Method and apparatus for electronic mail interaction with grouped message types
First Claim
1. In a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of executing a communication process for sending and receiving electronic mail documents, a method comprising:
- (A) defining a plurality of categories of electronic mail documents;
(B) determining, with an automated mail agent and prior to display thereof, that a received electronic mail document is associated with a first one of the plurality of categories of electronic mail documents, wherein the one of the plurality of categories is made up of electronic mail messages that are approval requests requiring an affirmative action by a receiving user, and visually highlighting, in response to a determination that the received electronic mail document is associated with the first one of the plurality of categories, at least a portion of a user interface display object in a graphical user interface, wherein the portion of the user interface display object is labeled with text indicating that at least one approval request has been received;
(C) receiving selection criteria as to which of the plurality of categories of electronic mail documents are to be displayed, wherein the receiving of the selection criteria includes detecting the receiving user clicking on the portion of the user interface display object labeled with text indicating that at least one approval request has been received; and
(D) displaying, in response to the receiving of the selection criteria, within a preview section of the graphical user interface, a brief description of and a name of the requester of the received electronic mail document associated with the one of the plurality of categories, and further displaying in response to the receiving of the selection criteria, an approval graphical button that enables the receiving user to approve the approval request by clicking on the approval graphical button.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic mail inbox uses a mail agent to categorize incoming electronic mail to facilitate more flexible and rapid viewing and possible response thereto. Several special functions for collection of regularly sent types of mail, such as newsletters, office memos, press releases, etc., are utilized. In addition, special menu items are provided for collection and presentation of different priority items, such as urgent correspondence and approval requests. The electronic mail inbox facilitates multiple viewing options so that collections of regularly sent or different priority types of mail may be viewed separately and/or interleaved with other items in a main mail inbox. In addition, items that require an affirmative response, such as approval requests, may include a special preview format that allows for rapid viewing of pertinent details and approval directly from the mail inbox without review of the complete item.
102 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of executing a communication process for sending and receiving electronic mail documents, a method comprising:
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(A) defining a plurality of categories of electronic mail documents; (B) determining, with an automated mail agent and prior to display thereof, that a received electronic mail document is associated with a first one of the plurality of categories of electronic mail documents, wherein the one of the plurality of categories is made up of electronic mail messages that are approval requests requiring an affirmative action by a receiving user, and visually highlighting, in response to a determination that the received electronic mail document is associated with the first one of the plurality of categories, at least a portion of a user interface display object in a graphical user interface, wherein the portion of the user interface display object is labeled with text indicating that at least one approval request has been received; (C) receiving selection criteria as to which of the plurality of categories of electronic mail documents are to be displayed, wherein the receiving of the selection criteria includes detecting the receiving user clicking on the portion of the user interface display object labeled with text indicating that at least one approval request has been received; and (D) displaying, in response to the receiving of the selection criteria, within a preview section of the graphical user interface, a brief description of and a name of the requester of the received electronic mail document associated with the one of the plurality of categories, and further displaying in response to the receiving of the selection criteria, an approval graphical button that enables the receiving user to approve the approval request by clicking on the approval graphical button. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer processing system, cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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defining a plurality of categories of electronic mail documents; determining, by an automated mail agent, a first one of the plurality of categories that a received electronic mail document is associated with, wherein the first one of the plurality of categories is made up of electronic mail messages that are approval requests requiring an affirmative action by a receiving user, and visually highlighting, in response to a determination that the received electronic mail document is associated with the first one of the plurality of categories, at least a portion of a user interface display object in a graphical user interface, wherein the portion of the user interface display object is labeled with text indicating that at least one approval request has been received; receiving selection criteria as to which of the plurality of categories of electronic mail documents are to be displayed, wherein the receiving of the selection criteria includes detecting the receiving user clicking on the portion of the user interface display object labeled with text indicating that at least one approval request has been received; and displaying, in response to the receiving of the selection criteria, within a preview section of the graphical user interface, a brief description of and a name of the requester of the received electronic mail document associated with the first one of the plurality of categories, and further displaying in response to the receiving of the selection criteria, an approval graphical button that enables the receiving user to approve the approval request by clicking on the approval graphical button; and displaying received electronic mail documents associated with a the first one of the plurality of categories in a first window region on a user interface while simultaneously displaying received electronic mail documents associated with a second one of the plurality of categories in a second window region on the user interface.
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13. An apparatus for use with a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of executing a communication process for sending and receiving electronic mail documents, the apparatus comprising:
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(A) program logic for defining a plurality of categories of electronic mail documents; (B) program logic for determining with an automated mail agent a first one of the plurality of categories that a received electronic mail document is associated with, wherein the one of the plurality of categories is made up of electronic mail messages that are approval requests requiring an affirmative action by a receiving user, and visually highlighting, in response to a determination that the received electronic mail document is associated with the first one of the plurality of categories, at least a portion of a user interface display object in a graphical user interface, wherein the portion of the user interface display object is labeled with text indicating that at least one approval request has been received; (C) a memory for storing received electronic mail documents, (D) program logic for storing a received electronic mail document in the memory in accordance with which of the plurality of categories the received electronic mail document is associated; (E) program logic for receiving selection criteria as to which of the plurality of categories of electronic mail documents are to be displayed, wherein the receiving of the selection criteria includes detecting the receiving user clicking on the portion of the user interface display object labeled with text indicating that at least one approval request has been received, for displaying, in response to the receiving of the selection criteria, within a preview section of the graphical user interface, a brief description of and a name of the requester of the received electronic mail document associated with the first one of the plurality of categories, and further displaying in response to the receiving of the selection criteria, an approval graphical button that enables the receiving user to approve the approval request by clicking on the approval graphical button. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification