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

• US 20060179114A1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Deeds, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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. A terminal adapted to enable communication by a user using a plurality of communication applications, wherein the terminal comprises:

a display capable of visually displaying email messages;

a memory capable of storing a contact list, the contact list comprising at least one contact, the at least one contact comprising a proper name and at least one communication identifier, the communication identifier selected from the group consisting of telephone number, email address, and instant messaging (IM) screen name; and

a processor capable of executing an email application, the processor further capable of parsing a received email message to extract at least one communication identifier from the email message, wherein the processor is further capable of determining if the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from any of the contacts in the contact list.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of generating a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact, and wherein the display is further capable of displaying the generated list.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of extracting at least one proper name from the email message, and wherein the processor is further capable of determining if the extracted proper name matches the proper name from any of the contacts in the contact list.

4. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of executing a telephony application, wherein the processor is further capable of 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 if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and if the extracted communication identifier is a telephone number, wherein the processor generates the list in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by telephone, wherein the display is further capable of displaying the generated list, wherein the processor is further capable of initiating a telephone call in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list, and wherein the processor is further capable of initiating a telephone call in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

5. The terminal of claim 4, wherein the processor is further capable of initiating a telephone conference call in response to a selection by the user of at least two contacts in the generated list, and wherein the processor is further capable of initiating a telephone conference call 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, and wherein the processor is further capable of initiating a telephone conference call in response to a selection by the user of at least two communication identifiers in the generated list.

6. The terminal of claim 4, wherein the processor is further capable of determining a time of day at a location where the initiated telephone call will be received and alerting the user if the time of day is within a predefined time range.

7. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of executing an IM application, wherein the processor is further capable of 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, wherein the processor generates the list in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by instant message, and wherein the processor is further capable of initiating an instant message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list.

8. The terminal of claim 7, wherein the processor is further capable of determining 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.

9. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of executing an IM application, wherein the processor is further capable of 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, and wherein the processor generates the list in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by chat request, wherein the processor is further capable of 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

10. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of executing a text messaging application, wherein the processor is further capable of 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 if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and if the extracted communication identifier is a telephone number, wherein the processor generates the list in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by text message, wherein the processor is further capable of initiating a text message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list, and wherein the processor is further capable of initiating a text message in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

11. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of 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 if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and if the extracted communication identifier is an email address, wherein the processor generates the list in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message by email message, wherein the processor is further capable of initiating an email message in response to a selection by the user of a contact in the generated list, and wherein the processor is further capable of initiating an email message in response to a selection by the user of a communication identifier in the generated list.

12. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of 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 if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and if the extracted communication identifier is an email address, wherein the processor generates the list in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with a meeting request, wherein the processor is further capable of initiating at least one meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list, and wherein the processor is further capable of 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, and wherein the processor is further capable of initiating at least one meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one communication identifier in the generated list.

13. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of 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 if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and if the extracted communication identifier is an email address, wherein the processor generates the list in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with an online meeting request, wherein the processor is further capable of initiating at least one online meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list, and wherein the processor is further capable of 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, and wherein the processor is further capable of initiating at least one online meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one communication identifier in the generated list.

14. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of executing an IM application, wherein the processor is further capable of 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, wherein the processor generates the list in response to a selection by the user to reply to the email message with a meeting request, and wherein the processor is further capable of initiating at least one meeting request in response to a selection by the user of at least one contact in the generated list.

15. A computer program product for replying to an email message on a terminal adapted to enable communicating using a plurality of communication methods, the 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 capable of parsing a received email message to extract at least one communication identifier from the email message; and

a second executable portion capable of determining if the extracted communication identifier matches 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 communication identifier, the communication identifier selected from the group consisting of telephone number, email address, and instant messaging (IM) screen name.

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

a third executable portion capable of generating a list comprising a contact for which the extracted communication identifier matches the communication identifier from the contact and the list further comprising the extracted communication identifier if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact.

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

a third executable portion capable of extracting at least one proper name from the email message; and

a fourth executable portion capable of determining if the extracted proper name matches the proper name from any of the contacts in the contact list.

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

a third executable portion capable of 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 if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and if 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 fourth executable portion capable of displaying the generated list; and

a fifth executable portion capable of 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.

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

a sixth executable portion capable of 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.

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

a sixth executable portion capable of determining a time of day at a location where the initiated telephone call will be received and alerting the user if the time of day is within a predefined time range.

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

a third executable portion capable of 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

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

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

a fifth executable portion capable of determining 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.

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

a third executable portion capable of 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

a fourth executable portion capable of 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.

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

a third executable portion capable of 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 if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and if 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 fourth executable portion capable of 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.

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

a third executable portion capable of 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 if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and if 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 fourth executable portion capable of 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.

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

a third executable portion capable of 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 if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and if 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 fourth executable portion capable of initiating at least two meeting requests 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.

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

a third executable portion capable of 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 if the extracted communication identifier does not match the communication identifier from a contact and if 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 fourth executable portion capable of initiating at least two online meeting requests 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.

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

a third executable portion capable of 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

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