Terminal and computer program product for replying to an email message using one of a plurality of communication methods

• US 7,831,668 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Deeds, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Osman; Ramy M
• Application Number:
  US11/052,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20060179114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,101 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/207, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A terminal and computer program product allow a user of a communication device to quickly reply to a received email message using any one of several different communication methods. Communication identifiers, such as email addresses and telephone numbers, are automatically retrieved from anywhere in the received email message and the retrieved communication identifiers are matched to the user'"'"'s contact list. A list is then generated comprising those contacts for which the extracted communication identifiers match the communication identifiers from the contacts and also comprising the extracted communication identifiers if the extracted communication identifiers do not match the communication identifiers from any contacts. This list is displayed to the user who can then select one or more contacts and/or communication identifiers. The use can then choose to reply to those selected using any one of the available communication methods.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform the following;

parse a received email message to extract one or more communication identifiers and one or more proper names of at least one entity from the email message, the communication identifiers comprise one or more telephone numbers, email addresses or instant messaging (IM) screen names;

determine whether at least one of the extracted communication identifiers match a communication identifier from any contacts in a contact list stored in the memory, the contact list comprising at least one contact, the at least one contact comprising a proper name and at least one of the communication identifiers;

generate a list comprising one or more contacts for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the at least one contact,

wherein the at least one extracted communication identifier corresponds to a person or entity other than a sender of the email message; and

facilitate display of the generated list.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

extract at least one proper name from the email message; and

determine whether the extracted proper name matches the proper name from any of the contacts in the contact list.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

execute a telephony application;

generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises a telephone number and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is a telephone number, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by telephone;

facilitating display of the generated list; and

initiate a telephone call in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

initiate a telephone conference call in response to a selection by the user of at least two contacts in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list and at least one communication identifier in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of at least two communication identifiers in the generated list.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

determine a time of day at a location where the initiated telephone call will be received; and

alert the user in an instance in which the time of day is within a predefined time range.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

execute an IM application;

generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an IM screen name, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by instant message; and

initiate an instant message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

determine a presence status of the contact in the generated list; and

facilitate provision of an indication to the user of the presence status of the contact in the generated list.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

execute an IM application;

generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an IM screen name in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by chat request; and

initiate at least one invitation to participate in an on-line chat in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list,

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

execute a text messaging application;

generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises a telephone number and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is a telephone number in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by text message; and

initiate a text message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an email address and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is an email address in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by email message; and

initiate an email message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an email address and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is an email address in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with a meeting request;

initiate at least one meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list or at least one communication identifier in the generated list; and

initiate at least two meeting requests in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list and at least one communication identifier in the generated list.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an email address and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is an email address in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with an online meeting request;

initiate at least one online meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list or at least one communication identifier in the generated list; and

initiate at least two online meeting requests in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list and at least one communication identifier in the generated list.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to:

execute an IM application;

generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an IM screen name in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with a meeting request; and

initiate at least one meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code further causes the apparatus to compare each of the extracted communication identifiers to the contact list stored in the memory of the apparatus or a remote memory of a server accessible by the apparatus.

15. A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion configured to parse a received email message to extract one or more communication identifiers and one or more proper names of at least one entity from the email message, the communication identifiers comprise one or more telephone numbers, email addresses or instant messaging (IM) screen names;

a second executable portion configured to determine whether at least one of the extracted communication identifiers match a communication identifier from any contacts in a contact list, the contact list comprising a proper name and at least one contact, the at least one contact comprising at least one of the communication identifiers;

a third executable portion configured to generate a list comprising one or more contacts for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the at least one contact,

wherein the at least one extracted communication identifier corresponds to a person or entity other than a sender of the email message; and

a fourth executable portion configured to facilitate display of the generated list.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to extract at least one proper name from the email message; and

a sixth executable portion configured to determine whether the extracted proper name matches the proper name from any of the contacts in the contact list.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises a telephone number and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is a telephone number, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by telephone;

a sixth executable portion configured to facilitate display the generated list; and

