System for managing and organizing stored electronic messages
First Claim
1. A method for automatically organizing electronic messages in a computer system, the method comprising:
- receiving an electric message having a plurality of properties;
storing the electronic message in a data store;
automatically identifying a plurality of folders with which the electronic message is to be associated by applying rules to the properties of the stored message; and
, automatically generating a plurality of shortcuts to the stored message, each of the shortcuts comprising an element directly or indirectly identifying the stored message and an element directly or indirectly identifying one of the plurality of folders.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-based system catalogs and retrieves electronic messages saved in a message store. The system automatically organizes each saved message into multiple folders based on the contents and attributes of the message, and implements improved methods for manually organizing messages. Unlike prior art systems, where a message exists in only one folder, the system uses lightweight message shortcuts to display the message in multiple folders simultaneously. The system preferably permits messages to be organized by: 1) basic message and attachment properties, e.g. date, status, attachment type; 2) extended message properties that the user can specify, e.g. keywords; and 3) correspondent or bulk mail sender/recipient, with automatic separation of bulk mail from correspondence. Performance and usability are improved by performing reads incrementally and by providing multiple sorting keys.
76 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for automatically organizing electronic messages in a computer system, the method comprising:
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receiving an electric message having a plurality of properties;
storing the electronic message in a data store;
automatically identifying a plurality of folders with which the electronic message is to be associated by applying rules to the properties of the stored message; and
,automatically generating a plurality of shortcuts to the stored message, each of the shortcuts comprising an element directly or indirectly identifying the stored message and an element directly or indirectly identifying one of the plurality of folders. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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15. The method of claim 24 wherein the attachment is stored in a data store and the AttachId value is an address of the attachment in the data store.
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16. The method of claim 24 wherein the attachment is stored in a data store and the AttachId value is an address of an AttachmentSummary record in the database, wherein the AttachmentSummary record contains an address for the attachment in the data store.
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17. The method of claim 24 comprising identifying a type of the attachment and automatically creating a shortcut to the message in a folder corresponding to the type of attachment.
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18. The method of claim 27 comprising automatically creating the folder corresponding to the type of attachment.
Specification