions;

in response to the selection of one of the exceptions, adding the selected exception to the displayed current state of the rule;

determining whether the selected condition may be run on a server;

determining whether the selected action may be run on the server;

determining whether the selected exception may be run on the server; and

in response to the selected condition, the selected action and the selected exception being able to be run on the server, uploading the rule to the server.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the displayed current state of the rule includes a variable displayed as highlighted text, and further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of the highlighted text;

in response to the selection of the highlighted text, displaying on the display device a dialog including a definition for the variable;

receiving from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating the selection of the definition for the variable; and

in response to the selection of the definition of the variable, displaying the current state of the rule with the definition in place of the variable.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of examining properties associated with an existing message;

and

wherein the plurality of conditions and plurality of actions include a plurality of displayed variables, and wherein the plurality of displayed variables are derived from the properties associated with the existing message.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic mail handling rules are executed on only one of the server and the client.

22. A computer system for creating rules for processing electronic messages, comprising:

a processing unit;

an input device connected to the processing unit; and

a display device connected to the processing unit for displaying the message item;

memory connected to the processing unit and containing a program module;

the processing unit, responsive to instructions from the program module, being operative to;

display on the display device a plurality of conditions upon which the rule will cause action to be taken;

receive from the input device an input signal indicating the selection of one of the conditions;

display on the display device a plurality of actions that may be taken in response to the condition;

receive from the input device an input signal indicating the selection of one of the actions;

display on the display device the current state of the rule in a natural language format, the rule including the selected condition, the selected action, and a variable displayed as highlighted text;

receive from the input device an input signal indicating the selection of the highlighted text;

in response to the selection of the highlighted text, display on the display device a dialog including a definition for the variable;

receive from the input device an input signal indicating the selection of the definition for the variable;

in response to the selection of the definition of the variable, display on the display device the current state of the rule with the definition in place of the variable;

display on the display device a list of exceptions to the selected condition;

receive from the user interface selection device an input signal indicating he selection of one of the exceptions;

in response to the selection of one of the exceptions, add the selected exception to the displayed current state of the rule; and

store the rule for subsequent processing of electronic messages.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the processing unit is further operative to examine properties associated with an existing message;

and

wherein the variable is derived from the properties associated with the existing message.

24. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

determine whether the rule may be run on a server; and

in response to the rule being able to be run on the server, upload the rule to the server.