Workflow and in-context e-mail recipient handling

• US 8,402,093 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fields, Brendan C., Schwend, Diana J., Pereira, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Chirag R
• Application Number:
  US11/315,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,644 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-206, 709/207, 707/6, 707/206, 707/5, 715/816
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve the workflow process for resolving data elements, such as email addresses. These technologies and techniques allow the user to perform such tasks in the same context as the activity or message. In addition, user can start and stop the resolution process at any point in the process of composing the activity or email. The activity cannot be finalized, such as an email message being sent, until all of the data elements are resolved.

Claims

1. A method for resolving data elements in-context with an activity comprising the steps of:

receiving one or more data elements from a user via a user interface window for creating a message;

upon selection of a resolve option from the user, performing a resolution process that includes;

determining that one of the one or more data elements is unresolved,

attempting to retrieve a list of potential matches for the-unresolved data element from a data store,

selectively displaying one of a plurality of different menus to the user within the same user interface window for creating the message, wherein a first menu is displayed if no match is found for the unresolved data element, a second menu is displayed if no exact match is found for the unresolved data element, and a third menu is displayed if more than one exact match is found for the unresolved data element, and,

if the second or third menu is displayed, allowing the user to select a corrected data element from a list of potential matches displayed in the menu; and

allowing the user to temporarily suspend the resolution process to continue working with the user interface window for creating the message and later resume the resolution process in the same user interface window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the user selects the resolve option, a web server is contacted to retrieve the information from the data store.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the each data element is an email address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each data element is a postal address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the resolution process can be resumed by the user upon right-clicking on the unresolved data element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the resolution process further includes:

selectively displaying another one of the plurality of different menus in the same user interface window for creating the message for another unresolved data element.

7. A computer-readable storage device having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 1.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein a fourth menu is displayed during the resolution process if an error occurred when attempting to retrieve the list of potential matches.

8. A computer-readable storage device having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:

checking a data element entered by a user via a user interface window for creating a message and determining if the data element is unresolved; and

if the data element is unresolved, performing a resolution process comprising;

determining if one or more possible matches are available for the unresolved data item;

if no possible match is available, displaying a first menu in the same user interface window for creating the message;

if no exact match is available, displaying a second menu that includes a list of potential data elements in the same user interface window for creating the message;

if more than one exact match is available, displaying a third menu that includes a list of potential data elements in the same user interface window for creating the message;

if the second or third menu are displayed, allowing the user to resolve the unresolved data element by selecting one of the potential data elements listed in the menu;

allowing the user to temporarily suspend the resolution process to continue working with the activity and later resume the resolution process in the same user interface window for creating the message; and

allowing the user to finalize the activity once the unresolved data element is resolved.

9. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the data element is an email address.

10. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the data element is a postal address.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the resolution process can be resumed by the user upon right-clicking on the unresolved data element.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the resolution process further includes selectively displaying another one of the first, second or third menus in the same user interface window for creating the message for another unresolved data element.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the message is an email message and wherein the user is able to send the email message once the unresolved data element is resolved.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the resolution process further comprises:

if an error occurred when determining if one or more possible matches are available for the unresolved data item, displaying a fourth menu in the same user interface window for creating the message.

14. A method for resolving email addresses in-context with an email message comprising the steps of:

checking an email address entered by a user via a user interface window for creating an email message and determining if the email address is unresolved; and

if the email address is unresolved, performing a resolution process comprising;

determining if one or more possible matches are available for the unresolved email address;

if no possible match is available, displaying a first drop-down menu in the same user interface window for creating the email message;

if no exact match is available, displaying a second drop-down menu that includes a list of potential email addresses in the same user interface window for creating the email message;

if more than one exact match is available, displaying a third drop-down menu that includes a list of potential email addresses in the same user interface window for creating the email message;

if the second or third drop-down menu are displayed, allowing the user to resolve the email address by selecting one of the potential email addresses listed in the drop-down menu;

allowing the user to temporarily suspend the resolution process to continue working with the user interface window for creating the email message and later resume the resolution process in the same user interface window; and

allowing the user to send the email message once the unresolved email address is resolved.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first drop-down menu includes a status identifier indicating that no match was found, the second drop-down menu includes a status identifier indicating that no exact match was found, and the third drop-down menu includes a status identifier indicating that more than one exact match was found.

16. A computer-readable storage device having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 14.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein performing the resolution process further comprises:

if an error occurred when determining if one or more possible matches are available for the unresolved email address, displaying a fourth drop-down menu in the same activity user interface window for creating the email message.