EMAIL VIEWS

• US 20110264685A1
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,836,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Email viewing techniques are described. In implementations, a determination is made regarding one or more types of content that are included in an email through examination of metadata that describes the one or more types of content. The determination is made responsive to selection of an email in a user interface for output. A choice is made from one of a plurality of views for the email based on the determination; and the email is output in a user interface using the chosen view.

Claims

1. A method implemented by one or more modules at least partially using hardware, the method comprising:

responsive to selection of an email in a user interface for output, determining one or more types of content are included in the email through examination of metadata that describes the one or more types of content;

choosing one of a plurality of views for the email based on the determination; and

outputting the email in a user interface using the chosen view.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the metadata is communicated with the email over a network connection.

3. A method as described in claim 2, wherein the metadata is set automatically and without user intervention at an originator of the email.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the metadata is not displayed in the user interface.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the metadata is arranged according to a schema to describe the types of content included in the email.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the choosing is performed automatically and without user intervention by the one or more modules.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the choosing is performed for a plurality of said emails and further comprising combining the content from the plurality of said emails.

8. A method as described in claim 7, wherein the combining is performed for the content that pertains to a particular event such that content from the plurality of said emails that does not pertain to the particular event is not combined.

9. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are implemented at a client device that receives the email.

10. A method implemented by a client device, the method comprising:

parsing a plurality of emails received via a network connection at the client device to locate content using metadata, the metadata being communicated with the email and describing respective said content; and

combining the content from the plurality of emails that pertains to a particular event; and

outputting the combined content that pertains to the particular event in a user interface at the client device.

11. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the particular event involves purchase of a good.

12. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the metadata is specified by an originator of the email.

13. A method as described in claim 10, wherein at least one of the combined content is selectable to view a corresponding said email.

14. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the combining is performed for the content that pertains to the particular event such that content from the plurality of said emails that does not pertain to the particular event is not combined.

15. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the parsing, the combining, and the outputting are performed automatically and without user interaction.

16. One or more computer-readable media comprising instructions that are stored thereon that, responsive to execution by a client device, causes the client device to output a user interface having a plurality of representations of views that are selectable to show different combinations of content taken from emails received by the client device via a network.

17. The one or more computer-readable media as described in claim 16, wherein the different combinations of content are taken from the emails through execution of the instructions by examining metadata communicated with respective said emails that describes respective said content in the email.

18. The one or more computer-readable media as described in claim 16, wherein at least one said view is selectable to present a travel itinerary using the content taken from a plurality of emails.

19. The one or more computer-readable media as described in claim 16, wherein at least one said view is selectable to present bill information using the content taken from a plurality of emails.

20. The one or more computer-readable media as described in claim 16, wherein at least one said view is selectable to present images using the content taken from a plurality of emails.