Workflow and in-context E-mail recipient handling

• US 8,943,155 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Fields, Brendan C., Schwend, Diana J., Pereira, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Chirag R
• Application Number:
  US13/772,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20130166663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207, 715816-818
• 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, the method comprising:

receiving one or more data elements from a user via a user interface screen for performing an activity;

performing a resolution process that includes;

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

retrieving a list of potential matches for the unresolved data element from a data store,

displaying at least a portion of the list of potential matches to the user within the same user interface screen for performing the activity, and

allowing the user to select a corrected data element from the displayed at least a portion of the list; and

allowing the user to stop the resolution process to continue working with the user interface screen for performing the activity and later complete the resolution process in the same user interface screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the one or more data elements from the user via the user interface screen for performing the activity comprises:

receiving the one or more data elements from the user via a user interface screen for creating a message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the list of potential matches for the unresolved data element from the data store comprises:

contacting a web server to retrieve the list of potential matches for the unresolved data element from the data store.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the one or more data elements comprises:

receiving one or more email addresses.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the one or more data elements comprises:

receiving one or more postal addresses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user to later complete the resolution process comprises:

allowing the user to later complete the resolution process by selecting the unresolved data element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the at least a portion of the list of potential matches to the user in the same user interface screen for performing the activity comprises:

displaying the at least a portion of the list of potential matches to the user in a menu within the same user interface screen for performing the activity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the list of potential matches for the unresolved data element comprises:

retrieving one or more data elements that do not exactly match the unresolved data element.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the list of potential matches for the unresolved data element comprises:

retrieving a plurality of data elements that exactly match the unresolved data element.

10. 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 screen for performing an activity and determining if the data element is unresolved;

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

identifying one or more possible matching data elements for the unresolved data element;

displaying the one or more possible matching data elements in the same user interface screen for performing the activity;

allowing the user to stop the resolution process to continue performing the activity and later complete the resolution process in the same user interface screen for performing the activity; and

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

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the data element is an email address.

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

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein allowing the user to later complete the resolution process comprises:

allowing the user to later complete the resolution process by selecting the unresolved data element.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein displaying the one or more possible matching data elements for the unresolved data element in the same user interface screen for performing the activity comprises:

displaying the one or more possible matching data elements for the unresolved data element in a menu in the same user interface screen for performing the activity.

15. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein identifying the one or more possible matching data elements for the unresolved data element comprises:

identifying one or more data elements that do not exactly match the unresolved data element.

16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein identifying the one or more possible matching data elements for the unresolved data element comprises:

identifying a plurality of data elements that exactly match the unresolved data element.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the activity is creating a message and wherein allowing the user to finalize the activity once the unresolved data element is resolved comprises allowing the user to send the message once the unresolved data element is resolved.

18. 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 screen for creating an email message and determining if the email address is unresolved;

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

determining that one or more possible matching data elements are available for the unresolved email address;

displaying the one or more possible matching data elements in the user interface screen for creating the email message;

allowing the user to resolve the email address by selecting one of the one or more potential data elements displayed in the user interface screen for creating the email message;

allowing the user to stop the resolution process to continue working with the user interface screen for creating the email message and later complete the resolution process in the same user interface screen; and

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

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining that one or more possible matching data elements are available for the unresolved email address comprises:

identifying one or more email addresses that do not exactly match the unresolved email address.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein determining that one or more possible matching data elements are available for the unresolved email address comprises:

identifying a plurality of email addresses that exactly match the unresolved email address.