Method and apparatus for presenting e-mail threads as semi-connected text by removing redundant material
First Claim
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1. A method for presenting email threads, comprising:
- identifying logical components of messages in an e-mail thread, comprising;
generating a message tree comprising nodes that recursively divide each message into a main body, nested excerpts from other messages, and lowest level logical components, comprising;
performing a top-down, recursive descent to recursively divide each message into the nodes; and
decomposing each node into the logical components using a weighted finite-state machine, comprising;
building a weight network using a weighted finite state grammar;
identifying a maximally weighted path through the network; and
traversing the maximally weighted path to identify the logical components of the section;
determining relationship between the messages in the thread using the logical components; and
generating a document based upon the relationships by identifying and removing redundant logical components in each of the messages in the thread.
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Abstract
The method and apparatus of the present invention identifies the logical components of a message, determines the conversational relationships among messages and then structures and formats the core components into a single document to facilitate efficient assimilation of the structure and content of the contained conversations. The message analysis technique delineates the material to be retained and omitted using a combination of a recursive descent analyzer and a single weighted finite state machine for the core process.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for presenting email threads, comprising:
- identifying logical components of messages in an e-mail thread, comprising;
generating a message tree comprising nodes that recursively divide each message into a main body, nested excerpts from other messages, and lowest level logical components, comprising;
performing a top-down, recursive descent to recursively divide each message into the nodes; and
decomposing each node into the logical components using a weighted finite-state machine, comprising;
building a weight network using a weighted finite state grammar;
identifying a maximally weighted path through the network; and
traversing the maximally weighted path to identify the logical components of the section;
determining relationship between the messages in the thread using the logical components; and
generating a document based upon the relationships by identifying and removing redundant logical components in each of the messages in the thread. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- identifying logical components of messages in an e-mail thread, comprising;
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6. A computer controlled display system comprising:
a display for presenting e-mail threads on a viewing area; and
a processor that is adapted to identify logical components of messages in an e-mail thread, comprising;
a message tree that includes nodes that recursively divide each message into a main body, nested excerpts from other messages, and lowest level logical components, comprising;
a top down descent analyzer to perform a top-down, recursive descent analysis to create nodes of the message tree; and
a weighted finite state machine to analyze divided extents using a weight finite state machine;
wherein the processor is further adapted to build a weighted network using a weighted finite state grammar, to identify a maximally weighted path through the weighted finite state machine, and to develop a sub tree by traversing the maximally weighted path;
relationships determined by the processor between each message in the thread using the logical components; and
a medium generated based upon the determined relationships, wherein any redundant logical components in each of the messages in the thread are identified an removed.- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-readable storage medium to store computer codes, comprising:
- information that presents e-mail threads on a viewing area of a display;
information that identifies logical components of messages in an e-mail thread, comprising;
information that generates a message tree that includes nodes that recursively divide each message into a main body, nested excerpts from other messages, and lowest level logical component, comprising;
information that performs a top-down, recursive descent analysis to create some nodes of the message tree; and
information that analyzes divided extents using a weighed finite state machine, comprising;
information that builds a weighted network using a weighted finite state grammar;
information that identifies a maximally weighted path through the weighted finite stated machine; and
information that develops a sub tree by traversing the maximally weighted path;
information that determines relationships between each message in the thread using the logical components; and
information that generates a medium based upon the determined relationships, wherein any redundant logical components in each of the messages in the thread are identified and removed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
- information that presents e-mail threads on a viewing area of a display;
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14. A computer system for presenting email threads, comprising:
- e-mail threads presented in a medium as semi-connected text; and
a computer processor for;
(a) identifying logical components of messages in an e-mail thread, comprising;
(19) performing a top down descent to recursively divide each message into nodes; and
(2) decomposing each node into the logical components using a weighted finite state machine, comprising;
(i) building a weight network using a weighted finite state grammar;
(ii) identifying a maximally weighted path through the weight finite stated machine; and
(iii) information that develops a subs tree by traversing the maximally weighted path to identify the logical components of the section;
(b) determining relationships between each message in the thread using the logical components; and
(c) generating a medium based upon the determined relationships, wherein any redundant logical components n each of the messages in the thread are identified and removed.
- e-mail threads presented in a medium as semi-connected text; and
Specification