Method and apparatus for cataloging and displaying e-mail using a classification rule preparing means and providing cataloging a piece of e-mail into multiple categories or classification types based on e-mail object information

• US 5,948,058 A
• Filed: 10/30/1996
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kudoh, Masato, Koseki, Yoshiyuki, Tanaka, Midori
• Primary Examiner(s): Asta, Frank J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomson, William D.
• Application Number:
  US08/739,838
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.36, 395/200.37, 395/200.33, 705/30, 705/32, 707/10-4, 707/104, 707/103, 707/500, 707/522, 707/526, 706/45, 706/47, 709/207, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system comprises an electronic mail communication unit, an electronic mail storage unit for storing electronic mails, a tray information storage unit for storing information on classification types used for classification of electronic mails and a format for relating electronic mails to said classification types, an electronic mail object storage unit for storing an electronic mail object related to each electronic mail stored in the electronic mail storage unit, a header information display control unit for showing header information and electronic mail attribute information on a prescribed electronic mail in the form of an at-a-glance guide, a tray display control unit showing tray information which shows that a prescribed electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type, and an electronic mail editing means for showing and editing the content of an electronic mail.

Claims

1. An electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system for cataloging and retrieving sent or received electronic mail comprising:

an electronic mail communication means for sending or receiving the electronic mail;

a first storage means for storing the electronic mail sent or received by the electronic mail communication means;

a second storage means for storing information on a plurality of classification types used for classification of the electronic mail and a format to relate the electronic mail according to the classification types;

a third storage means for storing an electronic mail object which has at least path information, electronic mail attribute information, header information and classification information on each individual piece of electronic mail stored in the first storage means;

a header information display means for reading from the third storage means the header information and the electronic mail attribute information among the electronic mail object concerning a prescribed piece of electronic mail and displaying the header information and the electronic mail attribute information on a display device in a prescribed header information display screen in the form of an at-a-glance guide;

a tray display means for displaying tray information on the display device, wherein the tray information shows whether or not a prescribed piece of electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type on a prescribed tray information display screen by referring to a format which relates the prescribed piece of electronic mail with information on the classification types stored in the second storage means, and with the classification types, and with the classification information of an electronic mail object concerning the prescribed piece of electronic mail and being stored in the third storage means; and

an electronic mail editing means for displaying a content of an individual piece of electronic mail stored in the first storage means according to a direction by a user and editing the content of the individual piece of electronic mail as required.

2. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the header information display means;

displays a first list in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line onto the header information display screen, and

inserts the header information and the electronic mail attribute information of the electronic mail object related to a prescribed piece of electronic mail selected according to a prescribed standard into each column of the first list; and

the tray display means;

allocates a single piece of electronic mail to a single line, relates each line with a single individual piece of electronic mail according to the allocation of electronic mail in the first list which is shown on the header information display screen by the header information display means,

displays a second list, which has all the classification types as classification items, onto the tray information display screen, and

inserts a document symbol, which indicates that an individual piece of electronic mail is classified into a particular classification types into a classification item relevant to a classification category of an individual piece of electronic mail related to a particular line of the second list.

3. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the header information display means;

displays a first list in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line onto the header information display screen, and

inserts the header information and the electronic mail attribute information of the electronic mail object related to a prescribed piece of electronic mail selected according to a prescribed standard into each column of the first list;

the tray display means;

allocates a single piece of electronic mail to a single line, relates each line with a single piece of electronic mail according to the allocation of electronic mail in the first list which is shown on the header information display screen by the header information display means,

displays a second lists which has all the classification types as classification items, onto the tray information display screen, and inserts a document symbol, which indicates that an individual piece of electronic mail is classified into a particular classification type, into a classification item relevant to a classification category of an individual piece of electronic mail related to a particular line of the second list; and

the header information display means and the tray display means display the header information display screen and the tray information display screen in display areas disposed in parallel in a same display screen.

4. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the header information display means:

displays a first list in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line onto the header information display screen, and

inserts the header information and the electronic mail attribute information of the electronic mail object related to a prescribed piece of electronic mail selected according to a prescribed standard into each column of the first list; and

the tray display means;

allocates a single piece of electronic mail to a single line, relates each line with a single piece of electronic mail according to the allocation of electronic mail in the first list which is shown on the header information display screen by the header information display means,

displays a second list, which has all the classification types as classification items, onto the tray information display screen, and

inserts a document symbol which indicates that an individual piece of electronic mail is classified into a particular classification types into a classification item relevant to a classification category of an individual piece of electronic mail related to a particular line of the second list; and

the electronic mail editing means, according to a direction entered to show an individual piece of electronic mail by designating a given line on the header information display screen or a given document symbol on the tray information display screen, reads the content of an individual piece of electronic mail relevant to the designated line or document symbol from the first storage means and shows the content on an electronic mail display screen.

9. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

an electronic mail condition retrieval means for retrieving the electronic mail stored in the first storage means based on a given retrieval condition separately entered,

wherein the second storage means stores the retrieval condition as one of the classification types of the electronic mail,

the third storage means stores a retrieved result on each piece of retrieved electronic mail by the electronic mail condition retrieval means as classification information contained in the electronic mail object corresponding to each retrieved piece of electronic mail, and

the tray information display means additionally shows a classification item corresponding to the retrieval condition onto the tray information display screen based on a classification type corresponding to the retrieval condition stored in the second storage means and additionally shows the classification information corresponding to the retrieved result stored in the third storage means.

10. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a board display means for showing an electronic mail symbol for indicating an individual piece of electronic mail designated by a prescribed means among the electronic mail stored in the first storage means in connection with a desired position on a prescribed symbol display screen,

wherein an electronic mail object stored in the third storage means, corresponding to the individual piece of electronic mail, has display position information on the electronic mail symbol on the symbol display screen shown by the board display means.

11. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the header information display means, the tray display means and the board display means show the header information display screen, the tray information display screen and the symbol display screen in a display area formed in a same display screen.

12. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

the header information display means displays a first list in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line onto the header information display screen, and inserts the header information and the electronic mail attribute information of the electronic mail object related to a prescribed piece of electronic mail selected according to a prescribed standard into each column of the first list; and

the tray display means;

allocates a single piece of electronic mail to a single line, relates each line with a single piece of electronic mail according to the allocation of electronic mail in the first list which is shown on the header information display screen by the header information display means,

displays a second lists which has all the classification types as classification items, onto the tray information display screen, and

inserts a document symbols which indicates that an individual piece of electronic mail is classified into a particular classification type, into a classification item relevant to a classification category of an individual piece of electronic mail related to a particular line of the second list; and

the electronic mail editing means, according to a direction entered to show an individual piece of electronic mail by designating a given line on the header information display screen, a given document symbol on the tray information display screen, or a given electronic mail symbol on the symbol display screen, reads the content of an individual piece of electronic mail relevant to the designated line, document symbol or electronic mail symbol from the first storage means and shows the content on the electronic mail display screen.

13. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a pointer display means for displaying a pointer at a desired position, and a detailed header information display means which monitors a position of the pointer and displays in a prescribed format detailed header information of an individual piece of electronic mail specified by the position of the pointer in accordance with a direction to display detailed header information.

14. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

the header information display means displays a first list in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line onto the header information display screen, and inserts the header information and the electronic mail attribute information of the electronic mail object related to a prescribed piece of electronic mail selected according to a prescribed standard into each column of the first list; and

the tray display means;

allocates a single piece of electronic mail to a single line, relates each line with a single piece of electronic mail according to the allocation of electronic mail in the first list which is shown on the header information display screen by the header information display means,

displays a second list, which has all the classification types as classification items, onto the tray information display screen, and

inserts a document symbols which indicates that an individual piece of electronic mail is classified into a particular classification types into a classification item relevant to a classification category of an individual piece electronic mail related to a particular line of the second list; and

the detailed header information display means, in accordance with a direction to display the detailed header information entered when the pointer is positioned on a given line on the header information display screen or on a given document symbol on the tray information display screen, reads from the third storage means an electronic mail object of an individual piece of electronic mail relevant to the line or the document symbol where the pointer is positioned and displays at least a portion of the read electronic mail object near the pointer.

15. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a board display means for showing an electronic mail symbol for indicating an individual piece of electronic mail designated by a prescribed means among the electronic mail stored in the first storage means in connection with a desired position on a prescribed symbol display screen,

wherein an electronic mail object stored in the third storage means has display position information on the electronic mail symbol on the symbol display screen shown by the board display means,

the header information display means displays a first list in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line onto the header information display screen, and inserts the header information and the electronic mail attribute information of the electronic mail object related to a prescribed piece of electronic mail selected according to a prescribed standard into each column of the first list; and

the tray display means;

allocates a single piece of electronic mail to a single line, relates each line with a single piece of electronic mail according to the allocation of electronic mail in the first list which is shown on the header information display screen by the header information display means,

displays a second list, which has all the classification types as classification items, onto the tray information display screen, and

inserts a document symbol, which indicates that an individual piece of electronic mail is classified into a particular classification type, into a classification item relevant to a classification category of an individual piece of electronic mail related to a particular line of the second list; and

the detailed header information display means, in accordance with a direction to display the detailed header information entered when the pointer is positioned on a given line on the header information display screen, on a given document symbol on the tray information display screen or on a given electronic mail symbol on the symbol display screen, reads from the third storage means an electronic mail object of an individual piece of electronic mail relevant to the line, the document symbol or the electronic mail symbol where the pointer is positioned and displays at least a portion of the read electronic mail object near the pointer.

5. An electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system for cataloging and retrieving sent or received electronic mail comprising:

an electronic mail communication means for sending or receiving the electronic mail;

a first storage means for storing the electronic mail sent or received by the electronic mail communication means;

a second storage means for storing a format to relate information on a plurality of classification types, used for classification of the electronic mail with the electronic mail according to the plurality of classification types;

a third storage means which, with respect to each individual piece of electronic mail stored in the first storage means, stores an electronic mail object having at least path information, electronic mail attribute information, header information, classification information, and given additional information on a related piece of electronic mail;

a header information display means for reading from the third storage means the header information and the electronic mail attribute information among the electronic mail object concerning a prescribed piece of electronic mail and displaying on a display device in a prescribed header information display screen in the form of an at-a-glance guide;

a tray display means for displaying tray information on the display device, wherein the tray information shows whether or not a prescribed piece of electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type on a prescribed tray information display screen by referring to a format which relates the prescribed piece of electronic mail with information on the classification types stored in the second storage means, and with the classification types, and with the classification information of an electronic mail object concerning the prescribed piece of electronic mail and being stored in the third storage means;

an additional information display means for showing a memo symbols indicating that the additional information is added to the related piece of electronic mail which includes the additional information in the electronic mail objects in correspondence with a first list which is displayed on the display device by the header information display means and in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line onto the header information display screen; and

an electronic mail editing means for displaying a content of an individual piece of electronic mail stored in the first storage means according to a direction by a user and editing the content of the individual piece of electronic mail as required.

6. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the additional information display means, among the lines in the first list shown by the header information display means, shows the memo symbol at a given position on a line corresponding to an individual piece of electronic mail which has the additional information in its electronic mail object.

7. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the additional information display means, according to a direction entered to show the additional information by designating a given memo symbol, reads the additional information in the electronic mail object corresponding to the designated memo symbol from the third storage means and shows the additional information on a prescribed additional information display screen.

8. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the additional information display means, among the lines in the first list shown by the header information display means, shows the memo symbol at a prescribed position on a line corresponding to an individual piece of electronic mail containing the additional information in its electronic mail object, and, according to a direction entered to show the additional information by designating a given memo symbol, reads the additional information in the electronic mail object corresponding to the designated memo symbol from the third storage means and shows the additional information on a prescribed additional information display screen.

16. An electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system for cataloging or retrieving sent or received electronic mail comprising:

an electronic mail communication means for sending or receiving the electronic mail;

a first storage means for storing the electronic mail sent or received by the electronic mail communication means;

a second storage means which stores a plurality of classification rules used for classification of the electronic mail;

an electronic mail classification means which determines classification categories of the electronic mail by using the plurality of classification rules stored in the second storage means and determines a classified result;

a classified result display means for displaying the classified result; and

a classification rule preparing means which extracts required information from mail data of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a classification example entered by a user and prepares a classification rule by an interactive procedure.

17. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 16, wherein.

the classification rules stored in the second storage means are rules to relate a pattern of an individual piece of electronic mail with a category in which an individual piece of electronic mail having the pattern has to be classified or a category in which an individual piece of electronic mail having the pattern must not be classified;

and

the classification rule preparing means shows prescribed information for forming a pattern of an individual piece of electronic mail based on a predetermined standards prepares a prescribed electronic mail pattern based on information specified by a user among the shown information, prepares a category in which an individual piece of electronic mail having the pattern has to be classified, and relates the prepared electronic mail pattern to the prepared category.

18. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the classification rules stored in the second storage means are rules to relate a pattern of an individual piece of electronic mail with a category in which an individual piece of electronic mail having the pattern has to be classified or a category in which an individual piece of electronic mail having the pattern must not be classified; and

when the classification rule preparing means receives a request for changing the classification of an individual piece of electronic mail,

if the classification change request requires preparing a new category and classifying the individual piece of electronic mail into the prepared category, then the classification rule preparing means shows prescribed information for forming a pattern of an individual piece of electronic mail based on a predetermined standard, prepares a prescribed electronic mail pattern based on information specified by a user among the shown information, prepares a category in which an individual piece of electronic mail having the pattern has to be classified, and prepares a rule to relate the prepared electronic mail pattern to the prepared category,

if the classification change request requires specifying the existing category to newly classify the individual piece of electronic mail into the category, then the classification rule preparing means prepares a rule to relate the designated category as a category in which classification must be made to the electronic mail pattern, and

if the classification change request requires deleting a prescribed category among the categories in which the individual piece of electronic mail is classified by the existing classification rule, then the classification rule preparing means prepares a rule to relate the category to be deleted as a category in which classification must not be made to the electronic mail pattern.

19. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the electronic mail classification means reads an individual piece of electronic mail classified and stored in the first storage means as required and redetermines a classification category based on a classification rule stored in the second storage means.

20. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the electronic mail classification means, upon receiving a request for changing a classification rule made by specifying a plurality of pieces of electronic mail, prepares a set of classification rules to meet a relevant relation with the plurality of pieces of electronic mail.

21. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the electronic mail classification means, upon receiving a request for changing a classification rule made by specifying a plurality of pieces of electronic mail,

when a possible classification rule meeting a relevant relation with all of the plurality of pieces of electronic mail is available, determines the possible classification rule as a classification rule for the plurality of pieces of electronic mail, and

when a possible classification rule meeting a relevant relation with all the plurality of pieces of electronic mail is not available, extracts a classification rule which meets the relevant relation with most of the plurality of pieces of electronic mail and extracts a second classification rule which meets a relevant relation with each individual piece of electronic mail which is not pertinent to the extracted classification rule, and prepares a classification rule set including all the extracted classification rules.

22. The electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system as set forth in claim 20, wherein the electronic mail classification means reads an individual piece of electronic mail classified and stored in the first storage means as required and redetermines a classification category based on a classification rule stored in the second storage means.

23. A method for cataloging and retrieving sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the method comprising the steps of:

sending or receiving the electronic mail;

storing the electronic mail sent or received;

storing information on a plurality of classification types used for classification of the electronic mail;

storing a format to relate each of the individual pieces of electronic mail according to the classification types;

storing an electronic mail object which has at least path information, electronic mail attribute information, header information and classification information on each individual piece of electronic mail;

reading the header information and the electronic mail attribute information from the electronic mail object concerning a prescribed piece of electronic mail, and displaying the header information and the electronic mail attribute information on a display device in a prescribed header information display screen in the form of an at-a-glance guide;

displaying tray information on the display device, wherein the tray information shows whether or not a prescribed piece of electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type on a prescribed tray information display screen by referring to a format which relates the prescribed piece of electronic mail with information on the classification types, and with the classification types, and with the classification information of an electronic mail object concerning the prescribed piece of electronic mail; and

displaying a content of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a direction by a user and editing the content of the individual piece of electronic mail as required.

24. A method for cataloging and retrieving sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the method comprising the steps of:

sending or receiving the electronic mail;

storing the electronic mail sent or received;

storing a format to relate information on a plurality of classification types, used for classification of the electronic mail, with the electronic mail according to the plurality of classification types;

storing, for each individual piece of electronic mail, an electronic mail object having at least path information, electronic mail attribute information, header information, classification information, and given additional information on a related piece of electronic mail;

reading the header information and the electronic mail attribute information from the electronic mail object concerning a prescribed piece of electronic mail and displaying the header information and the electronic mail attribute information on a display device in a prescribed header information display screen in the form of an at-a-glance guide;

displaying tray information on the display device, wherein the tray information shows whether or not a prescribed piece of electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type on a prescribed tray information display screen by referring to a format which relates the prescribed piece of electronic mail with information on the classification types, and with the classification types, and with the classification information of an electronic mail object concerning the prescribed piece of electronic mail;

showing a memo symbol, indicating that the additional information is added to the related piece of electronic mail which includes the additional information in the electronic mail object, in correspondence with a first list which is displayed on the display device by the header information display means and in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line on the header information display screen; and

displaying a content of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a direction by a user and editing the content of the individual piece of electronic mail as required.

25. A method for cataloging and retrieving sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the method comprising the steps of:

sending or receiving the electronic mail;

storing the electronic mail sent or received;

storing a plurality of classification rules used for classification of the electronic mail;

determining classification categories of the electronic mail by using the plurality of classification rules;

determining a classified result from the classification categories;

displaying the classified result; and

preparing a classification rule by extracting required information from mail data of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a classification example entered by a user and preparing a classification rule by an interactive procedure.

26. A computer program product comprising computer readable program code for causing a cataloging and a retrieving of sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the program code in the computer program product comprising:

first computer readable program code for sending or receiving the electronic mail;

second computer readable program code for storing the sent or received electronic mail;

third computer readable program code for storing information on a plurality of classification types used for classification of the electronic mail;

fourth computer readable program code for storing a format to relate each of the individual pieces of electronic mail according to the classification types;

fifth computer readable program code for storing an electronic mail object which has at least path information, electronic mail attribute information, header information and classification information on each individual piece of electronic mail;

sixth computer readable program code for reading the header information and the electronic mail attribute information from the electronic mail object concerning a prescribed piece of electronic mail and displaying the header information and the electronic mail attribute information on a display device in a prescribed header information display screen in the form of an at-a-glance guide;

seventh computer readable program code for displaying tray information on the display device, wherein the tray information shows whether or not a prescribed piece of electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type on a prescribed tray information display screen by referring to a format which relates the prescribed piece of electronic mail with information on the classification types, and with the classification types, and with the classification information of an electronic mail object concerning the prescribed piece of electronic mail; and

eighth computer readable program code for displaying a content of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a direction by a user and editing the content of the individual piece of electronic mail as required.

27. A computer program product comprising computer readable program code for causing a cataloging and a retrieving of sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the program code in the computer program product comprising:

first computer readable program code for sending or receiving the electronic mail;

second computer readable program code for storing the sent or received electronic mail;

third computer readable program code for storing a format to relate information on a plurality of classification types, used for classification of the electronic mail, with the electronic mail according to the plurality of classification types;

fourth computer readable program code for storing, for each individual piece of electronic mail, an electronic mail object having at least path information, electronic mail attribute information, header information, classification information, and given additional information on a related piece of electronic mail;

fifth computer readable program code for reading the header information and the electronic mail attribute information from the electronic mail object concerning a prescribed piece of electronic mail and displaying the header information and the electronic mail attribute information on a display device in a prescribed header information display screen in the form of an at-a-glance guide;

sixth computer readable program code for displaying tray information on the display device, wherein the tray information shows whether or not a prescribed piece of electronic mail is classified into a prescribed classification type on a prescribed tray information display screen by referring to a format which relates the prescribed piece of electronic mail with information on the classification types, and with the classification types, and with the classification information of an electronic mail object concerning the prescribed piece of electronic mail;

seventh computer readable program code for showing a memo symbol, indicating that the additional information is added to the related piece of electronic mail which includes the additional information in the electronic mail object, in correspondence with a first list which is displayed on the display device by the header information display means and in which a single piece of electronic mail is allocated to a single line on the header information display screen; and

eighth computer readable program code for displaying a content of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a direction by a user and editing the content of the individual piece of electronic mail as required.

28. A computer program product comprising computer readable program code for causing a cataloging and a retrieving of sent or received electronic mail, for use in an electronic mail cataloging and retrieving system, the program code in the computer program product comprising:

first computer readable program code for sending or receiving the electronic mail;

second computer readable program code for storing the sent or received electronic mail;

third computer readable program code for storing a plurality of classification rules used for classification of the electronic mail;

fourth computer readable program code for determining classification categories of the electronic mail by using the plurality of classification rules;

fifth computer readable program code for determining a classified result from the classification categories;

sixth computer readable program code for displaying the classified result; and

seventh computer readable program code for preparing a classification rule by extracting required information from mail data of an individual piece of electronic mail according to a classification example entered by a user and preparing a classification rule by an interactive procedure.