a seventh executable portion configured to initiate a telephone call in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list or in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising:

an eighth executable portion configured to initiate a telephone conference call in response to a selection by the user of at least two contacts in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list and at least one communication identifier in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of at least two communication identifiers in the generated list.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising:

an eighth executable portion configured to determine a time of day at a location where the initiated telephone call will be received and alerting the user in an instance in which the time of day is within a predefined time range.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an IM screen name in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by instant message; and

a sixth executable portion configured to initiate an instant message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, further comprising:

a seventh executable portion configured to determine a presence status of the contact in the generated list and providing an indication to the user of the presence status of the contact in the generated list.

22. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an IM screen name in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by chat request; and

a sixth executable portion configured to initiate at least one invitation to participate in an on-line chat in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list.

23. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises a telephone number and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is a telephone number, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by text message; and

a sixth executable portion configured to initiate a text message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

24. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an email address and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is an email address, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by email message; and

a sixth executable portion configured to initiate an email message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

25. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an email address and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is an email address, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with a meeting request; and

a sixth executable portion configured to initiate at least one meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list or at least one communication identifier in the generated list; and

a seventh executable portion configured to initiate at least two meeting requests in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list and at least one communication identifier in the generated list.

26. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an email address and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is an email address, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with an online meeting request; and

a sixth executable portion configured to initiate at least one online meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list or at least one communication identifier in the generated list; and

a seventh executable portion configured to initiate at least two online meeting requests in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list and at least one communication identifier in the generated list.

27. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to generate a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an IM screen name in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with a meeting request; and

a sixth executable portion configured to initiate at least one meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list.

28. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to compare each of the extracted communication identifiers to the contact list, the contact list is stored in a memory of an apparatus or a remote memory of a server that is accessible by the apparatus.

29. A method comprising:

parsing a received email message to extract one or more communication identifiers and one or more proper names of at least one entity from the email message, the communication identifiers comprise one or more telephone numbers, email addresses or instant messaging (IM) screen names;

determining, via a processor, whether at least one of the extracted communication identifiers match a communication identifier from any contacts in a contact list, the contact list comprising a proper name and at least one contact, the at least one contact comprising at least one of the communication identifiers;

generating a list comprising one or more contacts for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the at least one contact,

wherein the at least one extracted communication identifier corresponds to a person or entity other than a sender of the email message; and

facilitating display of the generated list.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

extracting at least one proper name from the email message; and

determining whether the extracted proper name matches the proper name from any of the contacts in the contact list.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

comparing each of the extracted communication identifiers to the contact list, the contact list is stored in a memory of an apparatus or a remote memory of a server that is accessible by the apparatus.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises a telephone number and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is a telephone number, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by telephone;

facilitating display of the generated list; and

initiating a telephone call in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list or in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

initiating a telephone conference call in response to a selection by the user of at least two contacts in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list and at least one communication identifier in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of at least two communication identifiers in the generated list.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

determining a time of day at a location where the initiated telephone call will be received; and

alerting the user in an instance in which the time of day is within a predefined time range.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an IM screen name in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by instant message; and

initiating an instant message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

determining a presence status of the contact in the generated list; and

facilitating provision of an indication to the user of the presence status of the contact in the generated list.

37. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an IM screen name in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by chat request; and

initiating at least one invitation to participate in an on-line chat in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises a telephone number and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is a telephone number, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by text message; and

initiating a text message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

39. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an email address and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is an email address, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by email message; and

initiating an email message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list, or in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

40. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an email address and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is an email address, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with a meeting request;

initiating at least one meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list or at least one communication identifier in the generated list; and

initiating at least two meeting requests in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list and at least one communication identifier in the generated list.

41. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an email address and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and in an instance in which the extracted communication identifier is an email address, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with an online meeting request;

initiating at least one online meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list or at least one communication identifier in the generated list; and

initiating at least two online meeting requests in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list and at least one communication identifier in the generated list.

42. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and for which the contact comprises an IM screen name, in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with a meeting request; and

initiating at least one meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list.