System for automatically distributing selected mail item to selected user associated with office location within physical office floor plan in data processing system
US5564018A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 15, 1993 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L51/48
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for the efficient distribution of electronic mail items within a distributed data processing system having multiple users enrolled therein wherein each user utilizes a computer or terminal device having a unique address. After selecting an individual electronic mail item for distribution an intuitive graphic representation of a group of unique addresses is displayed within a user's terminal device. The intuitive graphic representation may take one of several forms including a two or three dimensional graphic representation of an office floor plan which identifies the occupants of each office, or a photographic image of one or more users. In response to a graphic selection by the user of a particular graphic representation, or portion thereof, an identified electronic mail item is then automatically distributed to the user whose unique address is associated with that graphic representation or portion thereof. In one embodiment an electronic mail item is displayed as a miniature graphic representation or "icon" and is thereafter automatically distributed in response to a relocation of that icon to a position overlying the graphic representation or portion thereof,…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.