Dynamic downloading of hypertext electronic mail messages

• US 6,377,978 B1
• Filed: 09/13/1996
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: PlanetWeb, Inc. (Monotype Imaging Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Julien Tan
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FIELDS, KENNETH WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US08/716,641
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.36, 395/200.37, 792/06, 792/07
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for dynamic downloading of hypertext electronic mail messages. The system includes a mail server for receiving electronic mail messages and their headers, and a mail client for downloading electronic mail messages and their headers from the mail receiver and presenting downloaded electronic mail messages and headers to an operator. The mail client dynamically downloads and presents electronic mail messages responsive to interactive instructions from an operator, preloads and stores electronic mail messages for subsequent presentation to the operator, and organizes electronic mail messages in hypertext sections for selection by and presentation to the operator. The mail server and the mail client cooperate dynamically and interactively to download, so as to present to the operator, electronic mail messages, or portions thereof, linked by hypertext links and possibly including data, audiovisual material, included programs, security features, or other features in addition to text.

Claims

1. A method for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, including the steps of:

loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading; and

preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

wherein said step of identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a preference designated by said operator.

2. A method for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, including the steps of:

loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading; and

preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

wherein said step of identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a sender of said second electronic mail message.

3. A method for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, including the steps of:

loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading; and

preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

wherein said step of identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a set of recipients of said second electronic mail message.

4. A method for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, including the steps of:

loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading; and

preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

wherein said step of identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a priority value for said second electronic mail message.

5. A method for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, including the steps of:

loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading; and

preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

wherein said step of identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a keyword in one of said headers associated with said second electronic mail message.

6. A method for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, including the steps of:

loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading; and

preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

wherein said step of identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a keyword in said second electronic mail message.

7. A method for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, including the steps of:

loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading; and

preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

wherein said step of identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a size of said second electronic mail message.

8. Apparatus for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, said apparatus including:

a mail client disposed for coupling to a mail server using a communication link;

means at said mail client for loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

an input port at said mail client disposed for receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

an output port at said mail client disposed for presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

means at said mail client for identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading;

means at said mail client for preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

an input element coupled to said input port; and

an output element coupled to said output port;

wherein said mean for identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a preference designated by said operator.

9. Apparatus for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, said apparatus including:

a mail client disposed for coupling to a mail server using a communication link;

means at said mail client for loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

an input port at said mail client disposed for receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

an output port at said mail client disposed for presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

means at said mail client for identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading;

means at said mail client for preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

an input element coupled to said input port; and

an output element coupled to said output port;

wherein said means for identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a sender of said second electronic mail message.

10. Apparatus for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, said apparatus including:

a mail client disposed for coupling to a mail server using a communication link;

means at said mail client for loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

an input port at said mail client disposed for receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

an output port at said mail client disposed for presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

means at said mail client for identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading;

means at said mail client for preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

an input element coupled to said input port; and

an output element coupled to said output port;

wherein said means for identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a set of recipients of said second electronic mail message.

11. Apparatus for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, said apparatus including:

a mail client disposed for coupling to a mail server using a communication link;

means at said mail client for loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

an input port at said mail client disposed for receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

an output port at said mail client disposed for presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

means at said mail client for identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading;

means at said mail client for preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

an input element coupled to said input port; and

an output element coupled to said output port;

wherein said means for identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a priority value for said second electronic mail message.

12. Apparatus for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, said apparatus including:

a mail client disposed for coupling to a mail server using a communication link;

means at said mail client for loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

an input port at said mail client disposed for receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

an output port at said mail client disposed for presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

means at said mail client for identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading;

means at said mail client for preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

an input element coupled to said input port; and

an output element coupled to said output port;

wherein said means for identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a keyword in one of said headers associated with said second electronic mail message.

13. Apparatus for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, said apparatus including:

a mail client disposed for coupling to a mail server using a communication link;

means at said mail client for loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

an input port at said mail client disposed for receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

an output port at said mail client disposed for presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

means at said mail client for identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading;

means at said mail client for preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

an input element coupled to said input port; and

an output element coupled to said output port;

wherein said means for identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a keyword in said second electronic mail message.

14. Apparatus for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, said apparatus including:

a mail client disposed for coupling to a mail server using a communication link;

means at said mail client for loading a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

an input port at said mail client disposed for receiving a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail message being loaded;

an output port at said mail client disposed for presenting said first electronic mail message to said operator;

means at said mail client for identifying a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading;

means at said mail client for preloading said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

an input element coupled to said input port; and

an output element coupled to said output port;

wherein said means for identifying said second electronic mail message for preloading is responsive to a size of said second electronic mail message.

15. A computer program product including:

a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to present electronic mail messages to an operator, said computer readable code including;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a mail client disposed for coupling to a mail server using a communication link;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a header load mechanism at said mail client configured to load a plurality of headers from a mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a first input mechanism at said mail client configured to receive a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail messages being loaded;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a presentation mechanism configured to present said first electronic mail message to said operator;

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a selection mechanism at said mail client configured to identify a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading; and

computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a download mechanism at said mail client configured to preload said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

wherein said selection mechanism is responsive to a preference designated by said operator, to a sender of said second electronic mail message, to a set of recipients of said second electronic mail message, to a priority value for said second electronic mail message, to a keyword in one of said headers associated with said second electronic mail message, to a keyword in said second electronic mail message, or to a size of said second electronic mail message.

16. An apparatus for presenting electronic mail messages to an operator, the apparatus including:

a mail client disposed for coupling to a mail server using a communication link;

a header load mechanism at said mail client configured to load a plurality of headers from said mail server, each one of said headers associated with an electronic mail message addressed to at least said operator, each of said plurality of headers loaded separately from its associated electronic mail message;

a first input mechanism at said mail client configured to receive a dynamic selection of a first one of said electronic mail messages from said operator after at least one of said plurality of headers have been loaded and prior to said associated electronic mail messages being loaded;

a presentation mechanism configured to present said first electronic mail message to said operator;

a selection mechanism at said mail client configured to identify a second one of said electronic mail messages for preloading; and

a download mechanism at said mail client configured to preload said second electronic mail message for later presentation, without interrupting presentation of said first electronic mail message;

wherein said selection mechanism is responsive to a preference designated by said operator, to a sender of said second electronic mail message, to a set of recipients of said second electronic mail message, to a priority value for said second electronic mail message, to a keyword in one of said headers associated with said second electronic mail message, to a keyword in said second electronic mail message, or to a size of said second electronic mail message.