Methods and systems for end-users extensible electronic mail

• US 6,999,993 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1999
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Shah, Milan M., Lau, Keith K., Stamerjohn, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGESS, BARBARA N
• Application Number:
  US09/464,348
• Time in Patent Office: 2,253 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/206, 709/207
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561

Abstract

Methods and systems for creating a full-featured, individually customized email system by allowing end-users of an electronic mail system to extend standard electronic mail protocol for the creation of user-defined commands that are recognizable and executable by an electronic mail system and that can alter processing performed after a server accepts a piece of electronic mail. Routine events are raised during the communication of information and processing of data that give rise to the execution of registered commands. The commands are registered in an event-binding database and include standard commands and user-defined commands that are executed according to priority.

Claims

1. In a messaging system used for exchanging information, the system utilizing standard Internet protocol, a method for extending the protocol to allow for the ability to customize messaging operations performed on an electronic message without deviating from the protocol specification, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a standard command, wherein the standard command is based on a standard Internet protocol, the standard command having an assigned priority;

storing a user-created command, wherein the user-created command is based on extensions of the standard Internet protocol, and wherein the standard command and the user-created command are used for manipulating the message;

assigning a user-defined priority to the user-created command relative to an assigned priority of the standard command for executing the user-created command, wherein assigning any user-defined priority to the user-created command lower than the assigned priority of the standard command causes the standard command to be executed with the user-created command, such that the user-created command augments the standard command, and wherein assigning any user-defined priority to the user-created command that is higher than the assigned priority of the standard command causes the user-created command to bypass the standard command, and such that the user-created command is executed without the standard command being executed; and

executing at least one of the standard command or the user-created command according to the assigned priority.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the standard command is stored in a fist database.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the user-defined command is stored in a second database.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the first database and the second database are the same database.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further including an act of identifying the at least one of the standard command and the user-created command that is to be executed based upon a determination of whether the user-created command is registered in an event-binding database.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, further including an act of registering the user-created command into an event-binding database, and prior to executing the user-created command an act of determining that the user-created command is registered in the event-binding database.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the priority of the standard command is a neutral priority.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the assigned priority of the user-created command is a priority other than a neutral priority.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, further including an act of sorting at least the user created command and the standard command in a database based upon their priority prior to executing the at least one of the standard command and the user-created command.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising modifying one of the assigned priorities.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the standard command is assigned a neutral priority prior to assigning the user-defined priority to the user-created command.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein execution of the user-created command effectively prevents the standard command from being executed.

19. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein the user-defined command is stored in a second database.

20. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein the first database and the second database are the same database.

13. A computer program product for implementing a method for extending standard Internet protocol to allow for the ability to customize messaging operations performed on an electronic message without deviating from the protocol specification, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for executing the acts of;

storing a standard command, wherein the standard command is based on a standard Internet protocol, the standard command having an assigned priority;

storing a user-created command, wherein the user-created command is based on extensions of the standard Internet protocol, and wherein the standard command and the user-created command are used for manipulating the message;

assigning a user-defined priority to the user-created command relative to an assigned priority of the standard command for executing the user-created command, wherein assigning any user-defined priority to the user-created command lower than the assigned priority of the standard command causes the standard command to be executed with the user-created command, such that the user-created command augments the standard command, and wherein assigning any user-defined priority to the user-created command that is higher than the assigned priority of the standard command causes the user-created command to bypass the standard command, and such that the user-created command is executed without the standard command being executed; and

executing at least one of the standard command or the user-created command according to the assigned priority.

14. A computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the method flintier includes an act of identifying the at least one of the standard command and the user-created command that is to be executed based upon a determination of whether the user-created command is registered in an event-binding database.

15. A computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein the method further includes an act of registering the user-created command into an event-binding database, and prior to executing the user-created command an act of determining that the user-created command is registered in the event-binding database.

16. A computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the priority of the standard command is a neutral priority.

17. A computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the assigned priority of the user-created command is a priority other than a neutral priority.

18. A computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the standard command is stored in a first database.

21. A computer program product as recited in claim 13, the method further comprising modifying one of the assigned priorities.