Performing predefined actions based on scheduled user events in response to incoming email messages
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving, at an email application executing on a computing device, an incoming email message addressed to a user, wherein the email application is communicatively interfaced to a calendar application associated with the user, and defines a filter for the incoming email message;
retrieving event information from the calendar application responsive to receiving the incoming email message, the event information comprising an identifier that identifies a predetermined action to be performed by the email application when processing the incoming email message;
converting the incoming email message and the event information between a first format associated with the email application and a second, different format associated with the calendar application using a protocol interface associated with the email application;
determining a prioritized execution order for the predetermined action and the filter based on the event information; and
executing the predetermined action and the filter in the prioritized execution order when processing the incoming email message.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computing device, such as a network server or user terminal, automatically performs one or more predefined actions on inbound email messages responsive to receiving the inbound email messages. However, rather than base the performance of the actions on information manually provided to an email application by the user, the computing device retrieves event-related information stored in one or more calendar applications communicatively connected to the email application. The computing device then utilizes that information to perform the predefined actions. One example of such an action is automatically generating and sending an autoreply email message to the sender of the inbound email message.
16 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
-
receiving, at an email application executing on a computing device, an incoming email message addressed to a user, wherein the email application is communicatively interfaced to a calendar application associated with the user, and defines a filter for the incoming email message; retrieving event information from the calendar application responsive to receiving the incoming email message, the event information comprising an identifier that identifies a predetermined action to be performed by the email application when processing the incoming email message; converting the incoming email message and the event information between a first format associated with the email application and a second, different format associated with the calendar application using a protocol interface associated with the email application; determining a prioritized execution order for the predetermined action and the filter based on the event information; and executing the predetermined action and the filter in the prioritized execution order when processing the incoming email message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A computing device comprising:
-
a communication interface circuit configured to receive an incoming email message addressed to a user, wherein an email application executing on the computing device is communicatively interfaced to a calendar application associated with the user, and defines a filter for the incoming email message; and a processing circuit configured to execute the email application and to; retrieve event information from the calendar application responsive to receiving the incoming email message, the event information comprising an identifier that identifies a predetermined action to be performed by the email application when processing the incoming email message; implement a protocol interface associated with the email application to convert the incoming email message and the event information between a first format associated with the email application and a second, different format associated with the calendar application; determine a prioritized execution order for the predetermined action and the filter based on the event information; and execute the predetermined action and the filter in the prioritized execution order when processing the incoming email message. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store an email application that, when executed by a computing device, configures a programmable processing circuit associated with the computing device to; receive an incoming email message addressed to a user, wherein an email application executing on the computing device is communicatively interfaced to a calendar application associated with the user, and defines a filter for the incoming email message; and retrieve event information from the calendar application responsive to receiving the incoming email message, the event information comprising an identifier that identifies a predetermined action to be performed by the email application when processing the incoming email message; implement a protocol interface associated with the email application to convert the incoming email message and the event information between a first format associated with the email application and a second, different format associated with the calendar application; determine a prioritized execution order for the predetermined action and the filter based on the event information; and execute the predetermined action and the filter in the prioritized execution order when processing the incoming email message. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification