Apparatus and method for representing electronic mail
First Claim
1. In a computer system, a method of representing an electronic mail address in a field format and in a string format, wherein said electronic mail address is specified by a plurality of fields corresponding to components of said electronic mail address in said field format, and wherein said electronic mail address is specified by a character string in said string format, said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a selected electronic mail system from a plurality of electronic mail systems;
selecting either said field format or said string format as a selected format;
if said field format is selected as said selected format, then inputting said electronic mail address by inputting said components in said plurality of fields;
if said string format is selected as said selected format, then inputting said electronic mail address by inputting a series of characters;
determining a protocol of said selected electronic mail system;
determining a syntax of said protocol;
if said electronic mail address is in said field format and said string format is subsequently selected, converting said electronic mail address from said field format by combining said components in said plurality of fields according to said syntax to produce said series of characters; and
if said electronic mail address is in said string format and said field format is subsequently selected, converting said electronic mail address from said string format to said field format by parsing said series of characters into said plurality of fields according to said syntax.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a computer system, an apparatus for depicting an electronic mail address in either a field format or a string format. In a field format, the components of the electronic mail address is parsed into a plurality of fields. Each field represents a particular attribute of the electronic mail address. In a string format, the electronic mail address is comprised of a string of characters in a syntax specified by the protocol of the corresponding electronic mail system. A template having syntax information corresponding to the protocol is used to convert an electronic mail address from a field format to a string format and vice versa. Hence, a user has the option of entering an electronic mail address and having it displayed or edited in either a field format or a string format.
115 Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a computer system, a method of representing an electronic mail address in a field format and in a string format, wherein said electronic mail address is specified by a plurality of fields corresponding to components of said electronic mail address in said field format, and wherein said electronic mail address is specified by a character string in said string format, said method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a selected electronic mail system from a plurality of electronic mail systems; selecting either said field format or said string format as a selected format; if said field format is selected as said selected format, then inputting said electronic mail address by inputting said components in said plurality of fields; if said string format is selected as said selected format, then inputting said electronic mail address by inputting a series of characters; determining a protocol of said selected electronic mail system; determining a syntax of said protocol; if said electronic mail address is in said field format and said string format is subsequently selected, converting said electronic mail address from said field format by combining said components in said plurality of fields according to said syntax to produce said series of characters; and if said electronic mail address is in said string format and said field format is subsequently selected, converting said electronic mail address from said string format to said field format by parsing said series of characters into said plurality of fields according to said syntax. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for depicting an electronic mail address in either a field format or a string format, wherein for said field format, said electronic mail address is parsed into a plurality of fields, each field representing a particular attribute of said electronic mail address and for said string format, said electronic mail address is comprised of a string of characters in a syntax specified by a protocol of a selected electronic mail system associated with said electronic mail address, said apparatus comprising:
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a storage for storing a template having syntax information corresponding to said protocol; a selection device for selecting either said field format or said string format as a selected format; an input device for entering said electronic mail address, said electronic mail address being entered by inputting identifying information in at least one of said fields when said field format is selected, said electronic mail being entered by inputting a string of characters in said syntax specified by said protocol if said string format is selected; a combiner for converting said electronic mail address from said field format to said string format by combining said identifying information in said fields according to said syntax specified by said template to produce a character string; a parser for converting said electronic mail address from said string format to said field format by parsing said character string into separate components according to said syntax specified by said template, said components being assigned to the corresponding fields; a display device for displaying said electronic mail address in said field format and said string format. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An address display apparatus for use in a computer network, the computer network having a plurality of terminals for accessing said computer network, wherein each terminal is assigned an address specifying said terminal, the address display apparatus comprising:
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a display device coupled to a terminal of said plurality of terminals, said display device displaying a first button and a second button; a selection device coupled to said terminal, said selection device allowing selection of said first button and said second button; wherein said display device displays an address of a selected terminal of said plurality terminals; wherein said display device displays said address in a field format if said first button is selected; and wherein said display device displays said address in a string format if said second button is selected. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification