Method and apparatus for associating messages with data elements
First Claim
1. In a computing environment comprising a messaging system and one or more data sources, an apparatus for associating messages with data comprising:
- an association manager capable of interfacing with an electronic mail messaging system and one or more data sources, said association manager configured to obtain an electronic mail message and to create an association between one or more elements of said electronic mail message with one or more elements of data from said data sources, said association manager further configured to analyze said electronic message to determine one or more external data sources from which said one or more elements of data are to be retrieved, wherein said one or more elements of data comprise workflow data associated with an order in which activities associated with a given task are completed, and wherein said association manager is configured to facilitate workflow management by providing a context for said one or more elements of said electronic mail message and said one or more elements of data; and
a user interface enabling a user to create one or more sensory cues indicative of said association of one or more elements of said electronic mail message with said one or more elements of data from said data sources.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for associating message types, elements, and/or content with data from one or more data stores are provided. Current limitations on the tracking and management of information contained within or associated with message types and elements are overcome through an association manager or “data linking engine” that provides context-driven workflow management for end-users. The end-users may work in an application context that is not integrated in the messaging system. The application context may include databases, systems, data stores, links in Web pages, etc. If the association manager appends data to a given message, recipients of that message have the ability to access added functionality within the context of the messaging system.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. In a computing environment comprising a messaging system and one or more data sources, an apparatus for associating messages with data comprising:
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an association manager capable of interfacing with an electronic mail messaging system and one or more data sources, said association manager configured to obtain an electronic mail message and to create an association between one or more elements of said electronic mail message with one or more elements of data from said data sources, said association manager further configured to analyze said electronic message to determine one or more external data sources from which said one or more elements of data are to be retrieved, wherein said one or more elements of data comprise workflow data associated with an order in which activities associated with a given task are completed, and wherein said association manager is configured to facilitate workflow management by providing a context for said one or more elements of said electronic mail message and said one or more elements of data; and a user interface enabling a user to create one or more sensory cues indicative of said association of one or more elements of said electronic mail message with said one or more elements of data from said data sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. In a computer system, a method for associating electronic mail messages with data elements comprising:
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obtaining an electronic mail message via an electronic mail messaging system; creating an association between one or more elements of said electronic mail message to one or more elements of data in one or more data sources external to said electronic mail messaging system wherein creating the association between said one or more elements of said electronic mail message comprises analyzing said electronic mail message to determine one or more external data sources from which said one or more elements of data are to be retrieved, wherein said one or more elements of data comprise workflow data associated with an order in which activities associated with a given task are completed, and wherein said association manager is configured to facilitate workflow management by providing a context for said one or more elements of said electronic mail message and said one or more elements of data; and via a user interface, enabling a user to create one or more sensory cues indicative of said association of one or more elements of said electronic mail message with said one or more elements of data from said data sources. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification